Android personal use app list
Last updated : 15/3/2023
Introduction
This article is to list out the Android apps that I use. It's just as nutshelled as the ROM list, since it uses the same format.
All apps I've mentioned here will run without internet and/or Goolag Play dis-services, unless mentioned otherwise.
Here are the things I generally require out of the apps I use:
- Works without internet access (does not apply for apps meant to run with internet such as instant messengers, email clients, browsers, app stores, and online-only games).
- Works without depending on Google Play Services / microG.
- Downloadable through Git releases / F-Droid / official site (with the last one preferring a non-soydev site), not just some Telegram groups and/or Google Play Store (and any of their unofficial mirrors, such as APKMirror / APKPure / uptodown)
The downloadables must be a single full APK, not some split APKs. Full APKs for different architectures are tolerated as long as they work & don't need a separate installer app other than the system's inbuilt package installer.
- Properly maintained, with effort to ensure it works on the latest Android version. Old & unmaintained apps might be fine, but as time goes on & users update to the latest Android version, these apps may eventually not work.
- If the app features a paid-only Play Store exclusive feature unlocker, all requirements listed above this point aside from downloadable through other sources will be applied. However, the single APK requirement still apply.
Some nice to have things:
- No integrations with internet requirements (like Google Now) unless absolutely necessary.
- Libre software (serves as a double count for my 3rd requirement, if considering Git releases / F-Droid)
For the past archive, here's the link.
Gallery
No other mentions, as Simple Gallery (Pro) is pretty much the only gallery app worth using.
Simple Gallery (Pro)
Simple, open source & straightforward gallery app. Can exclude folders, hiding its media from curious eyes (but not the file manager and/or any other gallery apps you may have installed). Lacks subtitle support for videos though, so I end up pairing this with another video app.
As this is one of the Simple Mobile Tools apps, it features customizable themes which extends to the app icon (the app icon customization is for Pro variants) & is written in Kotlin. Unfortunately, they're hosted in GitHub.
Links:
Video
Dishonorable mentions :
- VLC : I'm not cool with combining music & video. In addition, blocking microphone permission using AppOps (back in Android 9 / Pie) may prevent the app from functioning (why does a media player need microphone access?).
MPV Android
A port of MPV, for Android. While its file browser interface leaves much to be desired (I use Simple Gallery to browse the gallery anyway, so it can be ignored), it has the subtitle support Simple Gallery lacks. MPV also supports music playback, although its interface (both MPV & Android as a whole) is too ill-suited for it.
Links:
Music
Theoretically, I could combine Music & Video if I were using VLC and/or MPV. However, I'm not a fan of such approach.
Dishonorable mentions :
- VLC : See the video section for the reason.
- PowerAmp : Basically a Goolag-only paid music player, free version tied to 15-day trial before expiration. I used to enjoy this back when I am still fully invested in the Goolag ecosystem.
- MPV : Video-focused interface combined with a rather lackluster file browser. Sorry, but a dedicated music player is better than video/audio players (including MPV) at all fronts (at least for music).
- Auxio : No ability to create a playlist at all. However, I will recheck this app once playlists are implemented.
Honorable mentions :
I am no longer looking for another music player app to replace AIMP, as Simple Music now fulfills my needs within tolerable limits. However, that page shall remain up for reference (and / or if I ever need to rediscover yet another music player I consider perfect).
Simple Music
SimpleMobileTools' music player. Interface is not as practical as AIMP, there's less options (no control over how headphone buttons interact with the music player, for example - although it's not necessarily a bad thing when it at least just works the way it's supposed to be); but at least it's open source (which is better than the closed-source AIMP). Used to have some issue where library resets when storage is removed, but 5.15.0 fixes it.
Links:
Camera
No dishonorable mentions (Except for AOSP Camera2 which has a terrible UI), since I don't use my cameras that much to the point of needing GCam in my daily life. However, I occasionally use GCam Go if it's prebuilt in the ROM.
Honorable mentions :
- OpenCamera : Previous alternative to most stock camera apps that I dislike, at least until the less complex GrapheneOS Camera app came along.
- GCam Go by Greatness : Closed source & lacks interface customizations, but at least doesn't have GApps dependency. Known working builds are GCam Go Special Build 2 & GCam Go NS2, with the latter being inbuilt on some ROMs in the X3(N/P).
Default prebuilt
The default prebuilt camera varies between ROMs & I don't need to replace them for most of the time as I don't use them all that often. However, AOSP Camera2 that are sometimes prebuilt has the least pleasant UI IMO, which causes it to be replaced.
GrapheneOS Camera
A camera app based on Android CameraX library, made by GrapheneOS.
Links:
Text editor
I occasionally use this when I need to quickly create and/or edit a text file while not accessing my computer.
Honorable mentions :
- Markor : A text editor with support for Markdown, todo.txt, and online syncing. However, its interface seems more cumbersome to me.
- simple Notes (SimpleMobileTools) : A good notepad, but not good for editing text files, or viewing any texts beyond 1MB.
SimpleTextEditor (maxistar)
Highly simple text editor, with support only for plaintext. Not as good as Simple Notes on keeping notes, and unfortunately F-Droid only (ignoring Goolag PS).
Links:
Notepad
I generally use this to take quick notes that don't need to be permanently saved into a file.
Honorable mentions :
- SimpleTextEditor (maxistar) : Good for text editing, not for when you don't want to permanently keep some texts.
- Leaflet : POSP's official notepad app, also with online note syncing. Does not support .txt.
Simple Notes
SimpleMobileTools' notepad app. Good for keeping notes, not so much for dealing with text files.
Links:
Document reader
Librera Reader (Pro)
A feature-rich document reader that supports various formats, including PDF.
Links:
Drawing
Optional.
Simple Draw Pro
Simple Mobile Tools' drawing app. Simple & straightforward, though you may want to use some sort of stylus.
Links:
Calculator
Honorable mentions :
- Simple Calculator : Simple Mobile Tools' calculator app. Lacked a result preview.
- OnePlus Calculator : A calculator app made by OnePlus. Works like what you could expect out of a prebuilt calculator app & is an OEM app that work without GApps.
Default prebuilt
Actually, the prebuilt calculator on every ROM is usable enough, save for the lack of theme customizations (depending on what's inbuilt - A12L stock calculator generally follows the system theme).
OpenCalc
Pretty much prebuilt calculator with added theme customizations. Granted, I don't get to use this all that often since most ROMs I use have a prebuilt calculator, but it's somewhat nice that we can have a fallback calculator that's open source.
Links:
Calendar
Dishonorable mentions :
- AOSP calendar : Looks irredeemably terrible. Also, it demands Goolag sign-in (without sign-in & internet access, at best it's a view-only app).
- Google calendar : While it looks better than AOSP calendar (which isn't that high of a bar to pass), it still demands Goolag sign-in.
Honorable mentions :
- Etar (LineageOS fork) : In a nutshell, it's AOSP calendar without Goolag sign-in demand on opening, & after getting used to how it looks, I'd say that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. However, one ugly side of this calendar is that it's not available on GitHub releases - F-Droid & Play Store only; and neither of them are compatible with the prebuilt Etar. Compared to Simple Calendar, Etar is unable to set events without a calendar account, which can easily be made in Etar's own settings.
Simple Calendar Pro
Simple Mobile Tools' calendar app.
Links:
Clock
Honorable mentions :
Default prebuilt
The prebuilt clock app is usable enough, ignoring the lack of theme customizations. On Pie, Graphene-A12, and A10/A11 (with disabled dark theme); it looks like shit, with its all blue theme (it's not as bad in A10 & A11 with dark theme enabled, but still, it doesn't have theme customizations).
Keyboard
I prefer to disable any kind of swipe typing, autocorrect, autocapitalization, word suggestions, & all other BS cruft (including sound) built into a keyboard app. Vibration stays enabled (which is unfortunately irrelevant starting with A13 as it fuses keyboard vibrations with navbar vibrations) as I ended up getting a bit too used to it after trying it out in early 2020.
Dishonorable mentions :
- SwiftKey : Trash keyboard, nothing more. Swipe typing enabled by default but can be disabled, word suggestions that can't be disabled at all, & Microsoft unsolicited connections are just examples of the bad stuff on this one.
- GBoard : What the AOSP keyboard was supposed to be, but with added Go-ogle unsolicited connections & other kinds of bloat, such as swipe typing. At least there's more themes, I suppose?
Honorable mentions :
- AnySoftKeyboard : Highly customizable, but with plenty of offensive cruft enabled by default.
- FlorisBoard : AnySoftKeyboard, but with a different settings interface.
- OpenBoard : AOSP keyboard, but with more customizations. Only reason I don't use it for long-term prebuilt keyboard replacement is because it's not as light as Simple Keyboard by rkkr (and OpenBoard is less well-maintained).
- Simple Keyboard (SimpleMobileTools) : SimpleMobileTools' keyboard app, not to be confused with rkkr's one, found below. (9/3/2023 Update : Tried it out again in A13. Emoji shortcut is still unremovable, but at least it vibrates in A13 regardless of touch vibration settings.).
- Default prebuilt : The prebuilt AOSP keyboard is sometimes usable for me (at least if I don't care about bordered buttons), though it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of customizability. AOSP Keyboard has an unremoveable emoji shortcut for whatever reason.
Simple Keyboard (rkkr)
Similar to OpenBoard, it's basically AOSP keyboard with more customizations. However, it's lighter than the former & packs in less offensive cruft than both OpenBoard & AOSP keyboard (no spellcheck, swipe typing, word prediction bar, emoji BS). Thanks to these factors, it's now my prebuilt keyboard replacement of choice.
This Simple Keyboard is not a part of SimpleMobileTools' app suite, despite the name (and SimpleMobileTools has their own keyboard app which I mentioned honorably).
Links:
Launcher
No dishonorable mentions for now, aside from Nova requiring Prime unlocker for full features (and closed source) & Lawnchair denying icon pack installation when a "piracy tool" is installed.
I am currently looking for another launcher app to replace Nova.
Nova Launcher (Prime, 7.0.57)
The best launcher for me, with lots of customizations. It's unfortunately closed source, but that's what you get with permissive (read : cuck) licenses like Apache License - you may fork an open-source software & close-source it. Also, it has some sort of telemetry that can be disabled in Nova Settings > Advanced > Error & usage reporting (and/or disable internet access for Nova Launcher).
To get the Prime unlocker, you might want to collaborate with someone with a Goolag account & extract the APK from their devices. Just keep in mind that you will need a Goolag ID that "paid" for the Prime unlocker if you're running a GApps-infested ROM.
As for the Nova Launcher itself, I'll link the version I'm currently using to APKMirror.
File Manager
Default prebuilt
Prebuilt & available in the ROM from the get go. Enough for regular uses, but couldn't read anything else outside /storage (SD Maid handles everything else outside /storage & TWRP is sufficient for me when I want to tamper with system files). As of A11, the default file manager is unable to write to /Android/obb.
No links can be provided, as they're prebuilt in every ROMs.
Console emulators
Unless mentioned otherwise, BIOS files are required.
Dishonorable mentions :
- AetherSX2 : Once known as "the only good PS2 emulator"; at least until Tahlreth got pushed a bit too far & abandoned AetherSX2, only to return & ruin his old creation.
- DamonPS2 : Play Store exclusive, ads on both regular & "Pro" version, online-only, blatant & unpunished GPL violation, and coercive demands for purchases at all times inside the app (at least on regular version, from what I've heard).
- DraStic : Play Store exclusive, designed to break on purpose if cracked (latest version seem to remove the offending DRM, but I cannot personally confirm it). Considering the latter, I doubt it'll run on degoogled environments (vanilla / microG). However, at the very least, this emulator is no longer updated (16/3/2022 update : It's been removed from the Goolag Play Store for a while. Not that it mattered at the time of writing as testings are still paused).
- EggNS : The DamonPS2 of Nintendo Switch, except instead of online-only DRM it demands a Gamesir controller.
- RetroArch : Emulator modules (cores) cannot be obtained without using the app & connecting it to the internet. This alone disqualifies what could be the one-app-for-all-consoles emulator.
Honorable mentions (as far as ones I haven't personally used yet) :
- Nintendo DS
- NooDS : A (hopefully, following the developer's goal) speedy DS emulator, also with GBA backwards compatibility.
- MelonDS Android
- Nintendo Switch : Skyline (requires production & title keys; and optionally Adreno drivers for Snapdragon devices)
Personally used, but it hasn't convinved me to go full emulation for Switch yet.
- PS2 : Play! (doesn't require BIOS; untested)
AetherSX2 (build 1.5-3668)
A PS2 emulator for Android, it made waves on the internet, removing most Android PS2 emulators (Play!, DamonPS2) out of relevance. However, since 4/1/2023, development (which is unfortunately still not open source) is stopped thanks to the developer losing his will to maintain the app (no thanks to him primarily releasing it in the Goolag Play Store (even though he did eventually provide a download site), which forced him to reveal his email, which predictably gets spammed by idiots, useds, & assholes alike; not to mention toxicity in both Discord & Reddit (which is pretty much a commodity in both), as well as impersonations).
14/3/2023 Update : Tahlreth returns just to sabotage AetherSX2 (by worsening performance & adding ads, at least for Play Store version) & deleting all older versions in the archive. At the same time, a Telegram user called MrPurple has started reverse-engineering AetherSX2. At the moment of writing, don't update AetherSX2 until further notice. I have removed all AetherSX2 links as I can no longer recommend it.
PPSSPP
The only PSP emulator anyone should use. No BIOS files required.
Support for Scoped Storage is present since 1.12.
Links:
Root managers
This covers root solutions & root managing apps.
Mentions :
- Shizuku : Allows direct usage of system APIs through either ADB / root. Generally faster than directly using Magisk, but there's not much things I use that require elevated system APIs (AFWall+ & AdAway explicitly requires root to function, for 2 examples) that I am currently not using it for now.
Magisk
The de-facto root solution, with the added ability to hide root from apps.
Flaws I want to mention :
- Internet access required to hide Magisk Manager (7.4.0 & beyond) (or Magisk app starting with 22.0)
- Automatic update checking cannot be disabled, only prevented from checking in the background. You could disable internet access for Magisk Manager (or Magisk app starting with 22.0), but you'll be unable to hide Magisk Manager and/or find Magisk modules from the app.
Links:
SD Maid
SD Maid is a category upon itself due to the things it do.
On first run, will search & ask for root permission before requesting storage & usage access.
List of root-dependent features I'm using :
- App controls - freeze system apps that can't be disabled in the Settings
- File manager - access system files, copy files to /Android/obb, and extract system files from /system/etc to external storage. No longer able to tamper with system files, but TWRP file manager takes care of that and I usually don't tamper with system once I'm done setting up anyway (at most I would copy hosts file from /system).
Links:
Firewall
Mentions :
AFWall+
A firewall client for Android using iptables. Requires root access.
Links:
Hosts manager / ad-blocker
Mentions :
- Blokada : VPN-only ad-blocker, with several prebuilt providers such as StevenBlack & Energized. Blokada 5 doesn't seem to allow additional providers.
- Netguard : See the firewall section above. For more clarifications : While NetGuard allows ad-blocking (if you don't use Goolag's build), you only get one provider, but you get to pick them.
AdAway
Internet access is needed to update hosts file.
Since 5.1.0, AdAway has a setup wizard that allows you to pick between root / VPN, and persists until either mode is selected. AdAway may also automatically check for updates, which could be disabled in Preferences > Automatic updates.
Links:
Kernel Manager
Requires root access. I no longer use these, but these should be useful to those who need it.
Dishonorable mentions :
- Franco Kernel Manager (FKM) : Available only as a paid app in Goolag Play Store, & has license checking.
- EX Kernel Manager (EXKM) : Similar to FKM, but I didn't even bothered touching it.
- No Gravity App : Limited device compatibility, update checking once the app is opened, & not open source. At least it's gratis, I suppose?
SmartPack
The sane choice for kernel managers. Fork of the now-discontinued Kernel Adiutor.
Advantages compared to common kernel managers such as Franco (FKM) & EX:
- Open source
- Unlike FKM & EX, it doesn't have any Goolag license checking BS. It probably doesn't apply to its donation apk though.
- Paid, as in paid in a few megabytes of your internet quota, instead of paid in Goolag Play cash & the aforementioned quota. In other words, it's gratis.
- Also available in Github Releases & F-Droid, unlike FKM & EX's Goolag exclusivity. However, with 16.2 exclusively released in Play Store, I'm concerned that this advantage might disappear, especially if future versions aren't available in GitHub / F-Droid.
6/9/2021 Update : Fortunately 16.3 & further are available in GitHub releases.
Flaws that I see & could be removed if you fork and/or self-compile SmartPack:
- On the GitHub Releases variant, auto-updates are enabled by default, which can be disabled in Settings. Alternatively, you could also simply block SmartPack from accessing the internet.
The last stable GitHub release, 13.4 also has ads, which can be disabled in the Settings, but update checking toggle is buried in About.
- Interface customizations locked behind a paywall, which requires a donation apk.
- SELinux switcher in Misc (can be hidden in Settings)
Links:
No Gravity App
The recommended kernel manager for No Gravity Kernel. Not included with the kernel, so it has to be installed separately, if required.
Advantages compared to common kernel managers such as Franco (FKM) & EX:
- Unlike FKM & EX, it doesn't have any Goolag license checking BS.
- Paid, as in paid in a few megabytes of your internet quota, instead of paid in Goolag Play cash & the aforementioned quota. In other words, it's gratis.
Flaws :
- No source code available
- SELinux switcher that can't be hidden (best chance of "hiding" it is to make sure you're the only one who can open the app)
- Limited compatibility - supports only devices with available NGK builds
- Update checking that ties app opening with internet speed when the app has access to the internet.
Links:
Backup App
Apps that backup your app data. Requires root access.
Mentions :
- Migrate : An alternative to Titanium Backup, it backs up data in a TWRP-flashable zip.
- Titanium Backup : The ye olde backup app that just works. However, it's closed source, has questionable permissions such as phone & contacts, & locks some features behind a "Pro" paywall with Goolag license checking (license key without Goolag is available, though it requires PayPal).
- Seedvault : An open source backup tool made by Calyx, it has made its way to various ROMs, though mostly Lineage-based ones. Haven't used this one yet, so I can't say how reliable this is yet. Doesn't seem to need root, as it seems to be meant to run on unrooted phones.
Neo Backup
A fork of the open-source and inactive OAndBackup, aimed at keeping it alive beyond 202x. After trying out release 7.0.0 (when it was OAndBackupX), I can conclude that it's currently shaping up to be my backup tool of choice, even if it has some imperfections (and I haven't fully committed to using it yet).
Formerly known as OAndBackupX, it was renamed to Neo Backup in 27/3/2022.
Links:
App Manager
Requires root access.
Honorable mentions :
- MyAndroidTools : Former app manager of choice, until I tried out Warden. Simple & intuitive interface, but closed source, has opt-out telemetry, & no longer maintained / updated past 2019. No longer works with A11 per November 2021 security patch.
- AppManager : Haven't tried them out yet, but I take issue with it having an expiry date.
Warden
My current personal app manager of choice. Not updated past 2020 & has an update checker that can't be disabled, but works just fine without internet access. In addition, its interface is clunkier than MyAndroidTools & its development seems abandoned.
Links:
YouTube client / downloader
Requires internet access. I can no longer recommend any YouTube clients (other than Invidious for Android, if it even exists) as they rely on Google not randomly breaking things with backend updates. This recent issue on NewPipe (archive.org) should explain as a decent example.
Dishonorable mentions :
- Official YouTube client : Too much BS I can't be bothered to mention, including ads.
- YouTube Vanced : Fixes many issue the official client has except for one : Goolag account still required to view subscription & comment.
- NewPipe >= version 0.20.0 : Video player went from "usable enough" to "annoying shit", but only became tolerable since 0.21.6. At least it could still download videos though.
21/2/2021 Update : In a questionable move, Newpipe's devs pulls a SJW move & reject BitChute with SJW reasoning.
NewPipe
An open source YouTube front-end that used to be decent, and still has some advantages compared to both official YouTube & YouTube Vanced, such as support for some platforms like Peertube & ability to download videos. However, starting with 0.20.x, it has gone too far to be an alternative to anything.
I no longer use NewPipe, but I will keep this section up for reference of NewPipe's sins.
Advantages compared to other YouTube clients (such as Goolag's official YouTube client & YouTube Vanced):
- Open source
- Can download YouTube videos
This is the only reason I'm using NewPipe right now - I consider NewPipe as a "mobile YouTube media downloader that apparently also plays YouTube videos".
- No Goolag account required whatsoever
- Has its own F-Droid repository, allowing NewPipe to receive updates via F-Droid clients without its official repo's general delays.
- Support for various platforms such as Peertube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud. While it's cool that NewPipe supports them, chances of it mattering isn't that high as users are likely to stick to YouTube.
In addition, NewPipe's support for such platforms may also hurt the ability to use native version of supported platforms, such as Bandcamp.
Flaws I can see:
- The inherent flaw of being an alternative client - it has to keep up with upstream, especially if it introduces breaking changes; and NewPipe's inconsistent release schedule severely hurts it, especially when it couldn't do what it was supposed to do, as seen in issue #8502 (archive.org) and/or any similar issues.
- Cannot be configured to connect to invidious instances instead of YouTube (not that it would help against upstream YouTube throttling, but still).
6/7/2022 Update : Support for Invidious is being worked on. Better late than never, though for NewPipe it's a bit too late.
- Starting with version 0.20.0, Newpipe went from being a decent YouTube client to a shitty one. Here are my problems :
- Correct Video Orientation feature (unified player BS) (redacted by 24/7/2021 update, seen below)
1 tap to play & unlock fullscreen, 1 tap to switch to landscape (if watching landscape video & Autoplay is disabled) & be stuck there if you started on portrait mode (& vice versa), & 1 tap to finally go to fullscreen. As someone who don't enable auto rotate unless it's absolutely necessary (I don't see Newpipe as an app that needs auto-rotation), this sucks.
For some smaller devices (such as Xperia XZ1 set to 432 dp), at least it's a 1 tap straight to landscape fullscreen & 1 tap back to portrait, which should be the default for all. Unfortunately, the tap back to portrait refers to tapping the back button on the navbar, but at least it's back to portrait.
24/7/2021 Update : Newpipe 0.21.6 added a toggle to disable forced tablet mode in Settings > Appearance > Tablet mode. Sure, it's opt-out (since it's not enabled by default) & it only works if the back / minimize video button is pressed, but at least it's there.
- Back in version 19.8, the progress bar were easier to tap. Now, it's annoyingly harder (and also easier if accidentally done) for no reason whatsoever.
- Autoplay enabled by default when using Wi-Fi connection. It can be disabled in Settings > Video and audio > Autoplay.
- The unified player feature ensures that the video keeps on playing even when I exit NewPipe, albeit on the background. It stops when I close Newpipe, but the notification stays for a bit.
- Technically, these issues aren't present in a contributor's build, but you'll also have to trust per on not putting any additional tracking.
- Confrontational contributors that may act like they're the developer. An example can be found here (archive.org)
Is it just me, or does this avently guy seem like someone who enters a project & (forcefully) "contributes" a change that nobody aside from avently perself even wants (and prevents this "contribution" from ever getting removed / made optional)?
- Newpipe will give YouTube their user's IP, after being somewhat anonymized. 10/4/2021 Update : Linking the Privacy Policy.
- Auto-update check enabled by default, can be disabled in Settings > Updates.
- NewPipe's development team is a bunch of tyrants who will happily censor stuff they do not like. Examples listed below.
- Rejecting BitChute as a "hateful right-wing platform". (archive)
- Completely locking down a discussion about supporting Rutube (archive) as soon as someone speaks of political reasoning against it, while ignoring counter-claims regarding YouTube politics (and marking various comments behind a log-in-only mark)
- While there might be more examples hiding in plain sight, I am not going to search for it any further, as I don't want to throw NewPipe any more attention than DigDeeper would throw any positive affection at Mozilla. Speaking of Mozilla, anyone could probably think NewPipe is the Mozilla Firefox of Android's YouTube clients if YouTube's official client is treated as Google Chrome... except the "Mozilla Firefox" here doesn't seem to be hidden Go-ogle actors.
The first 2 examples shown on the list above could be avoided by NewPipe by leaving support for every other platforms to other developers & solely focusing on being an alternative YouTube client & keeping the app working.
All Newpipe links (other than the issues) removed, I can't recommend this app as a YouTube client alternative anymore (or any YouTube client for that matter). Besides, even if I could recommend Newpipe again (as either a YouTube OR PeerTube client), I still wouldn't since it's still relying on the big G (unless support for YouTube is removed and NewPipe becomes a PeerTube client for Android - although it requires completely changing NewPipe's public image).
What I don't use & will never use
Kernel "optimizers" / "tweakers"
The likes of FDE.AI, LSpeed, NFS Injector, MAGNETAR, & LKT. In short - questionable benefits (I dunno, 3 more FPS in the "latest" excessively bloated AAA game you're playing that you won't normally detect?) with loads of issues (random reboots, stuff randomly turning off, unfixable Redmi K20 "Pro" bricking after FDE.AI is installed, etc.).
KTweak is better in every regards compared to the crapshoots above (there's an actual thought & purpose for the tweaks, for example), but I can't justify installing this when I don't have any need for kernel optimizers / tweakers.
Patcher apps
The likes of Lucky Patcher & Uret Patcher. Here's a short list explaining why I don't bother with them (at least for myself).
- Closed source - even if you know what the patcher is supposed to do, you won't know how it does what it's meant to do. In addition, there is no proper documentation to explain how the patcher works. (probably to prevent the patcher from being unable to patch things out, but who knows)
- There's no official site for either AFAIK - luckypatchers.com, LP's alleged official site, has the same feel as one of those ad-ridden copypaste sites with Android-related content. This, compounded with the lack of documentation, is a big red flag on those patchers.
- For whatever purpose these apps are made, they just don't work. Case example - back in February 2020, I tried LP just to deal with a cousin's Minecraft PE license checking issue (using LP was his idea, & he's running a rooted Pixel Experience at that time). Simply said, it doesn't work & Minecraft PE force-closes itself as soon as it's opened, so I advised him to stop playing Minecraft (which he did, fortunately).
- Even if LP (or any of these "magical" patchers) somehow works, chances are I am already using something that didn't require me to constantly rely on a patcher that might not always work. For example, why should I bother patching PowerAmp Trial just to make it usable for longer than 14 days when AIMP (or Simple Music) perfectly covers my music app needs?
In addition, I never have faced a situation where I have a paid app that I must patch away just so it could work, at least for now... (even Animus: Stand Alone & Nova Prime doesn't need LP to make it work on Vanilla / microG AOSP)
Cloud Storage
Why should I bother relying on a storage controlled by someone else & can only be accessed via internet, when I have microSD & USB drive (maybe add in an external hard drive as well) ready to be drawn out at all times?
DRM media streamers (or screamers according to RMS)
The likes of Netflix & Spotify. Just as I don't want to rely on internet-only storage, I would also like my media to run on whatever combination of apps & platforms I have access to, not just an online-only, DRM-laden, snowflake dis-service.
Also, keep in mind the "DRM" word here refers to Digital Restriction Management (R for rights doesn't feel right despite being the default name), not Direct Rendering Manager.
Apps that I'm still conflicted about
App Store
These require internet access to work.
Dishonorable mentions :
- Goolag Play Store : It's so bad I have to list this one out:
- Goolag account is demanded to even view the store when using the app
- There's no way to save APK files for any purpose
- App availability limitations - Fate/GO USA, as an example, is only available in US, Singapore, Canada, Australia, & UK. You can't get them from the Play Store if you're living anywhere else. However, the game works even in other countries where it's not supposed to be released, such as Indonesia.
- May not work if it's not a system app without a compatibility layer
- Auto updates enabled by default. The only auto update you can disable is for the apps that aren't Play Store & Play Services.
- Unneccesary permissions such as location, SMS, & telephone access. Why would an app store need any of those?
- Random & unexplainable takedowns
A recent (28/1/2022 - 12/2/2022) example is Simple Keyboard (rkkr) (archive.org). The developer's Play Developer account was terminated without any warning whatsoever (aside from some violation emails from at least 3 years ago).
- Allows EggNS & DamonPS2 to remain available in the Play Store despite their blatant code theft.
- There are more issues than these, but the things I'm listing might be just a dust in a dusty room.
- Amazon App Store : Fuck the unethical monopolist whose name caused the rainforest & tribe with a similar name to hardly pop up on search engines unless directly searched.
- Aurora Store : An open source front-end to the Play Store. While I like its added features (no mandatory Google account required & ability to save split APKs in addition to regular APKs), I don't like the fact that it relies on the Play Store API not changing & fucking it up. Moreover, the ability to save APKs requires internet access, forcing the user to be online to get their app installers (in comparison, SD Maid is only good for saving non-split APKs, but doesn't need internet to do so). In addition, Aurora apps are a one-dev show & with the developer busy on real-life stuff (and not maintaining his apps & servers), any guarantees that Aurora Store will work again after Google updates Play Store in a way that breaks Aurora Store functionality is questionable at best.
In addition, any usage of Aurora Store (or any unofficial Play Store clients) using an actual Google account violates Google's terms of service, which may lead to the account getting disabled (though so far no cases of accounts being disabled thanks to Yalp / Aurora were heard at the moment of writing (5/12/2022)).
Honorable mentions (not so bad, but still problematic) :
- F-Droid
Before I start with F-Droid's issues, let me list some advantages it has :
- F-Droid is open source.
- F-Droid supports additional repositories in addition to its own.
A good example is Bromite, NewPipe, Ungoogled Chromium, & DivestOS. They are supported, but they have to be entered as neither of them are included by default.
- In the likely case anyone doesn't like F-Droid's interface, they can use other clients, such as M-Droid, Aurora Droid, or Neo Store.
And, here are (some of) the issues it has (concerning both the app & F-Droid's official repository) :
- Thanks to different signatures, any apps installed from the F-Droid repo (or other repositories from other users) cannot be updated with the ones released by the developer (and vice versa) without a re-install.
- F-Droid builds arrive later than their developer-released counterparts, as they need to recognize any changes, build the APK, sign it, & release it to the repository. This is a general flaw of F-Droid repo builds.
- F-Droid builds require you to trust F-Droid in addition to the original developer, as they don't accept prebulit APKs.
NewPipe somewhat sidesteps this issue (and the 2nd issue) by having their own F-Droid repo, allowing you to bypass F-Droid builds as long as you explicitly install the Newpipe repo build and not the F-Droid build (or install Newpipe using the APK from GitHub releases).
- Without a privileged extension (which has to be inbuilt AFAIK), F-Droid will not work as seamlessly as Play Store, requiring manual input for installations. Not a major issue for me who's used to instaling APKs, but still an issue nonetheless.
- Slow repository synchronization, without any way of seeing its progress.
- Ad hominem : F-Droid maintainers being censorship-happy, examples listed below.
- More issues on F-Droid security by Wonderfall
- Neo Store
A F-Droid client I've recently used. More inbuilt repositories (F-Droid & IzzyOnDroid enabled by default), different UI, faster repo syncing (which also allows you to see its progress), and able to take advantage of root access for seamless app installations. Once known as Droid-ify (actually its fork as the original developer took a break at that time, then the original Droid-ify returned with Release 0.4.4 in 5/7/2022), it has been renamed to Neo Store since 7/7/2022 with Release 0.9.0.
3/1/2023 Update : Upstream Droid-ify is alive, and it seems to support setting a separate app as the installer, according to Muntashir Al-Islam. However, I haven't confirmed this yet.
Browsers
Let's be frank here; all browsers in Android suck, and do not match the level of quality provided by Pale Moon in the desktop. Until there is a browser that fits what I'm looking for, I will keep this section in the "conflicted" category; and by extension recommend readers to use a desktop browser (such as the aforementioned Pale Moon).
What I look for in a browser (alternatively, Luke Smith has a decent article here, which I mostly copied with some disagreeable parts changed):
- Works on the modern web (actually the least important since most mobile browsers work on the modern web)
- Add-on support (or at least include uMatrix-like functionality by default - adblocking alone is not good enough)
For add-on support, let me clarify things a bit - not only must they work in the same manner as they would do on desktop, they must also be installable without having to interact with any servers (Kiwi Browser is the only one to do this).
- Ability to not store history at all without "Incognito" mode (like Pale Moon and/or Firefox in desktop)
- No unsolicited connections by default (so far only Ungoogled Chromium does this)
Some unsolicited connections might be fine as long as all of them can be disabled; are disabled by default; and explicitly noted in the browser's documentations.
- Free & open source (paid is probably ok, as long as there are no DRMs and/or paywalled features & it's still open source)
- Can be downloaded from other sources (F-Droid, direct download, Git releases) aside from Play Store & its unofficial "mirrors" (APKPure, APKMirror, etc.)
Depending on how you would read this one, it may also serve as a double-count on my previous point.
- Clean, uncluttered, and neutral user experience by default (aside from integrated uMatrix-like functionality I mentioned previously)
For example, by not saving up a homepage shortcut for a site I recently visited (hatefully glares at every Chromium-based browsers as the only "workaround" for this is to set homepage to about:blank).
- Works with alternative protocols such as Gemini & Gopher (optional, but nice for those who uses them)
Dishonorable mentions (don't use these, seriously) :
- Google Chrome
Also known as the overly popular data collector disguised as a browser with too much bloat & not enough essential features (such as having to rely on arbitrarily selected search engines without being able to add your own preferred engine). Imagine getting a Mi A2 (or any weak cellphones generally) to completely choke to a halt on deleting a history loaded with a week's worth of reading various recipes (mostly based.cooking, sometimes seriouseats.com) & visiting wiki pages.
- Chromium (Bromite's build is a good example of this)
Chromium to Chrome is what Fennec is to Firefox Android (or NewPipe for YouTube Android).
- Brave Browser
Chromium, but with plenty of shady stuff.
- Bromite
It was once my Chromium browser of choice despite its issues (still no extension support, removed grouped tab, in-browser auto update checking, Go-ogle being default search engine (though you can still add your own search engine with a workaround), and other inherent Chromium issues). However, with the developer being a muh ukrain psyop simp & probably abandoning his work (though there's a contributor testing out his own build, I haven't used them), Bromite is now considered dishonorable.
- Firefox Android (and every other Firefox-based browsers; but some will receive special notes)
Before the Fenix release, Firefox was an OK browser despite not being privacy-friendly out of the box, thanks to its support for essential extensions like uMatrix & extensive moddability (including about:config). However, with the Fenix release, uMatrix is no longer compatible with all Firefox Android builds (including the old IceCat) (and several features including about:config removed). Combined with Mozilla's undeniable hypocrisy & concerns on Mozilla's future, there's no way I'd recommend using any Firefox-based browsers.
26/2/2022 Update : Tried out Mull & IceRaven, and hated the Fenix UX. No add-ons can be installed without going through Mozilla's add-on page (meaning the user is subject to Mozilla's artificially limited add-on compatibility, and has to whitelist Mozilla connections), clunky interface that somewhat tries to prevent the user from reaching the settings (especially when the address bar is waiting for an input), and loss of options compared to desktop Firefox (no options to not keep history, for one that applies to all Firefox Android forks AFAIK) are just examples of why I hated the Fenix UX.
17/5/2022 Update : Explaining the 26/2/2022 update in a nutshell: Fenix UX degenerates the experience of using Firefox-based browsers into something that manages to compare itself unfavorably to Chromium's UX.
- Fennec
Firefox Android, but without a good portion of Mozilla's telemetry & proprietary bits. But still, it's just Firefox Android with a bit less spyware.
- IceCat Android
Once the best Android browser IMO, I once used it extensively as my main browser of choice, until Mozilla released Fenix & made uMatrix (the one mandatory add-on) incompatible with all Firefox releases. At least IceCat Android is dead.
- IceRaven
Firefox Android, with some features such as about:config added back & less telemetry. Unfortunately, it's also less well-maintained than Firefox Android, and still suffers from Firefox Android's flaws.
- Kiwi Browser
Chrome, but with extension support. Extensions may also be installed using .crx files, which is a major advantage compared to Firefox Android (that does not allow installing extensions without internet). However, Kiwi has various unwanted connections that cannot be disabled (aside from blacklisting with hosts file).
- Klar / Firefox Focus
Essentially Firefox with "private" browsing enabled at all times, & even less features (including removal of add-on support & about:config).
- Mull
DivestOS' take on Firefox Android, with some features upstreamed by Tor uplift project, added preferences from arkenfox-user.js, about:config support, and some proprietary blobs removed. In essence, Fennec with less spyware.
- Pale Moon for Android
Dead & unmaintained. A shame, as this could be the best (assuming all add-ons are supported; especially eMatrix) Android browser (for desktop, I nominate Pale Moon as the best browser I've ever used despite their issues).
- TOR Browser
Firefox Android with TOR integrations. Unfortunately, TOR Project thinks embracing CF is a right thing to do (which isn't, despite various attempts at silencing any & all who'd speak out against CF). Not to mention desktop (at least Windows) TOR Browser resets some settings each time it's opened, making any usage of TOR Browser (regardless of whatever platform it's on) problematic despite its inherent advantage of easy access to the TOR network.
Mentions for the ones not yet used :
- None at the moment, at least for now.
Honorable mentions (imperfect, but probably alright to use. Listed from worst to best) :
- Vanadium
Chromium with security enhancements, made exclusively for GrapheneOS. Not tested outside Graphene as there is no APK to get. However, with GrapheneOS' recent issue against Bromite (hozon.site archive), this might change in the future.
- Ungoogled Chromium
Bromite with some more additions (and even less unsolicited connections), but abandoned thanks to its sole maintainer abandoning it for a job as Brave Browser contributor. Used to have builds with extension support, though dropped in 21/2/2021. The WebView from its own F-Droid repo (which uses build from Droidware) may also clash with repos providing their own Chromium & Webview forks (such as Bromite & Mulch).
- Mulch
DivestOS' take on Chromium (complete with mobile Chromium's lack of extension support). Available only in DivestOS F-Droid repo (https://divestos.org/fdroid/official). It cannot add any other search engines except for those that returns a search query in the address by default.
- Privacy Browser by Stoutner
A not so bad browser with inbuilt ability to block either some 3rd-party connections, none of them, or all of them - no in-betweens like uMatrix / eMatrix. Also features a Klar-esque feature where everything (except for bookmarks) is deleted if the app's closed. Uses the system's inbuilt WebView.
WebView
Currently, I'm stuck on prebuilt WebView. Here's some additional WebView apps that I used to use.
- Mulch : Replaced Bromite until it got its own package ID.
- Bromite : Similar reason to Mulch - it got its own package ID. In addition, Bromite's longstanding loyalty to its muh ukrain psyop has kept me away from Bromite.
Other apps I might use, or no longer use
- Simple Dialer : SimpleMobileTools' dialer app. Pretty much useless without a SIM card, which I no longer have. But, in the unlikely case of me having an active phone number, I would use this as my dialer.
- Simple Contacts : SimpleMobileTools' contacts app.
- QKSMS : A drop-in replacement for stock AOSP messaging app. I don't use SMS at all for communications (nor will I give out my phone number, if I ever have any to not dispose of), but this would be what I use for SMS.
- BatteryBot Pro : A battery monitoring tool. Accubattery might be a more mature alternative in terms of user interface, but it's closed source, Play Store exclusive, & locks some features (particularly the black theme) behind a Play Store exclusive paywall within the app.
- Split APK Installer : An installer for split APKs, which has became more common, especially with Goolag's demands for any newly released apps. No longer maintained.
- Survival Manual : A survival guidebook compiled into an Android app. Neat for outdoor / off-grid / survival situations as long as you can keep your device alive, assuming this app is your primary access to a survival manual.
- Kiwix : An offline reader for zim files. Unfortunately creating a zim file for the pages I like to read is pretty complex, to the degree that I consider zim an essentially proprietary (despite being open source) file format simply because it only works with Kiwix. Nevertheless, I am not going to use it for now & the foreseeable future.
- Email client : FairEmail, if I ever bother settling in an Android device. K9 Mail has been taken over by Mozilla (hozon.site archive).
- XMPP : Probably Conversations, as it's essentially the only choice I've heard about (Profanity can be used in Android through Termux, though I'm not exactly sure about using terminal-only apps for a GUI-heavy platform like Android). However, the aforementioned Conversations does not compare well to most desktop XMPP clients.
- AppOps : Rikka AppOps. Haven't used this one since v4.0.0 (which exclusively uses Shizuku API / Sui).
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