Android phones, apps and tablets

Anyone else with a Pixel 6 had your WiFi broken by the February update?

Mine was working perfectly with the Jan update but straight after the Feb update it started turning the WiFi off by itself.

It just wouldn't stay on, so I've updated to Android 12L beta which seems to have fixed it. It's extremely annoying that they've cocked up another update though and what I'd really like to do is roll back to the January update but I gather you have to unlock your bootloader, which I really don't want to do.

no, but there has been an additional update to the Feb update.
https://9to5google.com/2022/02/17/google-releases-new-build-of-februarys-pixel-6-and-6-pro-update/

Ha, thanks, that's typical isn't it!

The 12L beta is proving very stable so far and no problems so it looks like I'm good for the moment but encouraging that they've hopefully responded to the problem.

Looking for a new compact mid range phone. Samsung A52(s) looks interesting. Any other phones I should look into?

Something changed.

I can now delete Google apps by just uninstalling them.

Play music, play games, play movies... All now uninstalled.

Had one of these, would probably go for the Nord 2 instead.

Realme 9 Pro Plus looks interesting, comes out on Friday

After seeing some discussion over and nitter.net links being shared in the forum thought I'd mention this app UntrackMe - . It allows Twitter links to default to nitter and equivalents for insta / Reddit etc.

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.fedilab.nitterizeme/

What am I doing wrong here?

3 Attachments

Hmm. I get the same thing. Other redirects are working so possibly insta cracking down or something on bibliogram. I'll try take a deeper look when I get chance.

Sorry didn't mean to sound unappreciative.

Twitter/nitter works well so that alone is a win.

Clueless apple guy over here - I want to give my kid (9) a 'device' that he can use for spotify, audible, borrowbox. only - nothing else - I wan't him to be able to get into music/audio (like i did with a sony tape walkman) - without having to helicopter parent over youtube / games / web access. Is modding an old android phone with nova launcher the way ?

No problem - I didn't read it that way at all. Looks like Insta have blocked access via bibliogram as have tried other instances and same issue 🤷

Was about suggest the new Sony Walkman's but then checked out the prices - maybe not

https://www.gearnews.com/sony-walkman-is-back-meet-the-new-audiophile-grade-mp3-players/

Need to be Apple?

Take a look at the Mighty Vibe. It's on Amazon. It's an iPod for Spotify.

Android devices (or mine at least) have a kids mode where you can choose the apps they have access to. No access to settings, store or whatever else if you don't grant them access.

Yep - looked at the previous gen of that (£200ish) - it runs android and I found a guy who did a mod to clean up the UI with nova launcher and kill the most of the google apps etc. But its too pricey and doesn't have a speaker. Ideally needs a speaker cos kid likes audible to get to sleep or while playing lego and the additional hassle of connecting to a BT speaker is annoying. At the moment they are forever asking to borrow our phones. Im hoping to be able to give them something that gives them music and stories whenever - without them needing to ask me, or for me to check they aren't on youtube. Kindle kids does audible through BT but no spotify either.

yeah have seen - do like - but no interface / speaker etc - want to be able to choose stories / music at will.

ta - can restrict on apple too to a degree - but hardwear is spenny obvs. I think android is more customisable if you get into the nerdy launcher stuff. and old phones are cheaper.

You could (probably) setup a separate network on your wifi, and block access to specific sites on that network, and only give your kids that password.
You can also set timers so it turns itself off at a specific times, if you are worried about excessive use.

Compared to my girlfriend's Apple the android kids space seems more locked down but also a better interface so it still seems to function normally, just with selected apps and no settings (at least it does on my Oppo).

I'd also look at one with an SD card, I'm assuming you won't have a sim card in it so extra storage might be useful.

Looking for a phone. Would like wireless charging, reasonable camera. Not too huge in hand. Budget between 200 and 350. Suggestions?

I think so.

Idk about settings or nova launcher, but it seems like the right way. You can have multiple users on an android phone, so I wonder if there's a way to utilise that.

Unfortunately the battery life on my spare androids are a bit shit, otherwise I'd offer to drop one off to you.

+1 to an SD card and I'd also think about something physically small.

setup a separate network on your wifi

Kinda think if your eldest is 9yo you need to do this regardless of whatever you do with the phone for your kid.

We have TP Link Deco 4 routers and the TP Link app allows all of this to be incredibly easily set up and managed with no knowledge of networking required. The only issue is that if you have things like Chromecasts then you can't cast if you're on a different network.

thanks - got a real cheap fairphone2 on ebay to fiddle with. hadn't really thought about wifi network stuff so will look into. I feel like there should be a market hole for some kind of kid friendly audio only streaming pod. spotify just released a kids app + their first bit of hardware (for car) - wonder if they've considered it.

there should be

Right. But most people just buy them a Kindle Fire and go back to reading FB and insta.