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Apps to help conserve bandwidth on a limited data plan

I activated the AT&T $15 for 250MB plan on my Tab. I've got the AT&T widget that displays exactly how much data I've used so far, and it goes fast.
Are there any good apps for managing data usage people recommend?
In particular, I like to sync things like Google Reader/GMail/Google Voice. However, it'd be great if there were a way to set non-essentials like Google Reader to sync only on wifi, while having GMail and Google Voice continue to sync whether on cellular data or wifi.

Due to the Android OS architecture you cannot set up I/O resource access on a per-application basis unless the app has the feature built in. That means, you can not control from an app how other apps access resources.
This happens because all apps run in their own containers that can access the system through the permission system. This helps isolate apps and prevent other apps from interfering with their environment. Access is one-way: from the app to the system. The system or other apps cannot enter another app environment.
Thus, as long as Google Reader does not provide the feature to sync only over WIFI, then you cannot block it in any other way except disabling your data.
C.

after switching to opera mini, my bandwidth consumption declined by about 30%
you may want to give it a try
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.opera.mini.android&feature=search_result

turruso said:
after switching to opera mini, my bandwidth consumption declined by about 30%
you may want to give it a try
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.opera.mini.android&feature=search_result
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect suggestion turruso!
@manekineko: if you also browse the Net a lot using your device, you might give Opera a chance. Using the Opera Turbo feature will help you save a lot on your plan because they compress pages before transferring them to your phone.

Perhaps you are looking for something like traffic counter (from the market) it monitors cell, wifi, call and SMS and let you set limits to those.
Also calculate billing and monitors the installed apps data in and out
P

PBL1 said:
Perhaps you are looking for something like traffic counter (from the market) it monitors cell, wifi, call and SMS and let you set limits to those.
Also calculate billing and monitors the installed apps data in and out
P
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the official AT&T traffic monitor for now, and I've been happy enough with it, so I'm mainly looking for ways to keep my data usage low when out and about.

I know what you want! (maybe) Its called DroidWall. Its a firewall controlling which apps and services uses what type of connection (3g or wifi). Ive been using it, and drastically reduced consumption of data plan by more than half.

zagitariuz said:
I know what you want! (maybe) Its called DroidWall. Its a firewall controlling which apps and services uses what type of connection (3g or wifi). Ive been using it, and drastically reduced consumption of data plan by more than half.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a great suggestion! Only thing that keeps it from being completely perfect is it'd be nice if there were a way I could only prevent background data from an app on 3G, but allow it still for when I'm directly opening the app myself, like when I'm browsing Google Reader.

cheatman said:
Perfect suggestion turruso!
@manekineko: if you also browse the Net a lot using your device, you might give Opera a chance. Using the Opera Turbo feature will help you save a lot on your plan because they compress pages before transferring them to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll second Opera with Opera Turbo. If I'm on wifi I use Dolphin HD and when I'm not I use Opera. It's cut down on my data use more than I expected.

Does android devices need an antivirus?

As topic =)

omnia1994 said:
As topic =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will not say no, but I haven't seen or had a real life demonstration where an Android AV software stopped or prevented anything on any device (Xoom included).
I personally don't have one loaded on any of my Android devices but I would say this. For phones / tables I prefer firewall software than AV.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

I would have to say yes. I recently attended a corporate day at Symantec and one of the things they demonstrated to us was how an Android phone becomes infected. The using a laptop they were able to extract personal info and sent txt messages and make calls.
So for me having seen that I would say yes especially if you side load apps using alternative markets.

Funny thing about that...
The sandboxing of the Java processes means that there's no escalation of privilege possible.
There are no viruses on Android in the sense that arbitrary code can be run, or infect the bytecode of other apps.
However, there are malicious apps which can be spotted by their permissions.
Don't use alternative markets. Pay attention to what you install, read permissions, read about the developers. Turn off unknown sources when not installing something from a trusted source. Those are the best security practices.
The "antivirus" apps for Android add very little real security on top of this, but they do slow down your device to make you feel safer.
stiflingcobra said:
I would have to say yes. I recently attended a corporate day at Symantec and one of the things they demonstrated to us was how an Android phone becomes infected. The using a laptop they were able to extract personal info and sent txt messages and make calls.
So for me having seen that I would say yes especially if you side load apps using alternative markets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Your correct about the permissions. The demo we had was an app that had had extra code added and was uploaded onto the market. The demo then showed both apps with the same icons etc but the permissions on the rogue app were nearly 3 times what the legit app required.
The game still ran when you installed it but in the background it was running other daemons giving the hacker the control. One of the big give aways was the ability to send txt messages. No game should need this.
So yes you do have to be vigilant but extra protection is always better if you don't mind having Antivirus software installed...

In my experience all that is really needed is a well configured firewall, pay attention to permission list before the app installation and to obviously avoid unofficial app markets.
The next thing to consider is what web browser you use. There are tons of options out there to choose and not all of them, actually most, don't offer modern features like anti-fishing and popup denial protection.
The best practice will always be prevention, and some android av programs do better than most.
If you are so inclined to have one, my recommendation would be for eset mobile security. I use their av on all my windows machines and haven't had a major issue at all.
Sent from my XT910-Rogers using XDA Premium.

As long as your brain works when reading the permissions (i.e. "why does a wallpaper need to send SMSs?"), then no, an AV isn't necessary.
Unfortunately, a lot of android users don't see to do this, hence hte mass media panic about android viruses.

stiflingcobra said:
Your correct about the permissions. The demo we had was an app that had had extra code added and was uploaded onto the market. The demo then showed both apps with the same icons etc but the permissions on the rogue app were nearly 3 times what the legit app required.
The game still ran when you installed it but in the background it was running other daemons giving the hacker the control. One of the big give aways was the ability to send txt messages. No game should need this.
So yes you do have to be vigilant but extra protection is always better if you don't mind having Antivirus software installed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I recommended a firewall over an AV software, when I comes to Android at least it makes more sense to me to protect the flow of information then to waist CPU cycles on scanning for viruses.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

megabiteg said:
That's why I recommended a firewall over an AV software, when I comes to Android at least it makes more sense to me to protect the flow of information then to waist CPU cycles on scanning for viruses.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point. I recently un-installed my anti-virus (was using Avast) because it was really slowing down app installation and updating.

omnia1994 said:
As topic =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes android devices need antivirus because when you download apps or games from unknown parties aka third parties they mostly have virus or spyware so we need a antivirus which can scan files while downloading and if they have virus or spyware it would stop them if u ask me which av i m using i would recommend Appriva could antivirus reasons its available on play store and its free doesn't use much memory fast and reliable

popularmechanics.com/technology/how-to/computer-security/you-should-put-antivirus-software-on-your-phone-14886208
Wysyłane z mojego Xoom za pomocą Tapatalk 2

Why You Shouldn’t Use a Task Killer On Android

So i saw many posts on which people have asked as to which task killer should be used !
and then i stumble upon this site which provided me the details,
i just complied info
sources-by Chris Hoffman
http://www.howtogeek.com/127388/htg-explains-why-you-shouldnt-use-a-task-killer-on-android/
Android Doesn’t Manage Processes Like Windows
Most Android users are familiar with Windows. On Windows, many programs running at one time – whether they’re windows on your desktop or applications in your system tray – can decrease your computer’s performance. Closing applications when you’re not using them can help speed up your Windows computer.
However, Android isn’t Windows and doesn’t manage processes like Windows does. Unlike on Windows, where there’s an obvious way to close applications, there’s no obvious way to “close” an Android application. This is by design and isn’t a problem. When you leave an Android app, going back to your home screen or switching to another app, the app stays “running” in the background. In most cases, the app will be paused in the background, taking up no CPU or network resources. Some apps will continue using CPU and network resources in the background, of course – for example, music players, file-downloading programs, or apps that sync in the background.
When you go back to an app you were recently using, Android “unpauses” that app and you resume where you left off. This is fast because the app is still stored in your RAM and ready to be used again.
Why Task Killers Are Bad
Proponents of task killers notice that Android is using a lot of RAM – in fact, Android stores a lot of apps in its memory, filling up the RAM! However, that isn’t a bad thing. Apps stored in your RAM can be quickly switched to without Android having to load them from its slower storage.
In summary, you shouldn’t use a task killer – if you have a misbehaving app wasting resources in the background, you should identify it and uninstall it. But don’t just remove apps from your phone or tablet’s RAM – that doesn’t help speed anything up.
Empty RAM is useless. Full RAM is RAM that is being put to good use for caching apps. If Android needs more memory, it will force-quit an app that you haven’t used in a while – this all happens automatically, without installing any task killers.
Task killers think they know better than Android. They run in the background, automatically quitting apps and removing them from Android’s memory. They may also allow you to force-quit apps on your own, but you shouldn’t have to do this.
Task killers aren’t just useless – they can reduce performance. If a task killer removes an app from your RAM and you open that app again, the app will be slower to load as Android is forced to load it from your device’s storage. This will also use more battery power than if you just left the app in your RAM in the first place. Some apps will automatically restart after the task killer quits them, using more CPU and battery resources.
Whether RAM is empty or full, it takes the same amount of battery power – decreasing the amount of apps stored in RAM won’t improve your battery power or offer more CPU cycles.
hope u understood!
words of wisdom by fellow-mates
go into settings - apps and see how many running apps you have. now go to cached apps and see there, how many apps there are. you see? nearly 50% of those apps discovered by you in the processes are apps that you didn't opened ever but they are still opened and running. why? because that's how linux manages its resources. instead of having free ram for no use (what's the point of having 14gb of ram when you only use 1gb), linux fills all the ram blocks with useful apps or apps that you are running frequently so that when you call that app, it will bring it on the screen almost instantly. this my friend, is called multitasking.
and no, you are wrong. if you use a task killer killing the apps every 10 minutes, the cycles the whole system does - opening again apps and caching them, task killer closing them - results in much more functions done by CPU => more battery spent. even if you say that the battery life its the same, you are wrong. when using a task killer IT MIGHT drain your battery with 0.1% per hour. it's not that much, but IT EXIST.
oh and yeah, one thing: android has its own task killer. that's why you don't need one app to kill your other apps. because android its doing it by itself. if you don't believe me, strip down one kernel, open the init.rc file and find the values for task killer.

I've never used those programs, I like to use what the phones have by default
But is good to know anyways

I agree with that...to an extent
Auto killing apps is plain stupid, but I do believe in killing certain apps. In a perfect world heavy apps would just be uninstalled, but plenty of useful apps without good replacements are fairly heavy, and it helps to kill them. E.g. after exiting a game I will kill it because its hogging up valuable ram by running in the background, while still using he same resources it uses at the forefront.
I understand that android, and Linux should manage ram well, but more often then not some app is just out there slowing my phone down. Even an hour later of not using that app, it'll still be in the background using up a lot of CPU and ram I don't have (more importantly battery). Android is great at managing smaller apps, but in my experience, it sucks at doing the same for larger apps.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda app-developers app

I don't use automatic task killers, those that are constantly running, but i do kill unused tasks and apps with no reason to be still running. Google services is a common example. It will launch at boot and keep running peemanently, even if you never launch a google app, google services is running, why?
A lot of apps, mostly the free ones, get revenue by reporting anonymous usage statistics (not so anonymous in some cases). So they stick a running service even if the app is never launched again (sometimes even if it isn't launched in the first place).
To sum up, killing everything is bad, but leaving everything to run free can also decrease performance. This can be observed on an android device that has been running for a long time, versus an android device that's just been reset.

some unused tasks will repeatedly rerun even if killed.
This will further decrease battery life and affect performance as resources are needed to keep restarting it.
The best way is to ignore if it takes a small portion of resources or to uninstall the app. Rooted users may disable the triggers via certain apps.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2

In phones with very low RAM, this becomes a necessity.
Switching programs take up a lot of time to process unless there is a sizable free RAM

Markuzy said:
some unused tasks will repeatedly rerun even if killed.
This will further decrease battery life and affect performance as resources are needed to keep restarting it.
The best way is to ignore if it takes a small portion of resources or to uninstall the app. Rooted users may disable the triggers via certain apps.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Xparent ICS Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use auto run manager
it is the answer to most of every body's problems

DarthSimian said:
In phones with very low RAM, this becomes a necessity.
Switching programs take up a lot of time to process unless there is a sizable free RAM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if u have low RAM, please manually remove the apps!

dxppxd said:
I don't use automatic task killers, those that are constantly running, but i do kill unused tasks and apps with no reason to be still running. Google services is a common example. It will launch at boot and keep running peemanently, even if you never launch a google app, google services is running, why?
A lot of apps, mostly the free ones, get revenue by reporting anonymous usage statistics (not so anonymous in some cases). So they stick a running service even if the app is never launched again (sometimes even if it isn't launched in the first place).
To sum up, killing everything is bad, but leaving everything to run free can also decrease performance. This can be observed on an android device that has been running for a long time, versus an android device that's just been reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
use autorun manager, keep it simple

dxppxd said:
I don't use automatic task killers, those that are constantly running, but i do kill unused tasks and apps with no reason to be still running. Google services is a common example. It will launch at boot and keep running peemanently, even if you never launch a google app, google services is running, why?
A lot of apps, mostly the free ones, get revenue by reporting anonymous usage statistics (not so anonymous in some cases). So they stick a running service even if the app is never launched again (sometimes even if it isn't launched in the first place).
To sum up, killing everything is bad, but leaving everything to run free can also decrease performance. This can be observed on an android device that has been running for a long time, versus an android device that's just been reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
let me tell you something about google services...
when you installed your rom, you had to check two options from google services - location and another one.
if you are on stock, those options are available in settings also.
the google services are needed (you are running a google os, right?) because without it, the location feature will not work, the play store will give you headaches and not to mention, google now that needs that service like water.
if you kill that process over and over again you will not gain anything because that service will keep restarting it until you will give up. ah, you will loose a massive amount of battery if you do so
another thing, the google service is a system app. system apps have priority in resources so even if you kill now, as i said, it will restart after a few seconds because some apps that you are running are requesting that service.
as someone said here, yes, even I kill games after I stop playing, BUT, I do it from the task manager built in. Settings - Apps - Running apps etc.

1ceb0x said:
let me tell you something about google services...
when you installed your rom, you had to check two options from google services - location and another one.
if you are on stock, those options are available in settings also.
the google services are needed (you are running a google os, right?) because without it, the location feature will not work, the play store will give you headaches and not to mention, google now that needs that service like water.
if you kill that process over and over again you will not gain anything because that service will keep restarting it until you will give up. ah, you will loose a massive amount of battery if you do so
another thing, the google service is a system app. system apps have priority in resources so even if you kill now, as i said, it will restart after a few seconds because some apps that you are running are requesting that service.
as someone said here, yes, even I kill games after I stop playing, BUT, I do it from the task manager built in. Settings - Apps - Running apps etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if u dont want them to restart use, autorun manager

task killer
Well, i think a task killer is useful. It sometimes helps to speed-up the phone a bit.

snelle-eddie said:
Well, i think a task killer is useful. It sometimes helps to speed-up the phone a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No that is wrong.....it consumes more ram it self
Sent from my One V

Normally to kill a process I use the Running Tab in Apps, If any recently opened app which I feel should be closed is open I kill it!Though I leave the google services untouched!
Stopped using Task managers and Battery saving apps long time ago!
Want to really save the juice? Try Under Clocking! and killing the bloatware(saves RAM too!)

I used to have a task killer but the more I killed apps, the slower my phone was, so I eventually ended uninstalling it.

great post. lots of usefull info!!

Instead of using a task killer to keep on eating your battery life, simply either delete the app or disable it in your system if it's a system out (eg: default browser, bloatware, etc).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zomut.watchdog&feature=search_result

its good, but most android users atleaast ppl like me know which apps are usefull and which are not

cybervibin said:
its good, but most android users atleaast ppl like me know which apps are usefull and which are not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are replying to me, your response is a bit ambiguous...

Scoped storage is good...but RESTRICTED Storage is better

Scoped storage introduced in Android 11 is good, but RESTRICTED Storage would be an even better option.
On Android, at the moment, apps that have access to internal storage for their own files, also have access to every other file in the system. This is not only a privacy risk, but also a security concern. With the introduction of Scoped Storage, some of that is being addressed. Yet, there is still scope for misuse if apps have malicious intent.
I would like to have a system where every app that needs access to a file must go through the built in file manager to prevent misuse. What that means is no app has permanent access to files that are not created by them, and can only access files each time with explicit user consent and interaction. This would completely address the privacy concerns with regards to files.
This is how the Files app in iOS is designed and is an extremely well thought out one. Let me illustrate with an example:
We all know how Facebook is notorious when it comes to privacy. Let's assume you have a Facebook account and the Facebook app is installed on your phone. If you want to share a picture on Facebook, you have to grant the app access to your internal storage. On Android, this effectively grants Facebook access to every file on your storage. Given the reputation, it won't be surprising if Facebook app scans all your pictures/ videos for its AI/ ML, or even uploads them without your knowledge.
On iOS, the permission screen looks like this:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
You have the choice of either granting permanent access (Option 1), or limit the access to just the file(s) you want (Option 2). This permission can be set per app.
On Android, it is essentially Option 1 alone. You have to grant access to the entire file system for you to be able to upload your pics to Facebook.
On iOS, you have the choice of uploading just the pic you want, without giving the app access to any other file in your internal storage. This is a huge privacy boon.
In this case, Facebook app has to make a request to the built in file manager (which obviously has access to every file in the system), and you browse your media library using the built-in file manager (with which the built-in Photos app is integrated) to grant access. Facebook app sees absolutely nothing. It only makes a query, and everything else is handled by the built-in file manager. So even without granting blanket access, you are able to upload the file you want!
Same holds true for every app. An app should only have permanent access to its own files, and not any other file. For access to any other file, the app has to go through the built-in file manager route and access only the file that the user wants it to see.
Alternatively, ALL folders will be 'Restricted' by default. However, users will have the option to selectively relax the restrictions (per folder) for one or more apps (under folder properties) to give just those apps full access.
Hope Google (and custom ROM makers) can design something like this keeping in mind the privacy needs of its users, and the abusive intents of large corporations and malicious actors.

Here is an app that achieves the objective defined above:
Storage Isolation

Load trusted, vetted apps only; you are what you load. Don't allow apps to update; they may pass Playstore security only to update latter installing their payload. Firewall block all apps that don't need an internet to do their job. Most don't need access once activated.
Never load social media or shopping apps on the device, they are malware and an ongoing high security risk. If the social media site can't be fully logged onto and accessed by browser, ditch it.
Nothing can protect you from yourself, actions have consequences.

blackhawk said:
Load trusted, vetted apps only; you are what you load. Don't allow apps to update; they may pass Playstore security only to update latter installing their payload. Firewall block all apps that don't need an internet to do their job. Most don't need access once activated.
Never load social media or shopping apps on the device, they are malware and an ongoing high security risk. If the social media site can't be fully logged onto and accessed by browser, ditch it.
Nothing can protect you from yourself, actions have consequences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The implementation suggested above would address privacy concerns related to user files and I'm not sure why Google hasn't yet done so.
Buying a smartphone and limiting it's usability severely as you say isn't practical.

TheMystic said:
The implementation suggested above would address privacy concerns related to user files and I'm not sure why Google hasn't yet done so.
Buying a smartphone and limiting it's usability severely as you say isn't practical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why has Google or Samsung not integrated a native firewall to Android? I use Karma Firewall, it uses almost no battery. Unfortunately it's valuable logging feature doesn't work on Android 10 and higher. Works fine with Pie though. I have apps like the 6yo free version of WPS office that wouldn't load on 11, pleasantly surprised it loaded on 10. It has no drop in replacement today that's not cloud or free. I simply firewall block it so it doesn't want to update to the current paid version. Doesn't effect usability.
What Google did with scoped storage kills a lot of useful and trusted apps while giving a false sense of security. Hackers never sleep and will always find workarounds to get your data.
Google is one of the worst data miners and purveyors of disinformation, trust them?

blackhawk said:
Why has Google or Samsung not integrated a native firewall to Android? I use Karma Firewall, it uses almost no battery. Unfortunately it's valuable logging feature doesn't work on Android 10 and higher. Works fine with Pie though. I have apps like the 6yo free version of WPS office that wouldn't load on 11, pleasantly surprised it loaded on 10. It has no drop in replacement today that's not cloud or free. I simply firewall block it so it doesn't want to update to the current paid version. Doesn't effect usability.
What Google did with scoped storage kills a lot of useful and trusted apps while giving a false sense of security. Hackers never sleep and will always find workarounds to get your data.
Google is one of the worst data miners and purveyors of disinformation, trust them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I prefer Oxygen OS, Colour OS and MiUI, all of which offer a native firewall within their OS. Since OOS 12, Oxygen OS is now showing a popup everytime a blocked app is launched. This is extremely annoying.
Karma Firewall appears to be an abandoned project with no update. It isn't working properly on Android 12 and newer. Netguard is currently the best.
Giving the user ability to setup which folders/ files each app can access would greatly enhance privacy. Scoped Storage is a half baked implementation, even though something is better than nothing. The implementation suggested above will address many of the current shortcomings.
Nothing is foolproof or failsafe. But bringing in improvements is always welcome.
Google may be the biggest data miner, but unfortunately their apps and services do not have competing alternatives. Users have to make lots of compromises when choosing alternatives.
The other reason I prefer Google/ Microsoft apps is because they help me be platform independent, since their apps are also available on iOS, Windows and Mac.
Mind sharing that cloud free version of WPS?

TheMystic said:
This is why I prefer Oxygen OS, Colour OS and MiUI, all of which offer a native firewall within their OS. Since OOS 12, Oxygen OS is now showing a popup everytime a blocked app is launched. This is extremely annoying.
Karma Firewall appears to be an abandoned project with no update. It isn't working properly on Android 12 and newer. Netguard is currently the best.
Giving the user ability to setup which folders/ files each app can access would greatly enhance privacy. Scoped Storage is a half baked implementation, even though something is better than nothing. The implementation suggested above will address many of the current shortcomings.
Nothing is foolproof or failsafe. But bringing in improvements is always welcome.
Google may be the biggest data miner, but unfortunately their apps and services do not have competing alternatives. Users have to make lots of compromises when choosing alternatives.
The other reason I prefer Google/ Microsoft apps is because they help me be platform independent, since their apps are also available on iOS, Windows and Mac.
Mind sharing that cloud free version of WPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Developers come and go. Karma Firewall is great app. After what Google did with scoped stoirage I don't blame them for bailing.
I have nothing against added security per se but it should be an option if it causes loss of functionality or uses resources. Knox is another one I hate. Gmail is the only Google app I regularly use. All my apps are backed up as installable copies on the data drive so no Playstore needed to reload. Completely self contained and self sufficient.
Make sure you firewall block it. It may not load on 11 or higher. To save docs you may have to play with it a bit but it will create, modify and save Word (doc x too) documents. More versions are found on APKmirror. About 81.37mb installed.

blackhawk said:
Developers come and go. Karma Firewall is great app. After what Google did with scoped stoirage I don't blame them for bailing.
I have nothing against added security per se but it should be an option if it causes loss of functionality or uses resources. Knox is another one I hate. Gmail is the only Google app I regularly use. All my apps are backed up as installable copies on the data drive so no Playstore needed to reload. Completely self contained and self sufficient.
Make sure you firewall block it. It may not load on 11 or higher. To save docs you may have to play with it a bit but it will create, modify and save Word (doc x too) documents. More versions are found on APKmirror. About 81.37mb installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using Karma, until it stopped working reliably. So went back to Netguard which is really good, and with some very useful feature not available in Karma.
Where do you install new apps from? APK backups help in going back to an older version. But for newer versions, you need Google Play Store, unless you are happy with apkmirror or similar.
I have a MS 365 subscription, so this is just a backup of a clean version of WPS, whose newer version destroys all context menus by showing up everywhere. I wish Android provided a way to customise context menus as well as share menus.
Thanks for the apk though.

TheMystic said:
I was using Karma, until it stopped working reliably. So went back to Netguard which is really good, and with some very useful feature not available in Karma.
Where do you install new apps from? APK backups help in going back to an older version. But for newer versions, you need Google Play Store, unless you are happy with apkmirror or similar.
I have a MS 365 subscription, so this is just a backup of a clean version of WPS, whose newer version destroys all context menus by showing up everywhere. I wish Android provided a way to customise context menus as well as share menus.
Thanks for the apk though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's one reason this N10+ is still running on Pie. I've been wanting to try out netguard.
Rarely from Playstore. I try not to same apps as they can potentially damage the system or worse. Some of my copies date back 6 years, most 2-3, many over the years from Playstore. They run well. Playstore also uses battery, every bit counts.
I do a few side loads that are always scanned with online Virustotal. If they look even a little iffy I don't install them. I use F-Droid too. No issues with the side loaded apps, yet...
You're welcome. I get tired of renting apps and a capable office app is absolutely essential.

blackhawk said:
That's one reason this N10+ is still running on Pie. I've been wanting to try out netguard.
Rarely from Playstore. I try not to same apps as they can potentially damage the system or worse. Some of my copies date back 6 years, most 2-3, many over the years from Playstore. They run well. Playstore also uses battery, every bit counts.
I do a few side loads that are always scanned with online Virustotal. If they look even a little iffy I don't install them. I use F-Droid too. No issues with the side loaded apps, yet...
You're welcome. I get tired of renting apps and a capable office app is absolutely essential.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Netguard is very good, actually much better than Karma (it will reactivate itself if the OS kills it, automatically blocks new apps, etc). The one very good thing about Karma is that it has no internet permissions. But Netguard says it doesn't collect any data or track anything.
Personally, i prefer to have the latest versions of both OS and apps, so I'm surprised that you are not updating the OS just to use an app, especially when a better alternative is already available.
I too have sideloaded a few apps (after checking them on VirusTotal), but i stick with Google Play Store mostly. It is rare that an update breaks something or takes away a useful feature, so this works for me. Besides, i do keep a backup of the important APKs with me, should it be required.

TheMystic said:
Netguard is very good, actually much better than Karma (it will reactivate itself if the OS kills it, automatically blocks new apps, etc). The one very good thing about Karma is that it has no internet permissions. But Netguard says it doesn't collect any data or track anything.
Personally, i prefer to have the latest versions of both OS and apps, so I'm surprised that you are not updating the OS just to use an app, especially when a better alternative is already available.
I too have sideloaded a few apps (after checking them on VirusTotal), but i stick with Google Play Store mostly. It is rare that an update breaks something or takes away a useful feature, so this works for me. Besides, i do keep a backup of the important APKs with me, should it be required.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rule #1 - if an OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be!
Upgrades/updates can and do break things. It's mostly all play time with this old load. No surprises, it just runs. I spent a lot of time optimizing it and changing the firmware or updating apps changes my manicured playing field into a sinkhole of trouble.
Android 11, 12, and 13 bring nothing I want to the table and are trying to steal the silverware. Google seeks to stay relevant like the lame big sister it is. Their improvements don't make my device run better or even any more secure but they do waste my time. Plus I don't like the way it looks. It's the smell.

TheMystic said:
Scoped storage introduced in Android 11 is good, but RESTRICTED Storage would be an even better option.
On Android, at the moment, apps that have access to internal storage for their own files, also have access to every other file in the system. This is not only a privacy risk, but also a security concern. With the introduction of Scoped Storage, some of that is being addressed. Yet, there is still scope for misuse if apps have malicious intent.
I would like to have a system where every app that needs access to a file must go through the built in file manager to prevent misuse. What that means is no app has permanent access to files that are not created by them, and can only access files each time with explicit user consent and interaction. This would completely address the privacy concerns with regards to files.
This is how the Files app in iOS is designed and is an extremely well thought out one. Let me illustrate with an example:
We all know how Facebook is notorious when it comes to privacy. Let's assume you have a Facebook account and the Facebook app is installed on your phone. If you want to share a picture on Facebook, you have to grant the app access to your internal storage. On Android, this effectively grants Facebook access to every file on your storage. Given the reputation, it won't be surprising if Facebook app scans all your pictures/ videos for its AI/ ML, or even uploads them without your knowledge.
On iOS, the permission screen looks like this:
View attachment 5183183
You have the choice of either granting permanent access (Option 1), or limit the access to just the file(s) you want (Option 2). This permission can be set per app.
On Android, it is essentially Option 1 alone. You have to grant access to the entire file system for you to be able to upload your pics to Facebook.
On iOS, you have the choice of uploading just the pic you want, without giving the app access to any other file in your internal storage. This is a huge privacy boon.
In this case, Facebook app has to make a request to the built in file manager (which obviously has access to every file in the system), and you browse your media library using the built-in file manager (with which the built-in Photos app is integrated) to grant access. Facebook app sees absolutely nothing. It only makes a query, and everything else is handled by the built-in file manager. So even without granting blanket access, you are able to upload the file you want!
Same holds true for every app. An app should only have permanent access to its own files, and not any other file. For access to any other file, the app has to go through the built-in file manager route and access only the file that the user wants it to see.
Alternatively, ALL folders will be 'Restricted' by default. However, users will have the option to selectively relax the restrictions (per folder) for one or more apps (under folder properties) to give just those apps full access.
Hope Google (and custom ROM makers) can design something like this keeping in mind the privacy needs of its users, and the abusive intents of large corporations and malicious actors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So lol

blackhawk said:
Rule #1 - if an OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be!
Upgrades/updates can and do break things. It's mostly all play time with this old load. No surprises, it just runs. I spent a lot of time optimizing it and changing the firmware or updating apps changes my manicured playing field into a sinkhole of trouble.
Android 11, 12, and 13 bring nothing I want to the table and are trying to steal the silverware. Google seeks to stay relevant like the lame big sister it is. Their improvements don't make my device run better or even any more secure but they do waste my time. Plus I don't like the way it looks. It's the smell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updates also bring in security improvements, along with the excitement of new and improved features. I always install them when available, with very rare exceptions.
Ideally, they shouldn't require users to make any changes to their setup, and that has also largely been my personal experience.

TheMystic said:
Updates also bring in security improvements, along with the excitement of new and improved features. I always install them when available, with very rare exceptions.
Ideally, they shouldn't require users to make any changes to their setup, and that has also largely been my personal experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that is more marketing hype than fact. One reason I run this N10+ on Pie with no updates is to test that statement. This 3yo device and firmware is a cleaner running and a more capable device than the S22U. How can that be? Poor design from both Samsung and Google Android.
I use to always buy new cars, but I learned better and the folly of my ways 25 years ago as new car quality steadily declined. Now Android is reminding me of that bs. For over a $1G it better out perform my N10+ in every especially with SOT and storage. It should be lighter and slimmer. Yes, well...

blackhawk said:
Unfortunately that is more marketing hype than fact. One reason I run this N10+ on Pie with no updates is to test that statement. This 3yo device and firmware is a cleaner running and a more capable device than the S22U. How can that be? Poor design from both Samsung and Google Android.
I use to always buy new cars, but I learned better and the folly of my ways 25 years ago as new car quality steadily declined. Now Android is reminding me of that bs. For over a $1G it better out perform my N10+ in every especially with SOT and storage. It should be lighter and slimmer. Yes, well...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are definitive improvements in hardware: CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage, etc. And most importantly the Cameras. The cameras on the S22U are really very good.
I don't have too many complaints with this device, except for the recent battery drain which I hope to solve.
I don't agree with your used car statement, unless you buy one from someone you know has taken care of it very well. Newer cars are definitely more safe than the old cars, both in terms of material used and in terms of safety features. Lighter alloys can be stronger and safer than heavier metals, so don't go by how strong a material feels.
But it is also true that companies are increasingly designing products that would fail within a certain time period, and this applies to gadgets, consumer durables, components used, etc.
It comes down to your experience over the useful life of the product that the company designs them for. And this is the area where newer products usually excel.

TheMystic said:
There are definitive improvements in hardware: CPU, GPU, RAM, Storage, etc. And most importantly the Cameras. The cameras on the S22U are really very good.
I don't have too many complaints with this device, except for the recent battery drain which I hope to solve.
I don't agree with your used car statement, unless you buy one from someone you know has taken care of it very well. Newer cars are definitely more safe than the old cars, both in terms of material used and in terms of safety features. Lighter alloys can be stronger and safer than heavier metals, so don't go by how strong a material feels.
But it is also true that companies are increasingly designing products that would fail within a certain time period, and this applies to gadgets, consumer durables, components used, etc.
It comes down to your experience over the useful life of the product that the company designs them for. And this is the area where newer products usually excel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SOC is faster, has better bandwidth and is more capable as is the ram, but is only marginally faster by milliseconds for most tasks.
The battery is huge but it gets significantly less SOT
The display can run brighter, but because of variable refresh rate it lacks the color/gamma accuracy/calibration of the N10+. It's pixels will suffer if used at higher brightness levels, they aren't immune to that.
No expandable storage means no 1tb dual (data) drive and no onboard redundancy. 5G isn't as useful as it was hyped up to be in practice and is less efficient for many tasks. It's still power hungry even today.
Its all about balance, functionality and form factor, something Samsung has forgotten how to do. They are completely hype driven now and their insanity is showing. The components look like great but the result doesn't equal the sum of the parts. It even doesn't exceed the N10+/Pie is some important specs.
The N10+ running on Pie is snappy fast, get great SOT/screen off times, has maybe the best display there is in terms of color accuracy etc, more storage that doesn't get wiped in a crash or factory reset. It's a powerful but well balanced device that's a reliable joy to use and weighs 30gms less. The N10+ is also cool running, I can use it for web browsing at 98F ambient for hours with no cooling without it overheating. Upper operating range is 102F ambient at which point I either cool it or stop using it.
Steel is still the best crash material for absorbing massive amounts of impact energy and maintaining it's integrity. I take a 89 Volvo 240 wagon in a crash of any type vs a newer car.
Even has no damage 5 mph impact no damage bumpers. Rock solid, reliable, easy to work on and gets at least 20 mpg no matter how you drive it. Best of all they're easy and fun to drive.
Or
A 89 F-250 Super Suspension 4×2 with a International naturally aspirated diesel with a C6. Fast off the line, minimum 20 mpg.

TheMystic said:
I would like to have a system where every app that needs access to a file must go through the built in file manager to prevent misuse. What that means is no app has permanent access to files that are not created by them, and can only access files each time with explicit user consent and interaction. This would completely address the privacy concerns with regards to files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to note that this is finally coming on Android 14.
I had made a post on this in Oct'20, and it is almost 2.5 years since then. Better late than never.

Family Data Usage App- A Unique Data Monitoring App

Family Data Usage is a feature-rich android app that empowers users to monitor their data consumption effectively. It allows you to track data usage across multiple devices, including mobile phones and Wi-Fi connections. The app's primary purpose is to help individuals and families stay aware of their data consumption and make informed decisions to avoid exceeding their limits.
One of the standout features of Family Data Usage is its ability to add family members to the app. This unique functionality enables users to monitor the data usage and pack validity of their family members' devices. By keeping everyone connected, the app fosters transparency and helps families make informed decisions regarding their data plans. With Family Data Usage, you can effortlessly add your family members and gain insights into their data usage patterns.
The app provides real-time data monitoring, enabling users to keep a close eye on their data usage. With its intuitive interface, you can easily visualize how much data is being consumed by individual apps or specific time periods. Family Data Usage even offers the ability to set custom data reset times, allowing for personalized data analysis and management.
The app provides timely notifications and alerts, reminding users when they are approaching their data limits or when their family members' data packs are about to expire. These notifications are displayed through beautiful and interactive widgets, enhancing the overall user experience

Are you the developer of this app?
Google says this app is not compatible with my Chromebooks. I realise that the app is optimised for a mobile phone but will it still work on Chromebook if I sideload it?
Will it track the data used globally via wifi regardless of whether it's via an Android app, Chrome Browser, or Linux?
I'm asking the question because this app's ability to manage multiple devices is the most useful feature.
Also, is there a backup and restore feature for all the usage data that is collected over time?
Can you provide the APK for sideloading? I didn't find it on APK Mirror or similar (Edit: I do find it on APK Pure)
THANKS

jmh2002 said:
Are you the developer of this app?
Google says this app is not compatible with my Chromebooks. I realise that the app is optimised for a mobile phone but will it still work on Chromebook if I sideload it?
Will it track the data used globally via wifi regardless of whether it's via an Android app, Chrome Browser, or Linux?
I'm asking the question because this app's ability to manage multiple devices is the most useful feature.
Also, is there a backup and restore feature for all the usage data that is collected over time?
Can you provide the APK for sideloading? I didn't find it on APK Mirror or similar (Edit: I do find it on APK Pure)
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I am developer of this app. Currently this app works only in android (sorry for not mentioning ).
You can monitor multiple android devices mobile data and wifi data usage by installing this app and Sigin with your google account. You need to add members in your account from profile section via email address. If they accept request then you can see mobile data and wifi data used by them. I have attached image how it looks like if they accept your request (image with heading see your families plan).
I have attached link of Google playstore in my post (blue in color) but I will attach sideloading apk too.
Thankyou for showing interest.

Thank you for your reply. I understand that Chromebook was not part of your main plan for this app - but Chromebook runs Android, so most apps work even when google says they are not compatible)
When I have time I will sideload the app and make some tests.
In my case, some devices will have the same google account, because they are all owned by me. Hopefully that will work too?

jmh2002 said:
Thank you for your reply. I understand that Chromebook was not part of your main plan for this app - but Chromebook runs Android, so most apps work even when google says they are not compatible)
When I have time I will sideload the app and make some tests.
In my case, some devices will have the same google account, because they are all owned by me. Hopefully that will work too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you SignIn two different device with seperate email address, it will work fine and you can also monitor your device data usage.