Android Controllers and Setup, past the CR100 brick

I opened a bookmarked Logitech Harmony/Sonos page and up popped a message saying that Logitech is working on a problum with the Sonos interface they noticed on 10/04 (or 04/10 ;)).

I was in bathstore yesterday when this caught my eye due to its familiar design style. It's removable and clearly splashproof and I wonder whether its hackable to support simpla Sonos functionality. There are now so many products designed in the style of.. I have a doorbell and nearly bought a dehumidifier which was the same shape and top design of a Play 1 only much larger.

Case for my Lenovo tab 7 Essential arrived so I plugged the wifi charging receiver in and hid it between the device and the case. It works fine. Only issue is that the charging pad and Wifi receiver I'm using is quite small and the Lenovo is a fair bit bigger, so it takes a bit of skill in putting it down on the charging pad in the correct place to get it to connect. I need to buy another charging pad anyway, so may see if a bigger one works better.

Philskill, Daniel, Alan, if you have any suggestions on a pad that is working well for you please shout out.

On a separate matter, that Neeo thing looks good, though lack zone grouping at the moment. Appraently that feature will be added in time and I am tempted to try one if that happens.

https://neeo.com/works-with-neeo/

The Androir screen pinning feature is a nice touch (I previously had to use a custom app launcher which was a bit clunky). It means that I could conceivably get a couple of other tablets for my kids bedrooms without them being able to use the tablets for nefarious purposes

Dr Tchok,
I have found that screen pinning is easy for the kids to get around and the Nefarious purposes were had. I have since turned to an app called something like "Fully Kiosk & App Locker" in order to prevent use of the Notification bar (where settings are found and thus Nefarious activity can begin).

The Kindle Fire suits my needs very well, but I get the impression that the non-standard Android implementation throws up a few irritations for some. I am sure if @Kenneth_14 has further observations as he plays around with the Fire and the Lenovo they will be of help to many (sorry to put you on the spot!).

So, played with the Lenovo a bit last night.
First impressions are that "pinning" the app is pretty useless because it tells you on the screen how to turn it off. My attempts at making it require a password / PIN code if you DO turn it off have resulted in it asking for the PIN code every time youwake it up. What I'm trying to do is have it so no unlock code is required to use the tablet, but that it is "locked" to the Sonos app - with a code being required only if you want to exit that app.

The reason is that I want to leave this lying around and don't want the kids using it for anything other than Sonos. Maybe if I set up a user profile that only contains the Sonos app? Anyone know if that would work - I mean can you delete everything else?

Anyone who can suggest a solution?

In the meantime, off to look into a case for the back of it, so that I can hide a wireless charging receiver between it and the device. My plan is to get round the docking station issue by using a Qi charging receiver that plugs into the mini usb and is hidden by the case, so I can just leave it sitting on the charging pad. Anyone with experience of this?

Thanks

If you intend to leave the tablet in a charger, there is an option that will allow the pinned screen to stay on with no need to unlock as long as the tablet in on the charger. To activate, you need to enable Developers Options:

https://www.greenbot.com/article/2457986/android/how-to-enable-developer-options-on-your-android-phone-or-tablet.html

Then you need to go into the Developers Options menu and select the option to Stay Awake while charging.

Thanks.
I've already done as you suggest on the Kindle Fires that I purchased, but haven't tried it on the Lenovo. Issue I have is that one member of the family doesn't like the fact that the device screen is on all the time 🙂. Keeps her awake apparently.

Feedback on the other thread dealing with these issues suggests that using a "Kiosk" app might offer the full flexibility that I want on the Lenovo at least. Whilst the same app can run on the Kindle, a read of the Developer's website saysquite a few of the key features will not work on the Kindle.

So, played with the Lenovo a bit last night.
First impressions are that "pinning" the app is pretty useless because it tells you on the screen how to turn it off. My attempts at making it require a password / PIN code if you DO turn it off have resulted in it asking for the PIN code every time youwake it up. What I'm trying to do is have it so no unlock code is required to use the tablet, but that it is "locked" to the Sonos app - with a code being required only if you want to exit that app.

The reason is that I want to leave this lying around and don't want the kids using it for anything other than Sonos. Maybe if I set up a user profile that only contains the Sonos app? Anyone know if that would work - I mean can you delete everything else?

Anyone who can suggest a solution?

In the meantime, off to look into a case for the back of it, so that I can hide a wireless charging receiver between it and the device. My plan is to get round the docking station issue by using a Qi charging receiver that plugs into the mini usb and is hidden by the case, so I can just leave it sitting on the charging pad. Anyone with experience of this?

Thanks

Lenovo Tab 7 Essential, on offer at Argos.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/8242523?cmpid=GS001}&_$ja=tsid:59158|acid:532-198-3455|cid:200223050|agid:12488287490|tid:aud-144400486596:pla-437799066444|crid:66128552450|nw:g|rnd:17859663352415267395|dvc:t|adp:1o3|mt:|loc:9046135&gclid=Cj0KCQjwy9LVBRDOARIsAGqoVns_pj4ZIT6YpY-2xaTmtSlrZfqWtBK0Zvj2eCx43spR9RisCwDa6OwaAqLOEALw_wcB

As many of us are being thrown off of our CR100's, and forced onto an external third party device, please use this thread to say what device you will use or have tried, and advise what settings and configurations make it work.

Please keep it on topic, use the "Save the CR100" thread to put the world to rights on the bricking of our functioning devices.

Life must go on, The CR100 will die, lets try to help each other find our best solution.

To start,

I have just purchased a Lenovo Tab 7 Essential, 7" screen so similar overall size to the controller, ordered through Tesco Direct, very fast service available in 3 hours from ordering.

Tesco added a discount so got it for £62, although They advertised it as the Tab 4 7" which is actually a different unit with slightly higher res and should retail at £99 rather than £69 anyway its fine at the right price. both run Android 7.0

So set it up with no security as I don't want a pin entry each time I pick it up.

Installed Sonos from Google play and allowed Sonos net connections and connected straight to my system.

Then set the sonos options to "Show lock screen controls" and "Show Volume on Home screen"

Set the Android screen saver to Clock (its a bit too small compared to the Controller) but can be shown when docked (charging), so leave the unit on and it blacks out to a clock, can be digital or analogue.

One downside of this particular device is the micro usb charging port is not central, so Belkin docks wont work, so the cradle/dock could be an issue!? Any ideas?

Leave the Sonos app running and it comes out of the lock screen into Sonos.

Without a proper cradle its not so easy to directly compare, sometime touching the display unlocks, othertimes I need to press the side power button.

If you touch the button it goes to the home screen, which needs a swipe to unlock, a nice touch, if sonos is playing and running, then the home screen wallpaper is the artwork.

On the home screen are quick access play,stop and skip but no volume, there is a tiny expander arrow that opens up a menu that has a button to change volume, but thats way too complex, easier to double tap the quick access area and it opens the sonos app to show you the zone with volume control, art, queue etc.
Bit the bullet and did the exact same as this - sorted but not happy.:8

For those paranoid about Alexa "listening in" all the time, there's always the Voice Remote for Echo devices. It requires pushing the Mic button to listen. It can be paired with any Echo device, for the hard buttons to work, but not with Sonos One. The voice control will work with Sonos, though. A nice solution for just $30.

https://www.amazon.com/Alexa-Voice-Remote-Amazon-Echo/dp/B01E9AHU8Q/ref=sr_1_1
Now, if we could only have Dot default to controlling a nominated Sonos player (volume, play/pause, etc) that would make this remote really useful.

I wanted to share my use case for the CR100 and how I am replacing it. I am a foster parent of teenagers. Some stay a while and some do not. I need to strongly control the internet and "device" usage in the home as some kids are *very* inappropriate. The CR100 was perfect because I could disable my wifi and still have a CR100 in each of the kids rooms. Now having to get some kind of "device" to replace the CR100 opens up an opportunity for that "*very* inappropriate" stuff.

Here is what I have come up with:
I purchased an inexpensive android phone, docking cradle and protective case for the bedside. I purchased the Motorola Moto E (4th generation) from an ebay vendor for $70 each.

On top of the stock android distribution I have installed an app called "Fully Kiosk Browser & App Lock down"

I disable almost all of the other android and google apps that came pre-installed

I installed the Sonos app.

I allowed the app to connect via SonosNet

Once I was connected to the SonosNet I had the device "forget" my primary network (so it now only connects via SonosNet)

Using the "Fully" I enable "Kiosk mode" so the only app that is available is Sonos and that app auto launches on boot. I also disabled (in "Fully") access to the Notification bar and settings.

Other than a few tweaks within "Fully" and the android OS this solution provides for all of my use cases.

I also applied the above to my old Google Nexus 4 and Google Nexus 5 phones and now have a Sonos Controller in locations that I did not have before.

I tried the Pinning method that Sonos suggests but unless you set the password protection on Android the kids can disable that quickly and easily. With password protection enabled I need to unlock the device all the time. This did not work for me.

I tried several other "app locking" applications but the kids were still able to get to the Settings menu and screw things up. If I ever left the Play Store available I would be totally screwed as they install VPN software to bypass the DNS filters I have in place.

I looked at several "Kiosk" packages and that was the way to go - but the cost of most of them were $50 per year per device. The "Fully" app was ~$7.50 per device, one time fee. Using "Fully" you can still disable the Kiosk mode and return the device to full usability - you just need to know the special gesture and the password. Should someone try and fail the device returns to its locked down Kiosk mode.

I hope that this helps some of you who have seniors in your life that can screw up any device they touch as well as kids you need to manage.

If anyone has a question please feel free to reach out.
Dan

Alexa can't be used for your own selections from your NAS.
Why are you posting this here, it's not relevant? This is how to set up alternatives that are something like the CR100 for people who want something NOW.

So i guess you missed the part about the iPort, then... :8