Best Android Apps (July 2024)
Summary
TLDRThis video script introduces viewers to 10 useful Android apps to enhance their smartphone experience. It highlights 'Spam Blocker' for call and message protection, 'Pixel Expert' for lock screen effects, and 'Music Live Wallpaper' for music lovers. Other apps include 'Sound Tap' for music control, 'Material Photo Widget' for customizable photo frames, 'Quick Shorts' for home screen shortcuts, 'IME Material Icon Pack' for iOS-style icons, 'Packmate' for travel organization, 'Local Send' for cross-platform file sharing, and 'Screen Stream' for screen sharing. The script also mentions exclusive promo codes for some apps, encouraging viewers to subscribe for updates.
Takeaways
- 📞 The video introduces 'Spam Blocker', an app that uses filters and number patterns to block spam calls and messages, offering customizable settings to enhance control over incoming communications.
- 👍 'Spam Blocker' is praised for its compatibility with default messaging and phone apps, functioning as a middleman to check numbers before they reach the user, and is noted for being free, open-source, and available on F-Droid and GitHub.
- 📱 The script highlights 'Pixel Expert', an app that brings the iPhone lock screen depth effect to Android, working on rooted Google Pixel devices running Android 10 or higher, with customization options for UI elements.
- 🎶 'Music Live Wallpaper' is mentioned as an app that revives the full-screen album cover feature on the lock screen during music playback, with customizable settings to adjust the display style.
- 🔊 'Sound Tap' is an app that allows control of music playback using the device's volume keys, providing a convenient and customizable way to manage music without opening the app.
- 🖼 'Material Photo Widget' is recommended as an alternative to Google's photo frame widgets, offering more customization options such as specifying photos, aspect ratio, and tap actions.
- 🔗 'Quick Shorts' is an app for creating shortcuts on the home screen and within quick settings, enhancing the Android experience by providing quick access to apps, contacts, files, and more.
- 📱 For those who like the new iOS icons, 'Ime Material Icon Pack' is suggested as an alternative that matches app icons to the colors of the wallpaper while maintaining a dark theme, supporting a wide range of icons.
- 🧳 'Packmate' is a travel companion app that helps users create a list of essentials for trips, offering real-time weather updates and collaboration features, with some features available through an in-app purchase.
- 🔄 'Local Send' is a cross-platform file-sharing app that works over local networks without an internet connection, supporting various operating systems including Android, iOS, Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and Fire OS.
- 🖥 'Screen Stream' is an app for screen sharing, either locally within a network or globally via a web browser, allowing users to mirror their phone screen on other devices for presentations or assistance.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of the 'Spam blocker' app mentioned in the script?
-The primary purpose of the 'Spam blocker' app is to provide an extra layer of protection against spam calls and messages by using filters and typical number patterns to block scammers, and allowing users to customize these filters for more control over incoming calls and messages.
How does the 'Spam blocker' app detect spoofed numbers?
-The 'Spam blocker' app uses a test called STIR (Secure Telephony Identity Revisited) to detect and block spoofed numbers, where the caller's identity is hidden.
What are the benefits of using the 'Pixel Expert' app for Android devices?
-The 'Pixel Expert' app allows users to achieve a lock screen effect similar to that of iPhones, with a depth effect that makes some subjects appear over the clock. It also works with almost every background and can transition nicely to the always-on display. Additionally, it provides UI customization options such as enabling a light theme for the quick settings panel and power menu, and adding more rows or columns to the quick settings.
What is the limitation of the 'Pixel Expert' app in terms of device compatibility?
-The 'Pixel Expert' app only works on rooted devices running Google Pixel stock firmware on Android 14 or higher.
What feature does the 'Music Live Wallpaper' app bring back from older Android versions?
-The 'Music Live Wallpaper' app brings back the feature of making the album cover full screen within the lock screen whenever music is played, a feature that was removed in Android 11.
How does the 'Sound Tap' app enhance the music listening experience on Android devices?
-The 'Sound Tap' app allows users to control music playback using their device's volume keys, such as long pressing the volume up to skip to the next track or long pressing the volume down to rewind.
What customization options does the 'Material Photo Widget' offer compared to Google's photo frame widgets?
-The 'Material Photo Widget' offers the ability to specify which photos to use, customize the aspect ratio, modify the shape with more options than Google provides, and select the tap action, providing a more personalized experience than Google's photo frame widgets.
What is the main functionality of the 'Quick Shorts' app?
-The 'Quick Shorts' app allows users to create shortcuts for their home screen and quick setting tiles for apps, contacts, files, websites, and more. It also enables customization of these shortcuts with different icons, backgrounds, and shapes, making the quick settings panel more useful and accessible.
What does the 'IME Material Icon Pack' offer for users who like the new iOS icons?
-The 'IME Material Icon Pack' offers a similar icon experience to the new iOS icons, allowing icons to match the colors of the user's wallpaper while always staying dark, similar to the iOS 18 style. It supports nearly 19,000 icons, ensuring that most apps in the launcher are themed.
How does the 'Packmate' app assist with travel preparation?
-The 'Packmate' app serves as a travel companion that automatically provides a list of essential items for any trip, allows users to add personal items to the list, includes tasks to be done during the trip, shows real-time weather updates for the destination, and enables collaboration with others on the list.
What is the 'Local Send' app and how does it facilitate file sharing across different platforms?
-The 'Local Send' app is a free, open-source alternative to websites like pdr.net for transferring files seamlessly across different platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and even Fire OS. It allows sharing files and messages with nearby devices on the same local network without requiring an internet connection.
How does the 'Screen Stream' app work for sharing a device's screen with another device?
-The 'Screen Stream' app allows users to share their device's screen with another device on the same network by using a local mode within the app. For sharing with someone in a different area, a global mode is available, where the other person can visit screen stream.io and enter the ID and password provided in the app to connect and view the screen stream, including audio.
Outlines
🛡️ Spam Blocker App for Enhanced Android Security
The script introduces an Android app called 'Spam blocker' that offers an additional layer of protection against spam calls and messages. It utilizes filters and number patterns to identify and block potential scammers. Users can customize these filters to have more control over incoming calls and messages, including blocking numbers that repeatedly call in a short period or those using spoofed identities. The app operates as a middleman, checking every number before it reaches the user, without the need to switch default messaging or phone apps. It is free, open source, and available for download from F-Droid and GitHub. The script also mentions a monthly series highlighting the best Android apps to improve the user experience, with 10 useful apps featured this time, excluding games due to the abundance of impressive apps for July.
📱 Customizable Android Features and Utility Apps
The second paragraph discusses various apps that enhance the Android user experience. 'Pixel Expert' is highlighted for bringing a depth effect to the lock screen on Android devices, similar to an iPhone feature, which works on rooted Google Pixel devices running Android 14 or higher. 'Music Live Wallpaper' is another app that brings back the fullscreen album cover feature on the lock screen when music is played. 'Sound Tap' allows control of music playback using volume keys. 'Material Photo Widget' offers more customization for photo frame widgets than Google's default option. 'Quick Shorts' enables the creation of home screen and quick setting shortcuts for various actions. The paragraph also mentions 'Ime Material Icon Pack' for those who prefer the new iOS 18 icons, and 'Packmate', a travel companion app that helps users create and manage packing lists for trips. 'Local Send' is introduced as a cross-platform file-sharing app, and 'Screen Stream' allows screen sharing between devices on the same network or globally via a web browser.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Spam blocker
💡Customization
💡STIR test
💡Open source
💡Pixel Expert
💡Rooted devices
💡Music Live Wallpaper
💡Sound Tap
💡Material Photo Widget
💡Quick Shorts
💡IME Material Icon Pack
💡Packmate
💡Local Send
💡Screen Stream
Highlights
Introduction of Spam blocker, an app that provides an extra layer of protection against spam calls and messages by using filters and number patterns.
Customization options in Spam blocker to control what calls or messages get through, including blocking repeated calls or spoofed numbers.
STIR test used by Spam blocker to detect and block spoofed numbers.
Spam blocker works as a middleman with default messaging and phone apps, and is free, open source, and available on F-Droid and GitHub.
Monthly series showcasing the best Android apps for improving the smartphone experience.
Skipping games in this episode to focus on amazing apps for July, with a promise to bring them back in the next month if there's positive feedback.
Pixel Expert app brings the iPhone lock screen depth effect to Android, working with almost every background.
Pixel Expert's limitations to rooted devices running Pixel stock firmware.
Additional UI customization features in Pixel Expert, such as light theme for quick settings and power menu.
Music Live Wallpaper app to bring back the full-screen album cover feature on the lock screen during music playback.
Sound Tap app for controlling music playback with device's volume keys.
Material Photo Widget as an alternative to Google's photo frame widgets with more customization options.
Quick Shorts app for creating shortcuts for home screen and quick setting tiles with customization options.
IME Material Icon Pack for iOS 18 style icons that match wallpaper colors and support a wide range of apps.
Packmate travel companion app for creating and managing travel checklists with real-time weather updates and collaboration features.
Local Send app for cross-platform file and message sharing within the same local network.
Screen Stream app for easy screen sharing within a browser on the same network or globally via screen stream.io.
Transcripts
[Music]
are you tired of getting spam calls or
messages I mean sure your Android may
have a built-in spam protection feature
but it's still unable to detect every
spam caller and some can still slip
through the cracks and end up
interrupting you that's why I now use
Spam blocker as an extra layer of
protection it uses filters and typical
number patterns to block scammers plus
within its settings you can customize
these filters to get more control over
what calls or messages are allowed to
get through for example you can stop
anyone who keeps calling you repeatedly
in a short amount of time or if a number
is spoofed meaning that the caller's
identity is hidden spam blocker uses a
test called stir to detect and block it
the best part is that you don't even
need to switch to a different messaging
app or phone app you can still use your
default ones cuz spam blocker just works
as a middleman checking every number
before it reaches you and for that on
top it's completely free open source and
available to download off F Droid and
GitHub thumbs up for starting off with
the Banger and for those who are new
here this is a monthly series that I
push out the first of every month where
I show off the best Android apps that
you can download on your phone to
improve your overall experience and this
time around we're going to show off 10
useful apps that really take your
smartphone experience to the next level
unfortunately we'll be skipping the
games this time around because there
were just so many amazing apps for July
but rest assured I'll bring them back on
the next month's episode if there's
enough positive feedback for it in the
comments so make sure to get subscribe
so that you don't miss out on that
moving on iPhones have had this really
neat feature in the lock screen which
lets you add a depth effect to the
wallpaper so that some of its subjects
appear over the clock it's really cool
and I've always wanted this on Android
luckily an app called pixel expert
managed to get this same looking lock
screen effect working on any Google
pixel device running Android 14 or
higher plus the subjects can even
transition nicely to the always on
display it even blows my mind that it's
able to work with almost every
background out there although some work
better than others the only downside and
I'm sorry to break this to you is that
it only works on rooted devices running
pixel stock firmware so yeah that sucks
but hey if you have a rooted pixel phone
you should try this out to top it off it
lets you customize other parts of the UI
such as enabling a light theme to The
quick settings panel and Power menu to
give it more life being able to add more
rows or columns to the quick settings to
reach even more tiles at once without
needing to scroll to the next page it
lets you add a brightness level to the
flashlight tile to let you adjust the
brightness and do the same thing for
this new volume tile it also lets you
move the brighten slider to the bottom
to make it easier to reach with one hand
adds a much more easily accessible clear
all button within the recent page and
autog generates themed icons for those
that got Miss on the home screen there's
a lot more where that came from so if
you thought rooting was dead think again
okay this next one works whether you're
rooted or not remember back in the day
when Andrew used to make your album
cover full screen within the lock screen
whenever you played music some people
liked it others hated it and eventually
it got removed in Android 11 well if you
like to bring this back download music
live wallpaper you set this as your life
wallpaper and by default you'll have a
nice peaceful background which you can
change within its settings but as soon
as you start playing music the album
cover will appear in the background plus
within the settings you can change the
wallpaper style so that it only shows
the album cover in a partial manner or
within a shape to make it easier to see
your
notifications plus I even love how they
made the blank area match the colors of
the current album cover so that it's a
nice transition it's a really nice way
to get your phone to match the theme of
the song that you're playing and since
we're already talking about music you
can also download this other app called
sound tap to let you easily control your
music with your device's volume keys so
you can long press the volume up to skip
to the next track or long press the
volume down key to rewind and go back
works like a charm and it's pretty
customizable too what isn't very
customizable is Google photos picture
frame widgets I mean they do allow you
to choose the Google account you like to
use which faces you like to appear and
the frame shape but you can't choose
which specific shot
should or shouldn't appear so that's why
I'm now using material photo widget cuz
it looks just like Google's picture
frames with all those crazy shapes and
it lets me specify which photos to
use I can also customize the aspect
ratio modify the shape which there are a
lot more to choose from than what Google
provides select the tap action and more
another handy app is quick shorts it
lets you create shortcuts for your home
screen and quick setting tiles shortcuts
for apps contacts files websites and
more pretty much anything you can think
of you can even customize the shortcuts
with different icons backgrounds and
shapes it's a great way to make your
quick settings panel a lot more useful
too by adding tiles that native Android
doesn't even come with plus you can even
group shortcuts together on the home
screen for easy access it makes it
easier to reach your favorite things and
do things a lot quicker saving you a few
Taps every day if you Apple's WWDC
conference you probably saw their new
icons which I think they look awful and
I think most of you would agree but for
the tiny few of you who actually like
them first off I think you need glasses
or you can just download ime material
icon pack to get something similar just
like on iOS 18 these icons can match the
colors of your wallpaper but they always
stay dark just like on iOS it also
somehow already supports 19,000 icons so
almost every app in your launcher should
get themed oh and it also cost a dollar
to download but I just dropped 120 promo
codes for it on my patreon so that you
can get it for free huge thanks to the
developer for being so generous you know
I'm sure we've all been there where
we've gone on vacation and on the way
there we've realized that we forgot to
pack the laptop charger or the deodorant
or even worse your Android Mini
collectible no I'm just kidding but it
is super annoying so to save myself from
future headaches I now use packmate it's
an awesome travel companion app that
automatically gives me a list of all the
essential things I would need on any
trip I take then I can add to that list
with even more personal things that I
don't want to forget plus I can add some
tasks that I need to do while I'm on
that trip on top of that it'll show me
real-time weather updates for the
destination that I'm going to on those
specific dates so that I know what type
of clothing to bring and I can even
invite others to collaborate on the list
so that we're all on the same page about
what we're bringing really creative to
top it all off it has a really stylish
widget to Mark things down a lot more
quickly just keep in mind that some of
these features are locked behind an Ina
purchase of
$3.99 luckily I reached out to the
developer to see if he'd be willing to
give away some promo codes and he also
agreed to give away 120 so again those
will be available on my patreon trying
to send files from an Android to an
iPhone is is super annoying let alone
trying to transfer it to a Mac and for
the longest time I've just been using
this website called pdr.net which I've
showed off on the channel a while back
to connect these different platforms
together and transfer files seamlessly
but it isn't always reliable and does
require an internet connection but a
fantastic free open source alternative
is local send and it lets me share files
and messages with any of my nearby
devices as long as they're in the same
local netor Network and it supports
almost every OS out there including
Android iOS Mac OS Windows Linux and
even fire OS definitely a must have for
anyone who likes to cross
platforms if you ever need to share your
screen with another device maybe to help
someone out with their phone or just to
cast it on a bigger display you should
download screen stream cuz it'll let you
do this so easily within the browser if
your devices are on the same network
within the app you just make make sure
stream mode is set to local mode tap on
start stream then allow it to start
recording or casting and finally type in
the address that's given in the app onto
your browser of the other device that's
it you should not be seeing your phone
screen being mirrored onto your other
device if you're trying to share it with
someone who is in a completely different
area though then you can use global mode
and this time you need to tell the other
person to go on this website called
screen stream.io
and then type in the ID and password
found inside the app to connect they'll
even be able to hear you since the
microphone will be enabled along with
the device's audio too the only downside
is that the stream will look a bit laggy
but it still works anyways tap this card
right here to watch a playlist of all
the previous best apps of the month been
doing this for years so you have a lot
of apps to download drop your thumbs up
if I helped you download at least one
app in this month's episode of the best
entered apps thanks for sticking to the
end and on catch you guys in the next
one Kow
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