Re: How does incoming caller ID work - and more specifically - can caller ID source data be controlled?

On Tue, 9 Jun 2020 21:26:29 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:

> Privacy-based tools that do _not_ use the default contacts sqlite db:
> o Dialer === SimpleMobileTools Dialer (a dialer is actually optional today)
> o Contacts === SimpleMobileTools Contacts (this is still essential today)
> o SMS === PulseSMS (this can be tricked into displaying the caller ID)
> 
> Each of those works just fine with an empty default contacts sqlite db.
> o *The only thing left is caller ID* (with an empty contacts sqlite db)*

Hi Gary and JJ,

There is something people like you, who know stuff, can help me understand.
Android 7 Nougat: <https://i.postimg.cc/j5pqr17b/phone01.jpg>
Android 9 Pie:    <https://i.postimg.cc/vByVz7pF/phone09.jpg>

With respect to finding apps that don't give away our privacy, for example:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/3NY6pCMG/phone03.jpg>

I should clarify that I'm still a bit confused what to "call" these things,
since, on my Android 9, there are only _two_ (not three!) default settings:
o Dialer === SimpleMobileTools Dialer (a dialer is actually optional today)
o Contacts === SimpleMobileTools Contacts (this is still essential today)
o SMS === PulseSMS (this can be tricked into displaying the caller ID)

For example, this lists 5 defaults, only 2 of which related to calls/texts:
o Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Default apps

Mine lists these three (which are not confusing to me):
o Assist & voice input === Screenshot Assistant
o Browser app = Tor Browser
o Home app === Nova Launcher

And then mine lists these two, which _are_ confusing to me:
o Phone app = Dialer (which is the "simplemobiletools" dialer app)
o SMS app = Pulse (which is, IMHO, the best SMS/MMS app)
As shown here:
  <https://i.postimg.cc/vZ1fHZWj/phone08.jpg>

Notice sometimes I change the settings, and nothing seems to change really:
o Phone app = Contacts (which is the "simplemobiletools" contacts app)
o SMS app = Pulse (which is, IMHO, the best SMS/MMS app)
As shown here:
  <https://i.postimg.cc/vByVz7pF/phone09.jpg>

What confuses me are two ephemeral observations I haven't figured out:
(1) Why isn't there 3 defaults (contacts, dialing, & sms/mms)?
(2) Why doesn't it matter what I set the default "Phone app" to?
-- 
Sometimes you need another perspective to understand what's not intuitive.