Latest news with #NathanDrescher
Android Authority
a day ago
- Android Authority
I switched to this YouTube client and I'm never going back
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority YouTube has been a part of my life since its early days in the late 00s. It's no secret that today's YouTube is a far cry from what it used to be. YouTube was free back then; free from subscriptions, free from ads, even free from terrible video suggestions. It was raw and real. Now when we open the app we're bombarded with pop-ups and ads and the algorithm is awful at surfacing stuff we want to watch. So like many of you, I went searching for a replacement. I was looking for something calmer and more focused. There really is no replacement for YouTube, but there is a great client that harks back to the YouTube of old. It's called NewPipe, and it has become my go-to way to watch YouTube. How do you watch YouTube? 0 votes I pay for YouTube Premium NaN % I use a third-party client like NewPipe NaN % I just accept all the ads and use the official app NaN % I don't watch YouTube NaN % What makes NewPipe different Nathan Drescher / Android Authority This isn't a YouTube clone like YouTube Vanced. It's a stripped-down viewer built around Google's YouTube app, which keeps it cleaner and faster. NewPipe is an open-source streaming client for Android developed back in 2015 and maintained by a small team of volunteers. The app is hosted on F-Droid. It doesn't collect user data or track anything in the background. What sets NewPipe apart from other clients is how little it asks of my phone. The developers designed the app to be lightweight, fast, and efficient. I can report that they succeeded, because NewPipe barely sips system resources. And yet it plays videos without pop-ups, ads, or pre-roll interruptions. There's no user account, so there's no algorithm or tracking. I can even download videos for offline viewing The app supports multiple streaming platforms beyond YouTube, as well. You can watch videos from PeerTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and making it more than a simple YouTube alternative. This also makes it a useful tool for exploring independent content outside the YouTube ecosystem. It's a player for decentralized media. I fell in love with some of its features Background playback is one thing that surprised me. I can leave the app or turn off the screen entirely and my video will keep playing in the background, which is great for listening to podcasts without having to jump through the YouTube Music hoops. Picture-in-picture works perfectly, so I can keep a video playing while quickly checking my emails or jotting a note in Obsidian. I didn't expect to love the way it handles playlists and queues. I can build custom playlists that stay saved locally on my device, completely circumventing the need to sign in to an account. It's easy as heck to line up a few videos in a row for offline viewing. I can build custom playlists that stay saved locally on my device, completely circumventing the need to sign in to an account. But like I said before, the main thing that impressed me about NewPipe was its speed and efficiency. It launches faster than YouTube, never stutters, and never bloats my notifications with unnecessary clutter. I gave up some of YouTube's features by switching NewPipe's search results. YouTube's search results. NewPipe's video page. YouTube's video page. There are trade-offs to switching from YouTube to NewPipe. For starters, while I can read other people's comments, I can't post my own. This isn't a big deal to me because I rarely engage in YouTube comment drama. That could be a dealbreaker for some. I also lost YouTube Shorts, which I never took to anyways. For my kids, this would be a tragedy of earth-shaking magnitude, however. There's also no algorithm, no homepage recommendations, and no feed of trending videos. You have to search for what you want. Sure, it means fewer rabbit holes, but it also means less discovery. I still open the official site now and again to see if there are any worthwhile suggestions, and then download them with NewPipe. One important thing to remember is that there are no ads on NewPipe, but also no watch time logged. This is a major stumbling block for many creators who depend on subscriptions and ads to make a living. Using NewPipe skips those ads and negates your subscriptions. Those creators aren't getting paid. I support them by subscribing to their channels on the official YouTube app and liking their work. Just remember that free content doesn't make itself. Is this even legal? NewPipe's picture-in-picture mode. YouTube's picture-in-picture mode. This is the big question, and the answer is yes, but with a caveat. Using a client like NewPipe does not violate any laws. Ad blocking is legal. It's completely legal to download videos for private use, so long as you're not breaking copy or encryption protections. Writing your own software to access a public web service is also completely legal. However, what NewPipe does violate are YouTube's own terms of service. These are the house rules Google has established for using their service. I'm not violating any laws by using NewPipe, but I am going against some of YouTube's policies. I do run the risk of Google blocking my IP or nuking my account completely. But because NewPipe doesn't use my account, there's still nothing there to ban. Using a client like NewPipe does not violate any laws. This is a lot different from YouTube Vanced, which was shut down because it modified YouTube's proprietary app. That was a clear violation of copyright law. NewPipe doesn't do that. It built its own client from scratch using publicly available data. NewPipe is a great default video player Nathan Drescher / Android Authority This app gives me exactly what I want from a video player: the videos I choose with none of the bloat or aggressive advertising. There's no tracking and no clutter. I open it and watch what I came to watch, and I move on. Of course, it's not for everyone. Some users will miss comments and YouTube Shorts and the horrendous algorithm. But for me, it's a great experience. I've used it long enough now that the official YouTube app feels bloated and noisy every time I go back to it. NewPipe just works. It's simple, efficient, and yes, perfectly legal to use, and that's all I want from my technology. Follow
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
Survey shows note-takers are split on their best Obsidian alternative
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Obsidian is a popular note-taking app that frequently attracts the praises of privacy enthusiasts. But its learning curve and the focus on Markdown mean that many note-taking aficionados who have tried the app have switched over to other options. My colleague Mitja wrote about some of the best Obsidian alternatives out there, including Notion, Capacities, Anytype, Google Keep, and some other options. We polled readers on which ones they thought was the best choice — but instead of a resounding winner, the results were relatively close. Which is the best Obsidian alternative in your opinion? Based on the votes of just over 2,600 readers, Notion led the poll as the favorite alternative for Obsidian. The note-taking app, known for its free cloud syncing and powerful databases, received 23.72% of the votes. However, results were closer than expected. Not far off was Capacities in second place, which received 22.34% of the votes. Like Obsidian, both of these alternatives take a while to learn. Notion is packed with features and while I personally use the app, I've found that I have to get to grips with its features in small doses. Meanwhile Capacities also offers a blend of productivity features, including a calendar and an AI assistant. There's also Anytype, a no-code, offline-first solution that landed in third place with 19.97% of the votes. Despite placing third, it is actually one of the more direct competitors to Obsidian due to its focus on privacy. It's offline-first approach will appeal to those who want to keep their notes on their device without syncing to the web. So what about those who like simpler solutions? That's where Google Keep comes in. The app received 18.9% of the votes, despite its more limited scope and features. Over 9% of respondents voted for the umbrella of 'other' apps, while 5.28% voted for Evernote. It looks like the choice for the top Obsidian alternative is hotly contended, which makes sense since people have different note-taking styles and priorities. And sometimes you have to actually combine a few services to really hit that sweet spot for productivity. Follow
Android Authority
28-07-2025
- Android Authority
5 apps you should use instead of Obsidian
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Obsidian is far more than just a simple note-taking app. If you're willing to put in some effort, you can transform it into a highly versatile personal knowledge management (PKM) system, capable of everything from a detailed to-do list and a budget tracker to various sophisticated databases. However, despite its power, Obsidian isn't suitable for everyone. Some users might be deterred by its steep learning curve or its particular aesthetic. If you're ready to explore other options for whatever reason, here are five alternatives you should consider, along with their key strengths and why they might be a good fit for you. Which of the following is the best Obsidian alternative in your opinion. 0 votes Notion NaN % Google Keep NaN % Evernote NaN % Anytype NaN % Capacities NaN % Other (tell us in the comments) NaN % Notion Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority This is the Obsidian alternative I personally use, and the two are quite similar in many ways. Both Notion and Obsidian offer an incredible degree of flexibility, allowing you to create a customized knowledge base or streamline your workflow. The possibilities for organization and content creation are truly vast on both services. One of the major distinctions between them, however, is their foundational approach: Obsidian is primarily local-first, meaning your data is stored on your device, while Notion is cloud-based. I personally prefer cloud-based software for its ease of access across multiple devices. That said, for those who prioritize maximum privacy and local data control, Obsidian remains the stronger choice. It's important to note that Notion also comes with a significant learning curve, comparable to Obsidian's. So, if you're looking for something simpler, you might want to consider the next two entries on this list. But if the learning curve isn't an issue, Notion has a wealth of features to offer, including a vast library of free templates for nearly any purpose, an excellent design, extensive customization options, and a genuine sense of accomplishment once you've successfully set up your personalized workflow. Google Keep Joe Maring / Android Authority It truly doesn't get any simpler than Google Keep. I've used this app for years and am very familiar with its capabilities. While it suited my workflow perfectly for a long time, I eventually transitioned to Notion when my needs demanded more advanced features. Google Keep is a straightforward note-taking app. However, everyone has unique requirements. If all you're looking for is a straightforward note-taking app that's incredibly easy to learn and use, Google Keep is a fantastic option. It's entirely cloud-based, ensuring all your notes seamlessly sync across all your devices. Plus, it's completely free, without any ads or premium subscription plans to worry about. The main limitations are its basic text formatting and note organization features, which might be a drawback for some users. If you're seeking something less feature-packed than Obsidian but offering more robust capabilities than Keep, the next service on this list might be ideal. Evernote Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Evernote is the app I initially switched to from Google Keep before eventually moving on to Notion. It's very simple to use, so there's no steep learning curve like with Obsidian. It's almost as user-friendly as Keep but provides more features, such as better note management, improved text formatting, and a lot more. It worked much better for my workflow at the time, and it's also cloud-based, syncing across all connected devices (within the plan's limits). I particularly liked its web clipper, which is a browser extension that allows you to quickly save articles directly into a notebook of choice. However, there are some notable downsides. You'll frequently encounter nudges to sign up for a premium plan. The free plan also has limitations on the number of notes you can create and the devices you can connect to your account. Evernote has significantly restricted its free offering over the years, which is a shame, but it can still be a worthwhile service for certain users. Anytype Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Unlike Google Keep and Evernote, Anytype is more of a direct competitor to Obsidian. This means it offers a similar suite of powerful tools and features, and it can be just as challenging to learn at first. It also embraces an 'offline-first' approach, which is excellent for those who are highly privacy-focused. Anytype combines the best elements of Notion and Obsidian. My colleague Dhruv is a big fan of Anytype, saying that he believes the software takes the best elements of Notion and Obsidian and then adds its own unique flavor to it. Setting it up is similar to how you would configure Notion, although Anytype provides even more ways to organize your data. And, like Obsidian, it offers a top-down, interconnected view of all your objects and how they link to each other. If you appreciate both Obsidian and Notion but find that neither fully meets your needs, you should definitely give Anytype a try, as it truly offers a compelling blend of both. Capacities Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority Just like Anytype, Capacities is another tool that shares many similarities with both Notion and Obsidian. It can take a while to get the hang of, but once everything is set up, it can significantly boost your productivity. My colleague Dhruv is currently using it, though he found it's not necessarily 'better' than Obsidian. What he does believe, however, is that it can effectively complement tools like Obsidian and Notion, as its structure is just different enough to suit his specific workflow. You can read more about his experience with it here, but it's important to remember that not everyone will find themselves in the same camp as him. Some users may still prefer to use Capacities as their sole productivity tool, as it's powerful enough to stand on its own. Whether you want to use it as a simple note-taking app or to set up a complex workflow with intricate databases, Capacities has you covered. These are five excellent Obsidian alternatives to explore, though there are certainly plenty of other great options out there. Head to the comments section and let me know which ones you recommend and why. Follow
Android Authority
23-07-2025
- Android Authority
I fired ChatGPT for a week and hired a European AI instead
Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I've cut my ties to a bunch of American tech. Gmail became Fastmail, Keep turned into Obsidian, and I replaced Tasks with ToDoist. I figured AI would be the hardest one to give up. I've been using ChatGPT in an unorthodox way, not for chatting, but as a full-on project management system for scheduling, reminders, and budgeting. Then I stumbled on LeChat a few months ago. LeChat, from the company Mistral, is Europe's answer to the LLM arms race. I used it instead of ChatGPT to run my life for a full week, pushing it way beyond what it was built for. What I found was a mix of blazing speed and blunt honesty, as well as a bunch of limitations to my workflow. Would you consider switching to a non-American AI tool like LeChat? 0 votes Yes, I'm already using a non-American AI tool. NaN % I'm actively looking for alternatives. NaN % Maybe, I hadn't thought of it before. NaN % No, I'm sticking with American tech. NaN % Switching away from American AI Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I've been feeling uneasy about using ChatGPT for a while now. The leadership drama, opaque corporate structure, its close ties to some people in the US government…these already had me questioning my choice to stick with it. But worse than that was how much ChatGPT 4o feels like it is degrading recently. I don't use this LLM for chatting or writing emails. I use it to manage my day, but it was going off the rails by forgetting things I'd input like my diet, giving me randomly hallucinated events when I asked it what was next on my schedule, and other such shenanigans. LeChat felt different. It is built on Mistral's open models and adheres to Europe's strict privacy laws. It doesn't track me outside of the app like Gemini. Plus, its answers are practically instant. So I closed ChatGPT for a week and made LeChat my go-to assistant for everything I'd normally delegate to an AI. This AI is a breath of fresh air Nathan Drescher / Android Authority The first thing I noticed was how ridiculously fast LeChat is at answering. I'd get a full answer for my prompt the moment I hit enter. I thought at first it must surely be missing context or skipping details, but the responses were accurate and useful. This app is set to Ludicrous Speed all the time. It also didn't try to flatter me. During my test, I asked it to schedule a nighttime vampire hunt on my calendar. LeChat told me vampire hunting wasn't real and moved on. When I recreated the same task with ChatGPT, it played along and scheduled it for a Wednesday night. LeChat wasn't rude, just grounded, and that was refreshing. I didn't have to constantly prompt it to keep it short or just answer the question. Web search, calendar, and deep think LeChat also includes a built-in live web search, making it feel a bit like Perplexity. I didn't need to open a special chat or toggle anything. It just searched the web directly inside the thread when needed. I could also turn this off anytime. LeChat connects to Gmail and Google Calendar too, though I didn't test this since I've moved away from those tools. There are also 'Think' and 'Research' modes. The latter is supposedly aimed at summarizing and analyzing source material, possibly competing with Google's NotebookLM. These features aren't in my usual workflow, but I could see them being incredibly useful for students or researchers who need to quickly summarize and analyze large volumes of text. Here's where it couldn't keep up It wasn't all rainbows and unicorns. The biggest problem was memory. LeChat has none. There's no persistent knowledge of who I am or what I've said in other threads. ChatGPT and Gemini can both retain context, so if I ask them to schedule my son's dentist appointment, they remember who he is and even know the name of his dentist. I need to re-enter the information for each and every chat I start with LeChat. I would love to see LeChat incorporate a memory feature that retains key information across sessions. There's no persistent knowledge of who I am or what I've said in other threads. There are no push notifications either. Maybe that works if you're still using Gmail, but I use Fastmail. I couldn't get LeChat to remind me of anything unless I reopened the app and asked it what I had already told it to remember. It also couldn't create documents the way ChatGPT can. I'm talking about those in-line documents that sit outside the main context window, which are especially useful for quick to-do lists or structured notes. LeChat didn't offer anything like that. I understand these tools aren't designed to manage lives, but I've turned ChatGPT into a decent personal assistant. LeChat couldn't keep up. For one-shot answers, web searches, or brainstorming what to feed my picky daughter, it was great. But it fell short for ongoing support. I'm still glad I tried it Nathan Drescher / Android Authority There's something calming about a tool that doesn't try to be everything. Using LeChat made me realize some of what we've grown used to has grown bloated. LeChat is lean, responsive, and no-nonsense. Its speed is mind-boggling for anyone who has grown used to ChatGPT's laborious answers. It's the kind of AI that might appeal to people who don't want AI running their lives, just helping with their day. I'll probably keep using ChatGPT for the heavy lifting. I still haven't found an LLM that can manage projects like ChatGPT. But LeChat has earned a place in my app drawer. Not every tool needs to be a powerhouse. Sometimes it just needs to answer a question and move on, like LeChat.
Android Authority
19-07-2025
- Android Authority
I ditched Google Calendar for paper, and it gave me the mental clarity I needed
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority I started using a paper calendar as sort of a joke. It was part of my experiment to live as if I were back in 1993. I ditched all modern tech and bought a weekly planner from the dollar store. My busy adult life still needed some kind of planning system. I didn't expect to stick with it after my experiment was up, but you know what? I did. The experiment ended but the paper calendar stuck around. It found a home on my desk, where I've been using it every day since then. It's strange because Google Calendar had been my go-to tool for years. It organized everything in my life, from my kids' dentist appointments to my bike rides. But weirdly, I feel more in control of my schedule with pen and paper than I did with Google's digital tools. Do you feel stressed by your digital life? 0 votes Yes, my digital life is a disorganized mess. NaN % Sometimes, and I'm thinking of changing. NaN % Sometimes, but I can deal. NaN % No, my digital life is perfect for me. NaN % I made the switch to slow down Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Maybe you've felt the same way I was feeling: the constant dinging, the notification dots, that feeling that no matter what you do, you're a disorganized mess who can't get all your ducks in a row. So, you add more to your calendar, more to your to-do list, more to your note-taking apps. I've been there too. I was worn down by digital fatigue and wanted something that would slow my life down without losing control of the things that matter. The paper planner I bought for that experiment turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. It slowed me down and made me think about each item I added to my day. I gained some mental space by switching It took some self-discipline to get started, but the habit of sitting with my calendar each morning formed surprisingly quickly. Here's what I do at the beginning of every day: Open my planner and see if there are any items left over from yesterday. Add those to today's tasks and put three exclamation marks next to them (!!!). Check if I have any appointments already entered for the day. Check Slack and Asana and add any tasks due for the day. Check my shared family calendar and add anything my wife has put in for the day. The whole thing takes about five minutes, and it gives me a sense of clarity that digital tools never did. Nathan Drescher / Android Authority I add appointments to their specific day when I make them. I add due dates for bills a month in advance, so when I get to that specific day, it's there. Funny enough, by writing them into a calendar, I haven't forgotten about them. In fact, this has kept me more on my budget than ever before, and I find I no longer forget appointments or important events. This has kept me more on my budget than ever before. As I complete tasks, I cross them off my list and feel a sense of accomplishment. Then I sit down with my calendar at the end of the day for a minute or two and review what I've done for the day and what's coming up tomorrow. That small moment of reflection each day has helped me stay focused and intentional. Not everything works as well in a paper calendar Joe Maring / Android Authority There's a lot more friction when working with a paper planner. I can't just whip something into my calendar while I'm out and about, so it means I often have to make a note of something in Obsidian and then remember to transfer it to my calendar when I get home. That's a lot of hoops to jump through, and I've definitely missed a few things this way. There are no push notifications or emails, so I have to check the calendar throughout the day. And the convenience of adding emails, addresses, and notes to an event in Google Calendar cannot be understated. I do a lot of meetings and interviews as a journalist, and Google Calendar allows me to track everything I need when I'm meeting with a subject. Not so my dollar store weekly planner. I'm going to stick with paper for the time being Nathan Drescher / Android Authority Still, I haven't gone back. The pros outweigh the cons, and the paper planner has brought some much-needed peace to my life. It has slowed my life down in a way I didn't know I needed. It forces me to be more mindful of my schedule and more present in my own life. I still use Google Calendar for family events and meetings, because there are some things a paper calendar could never replace. But for everything else, I spend the time to jot it down with a pen, review it every day, think about what it means, and actually do it. No scrolling, no notifications, and no cloud sync. It just sits there, waiting for me, and I didn't know how badly I needed that until I tried it.
