[Bradford] Android - Recommendations for more freedom

[bradlug at hackroyd.org.uk]

 Hi Nick,
Thanks for the information. It would be interesting to see some of these apps in action if you are at the next online meeting.

I use Nextcloud for my notes, calendar sync, contact sync and auto photo back up + auto back up of other files (audio etc). However, the app I use for displaying the Calendar is the Google one. The reason is because I like the screen widget. However, if there is a similar thing, that is OS, then I would like to see it. Also, in conjunction with Nextcloud, I use DAVx and ICSx.

I don't use a password manager because I have an alternative arrangement. On Linux I use KeePassX but if I was starting again I might decide to use BitWarden as it probably has a better UX and it is well respected.

I use OSMAnD exclusively but I agree, it is seriously lacking in respect to search. I get round this by using a computer for locating places, prior to needing then in the field, and then marking them up as 'Favourites' on the app.
Recently I've discovered how to get the app to plot my path and distance on the map, though I haven't entirely mastered this feature yet.

Firefox is my main browser, though I strongly dislike browsing on a touch screen device. I find it really hard to understand why people I know prefer a tablet to a laptop. For regularly used sites I do desktop shortcuts. For example, I found a site that gives information in regard to the sea wave height and temperature. Whilst it talks about swimming with 1m waves at 20 degrees I have found that 0.5m is my preferred maximum and minimum temperature 24 degrees. (usual temperature for a sports swimming pool is about 28 degrees).

I use 'KDE Connect' for various things.

For a terminal I use Termux.

I rarely watch videos on a mobile but, when I want a YouTube alternative, it's NewPipe.

Not on my mobile, but on a tablet that I use exclusively for radio/podcasts, I use, on a daily basis, AntennaPod for podcasts.

Sometimes I use Kore, not only for remote controlling Kodi, but also for sharing videos from mobile to Kodi.

... and of course, not forgetting F-Droid as an Open Source repository alternative to the Play Store.

Brian

    On Saturday, 5 September 2020, 16:33:31 CEST, Nick Rhodes via Bradford <bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote:  
 
 Hi,

What applications, tweaks, tricks, tips do you have for gaining more 
freedom in Android ?

I picked the word freedom carefully as I didn't want to limit to just 
FOSS, but I thought its fair to mention closed source applications that 
use/promote open standards and data and also those tools that respect 
privacy more so than alternatives.

What I have generally found is that FOSS apps use some combination of 
less storage, memory and battery than closed alternatives.

So to start with here is a list of applications worth sharing:

andOTP
- Opensource 2 factor auth. Simple, no cloud integration like others 
have (which could be considered a privacy advantage to others).

Bitwarden
- Password manager, I started using this over lastpass as it works 
better - being FOSS icing on the cake.

DAVx
- offers caldav and carddav sync standards to Android. Opensource

Etar
- Foss calendar application that works well with with caldav sources (eg 
from DavX)

FairEmail
- a FOSS email client that works great with IMAP. It lightweight and a 
little bit more modern than K9 Mail that I used previously.

Firefox Beta
- Firefox needs no introduction, but I am specifically using the Beta 
version as this is better optimised for Android than the release 
version. I've used Firefox for years on Android and desktop.

Magic Earth
- This is closed source navigation application. it does respects privacy 
well and uses OpenStreetMap which is open data.

Open Camera
- Brilliant camera application, can be used simply or use advanced 
features like a real camera.

OSMAnd
- Opensource mapping based on OpenStreetMap[1], great search, car 
navigation a bit lacking.

QKSMS
- Foss SMS application - I recently discovered this, seems quite good.

OpenTasks
- Straight forward opensource task manager that integrates nicely with 
caldav sources (eg from DavX)

Cheers, Nick.


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