I developed this app/widget a long time ago but it might still be useful to someone. It’s free with no ads or other things.
The purpose of this widget is to make it easier for elderly people to make phone calls and read SMS.
There are various applications like this, but none were as simple and essential as I needed it, so I decided to create one. I share it in case it’s useful to others.
Unlike other solutions this is a widget and not a launcher. The widget shows a dial panel, icons to show contacts and SMS and you can have buttons for a quick dial contact and device flashlight.
You can configure the widget from the application.
It is recommended to use a launcher that allows you to remove any other item from the home page and that allows you to lock the home page so as to prevent the person using the phone from removing the widget.
The Neo-Launcher home page lock is great and is what I currently recommend.
It needs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) or newer.
Uses the following permissions:
- android.permission.CALL_PHONE: to initiate a phone call. If you don’t give this permission the application will open the default dialer app with the selected telephone number.
- android.permission.READ_CONTACTS: to read the contacts to be displayed.
- android.permission.READ_SMS: to read the SMS to be displayed.
- android.permission.CAMERA: to use the flashlight.
For devices using Android M and newer, the buttons and icons you see in the widget depend on the permissions given to the app. For Lollipop and older devices there are switches to decide what you see in the widget.
You can download it from https://easyjoin.net/index.html#otherapps.
Here is the direct link for the apk: https://easyjoin.net/download/DialerWidget%201.3-6-release.apk