Must Have Android Apps and Games? (Part II)

Discodog

blueser wrote: »

Anyone able to recommend a decent app for tracking the progress of a flight you're on, utilising GPS? Something that could show speed, direction of travel, location at any given point in the trip etc. Thanks.

Would gps work inside a plane ? Flightradar will do most of what you want.

The high horse brigade

Discodog wrote: »

Would gps work inside a plane ? Flightradar will do most of what you want.

Yes if you hold your phone beside the widow, you'll not have data though

blueser

Discodog wrote: »

Would gps work inside a plane ? Flightradar will do most of what you want.

But how do you connect to flightradar when there's no signal (data or mobile) up there?

corkie

blueser wrote: »

But how do you connect to flightradar when there's no signal (data or mobile) up there?

Some flights have on board wifi now, but you probably have to pay through the nose to access it?

https://www.letsflycheaper.com/blog/airlines-that-offer-inflight-wifi-the-definitive-2018-list/

Doge

I haven't recommended an app in a long time but this one was a life saver for me.

Popup Ad Detector
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=popup.ads.detector

About a week ago I was getting popup ads on my One Plus 5, despite no apps running in the foreground.

I even factory reset phone a few days ago for the first time since I bought it, as it was driving me that mad.
And was careful enough about restoring apps that could be the culprit but somehow it snuck through.
The popups came back a while ago and I have this a go.
It has a floating icon shows the icon of the current app running, including your launcher.
So when the ad came up again it showed the icon of the culprit and also has a "tap to uninstall option" along with the name of the app.

I used an app called app watcher earlier in the week but that just shows a list of previously opened apps.

The floating icon with this app is a much better way of quickly identifying the culprit as it shows the active app before brining up the list of recently active apps.

The culprit was "WiFi Password Show Pro" which I downloaded from the Play Store last week.

I was the first to leave a negative review about the background popup service it installs and I reported to google.

For those who are curious or want to debug here's the link to the culprit on the play store,

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.masterwifitools.wifipasswordshow

I presume installing a background app popup service within the apps background service is against the Play Store rules?

Doge

Also forgot to tip my hat to Nova Launcher and it's backup function for restoring my widgets, icon folders and icon layout on the home screen to save me from having to redo it after the factory reset.

It even shows the apps you have not reinstalled as a grey icon and will try to find them on the play store when you click them.

It's extremely clever.

corkie

^^^ Mentioned the popup detector 10 days ago after feedback from another thread. with someone having a similar problem. Good to hear it worked for you as well.

Doge

corkie wrote: »

^^^ Mentioned the popup detector 10 days ago after feedback from another thread. with someone having a similar problem. Good to hear it worked for you as well.

Sorry for stealing your thunder!

I haven't been checking the thread as often as I used to.

Perhaps a sign that these malicious apps are on the rise?

blueser

corkie wrote: »

Some flights have on board wifi now, but you probably have to pay through the nose to access it?

https://www.letsflycheaper.com/blog/airlines-that-offer-inflight-wifi-the-definitive-2018-list/

Wifi?It's mainly Ryanair flights I use. We consider ourselves lucky to have wings!

Idleater

blueser wrote: »

Wifi?It's mainly Ryanair flights I use. We consider ourselves lucky to have wings!

What are you looking to do? Actually track the route or look at the heading, speed altitude etc?

If you want to track, an activity tracker like Strava will do it, if live info, I've an app called GPS test that shows all sorts of telemetry.

the heathen

blueser wrote:

Anyone able to recommend a decent app for tracking the progress of a flight you're on, utilising GPS? Something that could show speed, direction of travel, location at any given point in the trip etc. Thanks.

I often open Google Maps during a flight just to see where we are. It won't give you speed etc but you'll get your direction and location.

Suckit

Shelter

Shelter?
Shelter is a free and open source app that employs the “Work Profile” feature of modern Android phones to provide further control and isolation between apps.
Why should you use this?
Apps inside shelter get a separate virtual file system that is isolated from your primary, where all your apps live. This means any sketchy big brother app you install with Shelter will have its own isolated file system and contacts (As seen in the picture). This is useful where you want to run a critical apps that insist on having storage and contact permission to go beyond the start screen.

Features
Clone two of the same apps and use them at the same time. (Two messenger, Instagram, HULU accounts)
Apps inside Shelter have their own file storage, contacts list.
“Freeze” (disable) background-heavy, tracking-heavy or seldom-used apps when you don’t need them. This is especially true if you use apps from Chinese companies like Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent.

Caveats
Shelter is not a full sandbox implementation. It cannot protect you from:
Security bugs of the Android system or Linux kernel
Backdoors installed in your Android system (so please use an open-source ROM if you are concerned about this)
Backdoors installed into the firmwares (no way to work around this)
Any other bugs or limitations imposed by the Android system. (i.e. If Android chooses to expose some information into the work profile, there is nothing I could do about it)

Also, Shelter cannot create more than 1 work profile on one Android device, and cannot co-exist with any other apps that manages a Work Profile.

blueser

Idleater wrote: »

What are you looking to do? Actually track the route or look at the heading, speed altitude etc?

If you want to track, an activity tracker like Strava will do it, if live info, I've an app called GPS test that shows all sorts of telemetry.

Looking for stuff like airspeed, current location, altitude etc. Nothing too fancy.

John mac

blueser wrote: »

Anyone able to recommend a decent app for tracking the progress of a flight you're on, utilising GPS? Something that could show speed, direction of travel, location at any given point in the trip etc. Thanks.

I use gps test, (free version) shows speed gps location direction of travel altitude etc just need to hold phone close to window..only thing it dosnt do is show you a spot on the globe . just shows lat,long, coordinates .

dougm1970

blueser wrote: »

Wifi?It's mainly Ryanair flights I use. We consider ourselves lucky to have wings!

haha
not often a forum response gives me a laugh like that

corkie

25 temporarily free and 17 on-sale apps and games to start the week






20 new and notable Android apps from the last two weeks including Shoelace, 321FIT, and ruff (6/29/19 - 7/13/19)





16 best new Android games released this last week including Dr. Mario World, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot, and Bananagrams: The Official Game

new2tri19

have an iphone 6 but can’t hear calls coming in great ( which is not great !)
never had an android , was going to buy a new iphone but they arebmad expensive . if i got a cheap android phone could i take my music from iphone to new android ? also does android have youtube / strava /whatsapp?
any recommendations for a phone like iphone but cheaper that can do what i need , i have 30gb of music on iphone that is like to keep and use with wireless headphones , is all this possible for under 250€? thanks

DopeTech

new2tri19 wrote: »

have an iphone 6 but can’t hear calls coming in great ( which is not great !)
never had an android , was going to buy a new iphone but they arebmad expensive . if i got a cheap android phone could i take my music from iphone to new android ? also does android have youtube / strava /whatsapp?
any recommendations for a phone like iphone but cheaper that can do what i need , i have 30gb of music on iphone that is like to keep and use with wireless headphones , is all this possible for under 250€? thanks

You could do it on a budget of half that. Have a look at the Samsung Galaxy A range.

The high horse brigade

Sir Dosser wrote: »

You could do it on a budget of half that. Have a look at the Samsung Galaxy A range.

And also look at the Xiaomi mi A2. I prefer the Xiaomi over Samsung as it's part of the Android One program and gets updates straight from Google
https://www.eglobalcentral.eu/xiaomi-mi-a2-4gb-64gb-dual-sim-sim-free-unlocked-with-3d-curved-premium-tempered-glass-screen-protector-black-edge-black.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjrvpBRC0ARIsAFrFuV8qQkHMArojxxzLEpGgkjlb_Ylc1tqaFOX5gfXhkXtfXDDKcwFUeuUaApQOEALw_wcB

https://goo.gl/search/Android+One
Android One, System software

corkie

Taking another look at SCRCPY, after not using/updating it in over a year.

I know widows is developing 'Your Phone' app, but that requires low energy Bluetooth on both devices for screen mirroring?

Works over adb wifi now as well, so your device doesn't need to be connected by USB.

Note: - If you have adb tools setup up with a path in windows, the copy of it in this folder will conflict with it. Just rename it in that folder.

If you need to turn of your phone display when using it press, CTRL+o in windows while the window is active. Use device power button to turn on display again.

If you put something in the clipboard on your device, you can copy it on to your windows. See the comments linked in the change log.



Was preparing this post to include with a deals post, but it got longer than I thought, so an extra post.

DopeTech

The high horse brigade wrote: »

And also look at the Xiaomi mi A2. I prefer the Xiaomi over Samsung as it's part of the Android One program and gets updates straight from Google
https://www.eglobalcentral.eu/xiaomi-mi-a2-4gb-64gb-dual-sim-sim-free-unlocked-with-3d-curved-premium-tempered-glass-screen-protector-black-edge-black.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjrvpBRC0ARIsAFrFuV8qQkHMArojxxzLEpGgkjlb_Ylc1tqaFOX5gfXhkXtfXDDKcwFUeuUaApQOEALw_wcB

https://goo.gl/search/Android+One
Android One, System software

I'd agree with you about Android one. I prefer it over Samsungs one ui but the cameras are what let's the xiaomis down.

corkie

27 temporarily free and 17 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday

banie01

corkie wrote: »

27 temporarily free and 17 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday

Nice to see simple pro back on offer!
It's the one social media wrapper I keep going back to.

rustledjimmies

Not sure about that ES PRO Manager entry. Looks like a very new app piggybacking on the ES File Explorer name (and cloning the look) which itself is surrounded by controversy and recently pulled from the Play store (along with it's publisher, ES Global - https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/04/27/es-file-manager-vanishes-from-play-store-possibly-part-of-do-global-scandal/)

Testament1

Deleted ES a long time ago in favour of Solid Explorer after someone recommended it here, big fan of it.

Simple Pro is a great tool. So good to browse FB and Insta using a dark theme and zero sponsored bullsh*t ads, get it while you can!

banie01

Testament1 wrote: »

Deleted ES a long time ago in favour of Solid Explorer after someone recommended it here, big fan of it.

Simple Pro is a great tool. So good to browse FB and Insta using a dark theme and zero sponsored bullsh*t ads, get it while you can!

I ditched ES in favour of FX, and I only really use that for the .APK explorer and system tool functions.

Regarding Simple pro, I've used it for a couple of years as my wrapper for FB, Insta and Twitter. Easy setup, great dark mode and plenty of customized options.

IMO it's main competition is Friendly, and it's just not as good I also don't like the way Friendly sets out to tack on Insta and Twitter as chargeable add on apps whereas Simple is just that.


Simple

marcbrophy

Any of these explorers have the network capabilities of ES? Like connecting to dropbox?
That's the one thing I use it for, to sideload apps on Android TV etc!

banie01

marcbrophy wrote: »

Any of these explorers have the network capabilities of ES? Like connecting to dropbox?
That's the one thing I use it for, to sideload apps on Android TV etc!

FX Plus Pro and Total Commander off the top off my head.

FX Plus pro has a 7day trial and is @$3 to buy.
Can't remember how much Total Commander is, for customisation TC probably has more options and plugins available.
If memory serves however it is having issues with OneDrive bit everything else should be grand.

Ps I use FX pro for the same thing on the shield.
Also very handy to allow you to enable any Nvidia region locked apps until next reboot, Vudu, Hulu and so on.
I need to use it to enable BBC and ITV on one of my Shields and it works a treat.

marcbrophy

banie01 wrote: »

FX Plus Pro and Total Commander off the top off my head.

FX Plus pro has a 7day trial and is @$3 to buy.
Can't remember how much Total Commander is, for customisation TC probably has more options and plugins available.
If memory serves however it is having issues with OneDrive bit everything else should be grand.

Ps I use FX pro for the same thing on the shield.
Also very handy to allow you to enable any Nvidia region locked apps until next reboot, Vudu, Hulu and so on.
I need to use it to enable BBC and ITV on one of my Shields and it works a treat.

Cool, I've been looking to ditch ES for years and I will do that for €3 no hassle!

Oh shít that sounds brilliant! Any chance you've a link to a guide on how to do that stuff on shield?
Does it support All4?

The high horse brigade

marcbrophy wrote: »

Any of these explorers have the network capabilities of ES? Like connecting to dropbox?
That's the one thing I use it for, to sideload apps on Android TV etc!

Solid explorer has all of them, I've been using it for years

marcbrophy

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Solid explorer has all of them, I've been using it for years

Really?
Help a fool out!
I have solid installed for actual years, but never knew it did that!
:pac:

The high horse brigade

marcbrophy wrote: »

Really?
Help a fool out!
I have solid installed for actual years, but never knew it did that!
:pac:

Go into storage manager in settings. Some integrations like mega are paid extras

marcbrophy

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Go into storage manager in settings. Some integrations like mega are paid extras

Thanks

corkie

37 temporarily free and 48 on-sale apps and games for the weekend






Also MX Player, if your still using official version has been updated with chromecast support for local media (on device), no network streams local or otherwise.

We’ve given your watch experience an upgrade. Cast your favourite videos on the big screen using your Chromecast device. The overall look and feel of the app also received major enhancements making your experience better than before!

corkie

19 best new Android games released this week including Flashback Mobile, Plants vs. Zombies 3 Pre-Alpha, and It’s Always Sunny: The Gang Goes Mobile




As a followup to SCRCPY, an alternative needs root and be on the same network as well.

RemoDroid

This is a remote control app, which allows you to control Android devices with any other Android phone, PC or Mac.

The App is currently in a beta state, that means it is buggy and might not work with all devices.
The app is mainly developed for remote control of Android TV sticks but as well works with a wide range of smart phones and tablets.

There is other alternative for remote sharing teamviewer, or Airdroid. But these are paid options.

AirDroid launches new screen mirroring app for remote tech support

G1032

corkie wrote: »

37 temporarily free and 48 on-sale apps and games for the weekend






Also MX Player, if your still using official version has been updated with chromecast support for local media (on device), no network streams local or otherwise.

MX Player Pro hasn't received the Chromecast update. Seems bizarre that the not paid version gets the upgrade first? Any idea why this is?

S.M.B.

Hadn't seen realised that. Will be nice to get that. Says its "on its way".

corkie

30 temporarily free and 42 on-sale apps and games to start the week





[XDA] Share to Computer is an open source app to send text/files/images from mobile to PC

Handy if you want to share to not your own PC, but Windows and Linux have Samba Server, which you could just copy files across using Solid Explorer etc.

Another app I have used in the past is Superbeam (Paid for pro years ago).



[XDA] Face Pause uses face detection to pause games and videos when you’re not looking


[XDA] WeNote is a Google Keep alternative with a built-in calendar and Google Drive sync

Most of the features are available in the free version of the app, but there are a few premium features such as audio sound recording, adding a Note list home widget, and getting access to more themes and icon packs. Unlocking these premium features separately costs $4.99 for each feature, or you can unlock all features by paying $16.99. That’s a pretty steep price, but if you find yourself using this app a lot, you may want to show support to the developer.

corkie

FilePursuit Pro €23.99 to Free.

FilePursuit provides a very powerful file indexing and search service allowing you to find a file among millions of files located on web servers. Our database is updated daily by our robots that crawl through free access internet resources.

It's a file search engine where links are given by people all over the globe. It provides high-quality file search among the enormous number of files available on the web.

Posting as an extra post, because I don't know how long the deal is available for.

Available on the playstore, so see no problems sharing. App can be used for questionable purposes, but so can any search engine.

corkie

15 temporarily free and 20 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday

corkie

38 temporarily free and 61 on-sale apps and games for Friday





5 smart questions that'll smother most Android security scares
Start asking the right questions — and stop freaking out.

1. Who's behind the "research" driving this story, and what's their motivation?
2. Is this threat related to something I'm likely to download and install, or does it revolve around some weird random app no normal person would ever encounter?
3. On the off-chance that I did somehow install the trigger, would my phone automatically protect me from anything harmful?
4. If all systems failed (including my own common sense) and I managed not only to find Android malware but also to install it and get it running on my device, what would actually happen as a result?
5. Has any normal user actually been affected by this in the real world?

^^^ Questions are answered and expanded on in link!

Mr E

Or just lock your phone.

corkie

42 temporarily free and 60 on-sale apps and games for Monday






18 best new Android games released this last week including DOOM, DOOM II, and Pavilion: Touch Edition





Freeview's mobile app is now available for Android smartphones
^^^ Haven't checked this out yet! Could be region locked or require UK details?
Wouldn't let me install from playstore, needs a UK google account.
Edit: - Waste of time just a guide and launcher for other players.



How to Run Android on PC with Phoenix OS <<< Full OS and not an emulator.
^^^ Gave this a trial run on USB Disk, Android Interface does not really work without touch.

corkie

20 temporarily free and 14 on-sale apps and games for Wednesday






Post-it releases Android app to scan and organize sticky notes, only five years after iOS
^^^ Post-it®[Play]






How to Send Self-Destructing Messages in Gmail
The art of the ephemeral email





Android ransomware is back
ESET researchers discover a new Android ransomware family that attempts to spread to victims’ contacts and deploys some unusual tricks

Android/Filecoder.C has been active since at least July 12th, 2019. Within the campaign we discovered, Android/Filecoder.C has been distributed via malicious posts on Reddit and the “XDA Developers” forum, a forum for Android developers. We reported the malicious activity to XDA Developers and Reddit. The posts on the XDA Developers forum were removed swiftly; the malicious Reddit profile was still up at the time of publication.

McMurphy

Anyone know what's happened to the national lottery app here?(Irish lottery)

Has it been removed from the play store?

Suckit

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Anyone know what's happened to the national lottery app here?(Irish lottery)

Has it been removed from the play store?

Doesn't seem to be. I just searche lotto and it was the first result.

Do you have a vpn on? It mightn't show if you do.

marcbrophy

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Anyone know what's happened to the national lottery app here?(Irish lottery)

Has it been removed from the play store?

Seems to be still there Johnny!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agency.lotto

McMurphy

Suckit wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be. I just searche lotto and it was the first result.

Do you have a vpn on? It mightn't show if you do.

marcbrophy wrote: »

Seems to be still there Johnny!

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.agency.lotto

Strange.... I'm using a pocophone, and I'm getting this.



Must check what region I have the phone set to.

marcbrophy

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

Strange.... I'm using a pocophone, and I'm getting this.

[/IMG]https://i.postimg.cc/3xXCMDRL/Screenshot-2019-08-02-19-42-02-652-com-android-vending.png[/IMG]

Must check what region I have the phone set to.

It is a geo-locked app, so make sure you've no smart DNS's or VPNs in use

McMurphy

marcbrophy wrote: »

It is a geo-locked app, so make sure you've no smart DNS's or VPNs in use

No, none in use at present, stranger still is that it comes up on a search of the play store but when I select it to download I get the screen shown above.


I miss being able to scan my ticket, but will live without the app.