What's the 3 apps that you can't live without?

Kindly Remember@lemmy.world to Android@lemmy.world – 185 points –

I'll start, mine will be Google Notes, 1Password and WhatsApp.

212

Bitwarden.

I used to think the same for WhatsApp, Spotify, Twitter and Apollo but they can all be replaced by alternatives (Telegram / Signal, Amazon Music, Mastodon, Memmy).

I know about Keepass but itโ€™s definitely not as convenient and easy to use as Bitwarden.

I donโ€™t use YouTube app because of ads everywhere but I would have trouble stop using YouTube on my computer.

KeePass is really good, but it definitely requires to handle everything outside the password management (like syncronization between devices, TOTP, password quality check, etc.). It is not user friendly at all. Thankfully KeePassDX (on Android, not pc) has a way better built-in experience.

For YouTube, check out newpipe on F-Droid. No ads, you can download content, play videos in background, etc.

Keepass was my go-to (KeepassXC and KeepassDX), but ever since selfhosting bitwarden (vaultwarden), I haven't looked back.

youtube revanced is the goat, but make sure to get it from github. It's the only official source at the moment. You gotta patch it yourself but it's basically youtube vanced once it's all set up.

#1 would be the phone app, pretty handy for calling people in real time. Without it I would have to carry a phone separately, It's become pretty hard finding a phone booth today.

#2 Would be SMS, these are quite handy for quick messages without interrupting something important.

#3 GPS maps, I have the most amazing sense of orientation, that basically guarantees I never end up where Iโ€™m supposed to, unless I have GPS.

You may take these functions for granted children. But back in the day, maps were something you had in the glove compartment of your car. Phones were something you had on the wall, with a long wire hanging out of them, to connect you to a wired network. Messages was something you send on paper, put a stamp on, and posted through the postal service.

Of course compared to back then, a smartphone has plenty more clever functions. Like the calculator, which we did either in the head or more complex calculations were done on paper.

But I guess these arenโ€™t what you kids were looking for. But they are actually quite amazing, even if you take them for granted. ;)

Anybody without Maps on their list must take it so deeply for granted. Even for me, growing up printing MapQuest maps as a teenager, it's crazy how much before that was "whip out your massive dangerously distracting atlas and try to figure it out including where you are."

A lot of people here are recommending bitwarden. What are the advantages of this over Google's native password manager?

The free tier has all the features you need, it's open-source and it's not a Google product.

It's also quite easy to switch to it from other managers, even the Google one.

Well for one it is not just a side functionality as the manager in chrome. It also is open source and was audited several time by external experts. And lastly it is super simple to use on pretty much any platform.

I like that I can set up a public container and share certain passwords but still manage it

Ever wondered how other browsers like Firefox can import passwords from chrome without any password? Well, viruses can do that too. With bitwarden they can't just read the passwords from disk because they would need your master password.

Disclaimer: haven't been saving my passwords in the browser for a while so not sure if other browsers can still scrape the passwords just like that anymore

It used to be Sync for Reddit, Tachiyomi (Manga reader), and Vivaldi (Web browser, formerly Chrome but I needed adblock)

Replacement for Sync is not found.

Sync (and Boost) have Lemmy-compatible versions in development right now. Sync for Lemmy might even be out already, I haven't checked yet.

I've heard about it, definitely planning to use it if it does come around. But I'm not even sure if Lemmy is going to replace reddit for my "daily driving" yet. The dust hasn't settled yet, there were so many things reddit did that I'm not sure what the future holds. Lemmy is the only option right now however.

Bitwarden
YouTube
Pornhub Brave

Bitwarden, Firefox and KDE Connect

I used KDEConnect for 48h and can't live without it anymore.

Best media control, file sharing without usb/bluetooth and sharedclip board is next lvl.

KeePassDX, Firefox, FairEmail

I love keepassdx. The keyboard function works real well too to avoid copy pasting.

Telegram, Google Maps and Spotify.... But really 3 apps is just too few!

  • AntennaPod
  • Bitwarden
  • Firefox
  1. YouTube ReVanced - I watch a lot of YouTube.
  2. Bitwarden - No need to remember all my passwords and autofill.
  3. Iceraven (Browser) - It has uBlock Origin along with other useful extensions.

Firefox, Whatsapp and Boost for Reddit (soon Boost for Lemmy, I think)

Potato skins mozzarella sticks and jalapeno poppers

  1. Tachiyomi
  2. 1dm+
  3. Vanced(revanced)

Wait Vanced still works?! I've been using NewPipe which wasn't great at the beginning but much better now, though Vanced was definitely a much better experience.

There is a new project, ReVanced. They only provide patches so can't really be shut down by Google.

As someone familiar with what both are capable of doing, but not how, why can vanced be shutdown but revanced can't? And is revanced in danger of the new three strikes policy yt is rolling out?

Vanced distributed a modified Youtube apk which infringed on Google's intellectual property rights. ReVanced is on much stronger legal ground since they only distribute their own software, the manager and patcher, and the patches to the Youtube apk. AFAIK the three strikes policy has to do with how ads are blocked on the youtube website so I guess we will have to wait and see.

  1. Firefox with uBlock origin (a must for browsing the web)
  2. Bitwarden (for passwords)
  3. FX file manager (fast and powerful file manager)

Honorable mention to Music speed changer (uses an advanced algorithm to change the pitch and speed of locally stored audio with minimal distortion)

#1, #3, and the honorable mention are Android only. This is a huge reason why I stay on Android.

Mull, pokemmo, and youtube revanced are my go to apps.

Didn't realize pokemmo had a mobile app.

Can't believe I haven't seen Tasker yet. Firefox and Feedly are my other two!

What do you have set up in Tasker?

A myriad of things mostly based on location or time. I have profiles that change the way the phone behaves (notification volumes, screen on time, WiFi/Bluetooth state) based on a combination of where I am and what time it is. I also have profiles that pop up information depending on where I am (for example, the 8 digit door code at a place - it changes monthly, but is not really a secure location).

I've built a couple of mini apps in Tasker that do things like set up timers or interact with voice recording software. the other major use is to handle notifications for really repetitive apps (e.g. if people are chatting a lot in Messages, it slows the pace of notification sounds).

Edit: Apparently "Network Timeout" does not imply that your message didn't get posted ๐Ÿ˜ฌ

A myriad of things mostly based on location or time. I have profiles that change the way the phone behaves (notification volumes, screen on time, etc) based on a combination of where I am and what time it is. I also have profiles that pop up information depending on where I am (for example, the 8 digit door code at a place - it changes monthly, but is not really a secure location).

I've built a couple of mini apps in Tasker that do things like set up timers or interact with voice recording software. the other major use is to handle notifications for really repetitive apps (e.g. if people are chatting a lot in Messages, it slows the pace of notification sounds).

A myriad of things mostly based on location or time. I have profiles that change the way the phone behaves (notification volumes, screen on time, etc) based on a combination of where I am and what time it is. I also have profiles that pop up information depending on where I am (for example, the 8 digit door code at a place - it changes monthly, but is not really a secure location).

I've built a couple of mini apps in Tasker that do things like set up timers or interact with voice recording software. the other major use is to handle notifications for really repetitive apps (e.g. if people are chatting a lot in Messages, it slows the pace of notification sounds).

I'll pick the lesser known ones in my collection:

  • Aegis - FOSS 2FA Management
  • Shelter - For splitting off work apps and easily disabling them when I get off work
  • Poweramp - best music player ever, well worth the price.

Aegis is great! I really don't know why people use Google Authenticator when much better alternatives exist.

What makes it better? (Honest question)

There are way more options. Been a long time I didn't use Google authenticator, but with Aegis, you can customize a lot of things and you can export/import your data.

Spotify

Strava

Default alarm clock app

If it weren't for Spotify and Strava for bike rides, I would gladly get rid of my smartphone and replace it with a flip phone. Life was better before the entire internet traveled with you everywhere you go.

Firefox Phone Camera

Seriously phone without phone app or camera would be a photo frame lol

Day-to-day use: Bitwarden, YouTube (Revanced), Liftoff.

Productivity use: Duo Authenticator, JuiceSSH, WireGuard

Samsung browser (with adblock), spotify, Samsung email

Is Samsung email that good? Are their other default apps better than the Google ones?

For me is good enough to not use the google ones.

That's fair. What do you do about other devices? For example, if I pull up my laptop, and want to edit my calendar, where do you go? Samsung doesn't have their apps on other non android devices, right? I guess that's why I always defaulted to Google. If I ever switched devices or something I was synced that way.

Tachiyomi for manga

Skyleap to play Granblue Fantasy

Bitwarden for password management

Tachiyomi is absolutely fantastic, so powerful and well made

I like a good Material You app

Tachiyomi helped me get into manga - still barely scratching the surface tho

Oh yeah, I got into manga last year and its a whole new world. Its awesome, quick to read and has some really unique stories, you may not have asked for it but here are some recommendations lol

The Boxer: This is a manhwa (korean, colored and also mobile friendly), its about boxing but its so good and so beautiful to read. A must in my opinion.

Kingdom: This is my recommended 700+ chapters series to get into, skip One Piece and Hunter X Hunter, this manga is about the unification of China and while the art is a bit rough the story, war and tactics is absolutely insane, it only gets better.

Eyeshield 21: You don't care about american football? Me neither, but the art here is done by Murata, a master in this field, and the characters are lovable, a bit old and aged but great.

One Punch Man: You already know what this is about, and its awesome. Murata draws it too and its still going

Solo Leveling: Another Manhwa, this is all about fantasy and an OP main character versus a world of giant creatures and dungeons. Absolutely insane art and crazy story, pretty fun read, I flew through it.

Claymore: You heard of Attack on Titan and stuff, this came before it and its fairly similar but also totally different, the art is also insane but the fights can be a bit hard to follow sometimes. Still, great story, dark fantasy at its best

Sakamoto Days: Jhon Wick but he has a family and he got a bit fat after retiring, very funny but sick action

So anyways there you go, I hope you have a good time if you read any of them

Keepass, Nextcloud, Fairemail

These are definitely up there for me too but I prefer K9 Mail

Tasks - My life would be a mess without this or something very similar.
Firefox - Ad blocking, dark mode, bookmarks etc. synced to my laptop.
My bank app.

Bitwarden, Spotify, Aliucord

Wish I could replace Spotify but haven't found something similar that's selfhosted and foss.

I absolutely love Aliucord. I've always thought that the UI on mobile looked really bad so using a MD3 theme + compact mode plugin fixed all my issues

If you're looking for an alternative, spotube is a decent one.

Evernote (functional note-taking app), ReVanced (Youtube ads are a blight on civilization), My Boy! (Fire Emblem GBA series are my comfort games which get me through my bus commute. I would buy them on actual hardware if Nintendo didn't make it such an obtuse PITA with limited-time subscriptions to induce artificial scarcity.)

Literally why I got a Deck instead of a Switch.

  • Brave (Browser)
  • Bitwarden (Password Manager)
  • YouTube if we're talking mobile, VS Code otherwise

Echoing others on the thread:

Bitwarden - used for all my passwords and 2FA WhatsApp - wish I could replace with Signal but network effects too wide Twitter - I'm too addicted. This used to be Flamingo (RIP)

The last spot could've been between Flamingo and Reddit Sync, sad times.

  • Fennec (I've been using Firefox on PC since v3.5 came out in 2009, and Fennec from FDroid is the best version on Android)
  • Youtube ReVanced (I don't watch TV or streaming services, Youtube is my preferred entertainment)
  • Authy (I have TOTP 2FA on a LOT of websites)

Bitwarden, Spotify and since 18 days jerboa

  • F-Droid
    • Vinyl
    • AntennaPod
    • OsmAnd
  • Play Store
    • Firefox
      • lichess
    • Signal
    • DuoLingo

3 Stores-ish nested 3 deep count?

Google maps, bitwarden, telegram

Honorable mention: Boost for reddit (hopefully soon to be replaced by boost for Lemmy ๐Ÿ˜)

Revanced, Cloudstream and coffee from fdroid

Coffee is awesome. Such an easy quick way to keep screen awake. Thanks for the recommendation.

  • OSMand
  • Spotify
  • Whatever Lemmy app works best for the moment

SkyDemon (aerial navigation), Signal, Fennec (unbranded Firefox).

If you asked me month ago I'd say Relay for reddit but here we are. Today I'll go with Youtube Revanced, without it yt experience is severely lessened. EDIT: Oh three apps. Firefox and Power Amp

YouTube, 1Password, Amazon

Sorry, I know Iโ€™m supposed to say something cooler than Amazon but it is hard to imagine life without it now.

Signal, Firefox, ReadEra (best EBook reader for Android hands down)

Honourable mentions to OLauncher. Super clean UI that makes my phone less distracting and easy to use

Swap Signal for Telegram and we're the same.

I've never heard of O launcher, looks like a similar concept to Niagara (which is what I've used for a few years now). I love the simplified interface and cleaner look of both!

Authenticator apps. Everything else is replaceable.

  1. WeChat 2. Amap 3. Meituan

Considering that you can also use Amap and Meituan in WeChat, the new list would be:

  1. WeChat 2. YouTube (Revanced Extended) 3. Wefwef (use to be RIF)

Bitwarden, Firefox, Signal.

F-Droid too... I'm not going to be able to limit it to three ;)

Obsidian, fastmail, Bitwarden, Waze, and a messenger (telegram)

  • Messenger (because unfortunately my friends won't move away from it!)
  • Libby
  • My banking app

Syncthing, KeepassDX, F-Droid.

Although in reality, most apps I use could be plausibly replaced with other alternatives.

KeepassDX, Nextcloud, and Termux (I do some software development via Samsung DeX on a lapdock)

Obsidian, Telegram and LibreOffice.

What is Obsidian and Libre?

Obsidian is a note taking app, LibreOffice is an office suite similiar to Microsoft Office.

Yup. Obsidian is a 'second brain' system development-like app and there's lots to it. It supports markdown, has a canvas where you can lay out and interconnect ideas and stuff. It's very customisable, it's just not open source. Libre Office, on the other hand, is a free and open source Microsoft 365/Office alternative.

Nextcloud, zulip, home assistant. I have more must have apps but since you asked for 3

Protonmail, ProtonVPN, Protonpass. Adguard-DNS.

  • KeePassDX - I've migrated all my passwords to KeePass and use tasker to automatically backup to google drive. I have a nextcloud automatic backup configured too. I used to have Aegis but KeePassDX can take care of that too

  • Kiss Launcher - My first install!

  • Poweramp for audio, I still prefer local audio than streaming. I use Youtube Music or Spotify to discover new ones.

Google notes? You mean Google keep or they introduced a new app?

Since they closed Google notepad with all my notes just to introduce a new separate app one year later I can't trust them for this important data.

I'm a barbaric who uses web browser to open most things even on mobile...

Webtoon (and LINE), Clock, Maps

Discord, Nine, and Radio Alarm Clock

  • WhatsApp - most used communication app by most in Europe
  • WeChat - iffy practices but partner is Chinese and their preferred app to communicate
  • Spotify

Signal, Firefox, ConnectBot

Visual Studio, Chrome, Ms Teams.

I work in software development.. they are core to me living.

Showly for tracking shows 365 Scores for sports scores Tick Tick for reminders

Ask me a month ago and it would've been Reddit Sync.

Now - WhatsApp, kbin, YouTube

Firefox, Bitwarden, NewPipe/Libretube (Youtube)

Whatsapp and Browsers.....
and may be google maps.

  1. YouTube
  2. AntennaPod
  3. WhatsApp

Honorary foss mentions: Lawnchair, Simple Gallery Pro, feeder rss reader.

Gelli(music player for Jellyfin)

Brave

RCX for transferring files from computer to phone

Google Notes: Hosted Obsidian is AMAZING! You can self host for free, but I recommend supporting them.

1Password: I use Bitwarden (personal) and Keeper (work). Both, in my opinion, much better than 1Pass.

WhatsApp: this one is hard, as it has to do with your contacts. I'm in the same boat here. I use Signal for most friends, but my foreign friends use WhatsApp, which means that I do too.

I use pretty much the same stack except I use Standard Notes over Obsidian. Obsidian I will agree has more polish, but Standard Notes is open source and undergoes 3rd party security audits every couple years. I'm okay with things being rough around the edges if a project aligns with my own principals.

I'm not familiar with Standard Notes, but I like what I'm reading about them so far. E2ee is super important and is a bit annoying that I have to encrypt my Obsidian md notes folder. That said, the fact that the notes are standard md is super nice. I may try Standard Notes. Thanks!

Instagram, EkลŸi Sรถzlรผk (it's a turkish app like a blogger/reddit app) and Jerboa

Shameless plug but I am promoting my app here on lemmy. You guys might like it ๐Ÿ˜ถโ€๐ŸŒซ๏ธ