Android @lemmy.world pathief @lemmy.world 11 mo. ago

Need some Dialer,SMS,Contacts, Camera, Gallery and Launcher app suggestions, preferably FOSS

This year I've been removing Google from my life. Today I installed LineageOS without Google Apps, taking yet another step to a degoogled life.

Due to clearly some poor planning I forgot to lookup some alternative apps for the basic stuff I never think about... I'd rather install FOSS apps that are available on F-Droid or at the very least, an app that is available on Aurora Store. Would rather not be installing random APKs.

Dialer app: I installed "Koler", which seems decent enough
Contacts: Doesn't need to be super fancy, just something that allows me import my contacts from a VCF file.
SMS: Currently using QKSMS, not sure if anything else is recommended...
Camera: I barely use my camera app, just need something to take the occasional photo.
Gallery: The default is probably good enough, let me know your thoughts
Launcher: I used Niagara launcher but I never got used to it, to be honest. I guess I'm looking to something more traditional.

Shoot me any other FOSS apps you think are great! Thank you so much.

27 comments

When installing lineage, I usually go for simple mobile tools.

It has been acquired recently but you can still grab the tool or the fork called Fossify.

Should cover the apps required above.
- I did consider the Simple Mobile Tools but I guess I'm waiting until Fossify sorts everything out and makes a F-Droid release!
  
  Permanently Deleted
  
  True. You can still use the apps for now as they haven't been updated yet.
- Could you link the Fossify repo? I only find one with a 404 error
  
  https://github.com/FossifyOrg
Contacts & SMS - Contact you

Gallery - Aves

Camera - Open camera

Launcher - Kvaesitso

Music - Symphony

Contact you gets a dialer, it is included in nightly, the devs told so on matrix. It will get released when it's ready
- Thanks a bunch, friend!!!
Instead of LineageOS, see if DivestOS exists for your device. It's more secure and private than LineageOS, and forked from it.

For your launcher - try Neo Launcher and its companion, Neo Feed.

QKSMS is best for SMS at the moment.

For contacts and phone, try using whatever comes stock with DivestOS. It's probably the AOSP base of what Google uses for Google Contacts and their Phone app.

I use Google Camera for my Pixel solely because of the processing you can't get elsewhere that lets me use my phone's camera to its full potential.

Otherwise try Secure Camera from GrapheneOS team, and/or Open Camera.

The FossifyOrg forks of the Simple Mobile Tools suite is also worth investigating.
Permanently Deleted
- Could you link the FossifyX repo? I only find one with a 404 error
  
  Here you go: https://github.com/FossifyOrg
- I don't own a Pixel device so the GrapheneOS is not an option for me.
- The SMS app is using a very old runtime, the other apps work. The Android filemanager sucks a lot, same with the Gallery
So this just looks like the Community has to take care of the projects and/or find alternatives

Alternatives

File manager - Material Files

That one doesnt have the security vulnerability and I think it is also better. But they are pretty much equal.

Simple Gallery - Aves

I prefer Simple Gallery though, it is pretty great

Simple dialer - Welefon

Very basic, I personally use ACR phone for call recording, with disabled internet permissions. The Dev asked on Reddit about opensourcing the App and got negative responses, so maybe unlikely.

Simple Keyboard - Florisboard

Currently unmaintained but awesome. I hope it gets revived.

Simple Calculator

My favourite: Mint Calculator

Calculator

yetCalc

Unitto

All these look way better and have unit transformations.

Simple SMS

AOSP SMS/MMS, Quik Sms

Deku SMS has encryption support

AOSP SMS is poorly hard to find. That would be great on F-Droid. It also uses old libraries.

Simple Music Player

Anrimians Music Player

Many others

Some Gems

Some apps have no good replacement

Simple Gallery

Also in my opinion just the best. The Amaze Videoplayer and tools are great though.

Simple Contacts SE

That is the better version with some enhanced features.

Simple Calendar

I just got way better results than using Etar. The Widget is great too.
- The developer of the Simple apps recently sold them to a shady company that will probably fill them with ads
  
  Yes thats why this list exists
open contacts 👉 https://www.f-droid.org/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/

launcher: lawnchair 👉 https://www.f-droid.org/packages/ch.deletescape.lawnchair.plah/
- I really like Lawnchair, it's unfortunately the developer is no longer maintaining it. Thanks for the tips!
  
  are you sure?
  
  they just updated lawnicons
Koler was very pretty, but there's no way to get back into a call once you switch out of it. This is really bad, partly because it makes it impossible to hang up without restarting your phone. Huge, glaring bug they never fixed.

I'm absolutely with you on Contacts.

I hate Google Photos for a number of reasons, I think my current app is just simple gallery.
- ICYMI the "simple" apps were sold to some shovelware company and will require a subscription soon (or maybe they already do). So you might want to look for an alternative if that's what you are using.
  
  oh fuuuuckkk
  
  well, I'm on f-droid, so I guess my only issue is that I'm going to stop getting updates... but I'll need a new gallery eventually, what are people switching to?
  
  Edit: it seems fossify is forking smt:
  
  https://github.com/FossifyOrg
If you just want basic no-frills versions of these things, check out the Simple Mobile Tools suite. The apps are updated regularly, privacy-respecting, and available on F-Droid.