Latest news with #JoeMaring
Android Authority
6 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
I switched to indie apps for privacy, and now my workflow is a mess
Joe Maring / Android Authority I just wanted to send a file from my Android phone to my Windows 11 PC. It should have been easy, but I had de-Googled my life, and suddenly, I was stuck. Quick Share was gone. Google Drive wasn't an option. Docs and Keep were also out of the picture. My new setup relied on a handful of indie tools, and they weren't cooperating. Microsoft's Phone Link wasn't working (again), and my Canadian cloud service was as slow as molasses. It was at that moment I realized escaping Big Tech only sounds good in theory. The practice turned out to be much more difficult than it should have been. Here's what I learned trying to live a Big Tech-free life, and why I'm still picking up the pieces. Have you tried de-Googling your digital life? 0 votes Yes, I use mostly indie apps NaN % I've tried, but went back to Big Tech NaN % Not yet, but I've thought about it NaN % No, Big Tech just works for me NaN % My third-party app setup to replace Google Andy Walker / Android Authority I've grown tired of handing over my data to enormous monopolies that treat me like a product. Google reads my emails, Facebook tracks me across the internet, and Amazon is always spying on me. I didn't want that anymore. I wanted to support independent developers building thoughtful, purposeful software. I didn't want to be part of an algorithm or a data-scraping scheme for AI. So I set some ground rules for my new digital life. I was looking for apps that were not US or Chinese-owned. If there was an app in the US that I absolutely needed, then it should be a nonprofit, like Firefox. If it was Canadian, my home turf, it jumped to the top of the list, but Australian and European apps were fine. Big Tech was an instant no. Here's what I ended up using: Sync instead of Google Drive Obsidian instead of Keep ToDoist instead of Tasks Elemental instead of chats Kobo instead of Kindle VLC instead of YouTube Music Firefox instead of Chrome Ecosia instead of Google Search Fastmail instead of Gmail I didn't expect perfection, but I hoped I could build a modern, and private, workflow that did 90% of what I used to do. What I ended up with was a fragmented, friction-filled experience that cost me a lot of money and valuable time. How my replacement apps fared Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I went with Fastmail to replace Gmail. This is a fast and clean email service from Australia. It's private, it handles email as well as Gmail, and it comes with a suite of tools included in the annual $50 fee. I ended up falling in love with Fastmail, and it has completely replaced all other emails in my life. I wish I could say the same for Sync. This is a Canadian cloud storage service with strong encryption and no tracking. It felt good ethically, but practically, I found it slow and clunky. File uploads from my Android took forever to appear on my PC, and the mobile app looks dated. I swapped out YouTube Music for my own MP3 and FLAC files, stored locally on my phone. It felt good to return to the old iPod days, and VLC has a solid music player that can handle pretty much any music file. I own thousands of tracks from the old days, and it felt liberating to stop renting my music from Big Tech. My switch to Kobo was similar, although now I was buying my ebooks from Indigo, Canada's biggest bookstore, instead of Amazon. It felt liberating to stop renting my music from Big Tech. Nathan Drescher Obsidian became my replacement for Keep and Docs, and it was not fun. Obsidian is powerful on desktop, but slow on mobile. I never liked how it looked or felt. While it got the job done, there was always something missing. I tried the plugins, read the forums, and watched the videos, but in the end, I ended up never using it. ToDoist, on the other hand, has always been a pleasure to use, and I will continue using it until the day they take my Android from my hands. Bogdan Petrovan / Android Authority I ended up falling in love with Firefox. Then, its owners decided to change the terms and declared ownership over everything I did in the app. I shopped around for a replacement and settled on Vivaldi, albeit reluctantly. Chromium still has Google's hands all over it, after all. The biggest failure was messaging. I experimented with Element, a decentralized, encrypted platform built with the Matrix protocol. It sounded like a great idea, but setting it up is a pain. Ultimately, getting anyone else to use it is impossible. Good luck explaining decentralized protocols to my mom. She's fine with Messenger. Going indie ended up costing more than sticking with one platform Andy Walker / Android Authority Everything felt disjointed without a unified ecosystem. Notifications were delayed, or didn't arrive at all. I'd create a task in ToDoist but it wouldn't show up in my Fastmail calendar. Saving a file from Fastmail to Sync meant first manually downloading the file, then re-uploading it. No drag-and-drop, no auto-sync. Even copying a link from Obsidian into an email felt like more work than it should be. The financial cost alone proved to be confusing. I subbed to ToDoist, Fastmail, Obsidian sync, and None were outrageous on their own, but each one added up. I was still paying a lot, and for a messier experience. That said, I did gain some privacy and was able to support companies I believed in. But that smooth, invisible infrastructure that makes tools feel like extensions of my brain was missing, and it wasn't any cheaper. What big tech actually gets right Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Big tech gets one thing undeniably right: integration. For all its flaws, everything just works. You don't often notice how smoothly files sync across devices, emails link directly to calendars, and messages flow to their recipient. Tasks appear on calendars while attachments can save directly to Google Drive or OneNote. This convenience is invisible until it's gone. There's also a kind of cognitive relief that comes from using an ecosystem designed to hold your entire digital life. You don't have to juggle tools or rewire your brain every time you switch tasks. Google, Apple, and Microsoft have spent years building systems that anticipate what you'll need next. It's an experience most indie apps just can't match. What I'm keeping, and what I've learned Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I'm not walking away from everything. Fastmail is staying, as is ToDoist. These are two solid apps worth every penny. I'm sticking with Vivaldi for now, using Ecosia as my search engine. I'm also sticking with local music files, and even set up a Plex server to stream videos and music from my PC to my Apple TV 4K. It just works. I'll keep Kobo, for now. I ditched everything else and went crawling back to Google. Keep is wonderful, and Google Drive has no equal. What I've learned is there is no such thing as a clean break when going indie. I know Proton is building its own ecosystem, with a simple single fee. I may try it next. In the meantime, it's hard to beat how good the big tech ecosystems makes everything feel.
Android Authority
9 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
OK Google, it's time to support app icon packs on Pixel phones
Joe Maring / Android Authority Ever since Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 was released a little over a week ago, the number of new features and changes we've discovered has almost been overwhelming. Material 3 Expressive is the star of the show, but we've found loads of other things too — most recently, evidence of something called 'Pixel themes.' What is Pixel themes, you ask? We don't fully know yet. We managed to enable a new 'Themes' tab in the Wallpaper and style app, which is described as letting you 'Discover Pixel themes' through a new (and unreleased) 'Pixel Customization Packs' application. None of it is working right now, but it all strongly suggests Google Pixel phones will soon gain new customization options through this theming system. This could mean so many different things – anything from new wallpapers, fonts, app icon designs, and more. But above all else, if Google is serious about making Pixels more customizable, then it's time to finally support app icon packs. Do you think Google's "Pixel themes" will support icon packs? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % The time is right for icon packs Joe Maring / Android Authority As it stands today, app icon customization on Pixel phones is next to non-existent. Android 12 introduced themed icons to match applications with your phone's accent color, but almost four years later, the feature is still technically in beta and lacks ample developer support. Later versions of Android 16 will introduce app icon shapes, allowing you to customize the shape of your app icons, such as changing them from a circle to a square or a clover. And … that's it. Compared to virtually every other Android skin on the market, Google's tools for app icon personalization are the most restrictive. Arguably, the most glaring omission is the complete absence of icon pack support. Since the earliest days of Android, app icon customization via third-party icon packs has been one of the best ways to personalize your home screen. It has the most immediate effect on how your phone looks, and there are virtually endless options in terms of icon pack design. Andy Walker / Android Authority A quick visit to the Google Play Store proves this. Want something with a simple, clean design? The Simply Adaptive Icon Pack has you covered. Miss the time of unique app shapes before everything was a boring circle? Lena Icon Pack is a great way to relive the glory days. And if you want something a bit more playful, the Olympia icon pack is oozing with style. Google's tools for app icon personalization are the most restrictive. There are years' worth of excellent app icon packs all over the Play Store, and today, many Android skins support them out of the box with their default launcher. OnePlus's OxygenOS natively supports icon packs with its launcher, as does NothingOS on Nothing Phones. After downloading the Theme Park module from Good Lock, you can even use icon packs with Samsung's One UI. This hasn't always been the case, but in recent years, native icon pack support has become more common — but not with Pixels. While OnePlus, Nothing, Samsung, and others have seen the light, Google annoyingly remains in the dark. Joe Maring / Android Authority OnePlus's excellent app icon customization in OxygenOS 15. While this may be a small thing to complain about in the grand scheme of things, it's one of those omissions that's all the more frustrating because of how simple it is. Google, the owner and ruler of Android, should be able to support app icon packs with the flick of a switch. Yet in all the years we've had Pixel phones (and Nexus phones before that), Google has never shown any interest in doing so. That's why seeing something like Pixel themes is so promising; it's the first time in years that Google has shown any indication of changing its ways in this area. While the existence of Pixel themes doesn't guarantee icon pack support is coming, it at least gives me hope that's the direction we're headed. I hope Google doesn't mess this up Robert Triggs / Android Authority While it can be easy to assume icon pack support will be part of this new Pixel themes system, I could easily see Google doing something far less interesting with it — such as using it as a mechanism to bundle exisitng customization tools like accent colors, wallpapers, etc. Considering the company's previous resistance to app icon customization, it's worth preparing for the possibility that Google may drop the ball. On a more personal level, though, I really hope that's not the case. Icon pack support on Pixel phones has been something I've wanted for years, and having a glimmer of hope that it may finally happen is undeniably exciting. Google is seemingly creating a system where app icon packs would make sense to exist. And if something like Pixel themes isn't enough to finally get Google on board, I'm not sure what will. We should learn more about Pixel themes in the weeks ahead, and I'll be crossing my fingers the entire time that icon packs are part of it. Please, Google, don't mess this one up.
Android Authority
a day ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Didn't get in on the One UI 8 beta? You'll have to wait for it to open up again
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung opened up registrations for its One UI 8 beta on Galaxy S25 devices on May 28. After only two days, the beta has already reached max capacity in the US. Those who missed the initial beta registration may have more opportunities in the future. The stable, public release of One UI 8 is expected around July with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The first beta for One UI 8 has already reached maximum capacity, according to X user Adam Matlock. But there's some good news and bad news — the beta is only confirmed full in the US. If you are in South Korea, the UK, or Germany, then you may be able to still get in, because it's not clear if those are full yet as of this writing. @AdamJMatlock/X To sign up for the One UI beta, you go through the Samsung Members app. But if you're in the US and attempt that now that the initial sign-up window is closed, you'll get a message simply saying, 'We've reached the participant limit for this beta program. Thanks for your interest. Try again for the next beta.' It's not clear if that means that there will be more spots opening up for the One UI 8 Beta 1, or if potential testers have to wait for the next beta. But a report at Sammy Fans indicates that One UI 8 Beta 2 is already being tested in certain countries, so it's more likely to be the latter. Joe Maring / Android Authority As with any beta, the first version can be pretty rough and testers report bugs that they encounter. Though the second and later betas could fix issues that come up in the first one, they could also introduce completely new ones. As much fun as betas can be, remember that they're still betas, and nothing is final until the public launch. It's not a huge surprise that there's such a big demand for the One UI 8 beta. In the next few weeks, One UI 8 should get better with more rounds of betas before it launches with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in July, so it's good that Samsung has rectified its mistakes in One UI 7. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
a day ago
- General
- Android Authority
Google starts letting Android 16 testers try Advanced Protection mode for maximum phone security
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google is beginning to introduce the Advanced Protection mode feature to users on Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1. Advanced Protection is a one-click toggle for enhanced security measures on the entire device, including theft protection, network security, app restrictions, and more. Once Advanced Security is enabled, individual settings cannot be adjusted. Sometimes your worst enemy is yourself. Or maybe you just want some extra protection on your device to keep you and your data safe from other, more malicious hands. Either way, one can never have too much protection, especially when our lives are on our phones, and Google's Advanced Protection mode in Android 16 is a valuable tool to keep you safe. If you're currently testing Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, then you should be getting access to the new Advanced Protection feature (we previewed it in an APK teardown) that Google is rolling out to users (Thanks: @AyushmaanT on Telegram). This is a one-click toggle that will turn on several of the highest tier security settings on the device, and once enabled, there is no way to adjust the individual security settings. It's like a security blanket that aims to make sure your device is safe from known threats, like no sideloading, USB data access, and more. Of course, even though this mode ensures that users have the safest experience with their device, it's not on by default. Users have to opt in themselves, but that's not too hard to do. If you want to enable Advanced Protection, go to the Settings app on your device, select Personal & device safety, and find the Advanced Protection page. Switch the toggle for device protection to on. Once Advanced Protection is on, those security protocols cannot be adjusted, so it's basically one-size-fits-all for your device's safety. There are a few different categories of protection too, so here's a brief overview of each one. Device Safety: Protects your device from theft, confiscation, and even blocks USB data transfers. Protects your device from theft, confiscation, and even blocks USB data transfers. Apps: Keeps your device safe from unknown, potentially malicious apps, and also prevents apps from corrupting device memory. Keeps your device safe from unknown, potentially malicious apps, and also prevents apps from corrupting device memory. Network and Wi-Fi: This blocks all unsecured connections, including 2G and WEP. However, 2G will still be available for emergency calling only. It also prevents the device from automatically reconnecting to insecure networks. This blocks all unsecured connections, including 2G and WEP. However, 2G will still be available for emergency calling only. It also prevents the device from automatically reconnecting to insecure networks. Web: Safeguards your phone from malicious websites, Chrome enforces HTTPS for all website connections when possible, and prevents Javascript from running. Safeguards your phone from malicious websites, Chrome enforces HTTPS for all website connections when possible, and prevents Javascript from running. Phone by Google: There are several safety measures here to prevent spam and scam calls from reaching you. There are several safety measures here to prevent spam and scam calls from reaching you. Messages by Google: Similar to Phone, it adds extra protection against spam and scams. Individually, these are not new security settings — they've already existed as an option on Android for a while. But with Advanced Protection, all of these will be on and the user cannot adjust them in any way. Like mentioned earlier, we can be our own worst enemy, and this mode helps keep us safe from — well — ourselves, as well as other malicious forces. Google does have an API that third-party apps can utilize to detect when Advanced Protection is on, but it's up to individual developers to use it. When they do, then they can add their own security features in addition to the default settings. If you're currently on Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, you should start seeing the option for Advanced Protection on your device, if you haven't already. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
a day ago
- General
- Android Authority
Android 16 QPR1 beta's background blur issue has a simple fix
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 introduces a background blur effect in the app drawer, keyguard, and other areas. Activating Battery Saver will disable the background blur effect. Background blur consumes more power, so the setting turns the feature off. Google rolled out the much-anticipated first public beta for Android 16 last week. The update introduces some big changes, like physics-based animations, upgraded app components, and new themes. A new background blur effect has also been applied across the system. If you've installed the beta and this blur effect doesn't seem to be working for you, we now know the reason. One of the more visually appealing changes brought on by Android 16 is the new background blur effect. This effect appears when you're on the recent screen, Quick Settings panel, app drawer, and keyguard. It gives the background a frosted look that feels more expressive than what you get with Android 15. However, some users have recently noticed that this feature doesn't seem to always work. If this is the case for you, then you may want to check your battery settings. Like turning on Smooth display or raising your screen brightness, this background blur effect can drain your battery. It's a feature that's run by the GPU, so it consumes extra power. As a result, if your phone enters Battery Saver mode, it will turn the effect off to maximize the amount of power left in your device. Battery Saver off Battery Saver on Battery Saver off Battery Saver on In the screenshots above, you can see examples of the blur effect working and not working in the app drawer and Quick Settings. We have confirmed on our own devices that turning on Battery Saver does indeed turn background blur off. The answer is as simple as that. If you turn on battery saving mode, you're also turning off background blur. Although we think the effect looks nice, it's not exactly worth the power drain if your battery is low on juice. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
