I've got a pixel6 with GrapheneOS. I would like to install an text-to-speech app (which isn't provided with the OS), and am therefore trying to get to
the GrapheneOS app store.
Opening the "app store" app itself is easy enough, but I can't seem to find how get a list of the available apps.
remark: I found https://discuss.grapheneos.org/t/grapheneos-app-store , but somehow I'm unable to spot what needs to be done. :-(
Hello all,
I've got a pixel6 with GrapheneOS. I would like to install an text-to-speech app (which isn't provided with the OS), and am therefore trying to get to
the GrapheneOS app store.
Opening the "app store" app itself is easy enough, but I can't seem to find how get a list of the available apps.
remark: I found https://discuss.grapheneos.org/t/grapheneos-app-store , but somehow I'm unable to spot what needs to be done. :-(
I don't think there's anything special about TTS, it's just a regular
app?
In which case this is a general app store question?
The GOS store (the Apps app) only contains OS components from the
GOS developers, so it only has 12 apps. One of those is the
Accrescent store which is new and that only has a few dozen more.
Some options, most of which need sideloading:
Google Play Store (installable from the GOS Apps app):
requires Play Services and Google account
Aurora Store: access to the Play app catalogue but without a
Google account. Individual apps may need Play Services but
Aurora doesn't.
F-droid or alternative fronted (Droid-ify etc): a catalogue of FOSS
apps the F-droid servers compiled themselves
IzzyOnDroid: another catalogue of FOSS apps
Obtainium: installs/upgrades apps sourced from their individual
Github releases (no catalogue, you have to supply URLs)
Theo,
I don't think there's anything special about TTS, it's just a regular
app?
In which case this is a general app store question?
Not quite. Some of the ones I found (using DDG) install but won't work. Others install and their own testing of the voice works, but I can't get
them to read something from an epub app I installed out loud (and there does not seem to be an build-into-the-OS method to test for compatibility :-( ).
Aurora Store: access to the Play app catalogue but without a
Google account. Individual apps may need Play Services but
Aurora doesn't.
It could not hurt to take on their website and see what they have to
offer..
IzzyOnDroid: another catalogue of FOSS apps
I do not know that one. Will take a peek.
Obtainium: installs/upgrades apps sourced from their individual
Github releases (no catalogue, you have to supply URLs)
Hmmm... How would I obtain (no pun intended :-) ) those URLs ? Is there a website (you know of) that functions as its catalogue ?
Hmm, some of the apps in the F-droid catalogue are very old.
I wonder if that's a problem?
Do the apps say they are built for a recent Android?
A number of banking/ecommerce apps don't like being installed via
an alternative way, or insist on having a Google account on the
phone before they will start.
If you use an app like Droid-ify it combines the repos of
F-droid, IzzyOnDroid and some others.
There is some controversy with F-droid building their own apps,
because they sign them with F-droid keys not the developers' keys.
This means you can't upgrade from F-droid built apps to developer-built
ones or vice versa,
and there are some supply chain security concerns in case somebody
got access to the F-droid build servers they could tamper with a
lot of apps.
An alternative client like Droid-ify doesn't suffer from that.
So when somebody recommends an app you can install and keep it
updated directly from the developer, rather than having to go
via any catalogue or store.
Theo,
Hmm, some of the apps in the F-droid catalogue are very old.
I wonder if that's a problem?
Most likely, yes. I sometimes see messages (from my OS) saying as much.
Do the apps say they are built for a recent Android?
Thats part of the "find an app" problem, they mostly don't. After downloading I can inspect the apps manifest and see names like "minSdkVersion" and "targetSdkVersion", but I have no idea how those map to the different android phones and/or OS versions.
Aurora Store: access to the Play app catalogue but without a
Google account. Individual apps may need Play Services but
Aurora doesn't.
It could not hurt to take on their website and see what they have to
offer..
I'm not sure there is much to see. It's like Google Play only it (optionally) uses a pool of shared Google accounts so you can install
without using Play Store or being logged in. It does give you better filtering based on GSF/non-GSF, privacy, trackers etc.
One thing though, apps can tell that they've been installed via the Play Store or another method. A number of banking/ecommerce apps don't like
being installed via an alternative way, or insist on having a Google account on the phone before they will start.
IzzyOnDroid: another catalogue of FOSS apps
I do not know that one. Will take a peek.
If you use an app like Droid-ify it combines the repos of F-droid, IzzyOnDroid and some others.
There is some controversy with F-droid building their own apps, because
they sign them with F-droid keys not the developers' keys. This means you can't upgrade from F-droid built apps to developer-built ones or vice versa, and there are some supply chain security concerns in case somebody got
access to the F-droid build servers they could tamper with a lot of apps.
There's also controversy with the F-droid client because it is designed to run on ancient versions of Android and so doesn't have modern security features. An alternative client like Droid-ify doesn't suffer from that.
Obtainium: installs/upgrades apps sourced from their individual
Github releases (no catalogue, you have to supply URLs)
Hmmm... How would I obtain (no pun intended :-) ) those URLs ? Is there a >> website (you know of) that functions as its catalogue ?
There's no catalogue, but for example you know that there's a Signal for Android so you search for their Github repo: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android
That has a Releases section with .apks. So you give the URL to Obtainium
and it checks for the latest releases and offers to install or upgrade when new updates come out.
So when somebody recommends an app you can install and keep it updated directly from the developer, rather than having to go via any catalogue or store. Other sources beyond Github are supported too.
I ... see names like "minSdkVersion" and "targetSdkVersion", but I
have no idea how those map to the different android phones and/or
OS versions.
https://apilevels.com/
translates from SDK version to Android version.
At least Droid-ify shows you a 'targets Android 15' or whatever when
you are browsing for apps.
Thats good when you have already found the app(s URL). Finding such URLs
would not be all that easy. :-|
https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/
So when somebody recommends an app you can install and keep it
updated directly from the developer, rather than having to go
via any catalogue or store.
Thats good when you have already found the app(s URL). Finding such URLs would not be all that easy. :-|
Thats good when you have already found the app(s URL). Finding such URLs >>> would not be all that easy. :-|
https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/
Thank you. But I rather use a desktop 'puter and a webbrowser for the searching and downloading part.
:-) At this very moment I could not even tell you which android/GrapheneOS version my phone is running. I would need to look it up first. But now, together with the above list, its something usefull to remember.
But I rather use a desktop 'puter and a webbrowser for the
searching and downloading part.
You have no idea what you just said,
so I'll paraphrase for you.
Instead of using a good search engine, I'll use a terrible search
engine, and then I'll complain that I can't find what I want using
that engine.
Thats a "you" problem I'm afraid.
I'm fine & dandy with you using whatever method you want to use
to find apps,
but what I'm not fine with is you complaining that you use such
lousy mechanisms that you can't find anything & yet you won't
try good searches.
Please do continue to use your extremely unproductive search methods.
Alls I'm asking is you stop complaining you can't find what you search
for.
Hank,
Thats good when you have already found the app(s URL). Finding such URLs >> would not be all that easy. :-|
https://skyica.com/appfinder/get/
Thank you. But I rather use a desktop 'puter and a webbrowser for the searching and downloading part.
Thank you. But I rather use a desktop 'puter and a webbrowser
for the searching and downloading part.
I'm afraid you're trying to use Android like Windows and that tends
to be a very very bad idea.
In particular by downloading off-device you put yourself at risk
of getting apps with malware - the main app repository (Google
Play) does not let you download things from its catalogue with
a browser, so you're left hunting sketchy third party sources.
While it is possible to get apks from sites like apkmirror they're full
of deceptive ads which are designed to take you to dodgy places, and it's easy to be misled.
By all means search on a desktop to find the exact name of the app
you want
Again, :-) . I've had the "pleasure" to read that Googles walled garden offers downright maware as well as poisonned versions of populair apps. And ofcourse the "pay a lot, get little" strain of apps (the old "pay $10,- to turn your phone into a flashlight" kind of crap comes to mind).
Also, AFAIK *all* their apps are third party, created by big businesses as well as single developers (and anything in between). IOW, enough space for "sketchy third party"s. :-(
And than there is their ad-system infestation of the apps in their app-store ofcourse. Blerch!
There is a reason I put GrapheneOS on my phone you know - to keep outof the clutches of Google.
While it is possible to get apks from sites like apkmirror they're full
of deceptive ads which are designed to take you to dodgy places, and it's easy to be misled.
As far as I can tell Googles walled garden *is* the dodgy place. If you're not hit with malware, crapware or poisonned apps than you are (always?) hit with their ad-system nuissance and tracking.
I normally do not know the name of the app I need, I search for functionality. Like in my current case of a TTS app.
By using Aurora you *don't need a Google account* to access Google's app catalogue, so that's the best of both worlds from a privacy perspective.
(TBF I do tend to trust the apps in F-droid a bit more than the ones in
Play, so if I do want a basic flashlight app I'll look in F-droid first and if there's something suitable I won't look any further. But the F-droid catalogue is quite limited)
I normally do not know the name of the app I need, I search for
functionality. Like in my current case of a TTS app.
I think you are making life difficult for yourself and that's why you can't find a modern TTS app.
I think you need to separate the *store* from the *apps*.
By searching Reddit/forums/Usenet/whatever I get recommendations
from people, which acts as a primary filter for junk. Nobody is
going to recommend that $10 flashlight app, and if they do
everyone else will point out something better.
(anyone can make a website).
You can search on either of those names in store apps and find
that specific app.
By getting it from a store you know it is signed by Bob and not
some shady person,
Every store has some junk apps - Google's is worse than others.
But Google is a reputable conduit of good apps too.
you should look for recommendations outside of the store and then
only use the store to download apps via their full name, not as a
tool to discover apps.
By using Aurora you *don't need a Google account* to access Google's
app catalogue, so that's the best of both worlds from a privacy
perspective.
(TBF I do tend to trust the apps in F-droid
I think you are making life difficult for yourself and that's why
you can't find a modern TTS app.
Multiple TTS apps have already been suggested, none of which you tried.
Theo,
I think you need to separate the *store* from the *apps*.
I have no idea what you mean with that. Sorry.
By searching Reddit/forums/Usenet/whatever I get recommendations
from people, which acts as a primary filter for junk. Nobody is
going to recommend that $10 flashlight app, and if they do
everyone else will point out something better.
Well, I could surely do with a suggestion for a TTS app for my Pixel6, Andriod 15 OS. :-)
(anyone can make a website).
Yep. And than anyone can create an app that is just a thinly-wrapped standard browser and point to it - giving it an air of legitimately. Alas.
You know, I have no idea why someone who has an "app store" would want to make it only accessible by an app (and not by a generic internet browser).
Do you have an(y) idea ?
You can search on either of those names in store apps and find
that specific app.
Indeed. After you've found "those names" and verified that they are legit the rest is rather easy.
But those two are the whole problem. There is no "evil" bit* in the manifest of an APK to warn about the app being suspect, and to look further.
* a reference to a joke internet RFC (RFC3514) where that was a proposed addition.
By getting it from a store you know it is signed by Bob and not
some shady person,
You seem to skip the (definitily non-zero) possibility that "bob" *is* the shady person, or that "bob" has sold his app and app-signing ID to a shady party. Or that "bob" is legit but uses poisonned libaries to create his app with.
So no, getting an app from an app-store doesn't make that in any way
certain - if it would than Googles walled garden would not have a single shady (and worse) app.
Every store has some junk apps - Google's is worse than others.
But Google is a reputable conduit of good apps too.
:-) Than our only problem is to discern the good from the bad ones, right ? With the baddies trying to make that as hard as possible ...
you should look for recommendations outside of the store and then
only use the store to download apps via their full name, not as a
tool to discover apps.
I think you are confusing yourself. "looking for recomendations" equals "discover apps". And as you mentioned earlier, those giving recomendations might well be malicious.
Take me for example: I'm looking for a TTS app. If you would suggest one than on which grounds should I trust it to be a non-malicious app ? Yes, you sound trustworthy enough. The problem is liars often sound trustworthy enough too.
And than there is the problem that you could even not be aware of that the app you're suggesting is malicious. Something that has also happened to developers, who, unknowingly, used malicious/poisonned third-party
libraries.
Bottom line, there is very little to go on to select an app. Most of it is, and has to be done on, one's gut feeling.
Personaly I inspect an apps manifest, and decide based on which permissions it wants. The more permissions wanted, the less chance I'm going to install it.
By using Aurora you *don't need a Google account* to access Google's
app catalogue, so that's the best of both worlds from a privacy
perspective.
I think you misunderstood me: I *do not want* to install any of Googles walled garden apps - regardless of the way by which I could download them. For multiple reasons.
(TBF I do tend to trust the apps in F-droid
Same here.
I think you are making life difficult for yourself and that's why
you can't find a modern TTS app.
Yes, and that started with not just running Googles stock android. Which was a rather concious decision.
But, as you (ofcourse) have multiple app stores at your finger-tips, why don't you take a peek in them and suggest me a few URLs ? :-)
Hmmm... As I now know that my android OS version is rather important when selecting an app I should again do a search for a TTS. Maybe I'll be lucky this time...
Thank you for your responses. As you might have noticed I do not quite
agree with you, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate them.
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