I’ve been using Google Pixels since they were Nexus phones and just activated my new 14 yesterday. It’s a little weird but I like it so far. I do miss twire instead of twitch, YouTube re-Vance’d, and Firefox with Adblock. What does a long term android user like me need to know/install/settings tweak/etc?

  • BigVault
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    131 year ago

    To get that ad-free YouTube experience, I use Vinegar safari extension and have pinned the YouTube site to my home screen rather than using any apps.

    I also use Banish to remove all those annoying “Open in our app” pop-ups in Safari.

    Lastly, I use AdGuard to block ads on the phone locally and have also set up my own Wireguard VPN server at home with PiHole so that I’m always protected ad-wise when I’m out and about over 5G and on any public Wifi (I used to use my own Wireguard VPN with my old Pixels too).

    Absolute bliss.

      • BigVault
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        1 year ago

        No problems! 😀

        When I was on Android I used to love the F-Droid open source repository. Both Newpipe (3rd party YouTube app) and DNS66 (local VPN on device that blocked ads throughout the phone).

        I switched to iOS and really missed those applications and needed a solution for my new phone. Those 5 things above (Vinegar, Banish, AdGuard, WireGuard and PiHole) have worked wonders helping me when I switched.

        Wouldn’t be without them now.

        Edit:
        If anyone happens be be on android or still uses Android devices with their Apple things, here are the apps I used to use:

        https://f-droid.org/en/
        https://f-droid.org/packages/org.jak_linux.dns66/
        https://f-droid.org/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/

        Both platforms with compelling solutions to block ads and nagging popups.🤝