B170D: Device Initialization

Unpacking the Device

Sort the SIM ejection pin, charger, USB cable, and all recyclable packaging away.
Remove film from screen and camera, and remove stickers from the device itself. Clean off any adhesive residue. Remove the SIM card.
If convenient, connect device to power.

Initially Setting-Up the Device

Power the device on.
The initial screen displays “Hi there”. Ensure the language “ENGLISH (UNITED STATES)” is selected and press START.
The next screen displays “About your BLU Device”. Make sure that only “Agree to our EULA” and “Agree to our Privacy Terms” are checked; the other agreements are not necessary. Before continuing, press Privacy Settings in the sentence “Select Next to use current settings or change your privacy settings”, and disable the two settings Help Improve BLU Products and Enhanced Device Support. Only then press the back button and press NEXT.
The next screen displays “Connect to a mobile network”. Press Skip.
The next screen displays “Connect to Wi-Fi”. It is not necessary to connect to Wi-Fi. Select Set up offline and select Continue to confirm.
The next screen displays “Date & Time”. Select GMT-7:00 Mountain Standard Time or GMT-6:00 Mountain Daylight Time as appropriate, and set the current date and time. Setting the current date and time is only necessary if not connecting to the internet.

Occasionally, for reasons unknown, this screen won’t appear, in which case the timezone and date and time can just be set manually in Settings → System → Date & time by disabling Select time automatically.
The next screen displays “Google Services”. Deselect all the options: Use location and Allow scanning and Send usage and diagnostic data. Press Accept.

Note that the below condition of pressing Accept is what grants Google permission to install junk apps on the device after being updated.

Install updates & apps By continuing, you agree that this device may also automatically download and install updates and apps from Google, your carrier, and your device’s manufacturer, possibly using cellular data. Data rates may apply. Some of these apps may offer in-app purchases.
The next screen displays “Set a PIN”. Do so, and press Next. Then re-enter the PIN and press Confirm.

Pressing Screen lock options brings up the options to use a pattern or password instead, but I think a PIN is the best idea.
The next screen displays “Visible Services LLC Device Pulse Terms and Conditions”. De-select both options: Provide Device Pulse app access to personalized device data and Allow Device Pulse to collect network data to improve your service; neither are necessary. Press ACCEPT AND CONTINUE.

We should now be on the device’s home screen.

Transferring Files

Since mounting the device and transferring the files take a second, consider starting on configuring settings while waiting.

Connect the device to a machine with the files via USB.
To allow for data transfer across the USB connection, navigate to Settings → Connected Devices → USB, and under Use USB for select File Transfer. This should mount the device’s storage on the connected machine.
On the machine’s file explorer program, copy-paste the files onto the device.
Once the files have been copied, on the device, under Settings → Connected Devices → USB, under Use USB for re-select No data transfer.

Configuring Settings & Installing Apps

Notifications Area Settings Dismiss initial notifications. Pull down on the notification panel and click the small pen button on the left to edit. Remove Bluetooth, Flashlight, Device Controls, Screen Record, Battery Saver, Screen Cast, and Quick Share. Go back, and of the remaining tiles settings, disable Internet, Auto-rotate, Mic access, and Camera access, and enable Do not disturb and Airplane mode.
Enable Installation of App from Source Go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps → Files by Google, and enable Allow from this source.

The Files by Google app can now be used to install apps from a transferred .apk file.
Delete Junk Apps Go to Settings → Apps → See all N apps, and click on each individual app to uninstall or disable. In particular, disabling the app titled simply Google will remove Google Discover from the left of the home screen. Note that Desmos requires that Google Play Services be enabled and that changing the device wallpaper requires that Google Photos be enabled.
Mute Sounds Go to Settings → Sound and vibrations, and move all the sliders to the left. Use the volume buttons on the device’s side to mute the phone.
Lock Screen Notifications, Shortcuts, and Message Navigate to Settings → Display → Lock screen. Under Privacy select “Don’t show notifications at all”, under Add text on lock screen add the text Colorado Mesa Univeristy Mathematics Department, and under Shortcuts set the left and right shortcut to “None”.
Increase Screen-Timeout Delay Navigate to Settings → Display → Screen timeout and select 30 minutes.
Reduce Text Size Navigate to Settings → Display → Display size and text, and set the font size to its minimum value.
App Pinning Navigate to Settings → Security & privacy → More security & privacy → App pinning, and enable Use app pinning. Ensure that the setting Ask for PIN before unpinning is also enabled.
Device Wallpaper Long-press on the home screen and select Wallpaper & style. Press Change wallpaper and select My photos to select pictures that were transferred to the device as the wallpaper for the home screen and lock screen.
Tidy the Home Screen Remove every unwanted app and widget on the home screens, and ensure that at least Desmos, Files by Google, and Settings are pinned to the home screen.

Marking the Device

This step is easier done in bulk once an entire set of devices has been initialized via the previous steps.

On the back of each device write CMU Math and some index number using a permanent marker (e.g. metallic sharpie). Consider placing tape over the device label.
On the top edge of each device make a mark with white-out that will be noticeable from the front of the classroom.
Consider adhering something to the back of the device so that it can sit levelled on a flat surface.

Appendix – Updating the Device’s System

Change Wallpaper This is to indicate that the device has been updated.
Disable Airplane mode and enable Wi-Fi.
Connecting to CMU PSK Pull up the list of available Wi-Fi networks and select CMU PSK. Pull down Advanced options and under Privact select Use device MAC. Enter some dummy password to initiate contact with CMU PSK. From the list of available Wi-Fi networks select CMU PSK again and note the MAC address. From a web browser on a machine other than the device, go to MAVzone Applications → Network Device Registration. Log in (with just my user ID!), and click Create to add a new device. Enter some dummy Device Name and the noted MAC Address, accept the Terms of Use, and click Create Device. Now the generated password to CMU PSK can be found by selecting the device and clicking Edit. Note this password, and enter it for CMU PSK to connect.

It may be easier to connect to ANY other network.
Go to Settings → System → System update, and either press Check for update, or if there is an update wait for it to download and press Restart now to restart and install it. This step will likely need to be repeated a few times.
After installing system updates, upon remaining connected to Wi-Fi, the device appears to automatically download some apps as per the malicious agreement with Google. They appear to be: Chime, Temu, Cash App, Pandora, Solitaire, Bubble…, CrossWord…, and Merge, Block…, theDaily, and GameHub. Wait for this to finish, then uninstall/disable those apps.

Appendix – Changing the Device’s PIN

Go to Settings → Security → Screen Lock. Re-enter the old PIN, and then Choose a new screen lock.

Appendix – Resetting the Device

Power off the device.
Hold the POWER and VOLUME-UP buttons until the manufacturer logo appears.
At the screen with an opened-up droid with the caption no command, hold the POWER button, the press-and-release the VOLUME-UP button before releasing the POWER button.
At the “Android Recovery” screen Use the VOLUME-DOWN button to move the selection down to Wipe data/factory reset, the press the POWER button to select that option. At the next screen, do the same to select Factory data reset.
The data wipe-will be quick. When it’s complete, select Reboot system now.