Can I delete the Android Market?

[CSM-martin]

My son wants a droid, which I'm ok with, as long as I can monitor his internet usage, and what he downloads. I've been researching it, and I've found a program that will monitor the browser activity and the app downloads, but I've read user testimonies that state it can be force closed and won't re-activate until the browser is accessed. While it's closed the activity on the market won't be monitored, so my son will be able to download whatever he wants. Is there a way that I can just remove the Market completely? I've been told that rooting the phone allows me to remove apps that I can't if the phone running normally. Is the market one of the apps that I can remove?

[Sing1gniS]

Rooting will allow you to remove the market. If you do that, it takes away one of the great features though. I know where you are coming from, but I just think if you are going to do that, you might was well look at another phone.

[icculusX]

Yes, you would have to root the Droid and then erase the vending.apk file to get rid of the market. Still you would have to also get rid of the browser if you don't trust him. And even still (if your sons a little smart dude like I was back in the day) he could always get an app file on his computer and install it to his phone without the market or browser.

I agree that if you don't trust him or his decisions at this point, it would be better to look into a different phone. I know I shouldn't tell you how to raise your son, you're the best at that job, but I didn't have a smart phone until I was 24 years old. Maybe sooner is better, but it depends how soon I think...

[smokiedabong]

There are so many things that can be done to bypass this , I wouldn't even bother . Let the kid enjoy his phone , what can he do ? Overdose on porn ?
For example , he can buy a secondary micro SD card and back-up the whole OS you created to that and restore his own custom version , use that and restore your version before getting back home . It takes less than a minute to restore a ROM backup .

[icculusX]

Sorry, I love seeing when the dude with the name "smokiedabong" makes a post. I would have to say that you shouldn't take fatherly advice from such a user name, but he is right in a way. Either let your kid have freedom and base your relationship on trust and some monitoring, or get him a really nice 'dumb' phone (which some have the internet anyway, and therefore, yes, plenty of porn).

[phatneff]

There are so many things that can be done to bypass this , I wouldn't even bother . Let the kid enjoy his phone , what can he do ? Overdose on porn ?
For example , he can buy a secondary micro SD card and back-up the whole OS you created to that and restore his own custom version , use that and restore your version before getting back home . It takes less than a minute to restore a ROM backup .

Seriously?? If the dude is worried about the "kid's" internet usage, do you really think the "kid" knows how to do a backup and restore a custom version??? I doubt it.

Just get a different phone. Or root it and put Sapphire on it and don't add the Google Apps update.zip.

[kepley]

Doesn't Google keep track of all the apps you download via your account? Free and paid?

[phatneff]

Doesn't Google keep track of all the apps you download via your account? Free and paid?

Yep, but you have to have all of the Google apps and login to your Google account on your phone in order for Google to track them to you and your phone.

[Mclovin93]

Yea if you delete the market, that's destroys half of the phone.

[dezymond]

he might as well not have a droid if you take out the market.

just make sure he doesn't get his hands on a credit card.