Category: Blog

Popular Apps on G-mee Play

Posted on | by The G-mee Team

We are regularly told by customers their favourite apps to use on their G-mee play. We thought would list at the top three and encourage you to submit your favourites.

Spotify and Spotify Kids

The world’s largest streaming music and audio content platform is the favourite app as communicated to us by you. The ability to create playlists for all types of different scenarios from getting ready for the day to winding down at night time, Spotify is a favourite. Spotify offers a family plan that allows up to 5 extra users to attach their account to the one family plan subscription. As a parent you can set parameters around the type of audio content available. You can block explicit music, and listen without advertising interruption, enhance the sound quality to a higher bit rate and more.

Another benefit is accessing Spotify kids (region dependent). This is a separate app that hosts targeted content for the youngest members of the family. The number of songs is in the thousands of verses the millions for the regular Spotify app, but it’s a targeted service and one that you can use for the kids in the family. You can then transition across to the main app when they’re older. Many of our G-mee customers tell us they use regular Spotify app but help the kids create some playlists for music they like.

DuoLingo

One of the best apps around to help kids learn an all-new language. Duolingo makes learning a new language fun and entertaining. The process of learning a new language has been gamified with lots of puzzles and exercises designed to make it easier than ever to learn to speak a different language. Duolingo also has young users in mind as it regularly reminds you to get back to the app whenever possible to continue your education, I mean game. Duolingo is free and inside you get enough to learn, but you can upgrade to the paid app called ‘Duolingo Plus’. The basic difference with Plus is you get some more features and you don’t have to be exposed to some of the annoying ones in the free version. Basically, if you can consume the ads in the free version best to stay with that one!

Smiling Mind

It’s so good to finish the day with a mindfulness exercise and the free Smiling Mind app will help you to do just that. Smiling mind is a not-for-profit kids mindfulness service that creates a range of meditations for kids to destress or just help clear their mind. It’s great for using at the end of a hard day at school or as a mechanism to help clear your mind to send you off to sleep. When loaded onto the G-mee Play it can be set to play a mindfulness exercise and then just finish to silence as your kids are now sleep. This app is not just used by parents for their kids, but also by teachers to help their students with a 15 minute mind break during the day.

G-mee Troubleshooting

Posted on | by The G-mee Team

1. G-mee Play not finishing ‘Checking for updates’?

Here is the solution:

Your G-mee Play needs to connect to a Wi-Fi access point. Your device will ask you for your preferred Wi-Fi transmission option.

When you connect your device will check for updates to download. This step should take about 60 seconds.

If this step takes longer, there may be an issue accessing your home Wi-Fi network. A factory reset of the device is the best solution.

To do this, follow these steps:

a) Turn off your device
b) Turn it on again using the Power and Volume up button (hold for 10 seconds)
c) Your device will boot to a list of options – choose the ‘factory reset’ at the bottom of the list
d) Select factory reset
e) Your device will now reset and return to the set up wizard
f) Begin setting up your device again

2. Notice some bubbling on your screen?

It’s the plastic film added in the factory, just remove it and replace with the included tempered glass screen protector.

To easily apply the screen protector, you can watch the first part of the video below:

3. Device a little slow of once you add your Google account?

That’s just all your apps updating, give it 10 minutes and your device will operate normally.

4. Not powering on once you insert the battery?

Plug it in to the power for 2 hours and try again. If its still not powering on, get in touch with us.

    Help Us Help YOU – We Provide The Best Customer Experience Solutions!

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    We love helping our customers achieve the best possible user experience with their G-mee device. Sadly, from time to time we are left out of the loop and not included in the process of providing a solution. If you have a question on how to use your G-mee device, please get in touch with us directly as we have found the various marketplaces we sell G-mee devices are not across different user experience solutions.

    This customer experience is a great example:

    Most times the G-mee play power setting is to blame for the above experience. The battery has been changed to ‘Low power mode’ instead of ‘Smart saving mode’ and thus when the screen is locked the music app stops playing. It’s not the G-mee devices fault, it’s part of the android software’s bag of tricks to conserve power and make the battery last longer.

    It’s a simple process to fix by selecting ‘Smart saver mode’ in the battery setting and will mean that regardless of whether you want to listen to a podcast, your favourite streaming music or an audiobook, your G-mee play will continue the audio experience even after the screen ‘goes dark’.

    It doesn’t matter whether you are using the built-in speaker, a Bluetooth connected speaker or earbuds, or if the 3.5 mm audio jack has connected a speaker or earbuds, your G-mee device will keep on delivering hours and hours of your favourite audio – you just need to correct the setting.

    We have reached out to the customer with the suggestion and we are waiting to hear back to confirm it’s all fixed. But get in touch with us if you have an issue so we can help find the solution.

    Setting Up The G-mee App Lock

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    Your G-mee device comes with built-in content controls to help manage the apps that can be used on the device.

    G-mee App Lock is a preinstalled feature that allows individual apps to be encrypted and accessible only after entering a pin number.

    To open G-mee app lock, open your settings, click on Security & Location, Advanced, App Locker.

    You will now be asked to set a pin code.

    Once chosen, select the apps you want to encrypt with g-mee App Lock – this is displayed by the padlock next to each app. Locked means that is encrypted, unlocked means it’s available to access without the pin.

    Click on the switch at the top of the page to turn the feature on and off at any time.

    Be sure to test some of the locked apps you have selected to ensure they have been successfully encrypted.

    Each app is still installed and can still be used by simply entering your selected pin code.

    You can also use app lock to block access to your g-mee settings, by locking ‘settings’ in the list.

    You can still adjust basic functions like volume controls, but access to the settings menu is now locked.

    For those with a G-mee Play or G-mee Connect, App Lock can also block access to new apps being installed by locking the ‘Google Play store’.

    You can now leave your google account entered into the Play store, but no apps can be added to your g-mee without entering your pin.

    All G-mee versions include G-mee App Lock.

    Changing the Download Location of Disney+ on your G-mee

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    Here’s a quick guide on how to change the download location of Disney+ on your G-mee Play.

    1. On your Disney+ app, tap your profile on the bottom right and access the App Settings.

    2. Tap the Download Location and choose External Storage

    3. Now all your downloads will directly be located on the External Storage. Also, please note that when setting your Micro SD, choose the option ‘Portable Storage’

    Following All Your Feedback, We Made G-mee Connect 2

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    Ram and Storage, we doubled it.  

    You said you want a snappier user experience. Apps to open faster and more of them to be accessible all at once, better for Games and you want to connect attachments like fitness trackers and smartwatches.  

    So we doubled the Ram to 2gb. 

    You said you wanted more internal storage to install more apps. External memory is great for mp3 files and other content, but apps like to install on internal memory.  

    So we doubled the storage to 16gb.  

    Better Calling Experience  

    You told us you want a better calling experience. You want to make phone calls in more places, even if mobile reception was poor. So we added Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWifi) so you can make a call over wifi (for compatible service providers). You also want better audio quality during a call, so you can now make calls over the 4G network using VoLTE.   

    Voice-over Wi-Fi and Voice-over 4G (LTE) now included 

    Charging is now up to 50% faster 

    You said you want the device to charge faster – you said this would make the experience mor convenient. Well, Connect 2 will charge up to 50% faster.  

    Better Touch Screen Experience  

    You told us you want an even better touchscreen experience. You want more accuracy when you select points on the screen. You said you loved the included screen protector, but you didn’t want to have to install it yourself!  

    Following months of R&D the new touchscreen is more accurate, stronger and we now fit the tempered glass screen protector at the factory. 

    Newer OS Please 

    You asked for a newer operating system with the latest android features, and you wanted more regular security and feature updates. 

    Connect 2 users Android 11 Go with security updates released quarterly.  

    Call Manager is Great, BUT 

    You love the included call manager and the ability to tailor who your Connect can call and receive calls from, but you don’t want to have to download it and install it.  

    Call manager is now embedded on the G-mee Connect 2 OS. Just activate the app during the initial setup if you want to use it, if you don’t need it, then disable the through the settings. 

    Order Now!

    Copying Files to a MicroSD card on G-mee Play

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    There are two convenient ways to copy files to a Micro SD card on your G-mee Play device. You can do this if you would like to take advantage of expandable storage for play back of music or videos, or just storing other files.

    With the G-mee Play switched off, insert the MicroSD card in the slot above the battery. Reinstall the battery, re-attached the back cover and power on the device. When the G-mee has booted to the main menu screen you will be asked to set up the Micro SD Card. At this point you must choose the option marked as ‘Portable Storage’. If you choose ‘Internal Storage’ you will not be able to directly copy files to your Micro SD Card.

    After tapping ‘Next’ you will be shown the below image. Now you have correctly set up the MicroSD card you can begin copying files directly to the card.

    Option 1 – Copy From Internal Memory

    You can transfer files from internal memory to SD Card on the device. Just Select all the files you want to copy, tap on the three dots on the upper right corner, tap ‘move to’. You will be shown the option to move the files to the SD Card. Just tap continue to move the files. Once done, access ‘Files’, and check the SD card if the files were successfully moved.  

    Option 2 – Connect Micro USB Cable to PC (or Mac)
    Your G-mee Play comes with a micro USB cable. Connect the G-mee Play to your PC or Mac using the cable and activate ‘File Transfer Mode.’ Just tap on the ‘Media device (MPT)’ on the G-mee Play.

    Once connected, open File Explorer on your PC/Mac and the MicroSD card will present as an option to copy files, just like the internal memory of the device.

    You can now click and drag your content to the MicroSD card on the G-mee Play, just like you would do with the internal memory of the device.

    Once copying is complete you can open the app and navigate to the MicroSD card to select and playback your content.

    Please Note – If you choose the wrong MicroSD card formatting option, you will be shown only one disk on the G-mee device after clicking the G-mee icon on your PC or Mac.

    Using Google Family Link With Your G-mee

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    You have lots of Parental Control options available for your smart device, some are better than others. Some solutions have richer features, while others are easier to establish and faster to set up.

    Your G-mee device includes App Lock built into the operating system on every device. Your G-mee connect also includes a call manager that allows you to manage inbound and outbound calls.

    Some parents are choosing to use the Google Family Link solution with their G-mee. This option allows the parent to choose from a range of different control features and get real-time information like device location and length of time of device use. However, the service is also highly detailed and takes some time to set up and learn.

    If you’re planning to use Google family Link on your G-mee device the service will work as intended by Google, however you must flag the app titled ‘Quickstep’ as allowed on your child’s list of apps. Quickstep is the Google launcher, and allows the device and apps to be opened. By blocking the app the G-mee device will stall at boot up and sit in this state unable to correctly start.

    Simply flag quickstep is approved, and Google Family Link work on your G-mee device if you choose to enable it.

    girl using the gmee device with a red case

    ‘My daughter doesn’t ask to use my phone anymore’

    Posted on | by The G-mee Team

    The debate over what is an appropriate age to give children a smart phone continues.

    Those for giving smart phones to kids at a young age cite physical safety concerns, such as wanting their kids to remain in contact as they go about their day. Some parents want to give their kids a device to teach their kids about safe device use while they can be supervised.

    Those against giving smart phones to kids at a young age are rightly concerned over online safety issues and their children’s exposure to inappropriate content.

    It’s a dilemma that rages, and one there hasn’t been a solution to – until now. The solution has come from none other than tech expert Charlie Brown, although it was actually his wife Rachel who came up with the idea.

    “Rachel wanted a device that would play apps our kids could use in their bedrooms safely,” Brown tells 9Honey.

    He had a look around using his extensive contacts and couldn’t find anything that would suffice.

    “We had rules [for the device] like no camera, no open access to the internet, it can run whatever app you want and we wanted something that allowed them to have adventures but managed adventures,” he says. “There was nothing that did that.”

    Read more here ‘My daughter doesn’t ask to use my phone anymore’ – 9Honey (nine.com.au)