Transferring data from Droid X before giving it to the kids

[bdclary]

Similar to some other folks, I'm planning on picking up a new phone (S3) when my contract expires next month and letting my kids use the X. Before I do, I have a few questions.

1. Transferring data:

I just bought a 32gb microSD card that I plan on formatting in the S3. After formatting, I'll copy over everything from X's microSD card. Does anyone know of any issues with this approach?

2. Transferring applications:

This will probably get tricky since I want to leave a few applications on the X for the kids. But first, my understanding is that once I associate my Google account with the S3, my apps will be downloaded and installed on the S3. Does this include free apps? Will this uninstall them from the X? There are a few apps that I bought for the kids to play with, and I'd like them to remain on the X, so I'm assuming that I'll have to leave my Google account associated with the X.

3. If do I leave my Google account associated with the X, I don't have to perform a factory reset, right? The X will just stop working as a phone (Verizon service stops), and we'll be able to use wifi, right?

4. Kid-proofing the X for 3 and 2 year olds.

Since I plan on keeping my Google account on the X, I'm trying to think of a way to prevent the kids from doing stuff they shouldn't: buying stuff on Play, accessing email, etc. I'll obviously uninstall any apps they don't need, as well as remove shortcuts to apps I can't uninstall. But they'll still be able to access the app drawer in the bottom right. Which scares me. Anything else I can do?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Brian

 

[ylexot]

1-should be no problem.
2-once you associate the SG3 with your Google account, it should automatically download all apps, paid and free. The apps will stay on the DX as well.
3-right.
4-I think there are apps that allow you to password protect other apps. You might want to look for something like that.

 

[bdclary]

As I anxiously await the arrival of my S3 sometime today, I thought of another question.

In my original post, I mentioned that I'm basically going to copy over everything on the SD card to the new phone. Now I'm wondering if there is any data stored internally on the X (not on the SD card) that I should copy over.

It'd be nice to copy over text and call logs. Is there an easy way to do this?

I haven't moved any of my apps to the SD card, so I'm assuming all my app data is stored internally. I'm not sure I need this app data--off the top of my head I can't think of any app whose information I can't get online--but to be safe, is there an easy way to transfer this? My SD card is nearly full, so I doubt there's room to move all apps to the SD card before copying the card over the S3.

 

[themib]

move some of that data to a pc

 

[Doit2it]

The best solution for your 4th question is to factory reset the DX and set it up under a new Gmail account. That way, they do not have access to your Gmail account and they cannot purchase apps in the Play store unless you set up a payment option for the new account (usually when you make your 1st purchase). Of course the con is they would be restricted to free apps only.

Another option is to root the DX (very easy) and purchase Titanium BackUp or similar app where you can 'freeze' apps you do not want them to access (Gmail, Play store, etc).

Note for question 3: After your DX is removed from the account, you can turn off the cell radio to extend the battery life a little. WiFi will still work fine.

 

[bdclary]

move some of that data to a pc

Thanks! Do you know where I can find the text and call logs?

The best solution for your 4th question is to factory reset the DX and set it up under a new Gmail account. That way, they do not have access to your Gmail account and they cannot purchase apps in the Play store unless you set up a payment option for the new account (usually when you make your 1st purchase). Of course the con is they would be restricted to free apps only.

I thought about this, but I've purchased a few apps for them through my Google account, and I'd rather not purchase them again.

Which brings up an interesting question: does the Play store allow you to transfer ownership of an app (or music, movie, book, etc) to another Google account? Probably not, but it'd be nice.

Another option is to root the DX (very easy) and purchase Titanium BackUp or similar app where you can 'freeze' apps you do not want them to access (Gmail, Play store, etc).

This I may do. I'm not too worried about the Play Store, since I can set a PIN for it, but there's nothing preventing them from accidentally opening the gmail app and wreaking havoc.

Note for question 3: After your DX is removed from the account, you can turn off the cell radio to extend the battery life a little. WiFi will still work fine.

Did not know this; I'll definitely do this. Thanks for the help!

 

[themib]

i use 'sms backup+' to back up texts and call log to gmail
free, autobackup and easy to use

can do it manually with adb, might be link in my stuff
sd_shadow's list of links for Droid FAQs, SBF, Rooting, ROMs.... https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Goawxdx_UBF4Y8lqzHYWf8Ha3yUcRK4faq0UWIlXLWA/edit