Latest news with #LocalSend
Android Authority
5 hours ago
- Android Authority
These are the 10 open source Android apps I install on every new phone
Andy Walker / Android Authority There are a few apps I must install on any new Android phone. Without them, using my handset would be quite challenging. These include the usual suspects like shopping and banking apps, browsers, AI search tools, and WhatsApp. Surprisingly, I also rely heavily on open-source apps. A quick count shows that over a dozen of my apps are open source, many of which enhance my phone experience. How many open source apps do you have on your phone? 0 votes None. NaN % 1-5. NaN % 6-10. NaN % 11-20. NaN % More than 20. NaN % In honor of these apps, here are the 10 open-source Android apps I always install without hesitation: LocalSend Andy Walker / Android Authority LocalSend is a free, open-source, cross-platform file-sharing service that uses my local network to transfer files between devices. I'm a relatively new user, but the app quickly won me over. I used to struggle with Quick Share and USB cables for transferring files from my phone to another device or my PC, but not anymore. LocalSend simplifies this process, using my fast local network for quick transfers. Its easy setup is a major advantage; just install the app on both the sender and recipient devices, and you're ready to go. It's compatible with Apple products, Linux, Windows, and Android, allowing seamless file transfers between Android and iOS. Kvaesitso Andy Walker / Android Authority Kvaesitso is a free, open-source Android launcher focused on minimalism and search. As a former Nova Launcher user, Kvaesitso has completely changed how I use my phone since I adopted it over a year ago. Instead of multiple screens, Kvaesitso uses a vertically-scrolling layout just below the screen's edge. This supports multiple widgets and lets me hide them until needed. The launcher heavily relies on its search capabilities, which can pull up data beyond apps and shortcuts, including files, contacts, calendar events, and even Wikipedia results. Breezy Weather Andy Walker / Android Authority Breezy is a free, open-source weather app that fully embraces Google's Material Design. As a result, it's one of my favorite alternatives to Google's own weather platforms. Its GitHub description highlights its proficient use of Material Design, and as a result, it looks great on Google Pixel devices. Despite this, the app still has its own personality and offers all the vital weather metrics at a glance, several sources, and the option to delve deeper into daily forecasts if required. Material Files Andy Walker / Android Authority Material Files is my go-to file manager. This free, open-source app is lightweight, makes moving files easy, and includes a handy breadcrumbs menu for effortless navigation. It supports archives, themes, and, importantly for me, my NAS. Basically, it covers every requirement I have and more. Obtanium Andy Walker / Android Authority Managing apps from multiple sources and keeping them updated can be a chore, but Obtanium makes it surprisingly enjoyable. The app acts as a central hub for all non-Play Store apps, allowing users to search for apps on platforms like F-Droid and GitHub and download them directly. It's so essential that I often install it before any Google apps, and of the most important apps I sideload on my Android phone. Shizuku Andy Walker / Android Authority Like Obtanium, Shizuku is one of the most important apps on my phone, though I don't actively use it. It allows other apps to access higher privilege APIs that they usually couldn't. For example, Smartspacer, which enhances my Pixel's At a Glance widget, needs Shizuku to function. Many other apps also rely on it, and it's the lynchpin for making your Android phone feel more like a Pixel. URLCheck Andy Walker / Android Authority URLCheck is a free, open-source link-checking app that is a middleman between my thumb and browser. It's indispensable for verifying the destination of obfuscated links in emails and social apps. I wrote a dedicated piece on why URLCheck is a permanent fixture on my phone. In short, it lets me remove tracking snippets, check links for viruses, and open links in my app of choice. Xtra Andy Walker / Android Authority I don't use Twitch as much as I used to, but I turn to Xtra when I do. This free, open-source Twitch client is less annoying than the official app, offering access to third-party emote services and background playback. It also lets me download VODs for offline viewing, which is perfect for flights. OsmAnd Andy Walker / Android Authority The free, open-source mapping app OsmAnd excels where Google Maps falls short. It uses OpenStreetMap data, which I rely on for navigating back roads. In my area, several gravel routes aren't on Maps. OsmAnd highlights road quality and surface, helping me decide if I can traverse a bumpy farm road. As a result, it's also one of the most important Android Auto apps on my device. RedReader Andy Walker / Android Authority Finally, RedReader is the only reason I am still considering using Reddit. It's exempt from Reddit's third-party app restrictions and is the best app for browsing the social network (of the apps that still exist). It's fast, simple, and customizable enough for my needs. I love its legibility settings, especially the ability to adjust font sizes precisely. I've shared my favorite apps, and now it's your turn. Are there any open-source apps you always install on your phone? Let the community know in the comments below.
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
When I share files, I skip right past Quick Share and use this app instead
Andy Walker / Android Authority Sharing files across Android and other devices can be tedious. Although Quick Share has improved slightly since Samsung and Google collaborated, offering a larger feature set than ever, it often feels more cumbersome than convenient. I spend more time connecting to the recipient's phone than sending the file, which I don't appreciate. How often do you use Quick Share? 2 votes Daily. 50 % Once or twice a week. 50 % Once a month or less. 0 % I don't use it at all. 0 % So, faced with the constant challenge of sharing files from my Android phone to my desktop and my partner's phone, I changed my approach. Instead of using a USB cable or Quick Share, I now use LocalSend and wonder why I didn't switch sooner. Where Quick Share stumbles, LocalSend speeds away Andy Walker / Android Authority LocalSend is a free, open-source file-sharing platform that uses my local network to transfer files between my devices. As long as both devices have the app installed and are connected to the same network, I've experienced flawless transfers that complete in seconds. This makes it perfect for buzzing files across devices within the home environment, or really any location with a local network. And, as everything is done locally within your network, you can send almost anything. The app allows general files, clipboard transfers, simple text sends, entire folders, and even APKs. You can see the process for the latter below. Perhaps its greatest selling point is its cross-compatibility with major platforms. While I love the Android app's ease of use and simplicity, I've also loaded my desktop and laptop with the Windows version, allowing cable-free transfers of anything on my device. If there's a documentary I want to send to my phone, or a bunch of screenshots I need to send to my desktop, I can do so in mere seconds. LocalSend is also available for Linux distros and, notably, Apple platforms. I don't own an iPhone or a MacBook, but the app would be a must-install if I did. It reaches far beyond Quick Share. LocalSend's greatest selling point is its cross-compatibility with major platforms, including Android, Windows, and Apple OSes. It's also available as a web service if you want to try it out without installation or if you want to send a file to a home guest. Including a PIN for verifying transfers is a welcome addition, easing my security concerns when sending sensitive documents. The app also features Quick Save and Auto Finish options, which I enable between my phone and desktop to facilitate unattended transfers, significantly improving my workflow. Despite this extensive reach, setting it up is as simple as installing an app on the platform of your choice. Unlike other products, where you must set up network parameters and ports, LocalSend forgives my laziness and is as simple as install and go. While Quick Share struggles to locate devices right next to me, LocalSend excels at seamless transfers. One of my biggest gripes with Quick Share is its difficulty locating target devices. When trying to send a file to my partner via Quick Share, it takes several minutes to find her phone, though the transfer itself takes only seconds. I've encountered this problem with many other devices, leading me to lose trust in Google's service. With LocalSend, I can send files directly to her without locating her device each time — I just need to know the nickname the service assigns to her device. Additionally, LocalSend offers a multiple recipient feature for sending files to several devices at once. Quick Share still stars in some scenarios, but it's rarely ever needed Ryan Haines / Android Authority Of course, LocalSend isn't perfect in every situation. Its reliance on a local network is both its greatest strength and weakness. Sometimes, I can't use it to send files because neither of us is on a home or private network. However, I rarely need to transfer files in these situations, and when Quick Share inevitably fails, I turn to WhatsApp. It's a small price to pay for LocalSend's effectiveness in other scenarios. Quick Share remains my default choice for file sharing when I'm beyond the confines of a local network. However, LocalSend is indispensable in every other situation, and I can't imagine working or living without it.
