Thanks to all the tracking algorithms and ads, it’s easy to forget how fun discovering a new app can be. If you want to explore new apps on your phone this weekend, I’ve done the work of trying out software that you can enjoy without any of the crud. One is completely free, while the other two are partially free and very affordable to fully unlock.
Easy Notes
An open source, local-only take on Google Keep
I like the look of Google Keep, but I don’t like its dependency on a Google account. I want something that is just as simple but only exists locally on my device.
Easy Notes is that app. Creating a new note is as simple as tapping a button in the bottom right, giving it a title, and typing away. I can create bulleted lists to organize my thoughts, I can use check boxes for shopping lists, and I can insert images. It is every bit as simple as Google Keep, only without the privacy implications.
Easy Notes is also, in some ways, more capable than Google Keep. That’s because it moonlights as a Markdown editor. This becomes apparent when you tap the buttons to create headers or attempt to bold or italicize text. Doing so inserts the hashtags and asterisks familiar to those who know Markdown. You can then see these edits take effect when tapping the preview button in the top. This is easily the simplest Markdown editor I’ve seen for Android yet, with none of the complexity of apps like Obsidian. Importantly for me, the app can also display the word count.
Easy Notes is open source software, and you can exclusively find it on F-Droid.
OneBattery
OneBattery to rule them all, OneBattery to find them
If you ever wished you knew more about your phone’s battery, OneBattery is the one battery app you need. This piece of software is your one-stop shop for in-depth battery information.
You don’t even need to dive into the app to make it worth a download. Once installed, OneBattery changes the look of your lock screen whenever your phone is plugged into a charger. You can then see not just that your phone is charging or its estimated time of completion, but exactly what percent of charge it has and the exact wattage it’s pulling from a charger. This is a great way to verify if your phone is actually fast charging when it says it is.
When you dive into the app, you can see your battery’s exact capacity in milliamp hours as well as its current state of charge. You can also see how much power your phone is pulling from your battery, both in terms of voltage and amperage. You have the flexibility to make any of this information visible on your lock screen while charging, so that you never have to actively seek out the app to find it. And when not plugged into a charger, the app will tell you inverse information, such as how much wattage your phone components are currently pulling.
All of this is free functionality. The app comes with various themes, so you can change the way it looks when a charger is plugged in. A handful of tweaks can be made for free, but you need a pro subscription in order to unlock all the customization options. The price is cheap. We’re talking less than a dollar per month and under $10 for a lifetime license. It’s a trivial amount of money to spend for the amount of value this app provides.
KYBD Launcher
A minimalist, keyboard-based launcher with style
Picture a keyboard-based launcher inspired by the likes of Olauncher, but with the style that you might expect from an old Microsoft Zune. The result is kybd Launcher.
When this launcher is open, the bottom half of your home screen is consumed by a keyboard, kind of like if you took a liking to the Minimal Phone but couldn’t give up a full-color display. Typing a few characters searches through your apps as well as contacts. Pressing the Enter key opens the app.
The home screen layout is smart. Your clock sits in the top left with the date underneath. At the top-right, you can find the remaining battery life and a number of notifications waiting for you. Tapping any of these icons pulls up the relevant app or brings down your notifications. Digging into the settings provides the ability to hide your status bar and decide what things you would like to be accessible via search.
The launcher doesn’t yet offer the ability to hide apps, which is the most essential feature I’m still waiting to see. There are a couple of themes available, but you can’t yet customize the colors. The light theme is a blend of tan and brown, while the dark theme is black and orange. I’d like to be able to change these colors, such as swapping out that orange for a shade of yellow that matches the button on the side of the Murena Fairphone 6. Yet even as it is, this is already the most compelling text-based launcher I’ve seen yet due to its attention to font, spacing, animations, and overall style.
That’s all for this week.
Two of these three apps can fundamentally change your phone’s vibe by swapping out its home screen and lock screen alike. Depending on how heavy a note-taker you are, the first app may see even more usage than the others. I hope they add a little spark of joy to your weekend.
7/10
- SoC
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Google Tensor G4
- Display
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6.3-inch Actua display
The Google Pixel 10a is a barely updated version of the Google Pixel 9a, with a slightly brighter screen and an upgrade from Gorilla Glass 3 to Gorilla Glass 7i. Google has shaved the remaining few millimeters from the camera bump, making it completely flat. Unlike prior versions of the Pixel a series, this model year does not share the same Tensor processor as the mainline Pixel 10.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
