• "10 Hacks Every Android User Should Know" at Lifehacker

    From Stan Brown@3:633/10 to All on Friday, December 19, 2025 08:15:37

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    (My only connection with Lifehacker is that I visit the site almost
    every day.)

    --
    "The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by
    those who don't have it." --George Bernard Shaw

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Friday, December 19, 2025 17:23:40
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    (My only connection with Lifehacker is that I visit the site almost
    every day.)

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying. However
    when I used the disable Javascript extension OR the Reader View extension
    things were much better. And for those of you who dislike Chrome stuff the
    same extensions in my Firefox app work just as well...


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From VanguardLH@3:633/10 to All on Friday, December 19, 2025 16:53:09
    AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:

    Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    And some only apply at, or after, some minimum version of Android.
    Several of the tricks are not available in my ancient Android 8 phone.

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.
    However when I used the disable Javascript extension OR the Reader
    View extension things were much better. And for those of you who
    dislike Chrome stuff the same extensions in my Firefox app work just
    as well...

    I use Edge (the Chromium version). While it uses the Blink rendering
    engine and V8 script intrepreter from the Chromium project, it has some additional features missing Chrome, plus some settings to make it more
    private. In Edge-C, I can use extensions for either MS or Chrome. The
    MS store lists those extensions that have been curated for use with
    Edge. If not listed there, I go to the Chrome extensions store.

    Because Google forced Chromium variants to Manifest v3 that fucked up
    (reduced) the strength of adblockers, I use the Adguard Adblocker. I
    think it comes pre-installed in Edge-C. It isn't as robust as uBlock
    Origin in Firefox, like the element hider feature is missing, but it
    does pretty well to eliminate the crap content. Unlike uBlock Origin
    Lite, the MV3 version of uBO (needed in Chromium variants), Adguard
    Adblocker lets me define user filter using the Adblock Plus syntax
    (which I'm still clumsy with, so it takes a while to get a working,
    effective, and focused filter for what I'm trying to block in addition
    to the subscribed blocklists. There is also a log view: enable logging, [refresh or] load a web doc, and look at the logs to determine why
    something may not be working at a web site.

    With Edge-C and Adguard Adblocker (maxed out on all its settings), I
    don't see the ads that impinge your experience at that web site. You
    should be able to use the Adguard Adblocker extension in Chrome, too.

    For Edge-C, it's listed at:

    https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/adguard-adblocker/pdffkfellgipmhklpdmokmckkkfcopbh

    For Chrome, it's listed at:

    https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/adguard-adblocker/bgnkhhnnamicmpeenaelnjfhikgbkllg

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, December 20, 2025 02:20:11
    On 12/19/25 3:53 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
    AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:

    Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    And some only apply at, or after, some minimum version of Android.
    Several of the tricks are not available in my ancient Android 8 phone.

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.
    However when I used the disable Javascript extension OR the Reader
    View extension things were much better. And for those of you who
    dislike Chrome stuff the same extensions in my Firefox app work just
    as well...

    I use Edge (the Chromium version). While it uses the Blink rendering
    engine and V8 script intrepreter from the Chromium project, it has some >additional features missing Chrome, plus some settings to make it more >private. In Edge-C, I can use extensions for either MS or Chrome. The
    MS store lists those extensions that have been curated for use with
    Edge. If not listed there, I go to the Chrome extensions store.

    Because Google forced Chromium variants to Manifest v3 that fucked up >(reduced) the strength of adblockers, I use the Adguard Adblocker. I
    think it comes pre-installed in Edge-C. It isn't as robust as uBlock
    Origin in Firefox, like the element hider feature is missing, but it
    does pretty well to eliminate the crap content. Unlike uBlock Origin
    Lite, the MV3 version of uBO (needed in Chromium variants), Adguard
    Adblocker lets me define user filter using the Adblock Plus syntax
    (which I'm still clumsy with, so it takes a while to get a working, >effective, and focused filter for what I'm trying to block in addition
    to the subscribed blocklists. There is also a log view: enable logging, >[refresh or] load a web doc, and look at the logs to determine why
    something may not be working at a web site.

    With Edge-C and Adguard Adblocker (maxed out on all its settings), I
    don't see the ads that impinge your experience at that web site. You
    should be able to use the Adguard Adblocker extension in Chrome, too.



    Unfortunately the Android Chrome Browser app does NOT support extensions. So
    when I'm using one of my Android tablet toys I usually use the Firefox app
    instead which is fully extension stocked.

    Since I prefer mostly reading the news I often use the Android Dolphin
    browser app in which I PERMANENTLY turn off JavaScript and all cookies.
    This gives me just the article's text and pictures 95% of the time and
    makes for quick reading. If I must read an article that fails I could just
    switch browsers but usually it's just not worth the hassle and don't.
    YMMV...



    For Edge-C, it's listed at:

    https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/detail/adguard-adblocker/pdffkfellgipmhklpdmokmckkkfcopbh

    For Chrome, it's listed at:

    https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/adguard-adblocker/bgnkhhnnamicmpeenaelnjfhikgbkllg





    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, December 20, 2025 11:44:22
    Stan Brown, 2025-12-19 17:15:


    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    Well... "Hacks"?

    It's just using features which are provided by Android. Some features
    may not be well-known, but in general it's just about knowing what is
    possible.

    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, December 20, 2025 11:45:47
    VanguardLH, 2025-12-19 23:53:

    [...]
    Because Google forced Chromium variants to Manifest v3 that fucked up (reduced) the strength of adblockers, I use the Adguard Adblocker. I

    Vivaldi for Android still works quite well and the sync feature makes it
    easy to have your bookmarks etc. on all devices.


    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Stan Brown@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 05:13:06
    On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:23:40 -0000 (UTC), AJL wrote:
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
    Article at >https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know


    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.


    I never see any of that junk because I use uBlock Origin Lite. On the
    rare occasions when I look at a site on someone else's computer, I'm
    stunned by all the slop many sites display.

    --
    "The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by
    those who don't have it." --George Bernard Shaw

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 16:43:07
    On 12/21/25 6:13 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
    On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:23:40 -0000 (UTC), AJL wrote:
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know


    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.

    I never see any of that junk because I use uBlock Origin Lite.

    Yup. uBlock Origin in my Android Firefox app takes out those ads too.

    On the rare occasions when I look at a site on someone else's computer, I'm >stunned by all the slop many sites display.

    But uBlock Origin also screws up some sites, financial and investment for
    example where I enter data as well as read it. And in my browsers it's not
    easy to switch on and off. But JavaScript on/off and the Reader View button
    accomplish the same result with your site and others so I thought I'd pass
    it along for folks who hadn't tried it.

    Bottom line as always: YMMV...



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jörg Lorenz@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 18:01:46
    On 21.12.25 14:13, Stan Brown wrote:
    On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:23:40 -0000 (UTC), AJL wrote:
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know


    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.


    I never see any of that junk because I use uBlock Origin Lite. On the
    rare occasions when I look at a site on someone else's computer, I'm
    stunned by all the slop many sites display.

    I discovered iBlock Origin Lite just recently. I use the original uBlock
    Origin with my Firefox for years and the Safari-version comes very close
    to the original. Some cosmetic issues remain but the thing is by far the
    most efficient protection for Safari.


    --
    "Roma locuta, causa finita" (Augustinus)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jörg Lorenz@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 18:04:35
    On 21.12.25 17:43, AJL wrote:
    But uBlock Origin also screws up some sites, financial and investment for
    example where I enter data as well as read it.

    No issues here for years. uBlock Origin is different from uBlock Origin
    Lite which is a consequence of the restrictive treatment of extensions
    by Apple.

    --
    "Roma locuta, causa finita" (Augustinus)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jörg Lorenz@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 18:08:22
    On 21.12.25 18:01, J”rg Lorenz wrote:
    On 21.12.25 14:13, Stan Brown wrote:
    On Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:23:40 -0000 (UTC), AJL wrote:
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:
    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know


    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying.


    I never see any of that junk because I use uBlock Origin Lite. On the
    rare occasions when I look at a site on someone else's computer, I'm
    stunned by all the slop many sites display.

    I discovered iBlock Origin Lite just recently. I use the original uBlock Origin with my Firefox for years and the Safari-version comes very close
    to the original. Some cosmetic issues remain but the thing is by far the
    most efficient protection for Safari.

    Of course uBlock and not iBlock.
    This blocker is the reason why Safari is for the first time my primary
    browser on my Macs and not Firefox any more. At least for the time
    being. On my Linux machines Firefox remains still #1.


    --
    "Roma locuta, causa finita" (Augustinus)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 18:19:48
    On 12/21/25 10:04 AM, J”rg Lorenz wrote:
    On 21.12.25 17:43, AJL wrote:
    But uBlock Origin also screws up some sites, financial and investment for
    example where I enter data as well as read it.

    No issues here for years.

    YMMV.

    uBlock Origin is different from uBlock Origin
    Lite which is a consequence of the restrictive treatment of extensions
    by Apple.

    The Chrome Web Store offers 3 extensions for the browser on this Chrome OS
    Tablet. Ublock Origin, Ublock Origin Lite, and Ublock Origin Scope. I'm
    kinda surprised since they're designed to get rid of ads, including Google
    ads... 8-O



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From s|b@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 19:45:01
    On Sun, 21 Dec 2025 05:13:06 -0800, Stan Brown wrote:

    I never see any of that junk because I use uBlock Origin Lite. On the
    rare occasions when I look at a site on someone else's computer, I'm
    stunned by all the slop many sites display.

    Isn't that just a crippled version of uBlock Origin? I have that
    installed on Firefox.

    --
    s|b

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Frank Slootweg@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, December 21, 2025 18:48:30
    AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
    On 12/21/25 10:04 AM, J?rg Lorenz wrote:
    On 21.12.25 17:43, AJL wrote:
    But uBlock Origin also screws up some sites, financial and investment for >> example where I enter data as well as read it.

    No issues here for years.

    YMMV.

    uBlock Origin is different from uBlock Origin
    Lite which is a consequence of the restrictive treatment of extensions
    by Apple.

    The Chrome Web Store offers 3 extensions for the browser on this Chrome OS
    Tablet. Ublock Origin, Ublock Origin Lite, and Ublock Origin Scope. I'm
    kinda surprised since they're designed to get rid of ads, including Google
    ads... 8-O

    Well, that's hardly as hilarious as the very lifehacker.com article
    which is mentioned in the OP and which is *splattered* with ads (if you
    don't use an ad-blocker), but still has a section called:

    "Block ads and trackers without VPN"

    Not that that is anything out of the ordinary, because it happens all
    the time, but it makes one wonder if they know the meaning of
    "hypocrisy".

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Monday, December 22, 2025 15:19:38
    On 12/19/25 10:23 AM, AJL wrote:
    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at >>https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    (My only connection with Lifehacker is that I visit the site almost
    every day.)

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying. However when I used the disable Javascript extension OR the Reader View extension things were much better. And for those of you who dislike Chrome stuff the same extensions in my Firefox app work just as well...

    For those interested in this sub-thread I probably should mention that I
    also use the Android app Reading Mode by Google LLC (available in the Play
    Store). It has the advantage of also working in Android apps, not just
    browsers. It leaves a start button on the screen at all times which some
    might see as a disadvantage but I find it easy to ignore until needed.
    YMMV...


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Arno Welzel@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 11:49:53
    AJL, 2025-12-19 18:23:

    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    (My only connection with Lifehacker is that I visit the site almost
    every day.)

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying. However

    Well - install uBlock Origin: <https://ublockorigin.com>


    --
    Arno Welzel
    https://arnowelzel.de

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From AJL@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 14:36:08
    On 12/23/25 3:49 AM, Arno Welzel wrote:
    AJL, 2025-12-19 18:23:

    On 12/19/25 9:15 AM, Stan Brown wrote:

    Article at
    https://lifehacker.com/tech/hacks-every-android-user-should-know

    Some of the tips are better than others.

    (My only connection with Lifehacker is that I visit the site almost
    every day.)

    When opening this site in a Chrome browser (on this Chrome tablet I'm
    posting with) the ads and notification popup request were annoying. However


    Well - install uBlock Origin: <https://ublockorigin.com>

    I do have it on one of my browsers. My only complaint was that it's not that
    easy to turn off and on when it sometimes kills something I need or want.
    So I posted some of the stuff I use instead that works just as well for me
    and has the on\off switch when I want to see the whole site. It was just
    for info. Feel free to ignore it. As always YMMV...



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.2
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)