Boox-compatible app blocker, perhaps?
December 1, 2020 1:20 PM Subscribe
I have a Boox e-reader. It won't let me hide the built-in browser. I need to make the built-in browser disappear. How?
If it's shared in the sense that it's shared with other devices, on many routers, you can generally pick out a device and limit just that device's internet.
If it's shared in the sense that you don't control the router, then yeah, that approach is a dead-end. However! It'd be a bit of a buried setting, but you could go under Advanced WIFI controls and put garbage in the HTTP Proxy setting (host 127.0.0.1 port 1234). You'll get a nasty error if the browser opens, and a notification about the network not having internet access that can be dismissed. It'll also mess with internet access in non-browser apps, though.
For less "scorched earth" blocking, there's public DNS servers which can be configured to block/allow websites off a list. OpenDNS is the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but I know they have competitors.
posted by Anonymous Function at 12:46 PM on December 2, 2020
If it's shared in the sense that you don't control the router, then yeah, that approach is a dead-end. However! It'd be a bit of a buried setting, but you could go under Advanced WIFI controls and put garbage in the HTTP Proxy setting (host 127.0.0.1 port 1234). You'll get a nasty error if the browser opens, and a notification about the network not having internet access that can be dismissed. It'll also mess with internet access in non-browser apps, though.
For less "scorched earth" blocking, there's public DNS servers which can be configured to block/allow websites off a list. OpenDNS is the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but I know they have competitors.
posted by Anonymous Function at 12:46 PM on December 2, 2020
I tried a few app lockers from F-Droid on my Boox Nova 2 and this is the first one that worked: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/io.github.subhamtyagi.privacyapplock/
posted by sibilatorix at 7:37 PM on December 2, 2020
posted by sibilatorix at 7:37 PM on December 2, 2020
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Yeah, no way to disable or hide the browser on the stock launcher.
However, installing an alternate launcher will add the ability to hide an app.
Tested:
- Nova Launcher Prime: a bit hard to set up on the e-ink screen, hiding apps is a paid feature.
- NoLauncher: This isn't bad. Show/Hide apps is always at the end of the apps list, so it's not hard to re-enable.
- Microsoft Launcher: Same deal with initial setup being a bit weird, but hiding apps with an optional password is easy.
I'm also just now noticing the parentalcontrols tag, which makes me think that it's not just hiding the browser, but disabling it? I'd encourage looking into the parental control settings on your internet router, as it'll be a more reliable way to block access. Any of the above home launcher replacements can be undone relatively easily. If there's only a single app to lock the user into, looking into a "kiosk" setup might be the next step.
posted by Anonymous Function at 10:10 AM on December 2, 2020