[tech, phreaking] Googless Android?

[siderea]

Dear lazyweb

Comments

[jenk]

Getting apps: There are sites were people share Android apps (usually APKs). These are often of apps distributed through the Google store for folks on customized Android devices that don't have the Google Play store. However, you're then depending on the kindness of strangers to upload the APK they say it is

[siderea]

Thanks!

Depending on the version of Android it may have their "trying to predict what you need" thing (driving to work will take X minutes, etc).

Ooh, what's this now? And who's "their"?

[mellyjc]

I believe that's a Google thing. Siri does it too. If you have GPS enabled it learns your patterns, where you've been before. My ipod figured out that Tuesdays were rock climbing nights even though I never used the directions to get there.

[siderea]

So having figured out that Tuesdays were rock climbing nights, what did it do reflecting that? Like, add it to your calendar unprompted?

[etherial]

The only app I feel compelled to mention is Brightest Flashlight, although there are several games that I recommend generally: Monument Valley, Space Team, and Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection.

[mellyjc]

Ah I got to try monument valley. That is a neat one.

[mellyjc]

Most used app is a time suck for me: Slitherlink. Logicky fun!! Also Conceptis puzzles that come out on the weekly are a treat.

[chenoameg]

I procrastinated getting a smartphone until the beginning of this year, but finally I just gave up trying to worry about data privacy. As far as I could tell there is no way to functionally use a smartphone without linking it to some account or other.

[paradoox]

What about Blackberry?

[marici]

They've stopped making phones.

[siderea]

They've outsourced manufacturing. Kinda like (exactly like?) Apple.

[ext_3333921]

Alas, I have nothing useful to say about your security concerns, but here's some apps I find helpful/enjoyable

[siderea]

I greatly prefer Firefox to Chrome. If you use Firefox on your computer, you'll probably want it on your phone, too.

Ooh, thanks for the reminder that's an option. Done.

You may want a file manager; I don't have a particular one to recommend. If you want to customize ringtones, alarm songs, or other system sounds, the simplest way is usually to drop a sound file into the right folder.

Ah, yes. (Anybody reading this want to sell me on their favorite file manager?)

I prefer SwiftKey to the Google keyboard.

Yeah? Can you say more about what you like about it?

Weatherback

Done.

Thanks for the list, I will be checking these out!

[alexx_kay]

I use Hacker's Keyboard. It's the only keyboard I've found with arrow keys, which, given my fat fingers, and the fact that I do more editing than writing, are vital for me.

[adelenedawner]

I use PerfectKeyboard, which also has arrows. (They're hidden by default, tap-and-drag the spacebar up to show them.) The free version is nagware and I don't know how they compare on other features, though.