[Bradford] Android - Recommendations for more freedom

Mon Sep 7 18:59:12 UTC 2020

 I use Zim on the desktop and I find that the Nextcloud app that is simply called 'Notes' renders those notes very well. I put the Zim directory under 'Notes' on Nextcloud so that it syncs all my desktop notes to Nextcloud and hence my mobile. Notes doesn't download all the notes to the mobile. Instead, when you do a search on it, then it will do a download on demand. 'Notes' renders quite well. It produces bold type as bold but italics as bounded by // the text //. Notes can't render any images I have included in Zim so it just gives me the title of the image. Notes is very good at searching. It searches not only titles but words within the documents too. Not all editors can do that. However, it cannot do two word searches.  

As far as note taking goes it's basic, though I think you might be able to do  do markdown. 

If you want something more ambitious, for notes, then try Joplin. I used to use that on desktop and phone. I abandoned it for Zim because it, at one time, was inadequate on 2 word search and also search within the target document once found. I did keep feeding back my concerns to the developer but not a lot happened - however, I think all that has changed and if I were to start again I think I might go back to Joplin. Definitely worth a look. I think there is a Firefox extension too.  
Joplin - an open source note taking and to-do application with synchronisation capabilities

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Joplin - an open source note taking and to-do application with synchroni...

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I don't know about IRC but I find the Matrix / Element(previously Riot)  project interesting.
Brian

    On Monday, 7 September 2020, 17:55:33 CEST, John Robert Hudson <j.r.hudson at virginmedia.com> wrote:  

 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
> > --
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> > Bradford at mailman.lug.org.uk
> > https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/bradford

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