Must Have Android Apps and Games?

06-07-2016 07:51PM

Amalgam wrote: »

ASMR

Totally off topic but I can't get enough of this pseudo scientific goodness too! Gentle Whispering on Youtube.

Just to make this post a little on topic and protect myself from you big bullies then the White Noise app is on special.

mass_debater · 06-07-2016 08:03PM

toby2111 wrote: »

What would you recommend using?

I use root explorer myself

Allyall · 06-07-2016 08:10PM

Solid Explorer is good

polaris68 · 06-07-2016 08:13PM

mass_debater wrote: »

I use root explorer myself

I ditched ES when they turned bad last year and switched to Solid Explorer (paid version).

Has worked perfectly.

flazio · 06-07-2016 08:13PM

Allyall wrote: »

Google Photos will also allow you to free up your phone storage and move all your photos to the cloud (your google account)

Just watch your data usage abroad.

donspeekinglesh · 06-07-2016 08:40PM

flazio wrote: »

Just watch your data usage abroad.

Roaming auto upload can be controlled in settings.

Another happy Solid Explorer user here, regularly use it to Chromecast files to the telly.

OldMrBrennan83 · 06-07-2016 08:42PM

This post has been deleted.

Allyall · 06-07-2016 09:09PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Same here. I think it is that way by default.

Deise_vixen · 07-07-2016 09:53AM

Thanks for all the great advice, really appreciate it!

I downloaded the "A Better Camera" app and it allows me to send the photos directly to the SD card so that sorted that (thanks to ShooterSF for the suggestion)!!

Word of warning to anyone thinking of buying the Vodafone Prime 6 though, the Bluetooth is a bit dodgy and is not universally accepted. So far I can't pair with my Fitbit Surge watch (Fitbit have confirmed that it's not compatible) or a couple of my bluetooth speakers that I usually bring travelling with me. Not such a huge issue for me as I'm only going to use the phone when I'm on holidays but certainly something to consider if you were buying it to use full time.

Amalgam · 07-07-2016 08:34PM

Zenge hamster On Coke Games

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

10 cent worldwide.

A puzzler with a nod towards Monument Valley in aesthetic and mood, but the puzzles are often flat, not 3D, a bit of Professor Layton about the presentation.

gar · 08-07-2016 07:25AM

Anyone used / using snap vpn?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=free.vpn.unblock.proxy.vpnpro

Safe enough?

Lucas Hood · 08-07-2016 08:51AM

Using this to block ads as I can't be bothered rooting.

https://block-this.com/
Works well.

irishgeo · 08-07-2016 09:27AM

Lucas Hood wrote: »

Using this to block ads as I can't be bothered rooting.

https://block-this.com/
Works well.

Ahh yes , a vpn where you dont know who or what is viewing your internet traffic.

Lucas Hood · 08-07-2016 09:52AM

irishgeo wrote: »

Ahh yes , a vpn where you dont know who or what is viewing your internet traffic.

Its open source. Have a look at their code if you think there is something malicious about it.

Basq · 08-07-2016 10:26AM

Lucas Hood wrote: »

Its open source. Have a look at their code if you think there is something malicious about it.

Ah yeah... makes perfect sense for the common man or woman who's not a software developer..

Lucas Hood · 08-07-2016 10:29AM

Basq wrote: »

Ah yeah... makes perfect sense for the common man or woman who's not a software developer..

Don't use if you don't want to or don't trust it.
You try be nice and inform people of an ad blocker that doesn't require rooting that's free and people give you crap.
Typical boards.ie

Basq · 08-07-2016 12:53PM

Ah now c'mon.. I was hardly giving you crap..

.. re-assurance is one thing, but a blanket statement telling people to check open-source code when they've no knowledge of software development is a little short-sighted!

Apologies if you took offence, but it wasn't meant that way... it was meant as a bit of joke to be honest.

donegal. · 08-07-2016 03:54PM

is there a better way to block ads without rooting?

corkie · 08-07-2016 04:13PM

donegal. wrote: »

is there a better way to block ads without rooting?

I use Adblock Plus(not the browser) on my Xperia Z1.

To block ads on mobile data you need to configure a APN with a localhost proxy with port 2020.

Some apps have hardcore ads urls, so it doesn't block all possible ads.

seligehgit · 08-07-2016 04:57PM

Lucas Hood wrote: »

Don't use if you don't want to or don't trust it.
You try be nice and inform people of an ad blocker that doesn't require rooting that's free and people give you crap.
Typical boards.ie

Thanks for your advice, on occasion I use a VPN. I've had a look at the open code of the particular VPN provider's website. Do you mind advising me what I should be looking out for that might mark it out as malicious or excessively big brother?

Allyall · 08-07-2016 05:32PM

Adaway is good too. (Requires Root).
I use That on Android and uBlock Origin on PC's.

wheresmybeaver · 08-07-2016 11:19PM

Allyall wrote: »

Adaway is good too. (Requires Root).
I use That on Android and uBlock Origin on PC's.

I've been using Adguard the last few months with good results, it uses a local VPN to filter data for browsers and apps. Removes ads but also optionally social-media buttons and the like. You can configure a firewall so that some apps are left alone, or are filtered only on mobile data etc. Also filters https traffic (youtube ads for example).

I started using it when those spammy popup virus ads were proliferating on ad networks. Highly recommended.

The_B_Man · 09-07-2016 03:17AM

irishgeo wrote: »

Ahh yes , a vpn where you dont know who or what is viewing your internet traffic.

This is true.
I had a ten minute look at the source code on me phone and it seems safe enough.
It looks like it starts on boot, and changes ur DNS with the following

        final String dns1 = "92.222.28.123";
        final String dns2 = "151.80.148.242";

At least I think. I can't see much on me phone so could well be wrong.
But if there was issues, you'd hear a lot about it.
Conversely, it WAS removed from the play store. I'm curious why. Like the other person said, you're going through some unknown persons server, where they can see everything. I don't believe there's a physical person sitting there going through it, same as with Google and their tracking, but still, you can't be 100% sure, even though they seem alright.

wheresmybeaver · 09-07-2016 07:55AM

The_B_Man wrote: »
This is true.
I had a ten minute look at the source code on me phone and it seems safe enough.
It looks like it starts on boot, and changes ur DNS with the following
        final String dns1 = "92.222.28.123";
        final String dns2 = "151.80.148.242";
At least I think. I can't see much on me phone so could well be wrong.
But if there was issues, you'd hear a lot about it.
Conversely, it WAS removed from the play store. I'm curious why. Like the other person said, you're going through some unknown persons server, where they can see everything. I don't believe there's a physical person sitting there going through it, same as with Google and their tracking, but still, you can't be 100% sure, even though they seem alright.

AFAIK Google removes from the Play store any apps that block or avoid ads. Most have to be sideloaded. So the app is most likely legit, and works well enough that Google removed it.

_Tombstone_ · 09-07-2016 05:14PM

The_B_Man wrote: »

This is true.
I had a ten minute look at the source code on me phone and it seems safe enough.

I know it's a different beast altogether but funds were raised to get Truecrypt checked over by experts a few years back, and the results were rosey.

Then a few months later it was found to have 2 big security problems.

So open source to me means feck all unless I personally have the smarts to go and look through the code for big brother.

Ghost Train · 09-07-2016 10:26PM

Ublock origin plugin works on firefox browser in android, so I think its good option.

Opensource has allowed veracrypt to continue on with truecrypt and fix problems, encryption side of truecrypt on a secure pc is safe as it always was. Windows is closed source and is targeted more than anything else, so closed source or open source can both have their problems.

The_B_Man · 10-07-2016 01:05AM

_Tombstone_ wrote: »

So open source to me means feck all unless I personally have the smarts to go and look through the code for big brother.

Well it's a small app so it's easy to see where it all links together. There's nothing dodgy about the app/source, at least from the admittedly short (& drunken) glance I had at it.
The only unknown is whats on the other end of those IP addresses.

Without getting into a big debate on open source code, the benefit here is that you can literally see every line of code. OK so you need to be a software engineer but we're getting very common these days so one is always about to give the code a once over.
Also, it's easy enough to learn how to download and run the code yourself and install it on your phone, so you know the code you see on GitHub, is actually the code that's running on your phone.

But yeah, there's a reason why people support open source (actually there's many reasons, but this is one).

On VPNs in general though, you are basically trusting these companies with your data, depending on their level of security. But its up to you if watching that extra episode on Netflix USA is worth it!

:p

Also, on that note, is there any apps where I can stream Netflix-style apps while simultaneously casting to a smart TV, while still being able to use my phone (ie not screen casting)?

mickoneill31 · 10-07-2016 06:28AM

How about we create a thread discussing the pros and cons of open / closed source.

MonkstownHoop · 10-07-2016 05:50PM

My OH got a new Huawei phone recently and is of course devastated that her keyboard has no emojis, what would be a decent keyboard to download for her?

sentient_6 · 10-07-2016 05:51PM

SwiftKey

Must Have Android Apps and Games?

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