Best software to make car media center for toddler?

[slackerinabox]

Instead of a dvd player (who uses dvds?) I ordered a 10.1 generic android tablet and a car mount - what toddler friendly launcher/etc. would you use to set this all up?

Basically, I'd like her to be able to play pre-defined games (no access to app store) and also for the media player to be thumbnail based - most I've used are text based, and she can't read. ios does a nice job of the videos being browseable by sight, anything good on android?

 

[vi edit]

I pretty much hated every Android kids mode launcher I tried. Best thing I've found to dummy down stuff and still make it easy to manage is the kids mode with windows phones. You won't get a screen as big, but a 6" Lumia 1520 is still pretty big. You can tile every movie and game on one easy to scroll screen (no folders) and completely lock it down.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I don't know of a single app that is just "install this and the tablet is now a kids toy."

But with this app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nezdroid.cardashdroid&hl=en

You could manually do it. Just add shortcuts to the games you want her to access, and then if its a Lollipop tablet lock in that app:

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/ho-to-pin-apps-in-android-5-lollipop/

Looking around this media player can be put in a thumbnail mode:


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidcodemonkey.videos.free&hl=en

 

[quikah]

I pretty much hated every Android kids mode launcher I tried. Best thing I've found to dummy down stuff and still make it easy to manage is the kids mode with windows phones. You won't get a screen as big, but a 6" Lumia 1520 is still pretty big. You can tile every movie and game on one easy to scroll screen (no folders) and completely lock it down.

You can get a Windows tablet and do the same thing. just setup a kids account, enable family safety and pick which apps you want to allow. Works pretty well.

 

[dainthomas]

Sounds like a recipe for massive ADD.

 

[slackerinabox]

Sounds like a recipe for massive ADD.

Oh, ha - it's only for long trips. After 3 hours you'll do anything to quiet an energetic toddler. i wouldn't use it for daily trips just because I don't want it to get stolen (it'll be tucked away 75% of the time). trust me, my wife's a teacher and is big on screen time discipline.

 

[slackerinabox]

I don't know of a single app that is just "install this and the tablet is now a kids toy."

But with this app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nezdroid.cardashdroid&hl=en

You could manually do it. Just add shortcuts to the games you want her to access, and then if its a Lollipop tablet lock in that app:

http://www.cnet.com/how-to/ho-to-pin-apps-in-android-5-lollipop/

Looking around this media player can be put in a thumbnail mode:


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidcodemonkey.videos.free&hl=en

You know, I figured it should be simple to rig something like this using commonly available utils, appreciate the info. Will look into that media player as well, thanks! I kinda miss the kindle kids unlimited experience, but our hd6 is too small for car use and two kids.

 

[WelshBloke]

Instead of a dvd player (who uses dvds?)

People with toddlers?

 

[Kaido]

Instead of a dvd player (who uses dvds?) I ordered a 10.1 generic android tablet and a car mount - what toddler friendly launcher/etc. would you use to set this all up?

Basically, I'd like her to be able to play pre-defined games (no access to app store) and also for the media player to be thumbnail based - most I've used are text based, and she can't read. ios does a nice job of the videos being browseable by sight, anything good on android?

For just movie playback, it looks like MX Player lets you do thumbnail previews of videos:

The pay-for version ($6) has a plugin available called Kids Lock:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxtech.kidslock&hl=en

Screenshot of the control option:

Prevents them from closing the video player:

There's a heavy-duty lockdown app called SureLock Kiosk, which is $50, but it lets you lock down 100% of everything:

http://www.42gears.com/surelock/surelockandroid.html

So ONLY the apps you want appear on the homescreen (not even the settings) & you have to enter a password to do literally anything else. That's the best I've used in terms of a complete lockdown system. Alternatively, you can setup something like Smart Launcher 2 for free & put the apps you want in the main screen's "flower" arrangement for easy access:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ginlemon.flowerfree&hl=en

Then throw on App Lock to lock down the rest of the system:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domobile.applock&hl=en

 

[leper84]

Can't you just create a second user profile and only allow specific apps? IIRC you can already do that with Android.

Edit- yes, yes you can- http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/google-android/3461359/parental-control-on-android-image/

 

[slackerinabox]

For just movie playback, it looks like MX Player lets you do thumbnail previews of videos:

The pay-for version ($6) has a plugin available called Kids Lock:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxtech.kidslock&hl=en

Screenshot of the control option:

Prevents them from closing the video player:

There's a heavy-duty lockdown app called SureLock Kiosk, which is $50, but it lets you lock down 100% of everything:

http://www.42gears.com/surelock/surelockandroid.html

So ONLY the apps you want appear on the homescreen (not even the settings) & you have to enter a password to do literally anything else. That's the best I've used in terms of a complete lockdown system. Alternatively, you can setup something like Smart Launcher 2 for free & put the apps you want in the main screen's "flower" arrangement for easy access:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ginlemon.flowerfree&hl=en

Then throw on App Lock to lock down the rest of the system:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.domobile.applock&hl=en

Awesome post, very helpful - thanks!