I learned only yesterday that Google is going to effectively shut down open android. So I'm gonna have to move away from there. But what are my options? Is there a nice website that lists and compares alternatives? I hear that Graphene is the goat, but I'm not on a pixel phone. Currently I'm on a Samsung galaxy a15 I hear about lineageOS as a good second, but it sounds like Google's decision to close down android might affect lineage too. I hear about others, but I'm not too well versed in running obscure OS.

Hello everyone! Is there any alternative to android auto for a degoogled phone running microG? I mean, one that can connect on " android auto ready” devices.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/60496784 > It all goes well until brunch, when I get tons of errors about missing manifest xml's. I can browse to the folder where the xml file should be (the folder exists) but the folder is empty. Where am I supposed to get them?? > > EDIT: to be clear, this device has been dropped from LOS support. I have an installation zip and got the proprietary blobs tho...

Over the last three years I've had a lot of folks ask me questions about using GrapheneOS. Let's answer them!

I've been wanting to Curb my Doom Scrolling Habits as of Recent as I've been wasting waaaay to much time opening the Same Apps 5 Times in 10 Minutes. One Method thats been Said to Work wonders in that Regard is to have Apps only be accessible after typing in a Password. After doing a bit of Light research it seems I'll need an App for this as I don't wanna deal with Samsungs "Safe Folder" needing a Samsung Account stuff. Do any of you have Suggestions for Trust Worthy Apps for this?

While the Pixel 6 ushered in three years of major Android OS version updates and an additional two for security patches, that’s still nowhere near the longevity of the iPhone. Google hopes to change that on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro with noticeably more OS updates.

Hello everyone! As a lot of us may have noticed, this community was locked for a while. Well, just like we [announced here](https://lemmy.world/post/1734965) 5 days ago, we've set it free again! Let's help this community thrive and keep it an amazing space together. From now on, you may post and participate here any time you wish. Though please feel encouraged to follow the community rules, which you can read from the sidebar. We will be looking for new moderators, and holding regular events here from now on. If you would like to become a moderator here, then please feel free to comment. If you have a sweet new banner or icon for us, then please feel very free to comment. If you have a suggestion for a nice event to have, then please feel very very free to comment! May our future be in peace with all. Thank you for being here! Cheers :)

I have 115

Was tearing my hair out this morning when I couldn't listen to podcasts on the way to work. I updated my S23 Ultra to ONE UI 7 yesterday evening and this morning Android Auto was working fine EXCEPT that I had no audio. Adjustment of volume in the car and on my phone were unsuccessful. The solution was to make a quick phone call and now audio works fine again. I have no idea why it worked or why audio wasn't working to begin with - but I thought I would share in case it helps anyone else.

I've been scratching my head with this one for close to a year now. About a year ago my OnePlus Nord CE3 (Android 14, now Android 15) suddenly stopped recognizing the mic on any Bluetooth devices -- even when a device is connected, it stubbornly uses the mic on the phone itself, never the one on the device. I've tried this with two pairs of TWS earphones and a Bluetooth speaker, all running either Bluetooth v5.2 or v5.3. All three of these devices work perfectly when connected to my Windows laptop. Help? This used to work, I can't for the life of me figure why it stopped.

Hi all, What do you use to wirelessly project your screen? I have sunshine / moonlight set up and that works alright but I'm told there are simpler ways and I'm behind the times :p Is this a thing in FOSS / Linux land? All suggestions welcome and appreciated. EDIT: I use Graphene on a Pixel 8A

So I sideloaded few apps that are already present in playstore. But whenever I go to my updates menu , I can see all my apps installed via playstore as well as side loaded. Is there a way to stop this?

* computer: ubuntu 23.10 * device: asus X00PD, can only root it from the computer (no install from usb option available on the device). On the computer, I ran: `fastboot flash recovery /home/alice/TWRP/twrp.img` it returned: `Sending 'recovery' (50272 KB) OKAY [ 1.596s] Writing 'recovery' OKAY [ 0.464s] Finished. Total time: 2.068s` I thought I have flashed TWRP to the device's recovery partition. However, after booting to recovery, I don't see TWRP, I see the stock Android recovery. Unless the recovery partition can support both Android recovery and TWRP at the same time I haven't installed TWRP. How do I install TWRP?

I don’t know if this post fits here but the lineage os community has no traffic. MIUI is bloated and limiting, so I decided to switch to lineageos, however, it doesn’t support my phone. Do I just wait, or is there anything I can do? I also found this. Have no clue what it is, but maybe this can help. https://github.com/Jabiyeff/android_device_xiaomi_spes

Google Play Store locks users into its controlled ecosystem. Here are the several options available to avoid the Play Store, and why you may want to consider them (yes, before your favorite app is mistakenly removed as well) This video is targeted towards individuals looking to deGoogle.

I'm a Hongkonger and often need to type in Chinese. While I can use input methods like Cangjie or Quick, I much prefer handwriting to keep in mind how to write the characters in a digital age. So far, I have only seen open source keyboards without handwriting support. Does any of them exist?

Previously on Lemmy: - [Samsung](https://lemmy.world/post/2075289) Past Discussions: - [Sony](https://lemmy.world/post/910303) - [OnePlus](https://lemmy.world/post/706987) - [Motorola](https://lemmy.world/post/214784) Well, as promised, we are talking foldable this week. The excitement is palpable, and it looks like the rest of our mod team have already started the conversation [here](https://lemmy.world/post/2392442). Go check it out. I honestly don't know very much about foldable phones, so I'll let the rest of our (very smart and knowledgeable) mod team handle this one this week. :) Last thing for future reference at the end of the week, we also have a great thread discussing foldables [here](https://lemmy.world/post/2777246) too, go check it out if you want more great discussions.

# Motivation So this is probably a strange request but I really want to do this. For some reason, when I restored the WhatsApp chats most of the photos there got to the private directory where it doesn't show on my android gallery. I don't know what happened but there is no official solution to get the photos back. So I thought why not do it myself. # What I already did I rooted m phone (temporarily) to get access to the msgstore.db file so that I can change the paths of the media. I can do that easily with a sqlite query. # What I couldn't do When I try to modify the actual database, it says that I cannot do it since the file got corrupted. I think there might be a checksum or something somewhere but I can't seem to find any information about it. Does anyone know how I can do this without tripping the integrity checker?

Do you use a device with open source Android firmware? What device, which distro and what do you do with it? I have a Samsung tablet with LineageOS and apps from F-Droid. Other than displaying dire warnings about the unlocked bootloader every time it cold boots, It's great for a "recliner system": email, Web browsing, E-book reader and MP3 player. What do you have, what do you use it for, and how well does it work for you?

Hi recently I'm seeing news about android auto all over the place like: * Grapheneos recently integrated android auto. * Microsoft Teams is being developed for Android auto. * Google updating android auto with chrome support. What has happened in android auto now that there are some companies focusing on it?

# My context / use case I got Fire 7 tablets for my kiddos a few years ago and they're dreadfully slow and can't really run many apps at all. With my daughter needing some educational support at home, I was looking for a cheap replacement that actually had enough power to manage recent education apps, and hopefully be future proof for a while. # Alternatives The cheapest tablet at Costco.ca, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, is $500 CAD, has a weak processor, only 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage. I'll never touch Apple products for a zillion reasons, but cost was completely prohibitive for a device my child could drop any day. Even used ones are insanely priced. And the app ecosystem for education on iOS is almost entirely paid apps, increasingly using a subscription model. (Or so it seems.) Newer Amazon Fire "HD" tablets suck, too, but at least they're cheap. And they might be powerful enough to run some things? idk. I wasn't enthused. Then, I thought to check AliExpress and found an 8GB tablet with 128GB storage, a processor better than the S6, and a 2K (1440p) display. After reading reviews to check if it's legit, I ordered one. # Informal Review **The great:** Price/value for the specs. I paid ~$240CAD for a bundle that includes a nice case, screen protector, charging block and cable, and a child-size Bluetooth keyboard. (It doesn't have a digitizer, so I skipped the stylus.) **The good:** The tablet is snappy. The battery lasts a long time. The screen has plenty enough resolution to render everything crisply on a 10.4" display. It's a perfect tablet for my kids use as an educational tablet. It's great for PDF ebook reading (mostly picture books and early reader chapter books to date, lol!) and has handled all the education/edutainment apps without any slowdowns. 3.5mm jack. 18W fast charging. Build quality feels solid. Well positioned hardware buttons and 3.5mm jack make it easy to use in either orientation. The included case works as an angled stand. SD card slot for expansion. SIM compatible for phone/data. **The bad:** The viewing angle is pretty terrible. It's completely fine for solo use or for applications where colour accuracy isn't important, but it's very noticeable. The speakers suck. I'm not a sound geek, so I don't know the correct terms, but the sound is muddy and distorted. They also have a fairly low maximum volume, and become increasingly distorted at higher volume. They work well enough, but it's not enjoyable for music. I would definitely use headphones for music/video/games. I haven't tried the camera at all, but I've heard it's not great. Can't comment on that. **The purchase** The vendor I ordered from (ALLDOCUBE Direct Store) swapped the EU plug for a US plug at no extra cost. It arrived quickly (3 weeks?) from China. The package arrived with the retail box crushed, so the included screen protector broke. After using it for a day, I decided to buy a second one for my other child, and asked them to include a replacement. Not only did they include a replacement, but they pre-installed the screen protector on tablet #2 so it couldn't break, without my asking them to. I would recommend the seller, but ask them to pre-install the screen protector (if you plan to use one) so there's less risk of damage in transit. **Discussion** Anyway, not sure if this is the kind of content people want here, but I thought I'd do my part to add something! Has anyone else experimented with cheap AliExpress/Chinese Android devices? Based on my success with these, I'm considering getting a phone for my wife there. I'm a bit more worried about data vulnerabilities and software support longevity on a daily driver phone, but it's really hard to find a small quality phone for a reasonable price. Also, it needs to have a good camera or it's a nonstarter. Do you have any experience or thoughts on this?

cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/11127131 > I currently use the [Local send](https://www.f-droid.org/packages/org.localsend.localsend_app/) app to send files wirelessly between devices. > > Its max speed is ~3.5mbps when sending on a 2.4ghz wifi mode and ~5mbps on 5ghz. > If I turn off encryption it can reach 10-26mbps of transfer speeds with 5ghz wifi. > > > Is there a faster way aside from usb data cable transfer? > > I have tried nearby share and found it unreliable and slower. Total commander wifi transfer is not functional on android 13. > > Files I transfer can be a gig in size.

Incomplete list of aftermarket custom roms.

I went through my late teens as the initial smart phone boom was happening. I had a Motorola q that could get TV channels and had a keyboard. I had the enV that flipped open. And many androids/blackberries that I loved for their unique form factor and functionality. I have never balked at spending money on a phone and for a long time i felt locked into generic flagship devices. With the debut of folding screens I feel like my appetite for unique devices rekindled. I think the power of android lies in its diversity of implementation. So what features and functionalities would you choose over the next flagship release?

I finally managed to install Lineage os on this HTC One (m8) thanks to the help of Lemmy!

> If you recently heard about strange reboot issues with Android Auto but didn’t run into those problems yourself, it seems...

cross-posted from: https://lemmybefree.net/post/650824 > I'm on GrapheneOS and I believe the default control center (AOSP) sucks, especially the two slides to change brightness > > I didn't find any Foss apps to change that, but there are many of iOS replicas on Google play which I would like but they all seem full of ads and shady

> It’s no secret that Gemini is coming to Android Auto soon, but it’s not here just yet. Ahead of the...

Typing test: https://monkeytype.com I used [Unexpected Keyboard](https://f-droid.org/packages/juloo.keyboard2/) Any tips on how to improve typing speed? (without using word suggestion and autocorrect) I'm interested in how fast people who swipe type are. Also, do those keyboards like Thumb Key and FlickBoard have the potential "to be faster" than the standard keyboards?

I should probably figure out some way to keep my bookmarks. I'm using 3 browsers (FF, Tor Browser, Bromite - soon to be replaced). **I don't want online sync or accounts.** Just a way to keep it in one place with export/import/backup. ColorNote can receive bookmarks through sharing including titles, at least one by one. But another thing is I'd like to replace CN with something foss, not rely on it even more. Anyone has the same dilemma?

Do you root or do you go straight to ROMs?

I always disable it. Having everything using the same exact colour palette is boring/homogenized. The themed icons are even worse, simultaneously killing iconography art and making it much more difficult to differentiate between apps in the app drawer quickly.

Hey Android enthusiasts! I'm looking to spruce up my Android device and would love to know your favorite icon pack. Share the name and what makes it special to you. Is it the design, variety of icons, or compatibility with your launcher? Any tips for customizing Android's appearance are welcome too! Thanks! 🤗

> One of the best features of Google Photos is the app’s ability to show old photos as a “Memory,” but sometimes showing a specific person isn’t what you want. Now, Google Photos is preparing to make it easier to hide someone’s face from Memories.

Shelter doesn't have release on github, Can I still install it through obtanium? Title pretty much explains all that I wanted to ask. If a repo doesn't have release on github or other website, how can we install those app through obtanium? thanks a lot

Hi there, im conducting research on a wast amount of different VPN applications, and doing so I would like to gather some statistics on how many applications there are based om my criteria. Is there any good way of doing this nowadays? I found one app called App Finder, which has a bit more freedom that the Play Store, but doesn't quite hit the mark. I want to be able to for example see, how many apps there are based on a certain term like, "VPN". Any pin pointers towards this are greatly appreciated :)