Where's my phone?

[puppykickr]

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-function-of-the-US-Better-Business-Bureau?top_ans=8038550

 

[Rgarner]

Well, it's finally here. This time it's talking about connecting to a wifi network, no mention of a sim card. I guess I should leave it off until I can get the SD in it and then follow Puppykickr's instructions. Here goes nothing...

 

[PitCarver]

I guess the phrase "It's about time" may be appropriate now.

Good luck

 

[puppykickr]

Fingers crossed...

 

[Rgarner]

Ok, maybe I did something wrong because the darn thing is already loaded up with googoo. I mean pretty much everything. That worthless Facebook was on there too but at least I could delete it. I'm not sure wifi had anything to do with it as I cannot connect to my friend's network. He has that charity case Xfinity for about $10 a month. I even chose the password and now it won't let me into it. How do I get past all this crap and change the password? I'm typing this on his phone because I probably couldn't connect to AF otherwise.

 

[Rgarner]

Ok, I guess I took care of the password problem. Now how do I connect to the internet without getting googooed? I have No Root Firewall running, and the phone's trying like mad to "finish setting up" that garbage. Right now I guess it's stopped because it keeps saying 0 out of 3 complete (thank goodness). How do I keep the evil empire at bay while I download Duckduckgo?

 

[puppykickr]

First, Duckduckgo is an excellent search engine, but a pretty lame browser.

It used to be great, but a few years ago they changed it and it really sucks in comparison.

Go ahead and use your new device, because that will be faster and easier.

Be sure that Airplane Mode is on, SIM card is out, and go through NoRoot intensely.

After you get NoRoot set up, turn Wi-Fi on.

Download F-Droid. Use whatever toilet biscuit excuse for a browser that is built in.

https://f-droid.org/

Once that is downloaded and installed, get rid (clear all data and disable/uninstall) of whatever browser you had to use to get it (Google, Chrome, or whatever stock mess it came with).

Set up F-Droid, going through all the settings.
(There will be more to this later on, because there are other app repositories to add.)

F-Droid takes a bit to set itself up, there is a catalog of thousands of apps.

Afterwards, use F-Droid to download the following:

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/dev.patrickgold.florisboard/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/acr.browser.lightning/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/theredspy15.ltecleanerfoss/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.midorinext.android/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/eu.faircode.netguard/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/ch.protonvpn.android/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.simplemobiletools.filemanager.pro/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.simplemobiletools.gallery.pro/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/rkr.simplekeyboard.inputmethod/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.cookiegames.smartcookie/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.telegram.messenger/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.kollnig.missioncontrol.fdroid/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.videolan.vlc/

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.jarsilio.android.waveup/

And yes, there is more- but you already have enough to do at this point.

There are multiple browsers here, all based upon Lightning but with different options.
Reason being is that you can set a browser to automatically open on a certain site, essentially making that browser an app for that site.
I use Midori just for Android Forums.
Also, I don't know exactly what you want in a browser, so now there are options.

There is PLENTY of room for all this, and because the apps are so small there is no reason not tohave them all.

After you set all these up, go back into F-Droid and get ALL the rest (16) of the Simple Mobile Tools apps.
Yes, all of them.
They sync with each other well, and you will need utility apps if you are not going to use stock or Google apps.

There are going to be issues that anyone used to using Google poop is going to be annoyed with, and things may start out slow.

One thing is certain, without Google poop my devices run better.

Open your Developers Options as well, because you may need to make some adjustments there.

Let me know how it goes so far, and if you want more.

Also, depending upon the age of the device (6 months, a year and a half?) it nay constantly badger you about updates and crap like that.

Just let it do it this once, as it most lijely is only going to update the Google junk you don't want.

It is tedious, but I did find a way to revert these crAPPS back to their original (stock to the device) sizes and versions.
You will need (and you want this anyway) the UpToDown app for that.

https://en.uptodown.com/

I know this is a lot to dump onto you all at once, but renember that I spent 3 hours in the parking lot at Wal-Mart immediately after I purchased my device.
That was all before I inserted my SIM or allowed it to connect to the internet.

When I got to that point, I used their Wi-Fi, lol.

You will need a better laucher, because stock apps cause bowel obstructions.

https://nova-launcher.en.uptodown.com/android

(Probably the highest recommended laucher on Android Forums.)

Personally, I use KISS.
After you use it (about 12 hours), it learns your habits and most controls are had with one to three button pushes.

Like when I want the apps setting page, I touch the screen to reveal the keyboard, type "A", and then "apps" appears and I select it.

Or I can find the app in the app drawer, long press it and a menu comes up.

It is very different, but like I said- after 12 hours it won me over and I hate all other launchers.
Nothing is faster or easier.

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/fr.neamar.kiss/

Back to those browsers, you can set the home page to be any website or search engine that you like.

If you have certain settings that you want in your search engine (and you DO), then get the bookmark information, and copy/paste it into the proper setting on the browser.

I included Telegram in that list of apps.
I find that social media is basically a turd on a stick, so Telegram is a great communication app.

Also, if you like, I could give you a link that would allow us communicate one on one at a level not really possible on this forum.

In fact, phone calls, videos, pictures, and all that is free on Telegram- unlimited and without ads!

 

[puppykickr]

Oh, yeah- I almost forgot.
Google and such junk will be preinstalled on Android phones, unless it is some specialty item.

It will be your job to find, clear data, and uninstall updates and disable all that you can.

Another issue is stock poop.
As another Motorola user, there are plenty of intrusive pest apps from the Motorola company.

Some of these will constantly pop back on.

On mine, there is a worthless crAPP called Wi-Fi Manager, that does nothing of the sort.

All it does as far as I can tell is to make sure that Google Play Services is running.

If it is not, then it shuts off Wi-Fi service- over and over!

I have denied all possible permissions from Google Play Services, and cleared all data- while blocking the internet with a firewall.

Eventually, I hope to use this:
https://appcontrol.neocities.org/index_en.html
To get rid of Wi-Fi Manager all together, and then I will disable Google Play Services.

 

[Rgarner]

YES I would like that. This is an incredible amount of stuff to remember which is why I am borrowing a printer. I'll probably have to set aside a day or two for it. It sounds as if it'll definitely be worth it, thanks, thanks, thanks. At least it's charging and has a camera, even if not a very great one. I wish there were some way to graft an apple camera onto an Android phone. That'd be da bomb.

 

[PitCarver]

Puppy Kicker has given you an awesome starting point.
The simple apps are an awesome alternative to the stock apps.

 

[Rgarner]

Well, I got No Root Firewall up and running. Of course I couldn't use wifi with airplane mode (even I know that) and I had to switch it off but now googoo is saying it can't get to fdroid. It keeps timing out somehow. I'm not sure what to do about that. I checked the pending list but didn't find anything from chrome. Could NRF be messing up things?

 

[Rgarner]

By the way, if I get a new phone one of the first things I do is get developer options. Consider it done. I want to block as much crAPP as I can. Ideally, we would just build our own phones. Mine would open easily, possibly with a hinge, and have a removable battery. It would be supersimple to install/remove sd cards, etc., but if wishes were horses...

 

[puppykickr]

Actually, Wi-Fi works great with Airplane Mode on.

Use the quick setting tile menu to turn Airplane mode on, and every radio goes off.
Now use the Wi-Fi tile to turn the Wi-Fi on.

After you get NoRoot and a few apps squared away, turn the device off and insert your SIM card.

Generally, I try to get as many apps done as I can before I do that, but we all like to play with our new toys.
This is why I put the apps above, and many more, on an SD card and installed them immediately right in the parking lot.
Literally plugged it into the cigarette lighter charger and went at it for 3 hours straight.

Had an extra phone (Moto e6) with a few apps as well, I linked with bluetooth and transfered the apks that way.

When I fired it up after I put the SIM in, it went nuts trying to link and do some 'security update' BS.

As I thought, 'security update' meant updating Poopgle apps that I don't even want.

So when you get to this point let me know.

It is sort of a PITA, but you find the app on Uptodown (you need the Uptodown app for this) and then go through tge versions sections and find the version that is on your device now (usually highlighted).

Then you choose any OLDER version near that one and try to install it.
It will try, then you will get an error stating the fact about the older version and that you must uninstall your version first.

Try to do that.
It will not work, but it WILL return that crappy Poopgle app back to its original form.

Do this for each Google app that was 'updated'.

See, Google has a habit of not supporting old apps.
Apps that are old enough may work fine, but the ads may not come in any more because Google only supports the bewer versions of the app.
This is why I hate auto-update and the like so much- because I have apps like this that I do not want updated at all.

Anyway, once the apps are returned to their original state clear any data and disable them and/or block them with a firewall.

NoRoot is pretty cool, but beware.
The app was much hardier in previous versions, but the UI was wonky.

The UI was fixed in the last update, but now the app can unexpectedly turn off.

I found this out the hard way on morning when I did not recognize my device anymore.
Google had 'updated' the ehole damn thing (again!) and NoRoot was off.
Sometimes it won't even start on boot like it is supposed to.

Generally, it works.
But it is less reliable than it was, and I think Google had something to do with it.

NetGuard is MUCH more hardy, but also much more difficult to use.
It also sometimes unexpectedly just blocks all internet from my devices.
(My friend overseas claims that this does not happen to him.)

Be sure to go into your VPN settings and select both Keep VPN On At All Times and Block Connections Without VPN.

If your internet quits working, check the key icon in your status bar first.
Right hand side good, left hand side bad.

I recommend using NetGuard instead, even though I have issues with it and usually use NoRoot myself.

Google has never been able to turn off NetGuard and mess up my device.

If you think all this is a ton of work, you're right.
But imagine being me, and having Google 'update' (take over) your device 4 hours before you have to get up for work and all the apps are different and now have ads.

This happened multiple times, even two days in a row.

Heading to work late because I have to 'fix' my damn phone that Screwgle just can't leave the hell alone.

Another app in that list is Tracker Control.
This is made from NetGuard.
It works much like a firewall, except without separate controls for Wi-Fi and cellular internet.

But it adds contol over individual domains that each app tries to link to.
To be honest, two things here.
(1.) This would probably be the very best wsy to desl with the firewall situation.
(2.) I have never took the time to completely set up a device properly with Tracker Control.

I always wind up constantly going vack and allowing or disallowing domain after domain, until I give up and just use one of the firewalls.
But it can give useful info, such as what conties are tracking you with what apps you use.

Also included is Proton VPN, so you have a free, unlimited VPN to use at public wi-fi areas.

And I am still recommending Telegram for you and your friends.
Private message me for my contact info there.

 

[puppykickr]

So, did they actually send you the right device, unlocked and NOT from TracFone?

 

[puppykickr]

Modern devices also now include a quick setting tile to turn off all sensors (camera, compass, etc.).

The problem is when you only want to turn off one of them, namely the camera.

Here is one that used to be on Google Play Store,but is no longer there.
(That actually makes me trust it more, lol.)

https://cloudapks.com/app/com.introneapps.pandroidcamera/

This gives you administrator control over the camera with a quick setting tile.

Install it, set it up (easy), and turn it on- then try to use the camera.

 

[Rgarner]

Yeah, they actually sent what seems to be an unlocked phone, although it does have the TracFone logo at the end of booting. At least I haven't had to put up with any "insert sim" nonsense this time. I wish I'd known about fdroid sooner. I probably would have put the apps on SD while it was still in the Moto G Play. Live and learn. You totally lost me at "tiles", though. Aren't those the things that windows uses? Also, I need some kind of beginner's course on how to use No Root Firewall. I tried looking it up on the net, but there was very little on actually HOW. Most of that was yucktube videos with some guy from India (I think) holding up a phone that kept getting custom numbers put in it and then either green checkmarked or red xed. I guess that's really handy for people who know what they're doing. I guess I don't have a sim card. I didn't notice one in the box, and I'm keeping every bit of that stuff, including the outer cardboard box, come hell or high water. That's ok if I don't because I probably wouldn't want it anyway. I'm using it wifi only. I finally got it hooked up to my friend's charity case Xfinity, which is how I'm getting (almost nothing) done besides the semiok camera and whatever's on SD. I noticed No Root Firewall has symbols such as probably a wifi set of curves and a bunch of taller to smaller or vice versa bars. I'm guessing they're for wifi and "regular" service respectively. What else should I know about NRF that wasn't included in the users' manual? What is PITA? I bet it's pain in the a$$. I got the VPN stuff done, always on and don't connect otherwise. How do I do the private message thing? Is it the envelope? Please answer soon because the library is closed today and tomorrow, and my only other choice is this borrowed phone. I gotta thank you for all your help. I just wish I could be smarter about these things.

 

[puppykickr]

I just saw your reply and have a ton of stuff to do today.
And I started late.

Yes, PITA is what you think it is.
(learned that here, lmao)

I will get back with you as soon as I can.

 

[Rgarner]

Ok, that sounds good. Maybe I'll try to start a conversation with you by using that envelope icon near the top. I'm pretty busy, too.

 

[puppykickr]

If we can't tackle it, there is someone that probably can.

This guy is great, I wish I knew of him sooner.

 

[puppykickr]

This is unlikely to work.

Why do you say that?
That is how I set up my devices now- I put the apps (apks) I place on all devices onto an SD card, and the first thing I do is install NoRoot Firewall and block everything until I have installed everything else.

This prevents the device from downloading tons of crap like they do when you first get them and turn them on- they can't wait for you to connect to the internet so that all that worthless junk gets downloaded onto the device.