Here we go, guys. This is where we separate the kiddie mobile OS’s from the big boys: multiple user accounts. We’ve heard about it. We’ve dreamed about it. We want it. The good news is that we recently discovered early versions of it already baked into Jelly Bean AOSP, so we know Google has, at the very least, been toying around with the idea.
Today, a developer over on XDA managed to activate the sleeping code, getting multiple user accounts to appear in the power menu (activated when holding down the power button), and although it should work on any AOSP ROM (CM10, AOKP) there’s not much functionality. He showed off his handiwork in a video tutorial and after typing out a few lines of code in Terminal Emulator, you too can get multiple users accounts up and running on your ROM. Check it out.
Enabling Multiple User Accounts in Jellybean - YouTube
Another user managed to get it up and running on his Galaxy Nexus and provided some info on what’s working and what isn’t.
I found that in the second account there are apps that I don’t have in the primary account, for example: Google Wallet, Play Magazines, Play Books and Play Films. (I’m from Belgium)
Oh, they disappeared as soon as I signed in with my Google account.
If you are on the second user, most of the data from the primary user is hidden (you can not acces it).
For example:
- photo’s
- unlocked levels in Angry Birds
- music
- contacts
- google account
- clipboard
- home screen
But there are a few exceptions:
- all the apps are there, as if they were just installed
- the recent apps menu
- the use-app-as-default-setting (I don’t know the official name). For example: if you set Apex as default in the Guest account, it will also be default in the primary account.
- your messages (!)
Google software engineer Amith Yamasani actually addressed multiple user accounts after a dev attempted to submit a patch to AOSP tweaking the order of the power menu while multiple accounts were enabled. After rejecting the patch, Yamasani warned that, “Multi-user feature is not ready for deployment. Bad things will happen if you use it in its current state!” Yamasani went on to confirm that the Android user experience team has the final say on the UI for multiple UA’s and it will most likely change in the future. Shweeet…
The convenience of having multiple user accounts is something Android tablet users, specifically those with families, have been asking for awhile now. While it wouldn’t make much sense for smartphone users (other than having, say, a work accounts along with personal one) it looks like the possibility of multiple user accounts is all but certain in future versions of Android. Key Lime Pie perhaps?
12 comments for "Android’s Multiple User Accounts Shown Off On Video – All But Confirmed For Future Versions of Andro"
08-03-2012, 05:35 PM
away - #2
eazyvaboy
That's that real sh!t!
08-03-2012, 06:38 PM
away - #3
Cipherr
!!ing boss mode. Especially this:
If you are on the second user, most of the data from the primary user is hidden (you can not access it).
For example:
- photo’s
- unlocked levels in Angry Birds
- music
- contacts
- google account
- clipboard
- home screen
You already know where this is headed. Once they get your messages to not show on the second account, they will make a 2 passcode system for your lock screen. Can you imagine having 2 pattern unlock codes?
[pic]
One pattern unlocks your primary user, the second pattern unlocks a second user. When someone asks you to use your phone, just hand it over, when she hand that !! back like "Can you unlock it" you be like "Oh my bad shorty, I got you [pic]" put in that secondary unlock code and she gets to a clean Home screen and cant rummage through your contacts/facebook/photos/linkedin/texts and all that other !!.
The modern day player is about to come up. Shame I ain't a young buck anymore.
08-03-2012, 07:28 PM
away - #4
FalconBuddha
Originally Posted by Cipherr
!!ing boss mode. Especially this:
You already know where this is headed. Once they get your messages to not show on the second account, they will make a 2 passcode system for your lock screen. Can you imagine having 2 pattern unlock codes?
[pic]
One pattern unlocks your primary user, the second pattern unlocks a second user. When someone asks you to use your phone, just hand it over, when she hand that !! back like "Can you unlock it" you be like "Oh my bad shorty, I got you [pic]" put in that secondary unlock code and she gets to a clean Home screen and cant rummage through your contacts/facebook/photos/linkedin/texts and all that other !!.
The modern day player is about to come up. Shame I ain't a young buck anymore.
[pic]
Was just thinking whats the point of this, then though of what you just posted [pic]
Although, you know google is going to advertise the !! out of those so any !! that pays attention to commercials will know about it
08-03-2012, 08:47 PM
away - #5
mtbatol
Nice,
Android borrowing some desktop PC !! very nicely. Weird enough that Android is doing this before Windows Phone & iOS - given Microsoft & Apple has been doing this for EONS on computers n all...
08-03-2012, 09:01 PM
away - #6
NBA Brawler
Originally Posted by Cipherr
!!ing boss mode. Especially this:
You already know where this is headed. Once they get your messages to not show on the second account, they will make a 2 passcode system for your lock screen. Can you imagine having 2 pattern unlock codes?
[pic]
One pattern unlocks your primary user, the second pattern unlocks a second user. When someone asks you to use your phone, just hand it over, when she hand that !! back like "Can you unlock it" you be like "Oh my bad shorty, I got you [pic]" put in that secondary unlock code and she gets to a clean Home screen and cant rummage through your contacts/facebook/photos/linkedin/texts and all that other !!.
The modern day player is about to come up. Shame I ain't a young buck anymore.
[pic]I was thinking the same thing
08-03-2012, 09:03 PM
away - #7
Bleezy
I've been wanting this on my phone forever.
08-04-2012, 05:57 AM
away - #8
cohs
I've been wanting this on my iPad forever.
08-04-2012, 10:34 AM
away - #9
VictoryThagr8
Originally Posted by mtbatol
Nice,
Android borrowing some desktop PC !! very nicely. Weird enough that Android is doing this before Windows Phone & iOS - given Microsoft & Apple has been doing this for EONS on computers n all...
Or maybe android will actually have a native desktop mode when hooked up with hdmi and keyboard and mouse.
08-04-2012, 11:40 AM
away - #10
Manny05
This is what I'm talking about.
Google ftw! [pic]
08-04-2012, 02:42 PM
away - #11
Woodwin
Hopefully they patented it for mobile devices [pic]
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