New essential Android apps thread

Orcvader · 22 Dec 2017 at 21:26

Kainz said:
Folks, what would be the best FB client on Android?
I installed Swipe for Facebook on my wifes OP3 but her photo albums seem to be in quite a low resolution. I'm still investigating this and was wondering what the other alternatives are. Cheers.

Using Swipe myself, no issues with quality here. Is this on a mobile or wifi connection?

Another alternative is Metal for Facebook. Bare in mind both apps are just wrappers for the mobile FB site, so see if the mobile site on the browser also has the same issue?

Kainz · 22 Dec 2017 at 21:44

Orcvader said:
Using Swipe myself, no issues with quality here. Is this on a mobile or wifi connection?

Another alternative is Metal for Facebook. Bare in mind both apps are just wrappers for the mobile FB site, so see if the mobile site on the browser also has the same issue?

WiFi at home. I just installed the official fb app and the quality is a lot better so I've pot a post on the Swipe subreddit for more ideas. I don't use FB personally so I'm not familiar about all this. Tried Metal a while back but the missus struggled with it. Cheers for thr heads up about the mobile wrapper site, I'll check this now.

Edit: You're spot on. It is just picking compressed images straight off the mobile site :/

Charlie Bravo · 22 Dec 2017 at 22:51

Try Friendly for Facebook.

Orcvader · 22 Dec 2017 at 23:05

Kainz said:
Edit: You're spot on. It is just picking compressed images straight off the mobile site :/

Shame then, that means it will affect other 3rd party Facebook apps too as they're usually just mobile wrappers due to a lack of APIs from Facebook. Usually tapping on the picture to the full view makes the quality good enough for me but most of my images are shared from Instagram/Google Photos.

Could try Facebook Lite? Not officially avaliable in the UK but you can grab it from here: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/facebook-2/lite/lite-73-0-0-7-192-release/

welshdragon · 23 Dec 2017 at 12:41

Can anyone recommend a news app? Dont mind paying a little not to be spammed with ads. Would prefer one the aggregates a number of sources ie pick you interested areas

booyaka · 23 Dec 2017 at 13:59

welshdragon said:
Can anyone recommend a news app? Dont mind paying a little not to be spammed with ads. Would prefer one the aggregates a number of sources ie pick you interested areas

flipboard?

Kainz · 23 Dec 2017 at 19:05

Orcvader said:
Shame then, that means it will affect other 3rd party Facebook apps too as they're usually just mobile wrappers due to a lack of APIs from Facebook. Usually tapping on the picture to the full view makes the quality good enough for me but most of my images are shared from Instagram/Google Photos.

Could try Facebook Lite? Not officially avaliable in the UK but you can grab it from here: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/facebook-2/lite/lite-73-0-0-7-192-release/

Cheers mate, I'll give fb lite a go when I get back to London. I'm encouraging the missus to try and recreate her albums in G.Photos that she does use.

mrk · 23 Dec 2017 at 19:18

Feedly is what I use for news, it syncs with the webiste so what you've read on either phone or browser is always known. You can add sources from normal websites too and group into categories.

It's rather good.

Sp00n · 23 Dec 2017 at 19:39

Feedly is awesome.

JRJ · 23 Dec 2017 at 21:24

Charlie Bravo said:
Try Friendly for Facebook.

Cheers, latest update of Metal Pro has a few annoying bugs this works fantastic.

welshdragon · 23 Dec 2017 at 23:04

Great cheers guys, will give deadly a go

benparker · 24 Dec 2017 at 11:43

Any of you guys into emulators? This PS2 emulator is quite good. But £9!

iMacMart · 1 Jan 2018 at 20:50

My GBoard keyboard keeps putting full stops in randomly when I'm typing anything, can't find anything on the web about it but it's really driving me crazy, anyone know how to fix/stop it? Thanks

Muska · 2 Jan 2018 at 11:59

are you double pressing the space bar? I think it's a feature that you can double press space to add a full stop and a space for a new sentence.

iMacMart · 2 Jan 2018 at 12:19

Muska said:
are you double pressing the space bar? I think it's a feature that you can double press space to add a full stop and a space for a new sentence.

Don't think so but it's a good shout, will check now

unwashed potato! · 2 Jan 2018 at 15:09

my siwftkey does similar stuff adding in words i've never typed, but i think it's becaue it thinks i hit the space bar and so inserts the prediction. annoying as i'm not and it happens when the phone freezes for a split second then i get some random words, and i would disable this feature but it's one i do use too

iMacMart · 2 Jan 2018 at 15:47

Fairly sure the answer is no said:
my siwftkey does similar stuff adding in words i've never typed, but i think it's becaue it thinks i hit the space bar and so inserts the prediction. annoying as i'm not and it happens when the phone freezes for a split second then i get some random words, and i would disable this feature but it's one i do use too

I've disabled the space bar full stop function see how I get on

doodah · 3 Jan 2018 at 17:50

Think I've found my next game, Space Agency. You basically have to learn the different parts of running one including getting cargo into orbit, orbits, docking, manoeuvring and all sorts. Definitely one to enjoy over time but really liking it.

welshdragon · 16 Jan 2018 at 11:29

Does the pixel 2 xl have a built in voice memo function / app? Am I being dull as I cant see it. Has it been pushed into a setting or another app?

If not can anyone recommend one? Preferrably one by google but my searches have let me down, plus there may be a solid alternative someone can recommend?

Sp00n · 16 Jan 2018 at 11:31

Tried to use Gboard as I felt swiftkey was being a bit unresponsive but I don't really like it, prediction seems pretty naff, back to swiftkey for now until I find something else.