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How to download free and open source apps with F-Droid

Josiah Ward
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How do you download apps on your Android phone? Most likely you head to the Google Play Store as it’s often pre-installed on your phone. Moreover, it gives you access to pretty much every kind of app or game you can think of. If not the Play Store, you probably use the Amazon Appstore.

What if you have a passion for open source software? Or, what if you don’t like Google serving you ads and sponsored content as part of your experience? If either of these situations sounds like you, perhaps you should consider F-Droid.

What is open source?

Open Source Software (OSS), is software whose source code (the stuff that makes up the app) is made available for anyone and everyone to view, edit, or copy. This code is often managed by the git versioning system that keeps track of changes, called “commits”. The code is then uploaded to repositories on websites such as GitHub or GitLab.

The basic makeup of Android is open source software, known as the Android Open Source Project. Similarly, the Chrome browser is based off of an open source browser called Chromium.

What is F-Droid?

F-Droid is an app store that exclusively deals in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). That is to say that he apps you download are open source and come at no cost to you. The main F-Droid repository mostly consists of apps vetted, compiled (put together from source), and signed by F-Droid. The app in itself is free of any form of tracking, which is why you’ll never see any download stats on the apps you find.

How do I get started with F-Droid?

First, head to to F-Droid.org on your phone and click the download button. Your phone will probably prompt you with a warning or notification. If that’s the case, do what it says and go into settings and allow your browser as an app source.

  • F-Droid Website
    F-Droid Website

Upon installation, open the app up where you will see it immediately refreshing information from the repository.

When you click on an app, you’ll see the name, when it was last updated, some important links about the app, permissions the app needs, and previous versions.

If you like the app, click install. It’ll download the app, and then you have to allow F-Droid to install apps and then install the app manually.

It’s worth noting here that this means that all updates will have to be manually installed. This may change in the future because Android 12 could introduce a permission for “alternative” app stores to be able to install apps without user intervention.

F-Droid App Info Page
App Info Page

In your settings, you can do things like change how updates are handled, change your theme, add a proxy, and turn on anti-feature apps

What’s an anti-feature app?

These are apps that, for one reason or another, aren’t completely in line with the F-Droid ethos. They may contain ads or tracking, connect to a non-free network service (such as YouTube or Facebook), or rely/depend on a non-free app or service (e.g. Google Play Services).

F-Droid Settings Page
Settings Page

What if the 3,000 existing apps on F-Droid aren’t enough for me?

No problem! There are a variety of extra repositories you can add on, with some only containing one or a few specific apps. The biggest one, and a favorite of mine for those hoping to more fully replace the use of Google Play, is the IzzyOnDroid Repo. This contains apps compiled by the original developers and might include dependencies on Google Play Services. In total, IzzySoft contains around 650 apps.

How do I add a repository?

To add a repository, go to https://forum.f-droid.org/t/known-repositories/721 and copy the link to the repo you would like to add. Then go into your F-droid settings, to repositories and then click the plus sign. The link will likely populate from your clipboard, so all you have to do is click “Add” and let the app add and update the repository.

  • F-Droid Unofficial Repositories
    F-Droid Unofficial Repositories
  • F-Droid Repository List
    App Repository List

After that, you’re good to go! Enjoy your newly-freed Android experience!

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AG Deals Team
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If you have not installed a VPN for your home or office, it’s time to get serious. Not only do they help in providing a more secure and anonymous way of browsing the internet, they can also be used for plenty of other reasons.

Take, for instance, the concept of watching region-restricted content from streaming services. Using a VPN can open the door to a whole array of movies and shows that aren’t available in your current location.

Another key reason to consider a VPN? According to a recent security.org study, roughly one in ten VPN users said they use the service to facilitate whistleblowing, activism, or bypassing government or organization restrictions. Moreover, when people feel like their liberties are at risk, VPN usage rises. It’s no coincidence that VPN searches soared when Trump’s administration considered banning TikTok last year.

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Motorola Phone Buyer’s Guide

AndroidGuys
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When it comes to phones, Motorola is no doubt a familiar name to all. It’s the brand behind the iconic Razr phone of the mid 2000’s as well as the Droid line that helped take Android to the stratosphere. It’s also the company with a lot of “firsts” in the mobile space.

If you’ve ever looked at the phone market and found yourself confused by the numerous Motorola brands and models, you’d not be alone. Motorola has its fair share of product lines and devices.

It may feel challenging to try to make sense of everything, but it’s not quite as bad as it seems. Here, we’ll help you get an understanding as to what Motorola offers consumers in fall of 2020.

Moto E

First introduced back in 2014, this is the durable, low-cost experience geared toward first-time smartphone buyers. Moreover, it’s a great way to buy an affordable unlocked phone that works with a variety of wireless service providers.

The Moto E line is often sold through prepaid and MVNO carriers; it’s also popular in emerging markets. If you’re a new smartphone user, or someone with minimal needs, this is a great place to start.

Moto G

Moving up a notch, the Moto G line is more robust and features hardware that’s mid-range and just short of what might be considered a “flagship” experience.

The Moto G family of phones is split into slightly different versions of the same general approach, with each catering to a slightly different user type.

The Moto G Power, for instance, is big on battery, touting three days of usage per charge. The Moto G Stylus, for its part, comes with a removable stylus for jotting down notes or marking up documents.

You’ll find different versions of the Moto G series at a variety of carriers, including post-paid and prepaid. Some models will feature 5G connectivity while others may not.

Motorola One

The Motorola One is where the phone maker starts putting forward some of the more interesting technology and higher-end hardware.

Like the Moto G, this line of phones is usually split into a number of options, each a little different from the next. The materials used in these devices is a bit more premium and the phones are definitely more stylish.

It’s not just the physical stuff, either. Motorola has added some AI smarts and custom touches to take advantage of that cool hardware. All the while keeping things user-friendly and a software experience that’s about as clean as it comes.

The current Motorola One lineup includes the One 5G Ace which is sold unlocked direct to consumer.

Motorola Edge

The true flagship in Motorola’s armada is the Motorola Edge as it’s one of the brand’s all-around best devices.

Motorola Edge 2020

The Motorola Edge is constructed using an anodized aluminum frame and feature spacious screens with curved edges and hole-punch cutouts for front-facing cameras. Motorola includes some custom software to take advantage of the edges, giving users quick access to notifications, apps, shortcuts, and more.

Motorola Razr

The folding phone is back. Indeed, this is a modern approach to the clam shell device that was all the rage about 15 years back. The Motorola Razr maintains the look and feel of the classic phone, but this time it’s Android running the show.

Motorola Razr

The exterior has a Quick View display for notifications, at-a-glance GPS turn-by-turn, music control, and more. Opened up, there’s a 6.2-inch display and the same Motorola and Google experience you’ve come to appreciate.

In terms of true power, this is more of a mid-range phone so you’re paying for the aesthetics and convenience of its design.

Where to Buy

As indicated above, you’ll find various versions of the Motorola portfolio at wireless carriers and retailers. You may find the occasional one-off name or exclusive model, but they’ll still fit with the breakdown we’ve created.

Here are a number of places to look for buying Motorola phones.

Quick Links

How to send View Once photos or videos in WhatsApp

Jason England
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WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps on the planet, largely because of its rich set of features. However, up until now, a particularly interesting one has been missing from the experience.  That is, of course, the ability to send self-destructing photos and videos to other users.

On August 3, 2021, WhatsApp announced on its blog that it was rolling out a new View Once feature that lets users send photos and videos that disappear after being opened.

The much-desired feature is a cool one, and it doesn’t take too much effort to send self-destructing messages to others using WhatsApp.

If you’re wondering how to send one of these then just follow the steps below.

  1. Select the contact you’d like to send a View Once message to
  2. Tap on the paperclip or camera icon to send a photo or video.
  3. After taking or selecting an image or video to send, tap on the “1” icon in the caption field and then press the send button like you normally would.

Unlike the traditional way of sending an image using WhatsApp, a “View Once” image or video will only show an icon instead of a preview.

After you’ve viewed a self-destructing WhatsApp image it will be marked opened, and you can leave it on your screen for as long as you want before returning back to the chat. However, once you do return, you won’t be able to open it again.

As WhatsApp warns, it is still possible for someone to take a screenshot of your picture. After testing it out, I’ve noticed there is no notification that goes back to the sender when someone does take a screenshot of a self-destructing WhatsApp message. So, even though the image or video can only be seen once, you will still need to be cautious about what you’re sending.

If the photo or video is very sensitive in nature, you may want to opt for using a different app. Snapchat, for instance, has ways of notifying you when someone takes a screenshot or a message you sent.

Either way, rest assured knowing that WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning that no one will be able to see what you’ve sent except for the intended recipient.

Hip Hook review

Scott Webster
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Every so often we get the chance to review products that fall outside of our standard scope of coverage. And while we’d love to cover everything that is offered up, we cannot keep up with the demand. With that said, we’ll occasionally check out something that seems a little “off the grid” just for a change of pace. Such is the case today with our review of the Hip Hook from Aletha.

Designed by a physical therapist, the Hip Hook is one of those products that speaks to the self-help type of user. That is to say if you experience knee pain, back pain, or hip pain, you may want to put it on your radar.

Given that we spend upwards of seven hours (or more) at a desk each day, we could all do better to take care of our bodies. And based on some of the potential remedies from using the Hip Hook, we felt a lot of readers might be interested in learning about it.

Upon taking the Hip Hook out of the box it can be a little confusing as to how one might use it. The unit is unlike anything else you might have in your home gym. Fortunately, there’s a decent bit of documentation included to help get you started. Moreover, there are some helpful videos to show how to use it and how it can be of value.

My wife is a licensed massage therapist and yoga instructor so she knows plenty about stretching and muscles. Furthermore, she understands how truly inter-connected the body can be. I gave her the hip hook to use on herself and consider for her clients. She and I both came to a similar conclusion as to how the Hip Hook is positioned.

Specifically, we feel the Hip Hook is a great tool to have on hand for therapists and sports professionals. It’s a little daunting and confusing for the average person, especially if you’re not accustomed to stretching and pre/post workout activities. Simply putting it on the floor or pressing up against it on the wall could be painful and awkward. Knowing how much pressure to apply, and where to apply it, is something that’s learned over time.

Should you have someone who fully understand where muscles and ligaments are, where they go, and how they’re connected, you might ask them for assistance. That’s where we see the Hip Hook working best – as part of a well-rounded kit for therapy.

Don’t get us wrong, this isn’t solely designed for people with advanced flexibility or active lifestyles. Work at a desk for hours on end? Find yourself with random pains in your knees, hips, or back? Chances are good that you can remedy some of that yourself with just a few minutes of the right pressure and release.

Parting Thoughts

The Hip Hook normally retails for $150 (or more) which might price itself out of consideration for a casual person or someone new to self-help and self-care. But a marathon runner, long-term yoga student, or someone who contends with chronic pain will likely consider it a valuable investment. And really, it’s priced in line with one or two sessions with a professional.

As far as build quality goes, we had zero issue with the way in which the Hip Hook is designed. Stronger than a simple plastic, it withstands considerable pressure without feeling as if you’re close to breaking it. Once familiar with it, the angles feel right and the curves and ends make sense.

Where to Buy

Learn more about the Hip Hook at Aletha’s website where you can also purchase one. According to the manufacturer there are no other official outlets that offer the product.

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AG Deals Team
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How to add Google’s weather frog to your smart display

Jason England
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I’ve been an avid fan of Google Assistant smart displays over the past few years, dating all the way back to the JBL Link View. Since that time, I’ve been treated to a rotating home screen gallery of images that changes every few minutes and can be pulled from a variety of sources.

Depending on how long you’ve owned a smart display, or your personalized settings, the default pool of images can seems small. Over time it can become rather boring to see the same photos pop up again and again.

Google recently added a new “Experimental” feature in the settings on the Nest Hub. I happened across it as I was recently digging through the Google Home app. Once enabled, I realized it was the best decision I would make all week. I am talking, of course, about enabling the Google Weather Frog and setting him as the default background or home screen.

If you’ve ever searched “weather” before in the Google app on your phone, you’re probably already familiar with this little fella. Enabling this setting on your smart display puts him front and center in your home or office. Once he’s set up, you can watch him come to life and carry out his daily activities.

After enabling the weather frog, I had a blast checking my smart display throughout the day to see what he was up to. Sometimes I’d see him on a picnic, while other times he’d be reading a book or using a telescope to check the stars at night.

As your day progresses, so does his, with your time of day and current weather conditions reflected in the scene. On days when it was cloudy outside for me, it was also cloudy for him. Likewise, when the forecast called for rain, it was also raining in his world.

Working from home can feel a little lonesome sometimes, but with this little guy on my screen, I feel like I have a companion throughout my day. It’s not unlike having a virtual pet or a fish tank.

If you would like to enable the Google Weather Frog on your smart display, it’s a pretty simple process. Follow the steps below and you’ll soon be on your way to observing his daily adventures.

How to enable the Google Weather Frog

  1. Open the Google Home app on your phone.
  2. Browse for your smart display in the list of devices and select it.
  3. Tap on the settings cog.
  4. Choose Photo Frame from the list.
  5. Open up the Experimental menu and toggle on Google Weather Frog.

Enjoy your new froggy friend and join him for all of his daily exploits!

Govee Aura Smart Lamp review

Jason England
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Years ago I bought a smart table lamp and found it amusing that I could control it using my phone’s Bluetooth connection. And while the lamp wasn’t as bright as I would have liked, I made do with it.

As my smart home grew to include Google Assistant, I was disappointed that I couldn’t better integrate the lamp with my other lights.

I’ve wanted to replace it for a while now with something that would work better with my smart home and integrate with Assistant. Thankfully, Govee have what looks to be the perfect replacement with its new Aura Smart Table Lamp. We were provided a sample for review from our friends at the company and have a this review to share.

Design

The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp uses a compact circular design coming in at 7.9 inches tall and 4.1 inches wide. There is a rubberized base to keep it from sliding around and on top are five buttons to control it.

Furthermore, the power cable is around 8ft. long which should give you more freedom when finding a placement. A complaint I had with my last smart lamp was the cable barely stretched from the outlet to where I wanted to place it. I was pleasantly surprised the Aura Smart Table Lamp had some slack left after positioning it.

User experience

The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp features controls on the top to power it on/off, switch different lighting modes, and change the intensity of the light. While it’s great to have an easy tactile way to manage the lamp, you’ll most likely use the app because of all the options Govee includes, or a voice assistant such as Alexa or Google Assistant to control it.

Beyond powering it on and off with your voice, the Aura Smart Table Lamp also supports changing the color and brightness. The only things I couldn’t seem to control with Google Assistant were changing the scene modes making it react to music.

For those options you’ll have to open up the app. Before diving deeper let me just say, I was blown away by what Govee offers up.

App

The Govee app is the singular most valuable thing about the Aura Smart Table Lamp. Without the app, the lamp would be little more than a simple light that displays different colors.

However, with the Govee app, the Aura turns into a lava lamp on steroids. Sure, the app does all the normal things you’d expect such as turning the light on/off or changing the brightness and color, but that’s only scratching the surface.

When you open the “Scenes” section of the app, the Aura Smart Table Lamp comes to life. There are a ton of different presets divided up by categories to choose from, and while a few simply show a pretty gradient, some are full motion. It’s impossible to do these justice in photos, especially the scenes that include motion.

A couple of my favorites were “Snow flake” and “Cherry Blossom Festival,” which imitate snow or flower petals falling down. The “Fish tank” and “Ocean” scenes were also very cool and I had a blast going through all of the scenes while showing them off to my friends.

On top of using the preset scenes, the Govee app also allows you to create your own custom scenes with different colors and movement. This is ideal for getting festive around the holidays.

Now, if you’re not into all the fancy scenes and want just a simple lamp, then the Aura is perfectly suited for that as well. You can even control which shade of white you’d like to use, such as a cooler whiter tone during the day and a deeper amber color for later in the evening.

Speaking of, the Govee app also features a sleep timer, wake-up light, and a way to schedule the lamp to turn on or off based on your needs.

Brightness

Of course, we can’t leave out one of the most important functions in a lamp review. The Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp is rated for 350 lumens, and what that means in the real world, is that it gets quite bright.

With the Aura lamp set at maximum brightness, I was able to light up a small bedroom with ease. My previous lamp barely got bright enough to read next to, making the Aura a big improvement.

Now, don’t expect it to compare to a floor-standing lamp or ceiling-mounted fixture, but it should be enough to view your surroundings in the evenings or to do some reading.

Final thoughts

When I first started browsing I was only hoping to get a nice looking lamp that I could turn on or off using Google Assistant. With the Govee Aura Smart Table Lamp–I got way more than that–and between all the different modes, scenes, and customizations I can see why it retails for $60.

The Aura is much more than just a lamp, paired with the Govee app it becomes a customizable light show of colors dancing in your home. You can pick up the Aura Smart Table Lamp right now from the Govee website for $55 or on Amazon for $48 after applying the 20% off coupon.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Govee

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AG Deals Team
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Bowers & Wilkins PI7 True Wireless ANC Earbuds review

Jason England
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Bowers & Wilkins is a premium audio brand renowned for high-quality sound and style, so when they entered the true wireless earbud market with the PI7, my interest was piqued. Thankfully, the brand sent us out a pair for review, and now I can share my impressions after living with them for the past few weeks.

Design

Due to the minuscule size of true wireless buds, there isn’t much you can do with this form factor. Regardless, Bowers & Wilkins has come up with a design that is uniquely its own.

The two-tone buds come in white or charcoal and look great whether they are in the case or out of it. When it comes to controlling the PI7, B&W has incorporated touch-sensitive buttons which are easy to use without accidentally triggering them.

The charging case is a little large when compared to the recent competition, but it’s still pretty compact and lightweight. Basically, you won’t have any trouble fitting these into your pocket and they won’t weigh you down.

Comfort

The B&W PI7 comes with a set of three silicone tips and for what they cost, I wish they also included Comply foam tips like other luxury earbuds. As I’ve noted in previous reviews, I have smaller than average ear canals. I was still able to find a comfortable fit with the included tips, although, I wouldn’t have complained had they included some smaller ear tips.

That would have made it easier for me to wear them for hours on end. Instead, I experienced feeling some ear fatigue after about an hour or so of listening.

User experience

Controlling music playback with the PI7 was easy thanks to the touch-sensitive controls. With a series of taps you can play, pause, or skip forwards or backward when listening to music. Long-pressing the touch-sensitive buttons will also activate a voice assistant or enable active noise cancellation.

Another way the PI7 makes controlling your music easy is with a sensor that pauses playback when you remove a bud from your ear and resumes once you place it back in.

These are not Google Assistant-enabled headphones, meaning you won’t be able to hear the response from Assistant or your notifications.

Despite the controls working well, I found transparency mode was missing. This is one of the most valuable features of many newer headphones that allows you to have a quick conversation without removing the buds from your ears.

Many other brands include a way to activate this from the headphones themselves, but not so with the PI7. Instead, the manual directs you to use the app when you need transparency mode. It may seem like a minor complaint, but it does become very tedious when you just want to have a quick word with someone.

Media Streaming

One last feature the B&W PI7 boasts is the ability for the case to act as a Bluetooth transmitter. This is one of the most unique features I’ve ever come across on a pair of true wireless earbuds, and it allows you to add a Bluetooth connection to analog devices.

For this, I reached for the closest device I had on hand without Bluetooth, which in this case, is the Nintendo Switch. Getting the Bluetooth retransmission to function was a frustrating half-hour, but somehow I finally got the buds to connect.

I tried following the manual’s instructions without success and eventually, in between unplugging and plugging cables back in and double-clicking the button on the case, it finally made a connection. Once I got this working though, the PI7 buds did a great job of connecting between my phone and the case when I had it plugged in.

In the end, I don’t have a lot of use for this feature, and even though it was frustrating to set up, I was really impressed and thought it was a cool trick that sets the PI7 apart from other buds on the market.

App

This brings us to the B&W app, and, unfortunately, I found it lacking in comparison to its competitors such as Sony. First off, there is no equalizer and that’s something I’ve come to expect at this price point. Regardless of how good a pair of headphones sounds, I always like tweaking it to my personal taste and I was unable to do that with the PI7.

Furthermore, there was no way to customize the touch-sensitive buttons. It would have been great to replace the voice assistant shortcut with transparency mode, seeing how I’d definitely use that more considering you can’t get spoken replies from Google Assistant on these buds.

Besides these complaints, the app worked fine. It was great to be able to see the battery level of the buds as well as the case on the main page. It also allows you to turn ANC to auto or disable it entirely, and of course, it’s the only way to enable transparency mode.

Sound quality

Audio quality is one area where the PI7 excels as it uses the aptX codec for 24-bit streaming from your device with dual hybrid drivers with individual amplifiers. All of this added up to audio that sounded extremely clear with a crisp sound signature including a punch of bass.

While listening to music I was constantly impressed by the clarity of the tracks and how wonderfully balanced the sound was. The PI7 buds were able to make every song sound clear while still providing a nice thump in the low end. However, if you’re a bass head the PI7 will disappoint — and that’s where a custom equalizer would have really helped in the app.

ANC

Active noise cancellation on the PI7 wasn’t the best I’ve heard, but it was still quite impressive. While it doesn’t quite match some of the most popular ANC earbuds, the PI7 were able to block out the vast majority of repetitive noise while still retaining high-quality sound.

Microphone

The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 uses a series of six microphones for stellar call quality. The sound of my voice was so clear and natural that people I spoke with on the phone were shocked I was using a pair of Bluetooth buds. The PI7 might just have the best set of mics on any pair of wireless headphones that I’ve used.

Additionally, while you’re on a call the PI7 will enable transparency mode allowing you to hear yourself so you’ll know what you sound like and also won’t get too loud.

Battery life

Bowers & Wilkins rates the PI7 for four hours of continuous listening time with up to an additional 22.5 hours when used with the charging case. I only ever used the PI7 for around two hours at a time and I found that the PI7 had no issue living up to its claims, and the case easily kept me charged up for a couple of weeks at a time.

Although, with the competition offering better battery life at a more affordable price, I could see this affecting your decision when deciding which buds to pick up.

Final thoughts

Bowers & Wilkins delivers on sound quality with the PI7 but comes up short with the app, smart features, and battery life. That might be more acceptable if they didn’t retail for $400 and/or if Sony’s fantastic WF-1000XM4 earbuds didn’t exist at a more affordable price.

However, if you’re a huge B&W fan, and don’t care about the missing smart features, then you’ll be perfectly happy with the sound quality, even though your wallet might not be with the price.

Buy from Amazon Buy from Bowers & Wilkins

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