Google's upcoming Android developer verification requirements threaten to impose extremely strict restrictions on installing apps outside its approved ecosystem.

Android was built on our freedom, not corporate control.

Google has no business deciding which apps we're allowed to install on devices we paid for.

Security shouldn't come at the cost of our freedom.

Our devices. Our choices. Keep Android open.

We have until 2027 to make our voices heard. Don't wait until our choices are restricted to start caring.

Sign the petition to keep Android open:

https://c.org/SM9Cpdpk2K

Please help spread the word. Share this before it's too late.

Anyone else find it weird that some Android apps need internet access when they seem like they should work fine offline?

Like a calculator, a basic notes app, or some random utility app. Why does it need to connect to the internet?

I get that some apps need it for updates, syncing, or ads. But it'd be nice to know what's actually going on in the background.

I kinda wish Android had a built-in option to block internet access for individual apps, without needing a third-party firewall.

Do you guys use anything to control which apps can go online, or do you just leave everything as it is?

I've been reading Wikipedia passionately for a long time, at least for 13 or 14 years. A lot of articles outside of hard science have basically become battlegrounds imo, especially those related to politics, fringe ideas and anything that requires the "benefit of a doubt." I also think it's sad, maybe even a little dangerous, that Wikipedia has basically become the only mainstream general knowledge encyclopedia.

I know that this is a hard ask but is there any alternative encyclopedia app for Android that works offline and isn't blatantly ideologically motivated? (The latter refers to stuff like Conservapedia, etc.) My go-to would be Encyclopedia Britannica but they do not offer an app (for whatever reason) and they require a subscription. I'm actually considering downloading a PDF of some old encyclopedia from the 2010s at this point but searching those is tiresome and just not as enjoyable as using Wikipedia.

If anyone has an idea, please share it. Thank you in advance

I always use lightweight browsers with a good ad blocker, and these are always my preference, but it seems they no longer receive updates. Is it a good idea to continue using them? What options are left?

I don't know about Tasker because I haven't used it but MacroDroid is something that I have installed on my phone for a very long time. I don't have many macros. I have 12 of them and all of them are useful to me. I've been thinking: what is your best macro you have built and using?

Okay so i'm looking for app and game recommendations for my redmi 12c phone 😭

I've been wanting to spend less time doomscrolling and find other things to do on my phone, maybe even discover a new hobby. i'm open to games that are actually fun and can keep me occupied without just mindlessly scrolling for hours lol. i already play papa's scooperia and i'm thinking of trying word search puzzles, sudoku (still struggling with this one 💀) and other fun or cozy games.

I'm also interested in replacing some of xiaomi's default apps with better alternatives, esp file managers, gallery, notes apps, music players etc. preferably something clean-looking, customizable and without annoying ads.

I already use musicolet instead of mi music and i have shizuku + canta set up on my phone so i'm also curious about open-source apps from f-droid or github. but i'm fine with google play apps too!

my preferences:

- free, preferably no ads

- lightweight and runs well on a redmi 12c

- privacy-friendly, if possible

- open-source is a plus, but not a requirement

- offline games/apps are a bonus

- aesthetic or customizable apps are always welcome

I'm interested in things like coloring, puzzles, word games, learning apps or anything that could help me pick up a hobby and spend less time on social media.

what apps or games do you personally recommend? i'd love to hear about underrated ones too, esp ones you've actually tried! also, if you've replaced your xiaomi apps with alternatives, i'd love to know what you use and why.

Has anyone noticed how much they have been messing with the UI and stuff lately? The newest update that came out a few days ago is almost unusable. Its pushing shorts and ads to the point it hard to tell what is what. I realize this will be a solid "no" but is there anyway to go back to a previous UI. I really can't stand this new one.

Hello,

Looking for an app that can be used to record audio and then playback on a loop. It must be secure so that no data leaves the phone. Completely offline

Thank you

Before someone says "Just block the number", That is not helpful at all, that's like telling a person to manually squash each bedbug in a fucking million quantity infestation. As far as I'm aware, reporting political texts as spam is also useless because they're exempt from being marked as spammers.

I absolutely despise intrusiveness in any form, it gets under my skin more than anything.
Ideally, I'd like for ALL texts to be blocked from my number if they are not in my contacts. I have my calls this way, and yet, despite my efforts of searching, there is no way of doing the same to texting.

I've tried numerous apps that supposedly are to assist with this, none of them are to my satisfaction.
A perfect app (that for some reason doesn't exist as far as I know), would be one that detects an unknown contact, and if it contains the word "vote" in it, blocks the number instantly.

I've never even voted before so I don't know how they got my name and my number. I prefer to stay relatively anonymous, but some creepy ass data brokers are selling my info.

I'm thinking about changing my phone number because I don't like the fact my personal info is so openly tied to that ID.

Does anyone here happen to have a unique solution to this? I'm certain there is one, I just don't know it yet.

I’m looking for a gallery app that syncs with OneDrive. It’s important that when I delete photos from my phone, they are automatically deleted from OneDrive as well. Thanks in advance for your help!

I have heard about this app on YouTube and sometimes on Reddit even. The question is: I have only heard of it for desktop and computer. When I looked for it I found there is an Android app as well as an iOS app if you need it.

The thing is Google's default speech-to-text software, or whatever you want to call it, is very bad, very bad. Rambler I cannot access because I don't have a Pixel device, which is currently exclusive to Pixel. Wispr Flow seems to be my only option that I know about.

If you have some other recommendations you can give me, then I am all ears. My main question is: if any of you are using Wispr Flow on your mobile devices, then could you please tell me how it is? I mean is it good? Is it worth paying for?

Is there an app for sleep sounds that doesn't have an obvious cutoff or noticeable transition when the audio loops? Paid or free, either is fine.

My phone unfortunately broke and was unable to have some things recovered. Among this was my music app.

It was completely free and titled something like 'Free music' I think. It took the music directly from YouTube. It had a kinda pink/purple logo. It also had no ads, apart from slight banner ones. It was amazing.

If anyone has any clue what app I'm talking about, please let me know! I will also accept free alternatives without ads.

A friend of mine rarely leaves their house due to medical issues and being very introverted.

They currently keep a paper calendar and mark off days when they do go out and for what reason - appointments, rare eating out days, etc.

I have seem mood trackers and they are almost what I'm looking for for them, but it's not really moods. It needs to be simple to use too.

Any suggestions? Thank you, from me and my indoor friend.

I am looking for apps for my parents who are both 75+ , to pass time, most social media sites are a nightmare with their uncontrollable content from explicit content to political warfare it's a never ending source of anxiety....

Looking for apps

- to control app installation and maybe even get remote access

- passtime games for cognitive repair/development

- slow paced games without ads , nothing too flashy

Hello,

Looking for an app that can be used to record audio and then playback on a loop. It must be secure so that no data leaves the phone. Something that a medical doctor may use.

​

If I edit them in any way, move them to bin and restore, upload on platforms where uploading still works and download, or do anything that doesn't make them a screenshot anymore, the problem resolves.

Examples of where it works and where it doesn't:

Where it works(there's no problem in screenshots): whatsapp, reddit DMs(both app and browser), Discord app,

Where it doesn't work: reddit posts and comments, discord browser, almost every website, chatgpt app

Note: On discord on browser, the website completely freezes until restart if I try uploading them.

Wallpaperer used to grab wallpapers daily based on subreddits, and it doesn't work any longer due to api restrictions. Is there something similar? Where I can just enter a list of keywords into an app and it will find new wallpapers every day based on things I choose, rather than just really broad categories? I used to use the image subs based on things like trees, mushrooms, etc. I'd like to be able to mix things up from time to time. Obviously open source would be ideal, if such an app exists, but I'm open to closed source.

I'm looking for something more detailed than the usual package lists. I already know about UAD-ng's database and sites like DeepWiki/Instagit, but they're either too shallow or don't actually populate the dependency/neededBy fields for most packages.

What I'm really trying to find is a wiki, encyclopedia, or community knowledge base that documents Android packages (especially Samsung/One UI and Google/GMS) with:

· Full package name

· What the package actually does (not just a one-liner)

· Why it exists / its purpose

· Whether it's required or optional

· What depends on it, and what it depends on

· What happens if you disable it vs. uninstall it

· Pros/cons and privacy implications

· Risk level and alternatives

· Whether behavior varies by device / Android version / One UI version / region

· Source code availability: Is the source code publicly available? Is it open source (AOSP, Apache 2.0, GPL) or proprietary/closed-source? If open, where is the repository? If closed, is there any partial source, decompiled code, or vendor release?

· Confidence level / source of the info

I already know that AOSP is open source, but GMS and One UI (Samsung) are closed-source — so for most Samsung/Google packages, the answer will likely be "closed-source." But I want to confirm this per package, and know if there are exceptions (e.g., some components may have open-source parts, or vendor releases).

Does anyone know of a site, wiki, database, or even a Discord/Telegram group where people document this kind of deep per-package analysis? It doesn't have to be famous — I'm specifically asking because the well-known lists aren't deep enough.

If you know a package well, please drop it with as much detail as you can, including the package name, device/Android/One UI version, what it does, safe to disable/uninstall, what breaks, source code availability, and your confidence/source.

Busco alguna app ágil para tomar notas de voz y luego clasificarlas, ordenarlas como mínimo, si tiene más posibilidades, mucho mejor. No me gusta la app keep para ello. Mejor si es gratuita o con pago de por vida.

Getting sick and tired of surfing the Internet and it seems like every damn thing I want to read has ads/pop ups.

So I was wondering if there are any apps I can install to block them? Or any other way to go about this?

I'm not rooted. Using a pixel 10 pro and on Android 17.

Alguém que tenha um Motorola, tenho um Edge 30 Ultra e estou usando um hub genérico para usar o modo Smart Connect, mas ele é limitado a 720p. Alguém tem uma recomendação de um hub melhor para conseguir 1080p ou outra solução?

Anyone who has a Motorola, I have an Edge 30 Ultra and I'm using a generic hub to use Smart Connect mode, but it's limited to 720p. Does anyone have a recommendation for a better hub to get better resolution?

Hi everyone,

I'm currently using CDisplayEX to reat my comics offline but I can't find a way to have it detect if there a double page and unite them.

I would like the reader to connect to my NAS with SMB2 or to be compatible with Komga.

Can you suggest me any alternative?

I've been using StayFree for a while now as an alternative to QualityTime after the latter stopped working properly on my new phone. And I really enjoy the app, even though I preferred to see my screen usage to show like QT's continuous timeline instead of SF's confusing graphs. But what's really bothering me about StayFree it's that it's eating up my battery like crazy! Apparently it used up 33% of my battery since I last fully charged it, even after I disabled the app from running in the background!

Any apps to track my screentime like QualityTime? Preferably one that has a similar timeline and doesn't drain my battery.