Can I turn a phone into a kid friendly mini tablet?
August 16, 2017 3:04 PM   Subscribe

I want to turn an old phone into a kid friendly mini tablet fun thing. Is it possible?

I know next to nothing about smart phones.

We have a Vodafone Smart First 6. It's a pretty basic phone. It runs Android. I'd like to remove all telephone/sms functionality and install a few basic apps; some games, BBC iPlayer, camera. I don't want it to have a web browser.

Is there a stripped down kid friendly, secure distro of Android that I can install on the phone? Is it possible to install another OS than what's installed on this phone?

Any advice would be welcome!
posted by run"monty to Computers & Internet (5 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: you'll probably have more luck using various parental controls on top of the existing OS. there is stuff that google has already baked in as well as add-on applications. here's a recent article to give you a start.
posted by noloveforned at 3:11 PM on August 16, 2017


Google has its Family Link option which lets you specifically configure a device for kids with monitoring, filtering, and time limits.
posted by camcgee at 8:47 PM on August 16, 2017


FYI, I just found out (while on hold with the police...) that most deactivated cell phones are still capable of calling 911. The recoded hold message said not to give them to kids. I say, make sure to talk to you kids about 911, and how it's not a game. (Ps, noise complaint was successful)
posted by Valancy Rachel at 10:53 PM on August 16, 2017


Response by poster:
FYI, I just found out (while on hold with the police...) that most deactivated cell phones are still capable of calling 911.


Oh. I'd rather remove all phone functionality from it completely. I want to end up with something like an iPod touch.

You say you know nothing of smartphones, but you know about the idea of different distributions of the Android OS? Just trying to clarify your tech knowledge level. Could you jailbreak a phone and flash a new ROM?

I'm comfortable with Linux, so most likely.
posted by run"monty at 12:45 AM on August 17, 2017


Response by poster: Oh. I'd rather remove all phone functionality from it completely. I want to end up with something like an iPod touch.

I just removed the dialler app. (For reference: Settings > Device > Apps > All) I didn't expect it to be that simple.

you'll probably have more luck using various parental controls on top of the existing OS. there is stuff that google has already baked in as well as add-on applications. here's a recent article to give you a start.

Thanks. That's exactly what I need now.
posted by run"monty at 12:55 AM on August 17, 2017


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