Amazon Fire tablets - change launcher

[jeremychildexeter]

Some years ago (2018!) John said that "it isn't possible to make BridgePal the home screen on a standard Fire tablet"

Is this still the case?

When I try to do so it asks me for a password and I have no idea what password it's referring to - the tablet has no unlock password.

Thanks

Jeremy

[johng]

The password exists to prevent players messing up the tablet configuration by experimenting with the menu functions. The default password is "xxx" but can be changed. It is documented in the BridgePal App User Guide under the heading " Options>>Change Password".

However, it is still true that it won't make BridgePal the home screen on the Amazon Fire tablet. That's a consequence of the fact that Amazon see the Fire tablet primarily as a means of viewing books and media purchased through their website and therefore do their best to retain control over the home screen and the lock screen !

[Mirna]

I converted an old Kindle into a standard Android tablet a few years ago -  see my post here. Of course I could then install BridgePal launcher on it easily. It might be possible to do this with a modern Kindle too. If you are inclined to try this you might want to search Youtube for something like "Turn your Amazon fire Tablet in a Google Android tablet".

[jeremychildexeter]

OK - did some research.

It is not currently possible to root current Fire tablets, so autoloading BridgePal isn't going to work.

I have however managed to remove the ads, lockscreen and other bloatware using Fire Toolbox (really easy to do).

So now I can get what I want (only Bridgepal) by using app (screen) pinning, but...

The back button is still active and allows the user to exit BridgePal.

Is there any chance there could be an option in BridgePal to disable the back button?

Thanks

Jeremy

[johng]

I wouldn't want to disable the back button because it provides the means to exit and restart the app if there is any issue. It does ask the user "Do you really want to exit BridgePal ?", so they do get an opportunity to say no. If they do go ahead and exit the app it will, when restarted, resume at the same point in the session from which it exited.

Also, doesn't the Home button still return to the desktop ? I don't think you can disable that except by making BridgePal the launcher, which you can't do on the Fire tablet.

[Mirna]

Thanks for the info, Jeremy. I am sure our other users will find this useful. I found this link for Fire Toolbox V30.2
Mirna 

[jeremychildexeter]

I wouldn't want to disable the back button because it provides the means to exit and restart the app if there is any issue. It does ask the user "Do you really want to exit BridgePal ?", so they do get an opportunity to say no. If they do go ahead and exit the app it will, when restarted, resume at the same point in the session from which it exited.

I get that most people would not want the back button disabled, which is why I suggested it as an option.

(As an aside, having exit as a menu option instead would lead to less accidental exits - but I don't know how many of those you get in practice.)

And yes, you can restart it, but that exposes the user to the Fire's unfriendly user interface.

Also, doesn't the Home button still return to the desktop ? I don't think you can disable that except by making BridgePal the launcher, which you can't do on the Fire tablet.

No the home button doesn't.  In pinned mode, none of the navigation buttons work unless the app processes them.  That's the point of pinned mode - the user cannot get out of it.  https://support.google.com/android/answer/9455138?hl=en-GB

Of course you can exit from pinned mode, but it requires touching two (or three) navigation buttons at the same time, and can be security protected (requiring password/pattern/pin).

It's an ideal way to enable kiosk mode without paying for it.

[johng]

I'll put it down as a possible future modification but I regard it as low priority at present. It really isn't easy to accidentally exit the app. If a user does so out of curiosity it's not difficult to restart it.

[jeremychildexeter]

OK - thanks, John.