When shopping around for software especially for our smartphones it is important to look out for ones that can be your sword and shield of your device. You would hate to pick a lemon that is poorly maintained, filled with bugs, or has you continuously pulling your hair out for its inconsistent behaviors. In this post I will mention five of my favorite apps from the F-Droid (FOSS or Free and Open Source Software) catalog that I use to do my note taking, studying, viewing and organizing. These applications have helped me tremendously over the last year and I would be more than happy to share them with you.
How to install F-Droid:
Step 1. Go to the website http://f-droid.org on your android device.
Step 2. Click on the blue "Download F-Droid" to download the .apk file.
Step 3. Set the location of your download, by default it usually goes to the downloads folder on your device.
Step 4. Once your download is complete, visit the downloads folder to install the application. View 4a. if you're having trouble with the installation.
Step 4a. If you cannot install F-Droid, go to the device "Settings" and tap the "Security" section. You should see a setting that says "Unknown Sources" turned off, tap it to turn it on. You will recieve a warning which states you will be responsible for any damages from unknown applications, tap "OK". After repeat Step 4.
Step 5. You have successfully installed F-Droid. Congratulations.
Ankidroid Flashcards - Digital Flash Cards
I was introduced to this application by one of my fiancées good friends. We were hanging out at Telegraph Beer Garden in Oakland, CA for our going away party. During our conversation we talked about useful applications for studying; we were both going to Spanish-speaking countries (a couple months apart) and he happened to know of a tool that could assist with practicing Spanish. Ankidroid lets you create digital text/or media flash cards. If you have a vocabulary quiz coming up you can create a deck, use its sophisticated filtering mechanism, and memorize the cards so you can pass the test. When studying, the app organizes the cards into three categories: Again (< 1 min), Good (< 10 min), and Easy (4 days). After completion you can check your results under the "Statistics" menu to see your studying habits with a large array of graphs. Also, sharing your deck with others couldn't be any easier. Simply tap the "Export" button in the main menu, set your location for the file, and immediately you will be prompt to email the file to whomever you like.
Clear List - Color Coded To-do list
Clear List is the go to app for planning out daily tasks. With its minimalist design you can color code your tasks and scratch them off as they are finished. Its biggest selling point, for me at least, is the fact that everything is stored locally on the device and not some company's servers. It has two themes to choose from and the ability to increase or decrease the font size to your liking. If you plan to backup your lists, they by default are sent to a folder named "backup" which can be found in the applications folder using "File Manager".
Crocodile Note - Encrypted notepad
Privacy is important when it comes to writing digital notes in this information age. Not always are you going to be prepared for the possibility of a thief taking your smartphone, which might hold more than just pictures and phone numbers. I discovered Crocodile Note while surfing the F-Droid catalog one morning and recall being exuberant. Previously, I was using NoteCipher by Guardian Project, it worked but felt incomplete and very buggy. Crocodile Note on the other hand, has an old school anesthetic, but does the job when it comes to securing personal information. It even has an automatic closing function when it has been open for too long.
Red Moon - Screen filter for night usage
About two years ago, my sister showed me a study on the importance of screen filters for our electronic devices. By the end of the article I was already searching for software to solve this issue. I discovered f.lux which worked magnificently on my Windows desktop and Macbook Pro, but once I migrated to Linux it was downright confusing to setup. A couple months later, I felt it would be a smart idea to find one for Android since I am on my phone more than my laptop. All I could find on the Play Store were screen filters with far too many permissions for my taste. I eventually installed F-Droid and stumbled upon Red Moon. Ecstatic to find a filter with hardly any permissions, I found out that it was added to the catalog that same day. Since then the developer has been making excellent progress and deserves a round of applause. It has the bells and whistles for private individuals and the convenience for the lazy ones.
Loop Habit Tracker - Daily Task Manager
Loop Habit Tracker (or Habits for short) helps you track your recurring habits. If you have a routine that you perform regularly, you can input those tasks into this app and keep a record of how often they get completed. Depending on how you view this application it can be a tool to set new habits or track habits that you would like to break. There is a setting in the main menu that allows you to hide your completed habits making it feel similar to Clear List. The biggest difference between the two, is that Habits allows the user to issue reminders making sure that the task gets completed in a timely manner. I recommend starting with a only a couple reminders, because the lock screen can get overcrowded very quickly if placed close together.
Finally...
I hope these tools will bring great value to your future mobile projects. Consider this as my terribly late Black Friday Giveaway. One thing to keep in mind if you continue to browse this additional catalog is that most of these developers represent a specific programming principal. That principal is to create Free (in the sense of monetary value) and Open availability to the software's source code. With the intentions of encouraging other programmers to participate in the application's improvements and further development. If you love a specific application leave a comment, review, or even a tip. That not only will help pay the bills, but also keep them inspired to create.