Turn Note 3 into iPod

[brickrick]

I got a new phone and want to turn my old rooted Sprint Note 3 into a media player.

I won't be using it for anything except playback of audio (and maybe video).

I want it to run as fast and smooth as possible.

Please advise on the best way to do this, and:

- whether the phone be more efficient by installing a custom ROM or just restoring to factory settings in the normal way

- If I restore phone to factory settings in the normal way, will I lose root?

- In either case, what changes/settings will I need to adjust for minimal processes running and maximum cpu/ram available?

- What is your favorite audio player app for local playback (I will load the phone with mp3s and m4as)?

 

[psionandy]

No need to root anything... Pop it in flight mode... Turn WiFi or Bluetooth on as required.

Poweramp for music (pro version on sale at the moment) pocketcasts for podcasts and off you go.

Simples

 

[lunatic59]

Audio playback is pretty minimal in terms of resource impacts, so if all you are going to be playing is music you should be fine sticking with stock.

- If I restore phone to factory settings in the normal way, will I lose root?

That depends on how you rooted.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I don't know about Sprint but T-Mobile updated to Marshmallow. So now I have an HTC phone (which I love) with Marshmallow and the Note 3 with the same. If Sprint sent one out try the update before you delete everything but your favorite music apps. Marshmallow might make you appreciate your Note better IMHO.

 

[lunatic59]

I merged your duplicate threads here. It will be much less confusing if discussion about one topic happens all in the same thread.

 

[brickrick]

I merged your duplicate threads here. It will be much less confusing if discussion about one topic happens all in the same thread.

Cool, I only created the second thread because I'm a noob and didn't realize at first that there's an Android Questions forum which has infinitely more eyeballs/replies than the Note 3 specific forum. I should've created the original thread there and titled it "Turn Old Phone Into iPod." If it could be moved there under that title, actually, that would be awesome. (The Note 3 forum seems pretty dead, and this is not a model-specific topic.)

Audio playback is pretty minimal in terms of resource impacts, so if all you are going to be playing is music you should be fine sticking with stock.

My new phone is a Note 5 and responds much faster during use than the old Note 3, so I figured that if I'm just gonna be using it for media playback, why not strip it down from all the unnecessary processes that run by default so it's fast and light. Your point is taken though, perhaps anything besides just resetting to factory settings is more trouble than it's worth.

Would love a few more perspectives, as well as suggestions on the other points.

 

[psionandy]

I'm using a note 2 for that exact thing.. And it works wonderfully. If you are using a device that is +1 better you shouldn’t have any problems

 

[brickrick]

Generally speaking, is there any way to turn off unnecessary programs from running (rooted or unrooted), as can be done in Windows (msconfig)?