Android applications

Colonel Panic · 2026-05-13 09:28:28

How to connect your Android phone to your computer using GS Connect;

unklar · 2026-05-13 11:21:20

^^Ooh man, I wonder why it always has to be so complicated..., alternatively:
https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.loc … lsend_app/
https://localsend.org/de/download

Martin · 2026-05-13 15:30:55

My old Nokia 700 connected to my computer the same way any usb stick does. No fuss. Not 'smart' enough I guess.

https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_700-4021.php

/Martin

Colonel Panic · 2026-05-13 18:43:33

unklar wrote:

^^Ooh man, I wonder why it always has to be so complicated..., alternatively:
https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.loc … lsend_app/
https://localsend.org/de/download

Thanks, I'll have a look at that.

Sector11 · 2026-05-13 19:33:10

Connect phone to computer, I do it the easy way scrcpy (screen copy) - GitHub

This application mirrors Android devices (video and audio) connected via USB or TCP/IP and allows control using the computer's keyboard and mouse. It does not require root access or an app installed on the device. It works on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

Seen here - imgbb

Oh the text editor you see in the screenshot: OldSchool Editor - love it.
No ads, No data collected - nothing shared!

Sector11 · 2026-05-13 19:50:17

unklar wrote:

^^Ooh man, I wonder why it always has to be so complicated..., alternatively:
https://f-droid.org/de/packages/org.loc … lsend_app/
https://localsend.org/de/download

Looks nice - IF you have a computer that has WiFi/Bluetooth commection.

johnraff · 2026-05-14 00:33:51

Martin wrote:

My old Nokia 700 connected to my computer the same way any usb stick does. No fuss. Not 'smart' enough I guess.
https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_700-4021.php
/Martin

My Motorola moto g24 also. Just connect with a USB cable and Thunar can see the files, copy/paste etc.

Haven't used it but people speak well of kdeconnect:
https://packages.debian.org/trixie/kdeconnect
https://kdeconnect.kde.org/

hhh · 2026-05-14 17:23:45

^ On fairly recent Androids (2022 and newer?) plugging a phone into GNOME, KDE or BunsenLabs Linux via USB-C should prompt a "Select USB Mode" dialog on the phone, choose "File Transfer" (or "Photo and video transfer" for just those folders having access). If you do nothing on the phone it defaults to "No file transfer" after 30 seconds or so, for me at least (Moto G Pure 2024). You can also tap the dialog for more options, like enabling tethering.

Sector11 · Yesterday 04:13:04

hhh wrote:

^ On fairly recent Androids (2022 and newer?) plugging a phone into GNOME, KDE or BunsenLabs Linux via USB-C should prompt a "Select USB Mode" dialog on the phone, choose "File Transfer" (or "Photo and video transfer" for just those folders having access). If you do nothing on the phone it defaults to "No file transfer" after 30 seconds or so, for me at least (Moto G Pure 2024). You can also tap the dialog for more options, like enabling tethering.

SAY WHAT!!!!! Test time:

On my OLD LG Leon
- plugged it in and Thunar mounts it no problem at all.
- It's my wife first smart phone. 4" screen, my alaem clock now.

On my old LG K40
- I get an [Error] window when I click on the [LM X420] in the [Devices] list

Failed to mount "LM X420".
Coulsn't find matching udev device . .
[ close ]

and my Samsung Galexy A35 - YUP, it shows up and I can browse it no problem.

Still like scrcpy - I can use my phone on my computer screen and it's BIG.

johnraff · Yesterday 04:17:19

Sector11 wrote:

my OLD LG Leon
- It's my wife first smart phone. 4" screen, my alaem clock now.

Oh that's not a bad idea. Our alarm clock is a bit unreliable and I've got an old android phone waiting for a new purpose in life.

Any other things you can use old smartphones for?

Sector11 · Yesterday 04:46:02

johnraff wrote:

Sector11 wrote:
my OLD LG Leon
- It's my wife first smart phone. 4" screen, my alaem clock now.
Oh that's not a bad idea. Our alarm clock is a bit unreliable and I've got an old android phone waiting for a new purpose in life.
Any other things you can use old smartphones for?

1. cheap snapshot camera
2. emergency flashlight
→ the Leon didn't had a native one so I downloaded "Flashlight" it was FREE as in BEER. I do not see it in PlayStore anymore.
- if you need one: Flashify - Adaptive Flashlight.
- - No ads - No in app purchases.

3. weather station

4. FM Radio (emergency maybe)

johnraff · Yesterday 07:42:32

^thanks! (not sure if the FM radio functionality is there)
It's already got a nice Net Radio app installed though.

Sector11 · Yesterday 14:52:57

Thai should be common knowledge but just because,

Neither of my old phones have a "chip" to make phone calls but they can still access the internet via WiFi like a tablet. So if you think of something - run with it.

Problem today is 99.98% of the apps want to push ads or in app purchases on you.
It's rare to find FREE as in BEER type apps today.

I check out the "Data safety" section of some of the games my wife installs.
WTF do games need with her "images and videos" and why do the game creators send them to 3rd parties? OH wait: $$$$

My wifes reply, "So what! I have nothing to hide?"
I wanna cry!

You want to see somerthing scary: Check the "Data safety" → "See details" of Instagram
What they collect (optional my butt) in "Personal Info" is pure BS (Brown Stuff)!

This bit: App functionality, Analytics, Developer communications, Advertising or marketing, Fraud prevention, security, and compliance, Personalization, Account management is pure BS but sounds good to some. And how does ANY of that apply to: Political or religious beliefs, Sexual orientation

Personal info
Name, Email address, User IDs, Address, Phone number, Political or religious beliefs, Sexual orientation, and Other info

And think of todays normal practice of the "opt out" option vs the "opt in". How many don't check.

It's bad here. I have to have "WhatsApp" on my phone. Doctors, Lawyers, dentists, Labs, Water, Electricity and Gas companies all use WhatsApp to send bills, notices, prescriptions, medical lab reports, etc. And yet we cannot phone them, or email them, they don't trust emails, "Very insecure you know."

OOPS! Sorry Rant over

johnraff · Today 01:03:26

You've checked out Fdroid? Not so many ads with the apps from there, as long as you can find what you need.

Agreed about the apps from Google's playstore - seem to be getting worse and worse for nagging and ads.
I just opened a pdf file with a "pdf reader" that happened to be installed, and it was truly awful, the work you had to do just to get to the document... That got uninstalled right away, and even the default Google pdf reader was OK by comparison. (I suppose they've already got all the personal data they want anyway.) I'm sure there'll be a decent pdf reader on Fdroid.

Sector11 · Today 04:13:43

johnraff wrote:

{snip} I'm sure there'll be a decent pdf reader on Fdroid.

I mentioned MjPDF here you can get it at Git Hub Not sure if compatable with Fdroid

#41 2026-05-13 09:28:28

Re: Android applications

#42 2026-05-13 11:21:20

Re: Android applications

#43 2026-05-13 15:30:55

Re: Android applications

#44 2026-05-13 18:43:33

Re: Android applications

#45 2026-05-13 19:33:10

Re: Android applications

#46 2026-05-13 19:50:17

Re: Android applications

#47 2026-05-14 00:33:51

Re: Android applications

#48 2026-05-14 17:23:45

Re: Android applications

#49 Yesterday 04:13:04

Re: Android applications

#50 Yesterday 04:17:19

Re: Android applications

#51 Yesterday 04:46:02

Re: Android applications

#52 Yesterday 07:42:32

Re: Android applications

#53 Yesterday 14:52:57

Re: Android applications

#54 Today 01:03:26

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#55 Today 04:13:43

Re: Android applications

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