James' World 2

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In the Android world, one app store is king—the Google Play Store. This is the “official” place to download apps and games. However, there are a few alternatives. F-Droid is one of the most interesting options out there.

Just like getting Windows applications, you can get Android apps from a variety of sources. In fact, you don’t really even need an app store at all. The Play Store just makes it a lot easier and safer to install apps. F-Droid aims to do the same thing, but for very different reasons.

All About That FOSS

F-Droid is a repository for Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Android apps. It’s completely non-commercial, which is why it’s not technically an app “store.” You can donate to developers, but none of the apps or games cost anything.

What makes open-source software different is its code is freely available for anyone to use. It’s essentially like solving a math equation and showing your work. Everyone can see what you did and use it themselves.

It’s important to note that there’s a big difference between FOSS apps and apps that are simply free. The majority of open-source software is monetarily free, but that’s not actually what the “free” in Free and Open Source Software means.

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Geeking

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Google Maps has changed how we navigate the world. Its desktop and mobile apps have become not just a way to get from point A to B via car, public transportation, or on foot. The ubiquitous Google service is also a geospatial search engine for the world around us.

Google continues to revamp and improve its map product, but there are a ton of customizable tools and hidden functions already baked into Google Maps that you may not know about, such as Incognito Mode. Check out our tips for how to maximize your Google Maps power.

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(Illustration: Google)

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Some things appear inevitable

Technology will take over your life. One day, you’ll be an actual robot. And teens just don’t want Android phones.

At least that’s the impression given every six months by the Taking Stock With Teens survey performed by investment bank Piper Sandler.

Why, a mere year ago, I wondered whether we should venerate the last teen to buy an Android phone.

Then, 88% of the 7,000 teens surveyed said they owned an iPhone. An overwhelming 90% said their next phone would be an iPhone.

The numbers had been progressively mounting like the squirrels on my garden trees.

Yet here is this April’s survey, and a revolution has occurred. A very minor revolution, to be sure. But Androiders biannually pained by this survey may take hope. A little hope.

You see, 87% of teens now say they own an iPhone. And an almost piffling 87% say their next phone will be an iPhone.

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The times are a-changing. Perhaps. A little. Pe3k — Shutterstock

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Several years ago, I had to deal with a situation that may be familiar to a lot of people: I was slammed with a series of high medical bills that had been denied by the insurance company. The doctor was in-network, but according to the insurance company, his bills were coded wrong. Or wait, his facilities weren’t in-network or… well, you get the idea. It took over a year and many phone calls to iron out the issue — and I wouldn’t have gotten through it had I not been able to record each phone call I made with the insurance company and the various medical facilities involved.

Today, it would be nearly impossible.

Federal law in the US says that you can legally record a phone conversation, but only if you are taking part in that conversation. State laws differ. While most states generally follow the federal guidelines, some require all parties to consent to the recording, rather than just one. You know how, when you’re calling a business, you get a recording that tells you that your call may be recorded? That’s why. And, of course, there are reasons for those restrictions. An individual’s right to privacy can be severely impacted if their phone calls are recorded without their knowledge, which is why warrants are usually needed for a law enforcement authority to tap a suspect’s phone and why those statements that your call may be recorded (mentioned above) are necessary.

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

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Gmail has a clean, simple interface — but there’s more under the hood than meets the eye.

There are tons of hidden hacks and tricks for optimizing your Gmail experience — including unsending a strongly worded email.

Over 300 billion emails were sent per day in 2020 — and loads of them were written, sent and received on Google’s Gmail platform.

Gmail accounts for 1.8 billion of the 5.6 billion active email accounts — and every account does far more than merely send and receive.

Unsend an email

Surely, everyone has sent a message through cyberspace they immediately wished they could take back. On Gmail, it’s possible.

After sending an email, a small box will appear in the lower right asking if you would like to unsend: Click directly on the word “Undo” after you’ve sent, as clicking anywhere else will cause the option to disappear.

Under default settings, the Undo icon will appear onscreen for five seconds. This can be altered in settings.

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A day in history

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