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what is demo mode (A1-830)

genterminl

Can anyone tell me (or point to appropriate documentation) exactly what Demo Mode is and how it differs from normal operations (other than the label in the lower left corner of the screen.) I've already disabled the demo app, as described in numerous other posts. I want to know the implications of leaving it, since I'd obviously rather not have to do a factory reset, which seems to be the only way to change it. As far as I can tell, all my apps continue to work normally. Separately, does anyone know for sure if I do a full backup in demo mode, can I then restore everything after a factory reset?

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-Justin

genterminl,

All your apps you downloaded from the Google Play store are linked to your account. If you perform a factory reset you can still just download them again. Previously purchased apps should not require payment when downloading again.

genterminl

Acer-Justin,

While that informatino may be completely correct, it does not address my question. I know it applies if I do a factory reset, which seems to be the only way to get rid of demo mode, but the question I actually asked is "What is demo mode?" which is still not answered.

-Justin

genterminl,

Demo mode is simply just a "state" that the tablet is in when it is sitting in a store for customers to mess around with and see what it is like. There is usually a demo mode video that plays, which you have disabled. Smiley Happy

genterminl

Acer-Justin,

Please try to see this from my side (and others who have posted similar questions) and understand why it seems like your responses are being evasive. How does that demo "state" differ from the normal state? If the only difference is the demo-video (which can be disabled) and the "Demo mode" label in the lower left of the screen, then why should it require a factory reset to turn off? At present, the only difference I can tell is that label, and I want to turn it off without having to reload apps and redo all my configurations. Is it possible? If so, how? If not, why not?

Note that demo mode can be invoked from the boot loader or recovery manager (I forget which, and don't want to reboot just to find out) but there is no information I have found anywhere that advises of the implications of doing so. It's an easy thing to do out of curiousity, but apparently incredibly difficult (or at least potentially time consuming and very frustrating) to undo.

billsey

I believe demo mode doesn't log into, or allow logging into, any Google accounts. That disables app purchases and likely also disables some or all internet surfing (wouldn't want someone to bring up dirty pictures on a tablet in the store). Since there's little likelyhood that someone fussing around with the tablet in the store hasn't done something awful they didn't plan on, it's just better to reset in order to switch into normal mode, it clears out all the crud that might have accumulated.

genterminl

Ace billsey,

That does make much sense, but as far as I can tell, there are no restrictions on my browsing. Just to test, I had no trouble finding a porn site, video included. I can go to the Google Play store, and it still knows all my "purchased" apps. I use quotes, because those are all free apps, and I have not registered a credit card. Why preevent someone stupid enough to enter real data into a demo tablet? The issues is that doing a Factory Reset should be completely independent of going into or out of "Demo Mode" which (as far as I still can tell) is no different from regular mode. (Someday I'll just hunt in the android source code, but that's not high enough on my list right now.)

I'd like to make a serious suggestion (whether to Acer, or to the core android development team - whichever actually created "Demo Mode")

1) When entering Demo Mode, make it obvious that the only way out is to do a factory reset, so it's not a surprise.

2) Create a way to pemanently (short of factory reset?) disable Demo Mode. Once a device is sold, this type of restriction doesn't seem to be at all useful.

3) Allow the user to get out of Demo Mode without a Factory Reset. Maybe on reboot when in Demo Mode, the first thing that happens is a popup where the choices are 1) remain in Demo Mode, 2) Factory Reset but stay in Demo Mode, 3) Factory Reset, go to normal mode, and 4) go to normal mode, no reset. The last one may not be useful for a display model in a store, but is essential for cases like mine and all the others who have gotten into this mode without understanding the implications.

4) an alternative would be that when in Demo Mode, all regular user information is saved, and any configuration set in Demo Mode is lost, so that returning to regular mode just resets to what was saved on entering Demo Mode.

Thanks for understanding the frustration of folks who inadvertently get caught in this trap.

genterminl

I'm adding this note mainly for future reference, as I think I've noticed another "feature" of demo mode. No matter what settings I use for timeout and sleep, the tablet seems to blank the screen after about five to ten seconds of inactivity, and locks the screen within another few seconds. In response, I've learned to always keep my finger on the screen enough to keep it active. However, I suppose it does make sense for a demo tablet on display in a store, to maximize battery life.

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