[Bradford] Android - Recommendations for more freedom

[John Robert Hudson]

Hi David

Go for the DuckDuckGo browser on Android.

John

On Monday, 7 September 2020 16:48:57 BST David Spencer via Bradford wrote:
> Hallopeeps!
> 
> Does any of you have Android recommendations for
> 
> - text editor
> - irc client
> - pdf viewer
> - wireshark equivalent
> 
> I'm sick of looking for decent choices :(
> 
> Sadly also I've given up on browser freedom since Firefox on Android went
> to shit last week. So. Much. Derp. So. Many. Bugs. Going over to Vivaldi
> now, which is closed source :( but it goes some way towards Nick's wise
> pragmatism about privacy.
> 
> I'm using Keepassdroid which has the same db file format as
> KeepassXC/KeepassX, so I can keep the file on Nextcloud and use and update
> it wherever.
> 
> ttfn
> -D.
> 
> 
> On Sat, 5 Sep 2020, 16:41 bradlug--- via Bradford, <
> 
> bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk> wrote:
> > 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.
> > 
> > 
> > --
> > Bradford mailing list
> > Bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford
> > --
> > Bradford mailing list
> > Bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford