On my Google Android phone I can't download MapQuest map app because my Play Store country is set to UK, which is how I want it.

But it turns out CoMaps is an excellent alternative to Google Maps.

CoMaps didn't appear when I searched Play Store for "map" apps. I had to search for "comap" by name. That feels like Google was putting its thumb on the scale.

#UserExperience #UX #GDPR #map #maps #MapApp #wayfinding #location #Android #PlayStore #Google #BigTech

Por que temos app de #banco para #android e não temos um programa específico de banco para #linux #windows e #macos ?

Banco para funcionar deveria ser obrigado a fornecer um programa seguro para todas as plataformas.

@nyquildotorg After the latest #Android update to my phone, every time I restart my Android, all my PWAs and shortcuts are gone and I have to reinstall them. I have troubleshooted to death to try to resolve it.

‼️ ANDROID CRISIS (123 days left for phase II (1 day left for phase I))

The deadline for the Android crisis starts tomorrow, but will become completely international in 3 months. I am surprised by the lack of urgency shown so far.

The tables have turned.

For years, people have drawn images of the Android robot peeing on the Apple logo. In 123 days, it won't be valid, as they will both be equally as bad in the aspect that once was felt as superior.

I am once again asking if my Plan A is a functional method.

I would like to create a set of plans here, so that those switching from Android can see these posts, and find options.

[PLAN A] [UNTESTED] (I am not sure if the option is safe, or efficient, and still need feedback)
Rooting: https://www.thecustomdroid.com/samsung-galaxy-s20-magisk-rooting-guide/
Backup: https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-backup-android/ use: Titanium backup (it will be used once, then discarded)
Context: https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117126150387959016

[PLAN B] [UNTESTED]
The European/Non-American long option
https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117136331792009445

[PLAN Y] [UNTESTED]
Absolute last resort I
https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117136331792009445

[PLAN Z] [UNTESTED]
Absolute last resort II
https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117136331792009445

Regarding a path forward, PostMarketOS, GrapheneOS, LineageOS, and Mobian are still active considerations for replacement, although APK functionality on them is unknown to me right now.

Will a rooted Android phone still automatically download and install (autoupdate) the 2027 update? Can I bypass this update simply by rooting my phone? Will I not get the update regardless, since Android 11 has been End of Life for a little over 2 years? (last update: 2024, March 5th)

Specs
OS: Android 11 (Red Velvet Cake)
Model: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage
Hardware issues: Broken USB port, broken SD/SIM card, damaged microphone, damaged speakers, damaged power button, damaged volume buttons (but everything else is fine)
APK count: 1563
Rooted: False (not yet)

Yesterdays post (124): https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117188260193566891
Original post (149): https://techhub.social/deck/@seanpm2001/117046352071034790
Petition link: https://keepandroidopen.org/
#Android #Help #DeGoogle #DeGoogling #Backup #AndroidCrisis #KeepAndroidOpen #Archival #DefectiveByDesign #Ungoogle #Ungoogling #DeGoogleYourLife #UngoogleYourLife #Blackbox #APK

Alt...

Oh the irony. (read beginning of message for context of why I included this image)

preparing to move the whole folk dance course's #WhatsApp group to #ArcaneChat

#european #europe #android #family #privacy #encryption #OpenSource

MineServe is now available on Google Play!

To celebrate the launch and test how well a phone handles persistent Java workloads, I am hosting an open Minecraft 26.2 Anarchy server directly on a Fairphone 6+.

Server: mineserve.playit.plus
Rules: Anarchy, no rules.
Cap: 10 concurrent players to start (scaling up if stable)

Download on Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devwithzachary.mineserve

Source code on GitHub:
https://github.com/devwithzachary/MineServe

#MineServe #Minecraft #Android #OpenSource #Linux #SelfHosted #Java

Software updates

Update your software on all your platforms regularly

This is the golden rule.

• We often do it in a work environment and get paid for that
• We do it for ourselves because it is good for our devices.
• We are careful doing it on our devices which can be bricked remotely by the factory (TV's treadmills trainers)
• We install piehole and other ad blackholes to protect our devices from pesky ads
• There are so many repositories to follow
• Auto updates are stupid, IMHO, even for workstations
• On servers with PHP, we need manual granular tested updates, if we used PHP (old version) because we are slow to implement PHP (new major version)

Manual updates can be a pain

What can happen?

We forget one or two full manual updates

I've just had to do this

$ sudo ./Ventoy2Disk.sh -g -u /dev/sdx

  Ventoy: 1.1.17  x86_64
  longpanda admin@ventoy.net
  https://www.ventoy.net

Upgrade operation is safe, all the data in the 1st partition (iso files and other) will be unchanged!

Update Ventoy 1.1.12 ===> 1.1.17 Continue? (y/n) y
esp partition processing ...
update esp partition attribute

Update Ventoy on /dev/sdc successfully finished.

Did I forget something else?

Probably. Is it critical?

Lets see

$ ~/bin/yt-dlp -U Current version: stable@2026.07.04 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp Latest version: stable@2026.08.19 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp Current Build Hash: 495be29ff4d9d4e9be7eabdfef225221e5d5282e77f2f505abc6dca80349f3fd Updating to stable@2026.08.19 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp ... Updated yt-dlp to stable@2026.08.19 from yt-dlp/yt-dlp

It was not critical, but important none the less

Happy updating!

Sources

https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/blob/master/README.md#installation

https://ventoy.net

#programming #infosec #updates #Linux #Android #repositories #BSD

PayPal app fails on GrapheneOS: Cause and solution

The PayPal app currently does not start on smartphones with GrapheneOS. The reason is faulty anti-tampering protection, which can be bypassed.

https://www.heise.de/en/news/PayPal-app-fails-on-GrapheneOS-Cause-and-solution-11435708.html?wt_mc=sm.red.ho.mastodon.mastodon.md_beitraege.md_beitraege&utm_source=mastodon

#Android #Apps #Datenschutz #GrapheneOS #IT #Paypal #Security #news

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the various Mastodon apps for Android.

Tusky doesn't support quote posts, and scrolling is janky.
Fedilab scrolling also stutters.
Pachli doesn't group notifications.
Mastodon official doesn't let you swipe between the tabs or customise them much.

I'm on a Pixel 8 Pro - so scrolling performance shouldn't be this bad!

What's your favourite #Android app for the Fediverse that you personally use on a regular basis?
(Not interested in websites / PWA thanks.)

in #ArcaneChat you can have several profiles separating private life from work!

you can mute your work profile while you keep available for family and friends, ex. during weekends or vacations

#privacy #anonymity #family #Europe #European #android

Please boost for a greater reach. ❤️

🆕 blog! “Contactless Payments with GrapheneOS”

Google's monopolistic stranglehold on Android results in poor experience for power-users, and artificially restricts choice for those who have older phones. For example, Google Wallet is the de facto way to use NFC payments on Android. There's one problem though - it only works with Google's Android. If you have…

👀 Read more: https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/contactless-payments-with-grapheneos/
⸻
#android #google #GrapheneOS #nfc

Me: Oh look, Android 17 finally includes ECH support by default
Also Me: Fuck offf Google!

https://keepandroidopen.org/

#alphabet #google #android

Wczoraj pisałem, że wygoda to największy wróg bezpieczeństwa. Obrona prywatności często wymaga radykalnych kroków i odcinania telemetrii. To prawda, ale nie oznacza to wcale, że cyfrowa higiena zawsze musi pochłaniać mnóstwo czasu i wymagać zaawansowanej wiedzy inżynieryjnej.

Dla zachowania zdrowej równowagi wrzuciłem nowy materiał do sekcji /guides. Zawarłem w nim absolutne minimum cyfrowego przetrwania dla każdego. To cztery fundamentalne kroki (w tym sprawdzony model 3 Tier Password System), które wdrożysz w zaledwie 15 minut. Zbudujesz solidny fundament, zyskasz cyfrowy spokój i odetniesz lwią część realnych zagrożeń.

Zapraszam do lektury:
https://eteryu.space/guides/jak-zabezpieczyc-telefon-w-15-minut/

Jeśli macie w swoim otoczeniu osoby, dla których cyfrowa higiena to czarna magia, podajcie ten wpis dalej. Pomóżmy wspólnie innym zrobić ten pierwszy krok.

#cyberbezpieczenstwo #infosec #prywatnosc #opsec #android #ios #poradnik #cyfrowahigiena

WARUM DAS GOOGLE PIXEL 6 NUR NOCH AUF ZEIT EINE GUTE WAHL IST

https://gadgetchecks.de/warum-das-google-pixel-6-nur-noch-auf-zeit-eine-gute-wahl-ist/

#behaltenoderersetzen #gadgetchecks #googlepixel6 #android #akkutausch

https://odysee.com/@AlphaNerd:8/eu%27s-digital-id-is-killing-the-open:b

#OpenSource #FOSS #Europe #Linux #Android

#Google is going to close down #Android platform, making installing "unverified" apps almost impossible for a regular user. This would completely kill #FDroid, something I rely on to get apps that don't track me, don't show me ads and don't try to exploit me.

If you care about #FreeSoftware, you should care about this. Maybe with enough public uproar, Google like many other corporations before it will back off from this plan. But it certainly won't happen on it's own.

https://keepandroidopen.org/

ANDROID 17 SCHÜTZT WLAN UND MOBILFUNK BESSER – QUALCOMM ERREICHT 5 GHZ

https://gadgetchecks.de/android-17-schuetzt-wlan-und-mobilfunk-besser-qualcomm-erreicht-5-ghz/

#androidkompass #android #samsung #google #smartphone #tech #gadgetchecks

# Stop by Androids with less than 2 GB of RAM.

I bought this one as a yes/no phone replacement and it's doing that job well.

It feels miserably at all the rest, just look at the puny amount of memory that's available when the machine is idle

#Android #RAM #Memory #micro #SD #card #storage #speed #slow #molasses #hardware #access

Yesterday I woke up to the news of the #Luanti #Android app being taken down from Google Play due to a DMCA from an entity representing Microsoft. Again.

The past two days I have been helping out with writing an announcement to shine some light upon the issue, which has been published now:

https://blog.luanti.org/2026/08/27/luanti-dmca-tracer-ai/

#foss #opensource #gaming

WARUM DAS AMAZON FIRE PHONE SCHEITERTE – TROTZ AMAZONS GEWALTIGEM VORSPRUNG

https://gadgetchecks.de/warum-das-amazon-fire-phone-scheiterte-trotz-amazons-gewaltigem-vorsprung/

#iphone #kamera #amazon #smartphone #android #technik #firephone #gadgetchecks

I’m watching some videos about the new Pixel 11 Pro. I’m…I don’t know, but I don’t like what I see.
It looks a total downgrade.

#Android #Pixel #Google

Jakie mini gierki na telefon polecacie to czekania w kolejce?

#android #giereczkowo #gry

Często powtarzanym mitem w świecie cyfrowej higieny jest przekonanie o magicznej prywatności prosto z pudełka. W nowym wpisie na blogu rozkładam na czynniki pierwsze architekturę microG oraz obietnice popularnych systemów. Wyjaśniam zjawisko teatru prywatności oraz dlaczego poleganie na domyślnych ustawieniach to pułapka. Prawdziwe bezpieczeństwo to nawyki, a nie tylko zmiana oprogramowania.

Pełny tekst znajdziecie tutaj:
https://eteryu.space/zudzenie-prywatnosci-z-pudeka-dlaczego-podejscie-set-and-forget-to-puapka/

#infosec #prywatnosc #cyberbezpieczenstwo #grapheneos #android #degoogle #cyberhigiena #opsec

Alt...

Screenshot z bloga na którym widać spis treści wpisu o prywatności out od the box

Dzień dobry! Ja właśnie piję kawę i szykuję się na rozmowę o pracę (życzcie mi powodzenia, hehe).

A jeżeli Wy też już szykujecie się do kawki, to pijąc ją, możecie zadbać o swoją cyfrową prywatność w kilku prostych krokach, które opisałem na blogu:
https://eteryu.space/cyfrowa-higiena-podczas-przerwy-na-kawe-jak-atwo-odzyskac-kontrole-nad-telefonem/

Miłego dnia i smacznej kawy!

#Prywatność #Cyberbezpieczeństwo #Edukacja #InfoSec #FOSS #Android #iOS #CyfrowaHigiena #DzieńDobry

Zamiast siać ferment wokół afery w Poznaniu, warto zacząć działać i edukować się, w jaki sposób firmy oraz aplikacje zbierają o nas dane i tworzą całe profile behawioralne. Odzyskanie kontroli nad telefonem nie wymaga wiedzy eksperckiej, a najważniejsze kroki, od neutralizacji identyfikatora reklamowego i ukrytego skanowania Wi Fi czy Bluetooth, przez blokowanie tła, aż po wdrożenie prywatnego DNS, można wykonać samodzielnie podczas krótkiej przerwy na kawę.

Jak krok po kroku zabezpieczyć swoje urządzenie i świadomie zarządzać prywatnością:

https://eteryu.space/cyfrowa-higiena-podczas-przerwy-na-kawe-jak-atwo-odzyskac-kontrole-nad-telefonem/

#Prywatność #Cyberbezpieczeństwo #Edukacja #Android #iOS #Inwigilacja #DataBroker #InfoSec #Security #Poznań #AdGuard #NextDNS #Mullvad #ProtonVPN

We have exactly 100 days left until our Androids become locked down worse than Apple phones

https://keepandroidopen.org

#Android #locked #down #Alphabet #Google #Enshittification

Google is marching ahead in locking down Android, via its developer registration mandate.

I am hopeful that we will find a way - through regulatory intervention or otherwise - to preserve software freedom on Android, including for apps available via @fdroidorg , but I am not overly optimistic.

(Sure, it doesn't affect non-Google Android, but that is irrelevant to many, many Android users.)

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/06/android-developer-verification.html?m=1

#Android

The convenience of synchronisation between devices are the most common argument that I hear from friends why they are so invested in the respective walled gardens. But the same advantages can be obtained with old well-tested and open standards. Example: get an SMS with e-mail, add it to contacts and then have it autocomplete in @thunderbird@mastodon.online connecting to whichever mail provider your heart desires, thanks to the magic of CardDAV and IMAP. No need for Giant Mail :)

Here are my personal recommendations for apps on GrapheneOS:

* App Stores: Sandboxed Google Play, F-Droid (with IzzyOnDroid repository), Accrescent (installable via GOS App Store), Obtainium (for APKs)

* Phone: Default AOSP/GOS phone app
* SMS: Default AOSP/GOS messenger app
* Contacts: Default AOSP/GOS contacts app
* Camera: Default GrapheneOS Camera app

* Browser: Vanadium (default), Vivaldi browser (Play/Obtainium), Firefox/Fennec (Play/F-Droid)

* File manager: Fossify File Manager (Play/F-Droid)
* Gallery: Fossify Gallery (Play/F-Droid)
* Notes: EasyNotes (Accrescent/F-Droid)
* Calculator: OpenCalc (Obtainium/F-Droid)
* Weather: BreezyWeather (Obtainium/Play/F-Droid)
* Mastodon: Moshidon (Obtainium/Play/F-Droid)
* Matrix: Schildichat (F-Droid, own F-Droid repo)

* Sunup: For apps that support UnifiedPush as notification service (Obtainium/Play/F-Droid)

#grapheneos #android #opensource #fdroid #accrescent #obtainium #fossify #izzyondroid #vanadiumbrowser #vivaldibrowser

However I can highly recommend the FreeOTP+ fork which has some other nice features, but crucially, saves and loads data correctly.