cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/47583791

Physical keyboard layouts were optimized for typing with ten fingers. Most virtual keyboards just copy the look of those physical layouts — even though the writing experience is completely different, since on a screen we're really only using one or two thumbs. On top of that, most of these keyboards focus on how the keyboard looks, and pay far less attention to how it sounds and feels.

With Honeyboard, I wanted to explore what it means to redesign a keyboard specifically for screens, and build the best possible writing experience around that. I focused on the essential core features that define what a virtual keyboard actually is:

• Write in your native script. Honeyboard ships with 122 languages and 295 layouts.
• A coherent experience for your senses. Organizational structure, visual, haptic, and auditory feedback all work together to make typing genuinely feel satisfying.
• Adapts to any device. Phone, foldable, or tablet — it looks and works perfectly on all of them, so it feels like a native part of your system.
• Fully local. It runs entirely on-device, with no special permissions required.
• Public domain. The code is contributed to the public domain, with a modular, clear structure, thorough tests, and documentation — so it's easy to contribute to or adapt yourself.

This isn't just another keyboard. It's a vision of what digital typing could look like in the future — and it already works today.

There's still some polishing and optimization to do, especially on the sound design, the layout sources, and the layouting algorithm, but none of that gets in the way of everyday use.

I'd love to hear what you think.

Greetings, would like some recommendations for a good weather app, i'm in Europe if that's a needed criteria.

Tried some and they are hit and miss and some like Windy want way too much personal data

Currently tried:

AccuWeather, Weawow, Weather Underground, Windy,

Looking for apps that aren't that invasive (if there are any) and accurate.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/47843683

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/47843635

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/47843624

I have been working on an Android App quite a while now, starting from a simple idea.

A messenger where messages travel directly between phones with no servers in between. Using direct WebRTC encrypted connections (SRTP/DTLS), there are no servers that stores, reads, or relays content. Group chats use a gossip protocol where members relay to other members.

The only infrastructure the app touches is a signalling relay to set up the connection (no message content), a push notification to wake up a sleeping phone (also no content), and a TURN relay for restricted networks (encrypted packets only).

I wrote a detailed white paper explaining the full architecture: https://www.mindtheclub.com/white-paper.html

The app is in Open Testing on Google Play (1,000 tester cap): https://www.mindtheclub.com/beta-signup.html

I’m interested in this community's perspective on whether the architecture holds up.

Since EDS client for Android is discontinued, there has not been any Veracrypt clients available until I found these two apps...

https://github.com/jmccoy600/androidCrypt

Pros

• Small app size
• On F-Droid

Cons

• Basic features

https://github.com/AlsatianConsulting/CryptoContainer

Pros

• Many features

Cons

• Not on F-Droid

I hope CrypoContainer gets on F-Droid and both apps get the ability to mount to a directory on the "main internal drive" simular to EDS client. Please help these apps out and spread the word.

I posted a few weeks ago (in ask lemmy) about an android app I was working on. At the time I didn’t have a google play account, but I do now! They allow for internal testers. I thought maybe I'd got some better traffic here.

Well, my post got a little traffic in ask lemmy, but no one volunteered. Here’s the thing though. I can’t find the issues, or crappy workflows, I need someone else to put eyeballs on it. I’m not a big company so I can’t offer much, but I can offer a free copy of the app if that’s a selling point.

Anyway, I’m going to take a real big leap here and just toss the link for testing out in the open.

I have an Amazon Echo Show (1st Generation) that I've installed LineageOS onto and am using it as a desk clock. I'd love to be able to have basic stats displayed on it, such as Masto stats and word count for my writing.

Are there any apps that match that description?

Looking for an Android keyboard with a tab-space function...

Hi all, I've created my first Android app and in order to get it published in the play store, I need some closed beta testers. If anyone would be willing to test out the app I would be very appreciative! The app is a digital adaptation of the card game Kalooki, a Gin/Rummy variant using 2 decks of cards, 2 Jokers and a specific ruleset. You do not need to know anything about the game already, there are tips that display on first-run (can be re-enabled from the settings screen if you want to view them again) as well as a full rules screen from the main menu, and a Quick Reference popup that is available from the game screen itself. To join the closed beta, you will need to join the associated Google Group and then I can add your emails to the tester list - https://groups.google.com/g/kalooki Currently the app is only available in UK/US/NZ/AUS but if there is interest from elsewhere I can expand the beta Thanks!

I've been wanting to Curb my Doom Scrolling Habits as of Recent as I've been wasting waaaay to much time opening the Same Apps 5 Times in 10 Minutes.

One Method thats been Said to Work wonders in that Regard is to have Apps only be accessible after typing in a Password. After doing a bit of Light research it seems I'll need an App for this as I don't wanna deal with Samsungs "Safe Folder" needing a Samsung Account stuff.

Do any of you have Suggestions for Trust Worthy Apps for this?

:schenklradio: Google warnt vor neuer Gefahr für Android-Nutzer

:loading: Google arbeitet an einer neuen, tiefgreifenden Funktion für Android-Nutzer, die den Umgang mit dem Smartphone verändern könnte. Unter dem Namen „Screen Automation“ soll die Gemini-KI in der Lage sein, selbstständig Aktionen in bestimmten Apps auszuführen, wie etwa eine Fahrt buchen oder eine Bestellung aufgeben. Google spricht allerdings auch eine deutliche Warnung aus.

https://www.giga.de/tech/google-warnt-vor-neuer-gefahr-fuer-android-nutzer--01KGMR0J9Z4HK7ANTQ3F2X31V5

@Gigade

@androidapps

All of the music apps I've found are pretty anemic. I just want a nice app with good features to stream my music from my home server.

The best I've found for the TV is Jellyfin, which is... Passable. But it's hard ro search the library to find specific songs or artists, etc. I'd like to have one with good playlist support (maybe even smart playlists?) And easily searchable. It should be able to play a genre, album, artist, easily.

I am willing to move my library from Jellyfin to navidrome, etc. if there is a TV app that is really worth it. Open source is preferred, but actually not absolutely necessary.

I need to get an app that can be left to record continuously for days at a time. Essentially turning an old android phone into a security camera. I don't really care if the video is stored locally or remotely.

My downstairs neighbour has started complaining about excessive noise coming from our apartment, including while everyone in the apartment is asleep. So I need to have something recording continuously where I can clip out the complaint and the hour leading up to it, to prove that whatever they're hearing isn't us. Ideally it would show the noise in dB and the time. They have no legal basis for throwing us out, but I'd like to provide irrefutable evidence that they are delusional.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I’ve been using fossified calendar. It’s okay but I kind of want prettier UI. Do you have any suggestions?

FOSS is welcome. It’s okay if it’s not anti consumer.

Hey there, I'm currently trying to publish an app to the Play Store, but apparently need 12 people to beta test it first, and it sadly seems only 3 of my friends use Android. Can anyone else share tips on recruiting beta testers? Thanks!

Hey all, I've got a few apps I rely on daily, such as Total Commander, CX File Explorer and Material Files. Regarding my current needs, none suffice 🙁

The closest I guess would be Material Files, but it will only show a grid of two columns or just a list. I'd like to have the kind of flexibility of a typical desktop file browser like Explorer. Or on iOS FileBrowser by Stratospherix. That app is amazing but they don't make it for Android.

I've tried so many. On older devices I can use Asus File Explorer which comes stock on their phones, but I only have a version that's a little older, and it won't do SMB on my Androis 13 device. It works on older ones.

I've also tried out Astro and Amaze, they both have good and bad aspects but neither provides what I want.

Anyway, verbose post I know, but if you have any recommendations I would really appreciate it.

I am looking for an app that would let me listen to internet radio on one station, but would automatically jump to another at a set time.

The use case is pretty straightforward - I love the national news from CBC but hate everything else they do. I want to listen to good music then jump to CBC at the top of the hour for 10 minutes to catch the national news.

:schenklradio: Android ohne Google: Vollständige Anleitung zum Leben ohne GMS, alternative Stores, MicroG und private ROMs

:loading: Die Verwendung von Android ohne Google ist nicht nur möglich, sondern kann auch eine gute Idee sein. Wenn Ihnen der Datenschutz am wichtigsten ist, Sie die Telemetrie reduzieren und mehr Kontrolle über Ihr Telefon haben möchten.

https://de.androidguias.com/Android-ohne-Google%3A-Vollst%C3%A4ndiger-Leitfaden-zum-Leben-ohne-GSM--alternative-MicroG-Stores-und-private-ROMs/

@androidapps

Zero news, zero announcements. Completely sneak release of a sequel of a very old classic mobile game

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.pou.app3d

Seems to be USA only.

I'm looking for software (very preferably FOSS) that can achieve the following challenge:

I want to position numerous android devices and then using one separate device, view an array of all those devices' camera views, independently control at least minimally such as PTZ the frame and take pictures and videos - and take synced photos and videos commanding them all concurrently. The more features the better. And while I prefer a FOSS app for basic functionality, I would not be opposed to a moderate onetime price (no subs) for something that's fairly sophisticated.

Hoping I've made my needs clear, but let me know if not.

Thanks.

I've been using Pi Music Player, and I'd like to switch to something free and open source. The only feature I absolutely need is the ability to import m3u8 playlists from the file system into the app's own playlist database, in bulk. That is, it must be able to import /Playlists (or any folder that contains playlists) that point to local music on my phone, overwriting playlists of the same name it previously imported. This is how I keep my phone's playlists in sync with my PC's. Pi Music Player supports this. It also supports creating playlists on the phone and exporting them to a file, but that's less important to me.

UPDATE:

I have installed both the music apps I described below and Retro (fork of Metro) and prefer the UI of Lotus. I am currently typing this with Summit, which feels like an Android version of mLem in terms of UI (in a good way) while being very customisable too! I have also installed a few of the other apps mentioned, like Syncthing-Fork and Offline Translator. FUTO Voice Input is useful too. Thanks everyone!

original post:

First off, I have already installed and am happy with (I don't need any suggestions for these):

• Fennec (browser)
• Heliboard (keyboard, it's awesome!)
• Aves (image gallery)
• AntennaPod (podcasts)
• DAVx^5^ + Etar (calendar)
  • Fossify Calendar looks nice, but is less functional in my opinion (you can't see the full name of events in month view!)
• Joplin (notes)
• CalcYou (calculator)
• Breezy Weather
• CoMaps
• Thunderbird (email)
• Material Files (file manager)
• Chrono (alarms, timers, etc.)
• ConnectYou (contacts)
• Fossify Messages (SMS)
  • also considering Quik SMS, does it have any advantages over Fossify?
• Moshidon (Mastodon)
• RSS feed reader (Feeder + CapyReader, one of the two probably, both are great)
• Image Toolbox
• My self-hosted stuff (Nextcloud and Immich)
• KeePassDX (password manager)
• Ente Auth (2FA)
• KDE Connect

I currently need:

• music player (Metro and Vanilla Music are both unmaintained, so those are out. I've also found Auxio, CuteMusic, Lotus, and Phocid as options. Are there any other good ones? I want local playback, not stuff using YT Music)
• Lemmy client (Jerboa crashes when trying to log in for some reason, I've heard Thunder might be good?)
• are there any other apps I should look at?

Another thing, is there a guide to what all the settings in Heliboard do? It's kind of overwhelming. One thing I have changed is the "bottom padding" to make the space bar a bit up, since I accidentally press "c" and "v" way too often when trying to hit space. Also, being able to enable the number row is pretty cool!

EDIT: I have KDE Connect as well!

Hi everyone. My name is Victor.

I have been a premium user of Spotify for over 5 years. I noticed that I had over 800 tracks in my playlist, but Spotify would consistently play about 10 of them on repeat in a specific order. I could predict the exact song Spotify would play next every single time.

I have been writing code since I was 7 years old (Q-Basic. Yes, I’m old), and I also have a Master’s in Computer Science, so I decided to write a website that would randomize the order of my tracks in the playlist. I would then play the playlist with shuffle off. The idea was that since the order of the tracks had become random, playing the tracks serially would allow me to hear tracks in a random order.

It worked!

But, Spotify has a rate limit (Spotify restricts how fast developers can do stuff on Spotify). So, I had to slow down the process of randomizing the tracks. This caused 2 issues:

The more songs I had in the playlist, the slower the process was.

I would have to randomize the tracks again every so often.

So, I went back to the drawing board to figure out how I could completely automate the entire process and make it faster.

This was the idea:

I would ask Spotify to tell me when it wants to play a new track.

I would then choose a truly random track in the playlist and add it to the queue Spotify plays from.

Rinse Repeat.

It worked! It also solved a number of problems:

its all happening in the background, so there is no need to manually go to some website to randomize your tracks.

It doesn’t make lots of requests to Spotify’s server. It’s talking directly to the Spotify app on your device most of the time.

It leaves the order of your tracks as is. You might have chosen the order you like your tracks to be played in.

One of my early users told me to make it remember the tracks it has already played. Such that, it would play random tracks it has not played before. After playing all the tracks in the playlist exactly once, randomly. It would then reset itself and do it all again. I implemented it quickly and enjoyed an even better Spotify listening experience.

There were some challenges:

Since the app runs in the background to listen to Spotify’s messages, it can only work on Android devices. IOS does not allow apps to run indefinitely in the background.

Even though Android allows apps to run in the background, it doesn’t allow apps to run for more than 24 hours at a time. So, the app will need to be restarted every 24 hours.

Android 14+ devices have some battery optimizations that stop Spotify from sending the messages my app needs to work properly. I found a way around this issue. The solution would be for my app to listen to the Notifications on the device. Spotify puts up a notification when it’s playing tracks. My app could pay attention to that notification to learn when a new track is being played. But, there is no way to place a filter such that my app would only see Spotify’s notification. It would need to see all notifications. I do not want that much responsibility, so I did not implement it.

Over the years, I have added more features to the app such that it can be used to manage your Spotify account as well.

The name of the app is “Virtual Shuffle – Truly Random”. You can find it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.virock.virtualshufflev2&hl=en

You can ask me any questions about it. You can also request additional features.

Nowhere do they mention that this is meant to be a fork either. For obvious reasons, I won't sign into YouTube on the clone, but even without it, it's pretty apparent that the only thing that appears to be changed was the credits.

Side by side comparisons of the apps (Metrolist on left)

(ps, if this isn't the right sub to post this, I'd appreciate a redirect)

Available from F-Droid as Offline Translator.

Originally called Firefox Translator based on the use of the Firefox translation models, Translator is an on-device translation app that has grown by leaps and bounds over this summer.

It includes live image translation, using tesseract OCR and automatic language detection. I've been impressed by how quick and well designed it is since beginning testing. There are many languages available, including non-western scripts.