Android phones, apps and tablets

That also explains why a load of stuff had gone into dark mode. Should've made the connection, thanks.

Had issues with my OnePlus 7T since the last Android update - texts/mobile data/calls have become unreliable & it's started becoming a real pain. Installed a non-factory ROM (PixelExperience) & it's resolved the connection issues, but the non-optimised nature of it means the battery & camera are now pretty poor.

Have had the phone for three years so thought I'd take a look & see what's new in the price bracket - around £450 - & I have to say I'm a bit uninspired with the market. The only one which really appeals to me is the Nothing Phone (1) but it seems a bit gimmicky & it's pretty much a sideways move performance-wise. Pixel 7 seems like a sensible choice but I'm not a fan of the design/how much it's leaning into computational photography/charing seems slow. Any other phones I should be looking at?

Is there an android phone based equivalent of pi-hole I can install on my phone? It's getting almost impossible to browse some news sites outside of house due to ads.

NextDNS.

Although you can also use a browser like Firefox with Ublock Origin for adblocking.

Blokada (non-subscription) works this way.

ublock origin in the browser or something more hardcore would be NetGuard which has the possibility to block everything in all your apps and then only whitelist domains you want.

Ok thanks @aggi @GideonPARANOID and @hippy a few options is good, ta.

Anyone able to recommend a measuring app?

Weren't they all notoriously inaccurate?

No idea, but they're all incredibly overpriced.
It's that or I buy a laser measure, just wondered if there were a free one that's ok. Just need to measure house internals.

After the most recent patch my 6a refuses to Chromecast downloaded content and manages to crash the Virgin box at the same time taking out the WiFi completely. As bugs go it's quite spectacular. From my Lenovo tablet all is fine.

probably best to buy a laser measure.
I bought a cheap one to use around the house and it's been really useful.

Thanks. Got a link? Perhaps all much of muchess

I just used a tape measure.

Did the whole house once when we moved in and have it stored as a notes file on my phone, its incredibly useful when shopping for flooring or curtains/blinds.

it was ths one, currently unavailable though - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0744FLYJW

i suspect they're fairly similar though and fine for domestic use.
i'm sure this one would be fine - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08G892B9W/

i checked mine against a tape measure over 8m and it was bob on.

far easier than a traditional tape for measuring rooms, stairwells, ceiling heights etc.

Thanks. All seem the same.

Smart idea that!

Wireless file transfer from Pixel to PC.

So my mobile is my internet hotspot, and my PC works through it. Please can you tell me how I can wirelessly transfer pictures from my phone to my PC. An automatic system where it syncs whenever they are connected would be perfecto. I don't want to use cloud storage.

AirDroid, tried it but does not work as the phone is the hotspot - some backup software quirk says that the devices are not connected - but all other functions (which I don't need) work lovely... Grrr

Thanks for any help.

I use OneDrive. If you don't want cloud you can just them copy/delete them from the cloud once transferred. Works flawlessly.

I use an app called photo measures to store measurements
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bigbluepixel.photomeasures

It doesn't measure for you (I agree with the lazer comments) but it is quite useful for having things saved in folders and drawing on things. Eg

1 Attachment

That looks good thanks, maybe better than notes for storing.
I bought a laser.

If you have anything apple the lidar is annoyingly good as well. I'm an android phone person through and through but found myself waving the iPad around like a twat at latest house viewings.

Sadly not, this is what the architect recommended.

Do you not use Google photos?

Anyone else get an invite to use Bard, the Google ChatGPT?