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App to stop kids dialling?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted User
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Adauth said:
Again what about the stock homescreen lock?
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Doesn't that lock the phone completely? We actually want the toddler to be able to access his games (under supervision) but not accidentally dial Dubai.
 
sohguanh said:
Not everyone is willing to swap the Android default Home launcher to a third party. The reason it has to be a launcher is because the Android default Home launcher does not broadcast any Intent for new apps starting up and hence we cannot "trap" those apps that is launched by the kids for which we need to stop them playing.

In case it is too technical all you all need to know there are certain limitations and for those app developers that offer a solution, they use work-around and most likely in this case, they replace the default Home launcher to their own so they can have maximum control.

Also a app cannot go and "terminate" other apps without proper security control. This is to stop *evil* app that prevent all other apps to function except their own. For apps that proclaim they can do require possibly root access or some other non-documented Android SDK API.
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I think you're mistaken to what toddler lock is. It sets itself as a launcher and takes over your homescreen only when you run the app. When you exit out of it (via touching the 4 corners of the screen clockwise) and backing out of the program, you're preferred launcher is used, and toddler lock stops running.

I bring it along when grocery shopping to keep my son entertained, not a bad app at all in my opinion.

Edit: However it is an app, so not quite what the OP is looking for!
 
Goreygirl said:
Doesn't that lock the phone completely? We actually want the toddler to be able to access his games (under supervision) but not accidentally dial Dubai.
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Oh I must have misread the OP then I though you didnt want him to hve ascess at all. My mistake.
 
Ok,

So after a bit of googling have found an app called 'Smart Lock Pro' Its not a free app, but cost only 66c.

Basically you can choose which apps you want the divil in question to be able to access, so I have it set to Angry Birds, Toddlers Trifling, and Ant Smashing (well he is a boy after all!!!). Once I choose to let him have a little play I basically just activate and it locks out the rest of the phone and just gives him the option of those three apps. The only way you can unlock is through the menu button and unlock it with a pin. Road tested it today and so far so good.

Obviously doesn't work if he manages to get a hold of my phone by mischevious means, but its usually up high enough that he can't reach it..... yet..
 
tomadilly said:
Ok,

So after a bit of googling have found an app called 'Smart Lock Pro' Its not a free app, but cost only 66c.
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Cool! :D Will try this out on my phone! Was watching the youtube video and seems good. You can have restricted sites on there. Can you see if you have restricted youtube channel too? :)
 
It seems to offer what I want but then quite laggy and sometimes FC. I suspect they could be polling the ActivityManager to retrieve the current running apps to determine what to do next. Such design if the interval is set too close gives quite bad performance. Set too far will allow the kids to play a while longer before it gets intercepted.

Another could be they are doing a FileObserver on the SDK EventLog class which is not available for Android 2.1 and below.

Sorry for being too picky but as a developer myself, I tend to look into these minute details but if the app makes you happy by all means use it. That is what Android is all about. Open source and free.
 
drdoom said:
It is a type of footwear; similar to a sandal.
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Slippers are nothing like a sandal not in UK or Ireland anyway. Are you getting confused with "slip ons" which are a shoe you can just slip on with out lacing/buckling up?

Slippers are an indoor footwear normally associated with nightwear ... e.g. "go put on your pyjamas and slippers"; they are usually furry and comforting in style and often come with patterns.
 
My only concern about this app is that it requires an accessibility service to operate which warns you that this could give access to private data on phone.

Not sure I'm entirely happy about this
 
sohguanh said:
It seems to offer what I want but then quite laggy and sometimes FC. I suspect they could be polling the ActivityManager to retrieve the current running apps to determine what to do next. Such design if the interval is set too close gives quite bad performance. Set too far will allow the kids to play a while longer before it gets intercepted.

Another could be they are doing a FileObserver on the SDK EventLog class which is not available for Android 2.1 and below.

Sorry for being too picky but as a developer myself, I tend to look into these minute details but if the app makes you happy by all means use it. That is what Android is all about. Open source and free.
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I don't think you're being picky if the application is slow and FC. I don't think the developer should be charging for the application if it is still in beta with these kinds of issues.
 
It always cracks me up how people can give advice on how somebody should treat their kids. It's actually offensive because she only asked if there was an app available that a trusted community of fellow android owners might know about because she couldn't find anything. She didn't ask for opinions on if she should allow her child to use her phone or hundreds of dollars of smartphone and such so chill out. If you don't know of an app that's fine and if you're just joking that's cool too but say you are then. I'm a parent to two boys and understand where shes coming from.
@ Goreygirl to answer your question I don't personally know of an app but it appears others here do and are able to help. :D
 
It always cracks me up when people dredge up long dead threads to contribute absolutely nothing to them.
 
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