New essential Android apps thread

Jonny2284 · 14 Nov 2018 at 17:25

I use an app called "Should I answer" for stuff like that. Not 100% bulletproof but most of the random spam calls are appropriately flagged.

Scottland · 14 Nov 2018 at 21:26

mohawk said:
On my Pixel 2xl if an unknown number called me it would auto lookup who it was. (i didnt have an app installed for this) does anyone know either how to get this working on a huawei mate 20 pro or an app that can do this?

You can get alternative dialers like this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecaller

Muska · 15 Nov 2018 at 00:47

PiKe said:
I need a free app that will turn on my hotspot when within the vicinity of a Bluetooth connection for my car.

Is there anything that fits the bill?

Have a look for an app called IFTTT (if this then that) it will do what you want to achieve and it's quite customisable.

zom247 · 20 Nov 2018 at 18:35

What's the best app for reading books/pdfs on a tablet? Think I used Mantano Reader ages ago but not sure if there's anything else out now to try.

BananaDunka · 21 Nov 2018 at 21:42

New Samsung Pay update brings a new UI and also loads a bit quicker as well.

Kainz · 22 Nov 2018 at 11:01

mrk said:
New Samsung Pay update brings a new UI and also loads a bit quicker as well.

Wish I could use it :/ None of my cards are supported (Amazon mastercard, Llyods Visa or my Starling mastercard).

Sp00n · 22 Nov 2018 at 11:53

Can you not use android pay instead or do you have to use Samsung pay?

Kainz · 22 Nov 2018 at 11:59

Sp00n said:
Can you not use android pay instead or do you have to use Samsung pay?

Yeah, G.Pay is what I use on my S8+. You can choose either but I've heard that you get points or something similar with Samsung Pay.

pinkpound · 22 Nov 2018 at 19:47

Kainz said:
Wish I could use it :/ None of my cards are supported (Amazon mastercard, Llyods Visa or my Starling mastercard).

Starling mastercard as in debit card ? My Starling card works fine with Samsung pay

Charlie Bravo · 24 Nov 2018 at 23:56

PiKe said:
I need a free app that will turn on my hotspot when within the vicinity of a Bluetooth connection for my car.

Is there anything that fits the bill?

Trigger will do that for you. I've just looked through the options and it will allow a WiFi Portable Hotspot to be enabled when the phone connects to the cars Bluetooth.
It does however display a message stating that root access may be required but still allows the task to be set up all the same.

Moothead2 · 29 Nov 2018 at 19:19

How do you guys go about blocking ads on Youtube these days? I never really minded having a single ad at the start of a video I could skip but these days I'm finding that half the videos I watch have 3-4 ads in a 15 minute video which is ******* unbearable. I've got PiHole but it just doesn't seem to cut it with mobile Youtube and while I can use Firefox it doesn't run at full HD even with the Youtube HD extension.

Quinnaay · 30 Nov 2018 at 10:50

I use YouTube Vanced apk from XDA

Kainz · 30 Nov 2018 at 11:34

YouTube Vanced here too. Works great on my Pixel C @ 1440p, every so often I have to install the latest version though as you do get youtube nag popups about updating. Updating the vanced apk stops the nag.

Sp00n · 30 Nov 2018 at 12:30

I use newpipe personally but there isn't much between them.

smokedog · 30 Nov 2018 at 15:06

Sp00n said:
I use newpipe personally but there isn't much between them.

I also use Vanced, NewPipe doesn't support logging in.

Moothead2 · 30 Nov 2018 at 15:18

Both look good, thanks! How does logging in work on Vanced though? Looking at MicroG it looks like I have to uninstall all Google apps? Does this impact play store availability or purchases etc?

Frozennova · 30 Nov 2018 at 15:40

Moothead2 said:
Both look good, thanks! How does logging in work on Vanced though? Looking at MicroG it looks like I have to uninstall all Google apps? Does this impact play store availability or purchases etc?

I can't remember how or what I did but I'm logged in fine with Vanced and all the other Google services at the same time

Kreeeee · 30 Nov 2018 at 15:47

Moothead2 said:
How do you guys go about blocking ads on Youtube these days? I never really minded having a single ad at the start of a video I could skip but these days I'm finding that half the videos I watch have 3-4 ads in a 15 minute video which is ******* unbearable. I've got PiHole but it just doesn't seem to cut it with mobile Youtube and while I can use Firefox it doesn't run at full HD even with the Youtube HD extension.

I just use any of the regular ad blockers and use the browser to watch YouTube.

Kainz · 30 Nov 2018 at 16:07

Moothead2 said:
Both look good, thanks! How does logging in work on Vanced though? Looking at MicroG it looks like I have to uninstall all Google apps? Does this impact play store availability or purchases etc?

No need for uninstalls. At the end of the day both Vanced/YouTube/NewPipe are just clients to a service. Just install MicroG and then Vanced and login via vanced as per usual. Vanced is just a modded YouTube client from the looks of things. All your account functionality is there because the UI etc is the same as before - just a few more toys in the settings section to play with i.e background play, pip etc.

Moothead2 · 30 Nov 2018 at 16:20

Cheers guys, got it working. Needed to download MicroG for Vanced apk rather than go through the MicroG site. Glad to finally be rid of ads

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