yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android General] andyrtr:
While I very much honor the work you provide here I would prefer a "recommended" app list for certain tasks. F-Droid is still poor offering you alternatives or showing any rating/downloads and such stuff.

Maybe you can rework it to something like

Browser: IceCat, OrFox(with Orbot) - alternatives Firefox, ... (just my choice here)

eMail...

Messenger...

Application names could be links to the FDroid store or upstream website.

This would be much more useful when setting up a Google free phone for the first time. Right now your list is not much different than to browse the FDroid search function and its package infromation page. Right now there's no hintful information

what I might try first or is well tested not leaking data or observing you (e.g. even some opensource browsers do so).

Here is some list about apps and recommended service providers from a german project to setup your phone fully google free:

https://www.kuketz-blog.de/datenschutzfreundliche-apps-und-dienste-android-ohne-google-teil7/ (topic 4.) - I guess you get the idea.

You might also get some input from there: https://forum.fairphone.com/c/software/fp-open

Another idea would be to ask for a total FLOSS forum section at XDA where such stuff could be collected with discussion about security, pure AOSP Google free phone setups and so on.

FLOSS ftw :good:
[Android General] Primokorn:
Actually several apps listed here are not available on F-Droid. F-Droid is a FLOSS app store so they decline any open source app that doesn't respect their Inclusion Policy. By the way, some FLOSS apps aren't available on F-Droid (lack of time or big apps to maintain).

I also tested more than 90% of the apps I posted in this thread so this is more or less my recommended app list.

Finally F-Droid has already built MANY apps and a lot of them are discontinued. As for me, I'll

try

to only keep apps that have an active development. (I'd say commits not older than 1 year)

I think suggesting 'alternatives' isn't a good idea because it can encourage visitors of this thread to use proprietary apps if I didn't list the FLOSS apps that suits their needs. Moreover, almost anyone knows which proprietary apps to use for each category so only suggesting FLOSS apps for each category seems to me enough.

It's a good idea but this is already explained in microG thread, or just flash a custom ROM without Gapps and without Play Services - so you have to avoid CM, Dirty Unicorns and many others. AFAIK OmniROM is one of the few custom ROMs that don't rely on Play Services.

Once this is done, come here and choose new apps to use :)

BTW FP forum uses Google Analytics...

Good point. I'll suggest the idea to XDA Mods/Admins very soon ;)

EDIT: done => http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=69442362&postcount=2601

Thanks for your feedback!
[Android General] Primokorn:
A new week, a new update:
[Android General] kspearrin:
Thanks for including bitwarden!
[Android General] Primokorn:
Is it for you to check the commits on GitLab?

I don't have a lot of time to support this thread and copying all links and texts takes too much time. However we can share interesting apps from time to time.

New app: UMBRELLA

Source code: https://github.com/securityfirst/Umbrella_android
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
I would like to bring attention to a new notes app. It's a fork of the great but no longer under development Writeily Pro.

Markdown Texteditor

https://github.com/gsantner/markor
[Android General] Marko Indaco:
Hi, the **Transdroid** link given is expired, the new one is here

Greetings
[Android General] shadowbone:
Does 'share via HTTP' provide the same functionality of that of super beam app ? In the sense, the feature of sharing files without internet and sharing to devices that doesn't have the same app installed, again without internet?

I hope I made sense. :D
[Android General] jerryn70:
Both are different dude. Super beam uses direct wifi (no need internet) transfer only to nearby devices. And it has http link sharing option also, that option need internet .

Share via http app needs internet to work . It creates a link that can be shared with others . I don't know more about the security of this kind of sharing bcoz we don't know where our files are uploaded . I think [MENTION=4958579]Primokorn[/MENTION] can answer you more clearly than me . And one question from my side is share via http safe ? Where is our files are stored /uploaded ?
[Android General] Primokorn:
Hey folks,

I did a massive clean up on GitLab to fix F-Droid links due to their new website.

Some apps have been removed (no longer available on F-Droid) and about 10 apps have been added.

I also created new categories to reduce the Tools/Misc section.

Tip: I always put "added" in the label of my commits when I add a new app so you can find the last ones here: https://gitlab.com/search?utf8=✓&se...d=2066940&scope=commits&repository_ref=master

[MENTION=4546389]jerryn70[/MENTION] I don't have enough time to check all apps :)
[Android General] androidfan999999:
Share via http doesnot need internet but it needs networking, the devices should be on the same LAN. The files to be shared are never uploaded. Instead, a web server is run locally with the files to be shared in the root of web server.
[Android General] shadowbone:
So, does that mean, if I connect a second device to my primary via hotspot, and run the software, it should work right?
[Android General] bdtoole:
New file browser app that looks pretty slick, and still young in its development:

Dir

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.veniosg.dir&hl=en

https://github.com/veniosg/Dir
[Android General] Primokorn:
Thanks. Added to GitLab and OI File Manager (Dir is based on OI FM even if it's looks more like Amaze).
[Android General] jerryn70:
Is there any app that shows list of all apps that we have purchased ?
[Android General] Primokorn:
Open this link with your

web browser

: https://play.google.com/store/account?purchaseFilter=apps
[Android General] #Henkate:
[MENTION=4958579]Primokorn[/MENTION]

There's many new apps on F-Droid, but in this post I wanna tell you about Material Notes. It looks quite nice and has some nice features as well (one of them is "bubble heads"). It's missing categories though, but it's not a big deal. I'm thinking to switch from OmniNotes to this one, but I'm not sure yet. Material Notes looks quite promising.

Source code | F-Droid | Play Store

It looks like they have some other well designed apps too, such a simple file manager. The source code isn't mentioned anywhere at that ones, but e.g. their file manager doesn't require internet permission though. Maybe they're planning to publish that file manager to fdroid too.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Material Notes is already mentioned on GitLab but I didn't notice that it has been accepted on F-Droid. I'm gonna update GitLab.

Feel free to create a pull request if the file manager is published.
[Android General] Primokorn:
I'll leave it here :)

Similar services have been launched by FACIL at Québec, Canada.

Illustration by Péhä (CC-By)
[Android General] Primokorn:
Since I no longer have time to find new interesting apps and there was almost no contribution, I close this thread.

If someone wants to take up the torch for this thread and Gitlab repo then contact me by PM.

Thanks.
[Android General] drabharathan:
Thank you this post and for keeping it updated. Some other apps I use that I found useful are

1. FTP server ( free) : full functionality.

2. Podlisten: easy GUI podcast app

3. Night screen: helps reduce brightness loooooower

4. Practice hub: a good kit for musicians

5. Red Reader Beta : ( in no aspect a Beta ) ; Reddit

6. SMS Back up+: adds SMS to Gmail.

7. Share via HTTP : bulk photo / video sharing

8. mBrowser : its so lean, easy to use for specific web purposes ( no need for add blocking add ons and well made ( ugly looking icon ) app.

Just adding in a few.
[Android General] Primokorn:
mBrowser and ShareViaHttp seem to be discontinued. All others will be added.
[Android General] drabharathan:
Thank you. They may not have had an update lately ( which you have been fantastic to be keeping track of ) but please do try them. They are so lean and blend well with system updates. They both run flawlessly on Android 7.1. Try XDA on mbrowser for example without an ad blocker! ?

Many thanks once again.
[Android General] Primokorn:
I never go anywhere without AdAway and my custom blacklisted domains :) Even if mBrowser seems pretty fast, it is really depreciated and I'm not sure if it's still safe to use it. Is it based on Android Webview?

EDIT: yep. Added.

I can't use ShareViaHttp for now. It seems it doesn't need any update to work flawlessly and it can be really useful for some users so I'll add it.

Thanks for your suggestions by the way.
[Android General] Primokorn:
No problem. Here you go.

At the end, you can find my whitelist (same as this screenshot).
[Android General] benkxda:
Wow, [MENTION=4958579]Primokorn[/MENTION] this is such a great index, a must-rate-5-stars. Keep it up, it's bookmarked. Absolutely great. :laugh::good:
[Android General] Primokorn:
Go to Menu > Your lists and you should have 3 columns (Black, White, Redirection).

I modify the default host files because it doesn't block everything, only the well known domains. Sometimes I use the Log DNS Requests to block further domains and I can import many domains from a txt file.

My modifications:

• Whitelist: a few domains to not broke app features

• Blacklist: some domains that I found within installed apps + anything related to Facebook (I really don't like this 'social' network) + to stop known NSA / GCHQ / C.I.A. or F.B.I. servers (mass surveillance). You can find useful links on AFWall+'s Github.

Feel free to post your questions. I'm glad to help when I can.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Tomorrow I'll be on vacation so it's time for a new update :)

NEW APPS:

UPDATES
[Android General] Primokorn:
You can find several sources of host files to block Facebook (e.g Github). About the mass surveillance, the link is on AFWall+'s Wiki.

It's not a good thing to have a huge host file because it increases the latency so your web experience will be degraded.

I already shared my blacklist. You just have to import the list into AdAway (there's an option for that - Your List > Menu > Import). AdAway will automatically merge your existing list with mines.
[Android General] #Henkate:
Nice thread.

Just wanna share this: https://github.com/pcqpcq/open-source-android-apps .
[Android General] Primokorn:
Since XDA has a limit of 30000 characters, I'll may have to create a repo on Gitlab in the coming weeks/months.

I'll have a look at your link asap.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Despite Black Friday, I have no discount to offer :D

I have created 2 new categories: Alarm clock/Timer/Stopwatch and Monitor. Kernel Adiutor (Mod) is now located in Monitor.

New link in the References section: Liberate Your Device!

UPDATES

NEW APPS
[Android General] #Henkate:
Here is a great article about Android without GCraps :D I dont remember where i have found this though.

https://android.izzysoft.de/articles/named/android-without-google-1 .I think you should add it to the OP.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Good documentation even if I disagree with some recommendations :)

Example:

Cheetah Mobile is privacy-friendly??? :eek:

I'll add your link as a reference (with a warning).
[Android General] #Henkate:
Umm, I readed that article some time ago. I didn't know there is mentioned app made by Cheetah Mobile spyware.

Today I've found a nice Notes app:

Notes (Take and manage notes) - https://f-droid.org/app/org.secuso.privacyfriendlynotes
[Android General] Primokorn:
Already added for the next update.
[Android General] Primokorn:
[IMG="GitLab_repo"]http://imagik.fr/images/2016/11/30/GitLab_opt.png[/IMG]

Direct link​

All information and more have been duplicated to GitLab! :)

I'll post only updates here and the whole list will be only available on GitLab. XDA forum isn't handy for such a thread.
[Android General] Primokorn:
I did a lot of modifications on GitLab to have more categories and a better order.

NEW APPS

New reference:

Android without Google (For general information only. There are weird advices like using Cheetah Mobile apps to improve your privacy...)
[Android General] Primokorn:
Take a peek at Turtl (mentioned on GitLab)

Website
[Android General] Primokorn:
Turtl has all what I need and it's hosted by a french association which works in free/libre softwares :)
[Android General] Izzysoft:
Pardon: what Cheetah apps? If you're talking about QuickPic (in part 4), when that article was written it wasn't owned by CM. And another apy reference I couldn't find. Let me know if I missed something :D

So may I suggest one more article from the very same site: Unofficial (and incomplete) list of F-Droid repositories?
[Android General] Primokorn:
AFAIR it was CM browser. I saw "CM" in the app name.

Anyway, my remark is still true for other apps: Dolphin, Opera, Aptoide, CloudMagic and so on...

Thanks for the link but I suggest this one instead.
[Android General] Izzysoft:
Yes indeed. That was replaced by Privacy Browser meanwhile.

What's wrong about those? I know that some doubt Aptoide (mostly for "black market" reasons which apply to several of its "custom repositories"), but its main repository (called "Apps" and manually curated by Aptoide staff) looks genuine to me, and is the only one I would recommend straight ahead.

I just checked about Dolphin, thanks to your hint, and guess you point at things like Let's Not use Dolphin Browser as it records us in incognito mode – good point, I wasn't aware of that! So thanks, and that one is fixed in the now updated article. I'm always open for pointers and critics :angel:

Remains the question: What's wrong with Opera? At about the time when that article was first published, even Lifehacker wrote:

OK, it's not fully open-source – but that doesn't necessarily make it "bad". Plus the article nowhere claims to recommending open-source only: while it's definitely to be preferred, it's not a religion :angel:

Last item on your list: CloudMagic. No idea how that one slipped in – apologies! Removed and replaced by Maildroid :) For the "and so on": as I wrote, I'm all ears.

Has less entries, all covered by the link I've mentioned :D

PS: Time for disclosure, if it wasn't already clear "between the lines": Those articles are written by me, and I'm running that site.
[Android General] Primokorn:
As a developer, I can't recommend an app store that allows users to download warez. ApkPure should be as genuine as Aptoide and there's no warez.

Opera is closed source but it's not the only reason why I wouldn't recommend it:

- Opera is 'just' a fork of Chromium

- Opera is an ad network so they collect a lot of your data

- Opera purchased a VPN company to offer their 'free' VPN feature. This company (SurfEasy) is based in Canada (a five eyes country). Bandwidth and logs are stored.

- Opera had accepted a takeover offer from a consortium of Chinese firms for the price of $1.2 billion.

- Opera is not very secure

- Lifehacker is definitively NOT a reference. I do not take their articles seriously.

That's a big difference between you and me. As for me, Open source Free/Libre softwares is a religion faith. While I have to use a few proprietary softwares, I would not recommend them. This thread is about FLOSS apps only ;)

You did a good job. Unfortunately I didn't have time to read everything (maybe later). "And so on..." means that I could probably disagree with other recommendations.

Are the additional entries really helpful? Honestly when I see 'Updated: 2015-05-26' for the official F-Droid repo, it doesn't inspire confidence. I can imagine how difficult maintaining your guide is, though. :)
[Android General] Primokorn:
Poll opened for 60 days: Importance of FLOSS in your virtual life

Thanks for voting :)
[Android General] Izzysoft:
Thanks for the pointer, I'll check that one out. Has it any backing you could refer me to, for its genuity?

You convinced me here. Adding one more argument: their compression routes all your traffic via their servers, which again raises privacy concerns. But well, the same could said about any VPN.

Sometimes I doubt them as well, while other times they have really good articles.

We're not as far apart as you might think. I always prefer FOSS when I get the chance. Sometimes I don't succeed with that, if some proprietary piece with acceptable terms offers missing pieces I need or want to have.

Thanks!

Let me know if you find anything else "objectable" (like the candidates removed now). Sometimes things slip through, or things change. After all, my site is "just a one-man-show": I don't get any money for it (which is an understatement: I rather pay money to keep it up and running), so time is limited to check everything each day :D

Well, you completely misunderstood that column then. If I had to update that whenever a repo received some update, I had to do that daily. That doesn't reflect the day that repo was updated last – but what time I checked it last :) And yes, I hope my list has some useful additions, like my own repo with meanwhile close to 200 apps. Not that high standard as F-Droid has – but all free apps with presence at Github (except for the XDALabs app that is).
[Android General] Primokorn:
I tried it earlier this year. I had no troubles with their apk files, they passed the security checks (md5sum and signatures).

It was a non-exhaustive list ;) but you are right except that you are pretty sure having your personal data leaked if using a free VPN but using a premium VPN service is an additional security. I recommend That One Privacy Site for more explanations.

No problem. As soon as I have more free time, I'll have a closer look at your website.

Gotcha. I'll also check it out later.
[Android General] steamrollerpark:
https://newpipe.schabi.org/

I have been using NewPipe instead of YouTube for years.
[Android General] vagkoun83:
Newpipe I think is the best...very lightweight with download ...the only thing I missing is sorting results
[Android General] Primokorn:
NewPipe is already in the list.

FYI you can use the search button on GitLab if you are looking for a specific app. Example.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Some statistics on Fossdroid (Category, source, license).

EDIT: quick update :)
[Android General] CLPose:
What a great app! I didn't know about it. Thanks!
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
I havent found a good FLOSS notes and investment tracking app. Omninotes is currently the best but lacks multiple device support. A notes app isnt worthwhile if you cant access it from your computer too. I had high hopes for Laverna but it hasnt been updated.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Did you try SimpleNote or Turtl? Both can be used on multiple devices and there's a web version.
[Android General] Primokorn:
I didn't have a lot of time to find new interesting apps.

Happy Holidays :D

Weekly update:
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
I prefer something without a server. Manual transferring via USB. Notes are in plain text,markdown format. Encrypted nice but not crucial. Laverna ticked all the boxes besides the problems.

There is neutriNote on playstore but it is not open source.

A question I have is why do some developers open source their app but not submit it to Fdroid or make releases available on their Github. Only playstore install.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Several reasons:

1. Many open source apps are not accepted on F-Droid due to their inclusion policy. Most of the time open source apps are using non-free dependencies like Google Play Services.

2. Some devs want/need analytics and there's nothing like that on F-Droid. Users aren't tracked. There are tracking tools on Github but no download count and other statistics based on the users.

3. Open source also means business while Free/Libre softwares means freedom.

4. Some devs aren't aware about F-Droid and they don't want to manage a separate pure FLOSS branch.

5. There's no auto-update on Github.

6. There's no paid apps on Github/F-Droid, only donations.
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
It is not Floss but what are your thought on Nova Launcher? Appears as one of those apps that is irreplaceable within the Floss database. SlimLauncher is close but not updated in a year.
[Android General] Primokorn:
SlimLauncher should be updated soon.

Nova is my default launcher for years.

I block Internet access and it doesn't have root. A FLOSS launcher would be better but they miss a lot of features.
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
I feel same about Nova. Tasker is another but it even requires more trust. They are two apps that helped me develop a greater appreciation for Android FLOSS or not.

Material Player won't get updated on F-Droid. It is 10 or so updates behind. Maybe down to developer adding Firebase analytics?
[Android General] Primokorn:
I didn't check the non-free dependencies but it seems they have to accept a license agreement : https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/de.ph1b.audiobook/lastbuild_146

You may want to ask in their forum.
[Android General] BootloopedMillennials:
Found this with similar issue and conversation. Maybe you can translate.;)

https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroiddata/merge_requests/1832
[Android General] zarere:
Hi there I'm using APKUpdater but in the recent days I found that when it download specific app (k-9 mail) during the installation it says application corrupted.So I tried to use the web browser on my PC and going directly to the efozi site and downloading the K-9 mail app but when i try to install it the result is the same.So can some1 else confirm that this issue is real and not just me ;). ?
[Android General] Primokorn:
From where did you download K-9 mail for the first time? Github, F-Droid? Are you talking about the original app or the Material Design version?
[Android General] zarere:
I downloaded APKUpdater from here https://github.com/rumboalla/apkupdater/releases/download/1.3.2/app-release.apk

P.S. I download the k-9 mail using APKUpdater
[Android General] Primokorn:
APKUpdater is an app to update your existing apps. From where did you download K-9 mail for the first time?
[Android General] zarere:
Ahh sorry I get it now :) .I downloaded k-9 mail from FDroid.
[Android General] Primokorn:
Ok, backup your K-9 settings and remove it. Try installing your downloaded apk (udpated version) and it should work. Restore your settings.
[Android General] zarere:
Well I'm sure that this way it will work but why I need to do this every time a new version is released.The faster way is to download the k-9 mail from https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/releases/download/5.202/k9-5.202.apk then isn't it?
[Android General] Primokorn:
Of course and it's safer. Did you try comparing the sha1 between Github releases and the ones provided by efozi website?

EDIT [MENTION=7496936]zarere[/MENTION]

The signatures are different between F-Droid and Github. You can't update an app from Github if you have installed it from F-Droid
[Android General] zarere:
Well 10x for the checking then from now on when ApkUpdater find new version of k-9 I will download it (k-9 mail)directly from Github.

P.S. I just backed up my settings and deleted it.Then I downloaded k-9 from Github and then imported the settings and everything is working fine.Case closed ;) thanks again for the help.
[Android General] Primokorn:
The first update for 2017 :angel:

More than 200 apps!