Android Setup

Android Setup

(EarthTeamwork.com 2020)

Remove all unused apps originally installed (bloat ware & tracking apps like weather/games). Next, add apps below and disable notifications when asked. There are many ways to add apps beyond Google Play Store. Files By Google allows sharing Apps directly between phones. ScrCpy allows PC to control and file drop to Phone. CX File Explorer and File Manger + allow FTP file sharing over local network. SHAREit allows file sharing between PC/Android. It is possible to install pre-downloaded apps saved as APK files and stored on MicroSD card. This is sometimes called side-loading because it does not require inter net access. APK files are available to download at www.APKpure.com.

CX File Explorer: A powerful file manager app. Allows one to quickly browse and manage the files on your mobile device, PC, and cloud storage. FTP option for local sharing

File Manager +: Second free fast easy and powerful file explorer for Android devices. FTP option for local sharing. Can backup CX File explorer

Files by Google: File management app that helps you: Free up space, Find files faster, โ€œshare files offline including install Appsโ€, fast and without data

Nova Launcher: A powerful, customizable, and versatile home screen replacement. It allows all devices to have the same layout with a backup/restore option.

Chrome Browser: Google Chrome is a fast, easy to use, and secure web browser. Turn off tracking/personalization and no sync. Good to have multiple web browser options

Firefox: Firefox web browser is dramatically redesigned to be faster, easy to use, customizable and private. Good to have multiple web browser options

Psiphon: Protects you when accessing WiFi hotspots by creating a secure, private tunnel between you and the Internet. Allows you to change country of origin.

Gboard: Gboard Google Keyboardโ€”speed and reliability, voice typing (easily dictate text on the go), Glide Typing, and more. Enable numbers on top row for easy access.

Camera MX: Camera MX offers every Android user an easy-to-use yet full-fledged camera app, regardless of the manufacturer of their smartphone

Clock: Clock combines all of the functionality you need into one simple, beautiful package.

โ€ข Set alarms, add timers, and run a stopwatch

VLC: VLC media player to the Androidโ„ข platform. VLC for Android can play any video and audio files, as well as network streams, network shares and drives, and DVD ISOs

ColorNote Notepad Notes: notepad app that gives you a quick and simple notepad editing experience when you write notes, memos, e-mails, messages, shopping lists and to-do lists.

Zoom: Stay connected wherever you go โ€“ start or join a secure meeting with flawless video and audio, instant screen sharing, and cross-platform instant messaging - for free

WPS Office: Free Office Suite for Word, PDF, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms, as well as Cloud Storage, and Online Editing & Sharing. Works with Google Classroom, Zoom, & Google Drive

Radio FM: Radio FM (Radio for Mobile) is an app to play Internet Radio stations from all over the world.

Voice Recorder: Best free recorder for high quality sound. Simple and easy to use. You can reliably record your meetings, personal notes, speeches, lectures, songs. There is no time limits.

QR & Barcode Reader: Scan all common barcode formats: QR, Data Matrix, UPC, EAN, Code 39 plus more. CSV export to excel. Manage product inventory.

Text Fairy (OCR): Converts an image to text for free with no ads (works offline with no internet). Copy extracted text into the clipboard for use in other apps or share with CX File Explorer.

Avast antivirus: Protect against viruses, malware, spyware or adware-infected apps. Secure your device against phishing attacks from emails, phone calls, infected websites, or SMS.

Ccleaner: Remove junk, reclaim space, clean RAM, monitor your system and browse safely.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cxinventor.file.explorer

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alphainventor.filemanager

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.nbu.files&hl=en_US&gl=US

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.chrome

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.firefox

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.psiphon3.subscription

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magix.camera_mx

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.deskclock

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cn.wps.moffice_eng

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radio.fmradio

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.media.bestrecorder.audiorecorder

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teacapps.barcodescanner

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.renard.ocr

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avast.android.mobilesecurity

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.piriform.ccleaner

https://sourceforge.net/projects/scrcpy.mirror/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adsk.sketchbook

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.zedge.android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitstrips.imoji

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tr.kavuntek.thermometer

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.camerasideas.trimmer

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.quicksupport.market

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lenovo.anyshare.gps

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsapp

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs.editors.docs

ScrCpy: Windows PC app to display & control Android device using USB cable (ex show movie or edit document using keyboard/mouse, drop files). Android 5+ and enable USB debugging

Maps.me: Fast, detailed and entirely offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation. Download desired maps in advance. Can also import and export KMS map files.

Sketchbook: Graphics edit app with access to fast and powerful creative sketching tools.

Zedge: offers an extensive catalog with millions of free sounds, backgrounds, live wallpapers, stickers, and ringtones.

BitMoji: Your own personal emoji. Create an expressive cartoon avatar. Choose from a huge library of stickers โ€“ all featuring you. Enable as keyboard insert option.

Thermometer: Thermometer calculates indoor temperature fast and accurate. No special permissions needed. Uses only device sensors for calculation.

YouCut: Video Editor, Trimmer and Joiner app for YouTube and other social media. Merge photos to create slideshow and add audio to create MP4 video file with upload option.

TeamViewer QS: Get support for your mobile device from any Windows or Mac computer! Offers the ability to chat, transfer files back and forth, view device information, and much more

SHAREit: Fast cross-platform sharing app allowing transfer between Android, Windows, Apple. 200 times faster than Bluetooth, with speed up to 20M/s.

WhatsApp Messenger: Send/receive messages, calls, photos, videos, documents, and voice messages using your phone's Internet connection or Wi-Fi.

Google Docs (email required): Create new documents or edit existing files. Collaborate & share documents. Work anywhere, anytime - even offline (select Settings and enable the Offline toggle)

More Good Apps

Andro Shredder: Allows one to permanently destroy file contents and wipe previously used storage space, so that secret data can't be restored even by advanced recovery tools.

Scanpet New: Barcode scanner & Inventory app is a barcode scanner, an inventory management system and a Wifi barcode scanner in one app. Import/Export Excel spreadsheet data.

Chess: Best free Chess game on Android. Its first class tutor makes it great for both developing Chess Strategy and improving your chess skills.

TeamViewer: Provides easy, fast and secure remote access to another computer, smartphone or tablet with ability to chat, transfer files, etc

Wifi Analyzer: Recommends the best channel and place for your network. Gives you the most useful optimization information to help decrease interference and increase connection speed.

Fing: Wifi monitor used by 35 million users. Who's on my WiFi? Have I've been hacked? Is my network secure? What is my internet speed?

Ping Tools: Network device information. Show all devices on Local-Area Network. Ping - ICMP, TCP and HTTP ping. Network performance measurement and tuning. Speed test measurement

Clone It: backup and transfer 12 types of mobile data from one phone to another in two easy steps, without the need for a cable, a computer or network.

Smart Lens (OCR) (internet): convert image to text: scan and translate text, document, scan and detect phone number, email, website url, business card, etcโ€ฆ

Adobe Scan (OCR) (email required): free document scanning app from Adobe turns your device into a powerful portable PDF scanner that recognizes text automatically (OCR).

Evernote (email required): Write, collect, capture ideas as searchable notes, notebooks, memos, checklists, & to-do lists. Take notes and create notepads in a variety of formats: text, sketches, photos, audio, web clippings, and more.

TextNow: Free Texting & Calling: you can use TextNow without WiFi! Get unlimited calling and texting in the US over the Nationwide Sprint Network -- for FREE

Life360: Family Locator: Sync your family in a private, invite-only Circle to see each otherโ€™s real-time whereabouts. See an ongoing timeline of your familyโ€™s past trips, retrace your steps

Barcode: QR Code Reader Free can read and decode all kinds of QR code and barcode, including contacts, products, URL, Wi-Fi, text, books, E-mail, location, calendar, etc.

Google Keep (OCR) (email required): Create notes & lists, set time and place reminders, and check off completed tasks. Dictate, add photos/drawings, group by color or #labels.

This example is based on creating a library based mobile classroom learning system for Tibetan refugee children in India. It was also tested at an orphanage in Haiti. The idea is to make things inexpensive, simple to use, and easy to fix without technical help. For example, use the Nova Launcher App to standardized the home screen to look the same regardless of manufacturer or android version (includes backup/restore option). The principles work for setting up android tablets or phones.

Note1: If it is a new phone try to disable tracking and simplify display when prompted (or fix later if too late).

Settings Display: Sleep = > 30sec or more (not 5 seconds), Auto rotate = on, Adaptive bright = off, Wallpaper = simple solid black both home/lock screen (can take photo of black and set photo as background)

Settings Sound: disable or select very quiet option for welcome, power off, and most notifications

Settings Developer Options Enable (hidden by default). To enable, goto Info = setting โ€“ system โ€“ about, then tap 7 times on build number to activate. Now set USB Debugging = ON

Original Setup: Unlock code = None, Data collect = off all, Skip wifi setup to avoid updates, Privacy = set all tracking/personalization off, provide no email address for account setup, provide no payment details

Note2: If full interactive teaching system were used without internet in a classroom, then a laptop running portable caliber would be helpful to share/collect student documents, video, audio, etc. Enabled hotspot without internet and tell caliber to connect/start content server.