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Android Authority
14-06-2025
- 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.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
UK media regulator investigates possible online safety breaches at 4chan
Britain's media regulator Ofcom on Tuesday launched nine investigations into internet message board 4chan as well as several file-sharing services over possible breaches of online safety laws. Britain's Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, sets tougher standards for platforms to tackle criminal activity, with an emphasis on child protection and illegal content. The regulator said it had received complaints about potential illegal content on 4chan and, separately, possible sharing of child sexual abuse material on seven file-sharing services. Ofcom is investigating whether 4chan and the file-sharing services failed to put appropriate safety measures to protect users from illegal content and to respond to a statutory information request. It also wants to assess whether they kept proper risk assessment records. 4chan could not be reached for comment. The regulator can require platforms to take specific measures to ensure compliance with the rules, or fine them up to £18m ($24.28m) or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is greater. Sign up to TechScape A weekly dive in to how technology is shaping our lives after newsletter promotion Ofcom's announcement also said it was investigating whether First Time Videos, which provides pornographic services, has effective enough age assurance in place to protect children.
Android Authority
06-06-2025
- Android Authority
Google's Quick Share could soon play even nicer with Samsung's Quick Share (APK teardown)
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung's Quick Share feature allows users to share files over the cloud with temporary Samsung Cloud download links. Google's Quick Share could soon be able to intercept these download links and open them within the app. This will allow for a consistent user experience between Samsung Galaxy and other Android devices. Last year, Google and Samsung joined forces to harmonize their file-sharing solutions for the greater good of the Android platform. As a result, Android's Nearby Share was renamed to Quick Share, the same as Samsung's solution on Galaxy devices. More recently, we've spotted Google and Samsung redesigning Quick Share to look similar to each other's solution. We're in for further harmonization, as Google's Quick Share will soon be able to intercept download links from Samsung's Quick Share. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. In addition to Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth-based file transfers, Samsung Galaxy users can upload files to Quick Share and share a download link or QR code with other users. These files are temporarily stored in Samsung Cloud for 48 hours. Google Play Service v25.23.30 beta includes code that allows Google's Quick Share solution to intercept these Samsung Cloud download links. We managed to activate the feature, allowing Google's Quick Share to open the URL in its own interface instead of the default browser. Here's a video demo of the upcoming feature in action: On tapping a Samsung Cloud link, you can see that Google's Quick Share is asking to turn on Bluetooth (which is a check it does when initializing the Receive tab). Once the interface is loaded, Google's Quick Share attempts to download the file and shows a loading bar, although the title text wrongly says 'QR code scan.' You can also see the text 'If the automatic download doesn't start, you can download from your browser.' We can either wait for the download to complete, cancel it, or open the link in the default browser, where you can download the file manually. As you can see in the video demo, the feature is still a work in progress and doesn't work. If this moves ahead, it will bring an even more cohesive user experience between both versions of Quick Share, which will ultimately help the Android platform at large. 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.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Illegal streaming website showing Hollywood movies BEFORE they're released is closed down after Brit is arrested
A SITE used to distribute movies and TV shows illegally has been shut down in the latest piracy crackdown. Police arrested a 47-year-old man from Penmaenmawr, Wales, on suspicion of copyright offences. 2 The individual is accused of distributing thousands of films, TV series and music on a file sharing torrent site without permission. Two recent Hollywood films that were leaked before their official release dates were a part of the content haul, officials said. His home was raided on April 29, where police seized two laptops and several hard drives for further examination, as well as a large quantity of discs. The man has since been released under investigation. "This operation serves as a warning to anyone thinking of uploading copyrighted material to pirate sites," said Detective Constable Jason Theobald, from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at City of London Police. "This is a crime that diverts funds away from the creative industries, money that not only supports artists, but thousands of technical and support staff working in this sector." The move follows a number of arrests to stamp out piracy in recent months. In January, Gary McNally, 55, was sentenced to two years and nine months for running a dodgy IPTV service known as Each Online. The service provided illegal access to Sky Entertainment, Sky Sports and Sky Movie channels, as well as content from international broadcasters, to thousands of people. "As technology continues to evolve, so do the threats to creative content," said Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association. "This decisive enforcement action reinforces the message that piracy is not a victimless crime– it damages creators, disrupts legitimate businesses, and endangers consumers. "We are proud to stand with PIPCU and our partners to protect creative industries and ensure audiences around the world can enjoy stories in a safe, legal, and secure way." People streaming content illegally are at risk of fraud and other dangers when using dodgy TV devices. But that's not the only possible consequence. They can slow down your broadband connection and affect other gadgets around your home too. "Illegal streaming isn't just unsafe, it's actively harmful," said Liz Bales, CEO of the British Association for Screen Entertainment (BASE), and The Industry Trust for IP. "Devices used for piracy are often infected with hidden malware, leading to crashing apps, severely disrupted performance, and compromised home networks. "This puts personal data and entire households at risk." Image credit: Getty
