Remote View

10mo ago

Hey Reddit lurkers! my ad-free, open source Reddit viewer RDX is on Android now

Since a lot of you asked me to build an Android version and post about it here when I launch, and I sincerely apologise that I forgot to post on lemmy sooner. The free app was launched on Play store almost a month ago and has garnered some excellent reviews. It has feature parity with the iPhone App and works on all Android 8.0+ devices.

You can download the app here.

Any feedback is wholeheartedly welcome, you can also post issues and contribute to the rdx web app on Github.

Android @lemdro.id

overdevs @lemmy.world

10mo ago

Hey Reddit lurkers! my ad-free, open source Reddit viewer RDX is on Android now

play.google.com /store/apps/details

98 comments

I do have two questions here to be honest,
Why post on lemmy when you can post it on Reddit? Increased visibility?
Why use this instead of RedReader?
- I am happy to answer them.
  Why post on lemmy when you can post it on Reddit? Increased visibility?
  Because a lot of contributors and users when the web app launched a year ago were from Lemmy only. A lot of lemmy users use rdx on iOS or web app to lurk on the niche subs that haven't made it to lemmy yet. Also when I launched the iOS version so many of the users here asked me to let them know when I launch an Android version. I have linked one such thread in the first line of my post.
  Why use this instead of RedReader?
  RedReader afaik was only available only Android while rdx is available everywhere(it's a pwa too).
  Better Media viewing, although not as accessible as RedReader I made it initially to mimic some Apollo features like fast subreddit switching etc.
  Read-Only so focuses on lurking on Reddit only, no way to login. Some people consider this a feature as this saves them time.
  
  It's a PWA? What would that URL be?
- I'm not the OP, but I suspect Reddit may ban/shadowban any post promoting a reader app that doesn't use the official API. Or maybe he posted there already and wants to spread his message on Lemmy too. As for RedReader, I use it occasionally, but I stopped posting and commenting on Reddit since the API exodus.
- I would think, because quite a lot of people came to Lemmy when Reddit killed the apps they used. Having a new app may be of interest to them?
  RedReader? Didn't know it existed, I just assumed all prior reddit apps were DOA.
  
  There are some you can compile yourself but after the API fiasco, I just switched to the Fediverse and my favorite app has been Connect so far.

Were not going back!
That being said, I appreciate sticking it to reddit in this way.
- Same here. The app looks great and I applaud the hard work you put in, but that bridge is done burned and gone. I hope your app is a great success nonetheless.
  
  I understand that and Thank you for the kind words!
- Were not going back!
  There are still some niche subreddits I can't live without, that either don't exist on Lemmy or are so small here they might as well not exist
- We're*

How does this work? I thought the API charges killed all free reddit viewers.
- It's read-only.
  
  That won't stop them from blocking once they notice. Years ago Hulu blocked a Hulu app on xbmc. It wasn't even like it bypassed ads. But every month they'd block and the developers had to make a work around. So it was one month working, one month not.
  Personally I'm fine with never using reddit unless something comes up in a search or a post. It only prolongs switching to alternatives.
  
  I feel like I need more and more "web transformers" or addons or "enhancers" that transform shitty website to make the web useful again. Since we can't rely on APIs and external apps in the future, maybe we could create an platform or an AI that helps with reprogramming various websites.
  Besides social media I'd love to see this for shops and video streaming as well. Also reader view has been a godsend. Web is getting worse and worse.
- Probably parses old.reddit.com
  
  Reddit claims that's illegal too. They now block Microsoft from indexing them because Microsoft isn't paying them.

- I will try to upload an APK somewhere for people to install. Stealth of course is a very good app.
- I'll second this request. I prefer to get software through FDroid when possible. I use Stealth in combo with Libreddit currently, but this has a nice UI.
- You can use APKpure and it's siblings to download for now.

Very cool! Any thoughts on getting this on fdroid?
You could also post this on !android@lemdro.id and other places
Some thoughts so far:
it might help to be able to import multireddits
the subscribe button feels a bit hidden
Otherwise really cool :)
- Yeah I have to make the subscribe button more prominent. Multireddits are planned for a future updates however you can import your subscriptions currently in the Settings tab.

Sigma male grindset: lurk on reddit and then be active on lemmy

I've been using the IOS app since it was launched and just wanted to say you're awesome! The app has been very helpful when I need to check my city's sub and r/nba (both exist in lemmy but aren't as active yet).
- Thank you so much for your kind words! A new update to the search page and some more customisation options in settings are coming in the next minor update for iOS.

As a habitual lurker, this is amazing. I can keep abreast if my local town subreddit without loading their horrendous mobile site. Bravo.

Kinda wish I hadn't checked this out. Don't get me wrong OP, your app is fantastic! I'm just grossed out and disappointed by some of the comments in my "old stomping grounds" subreddits.
Rdx itself rules tho, good job bruh
- I know that feeling, when mods left, some places turned into dumpster fires as expected.
- thank you!

Should.. should I be concerned?
- When you donate, a token id and status of purchase is sent to the server (in case anyone donates accidentally, rare I know, requests for a refund for their donation I can match order ID and issue refund) . That's all, no credit card info, email or stuff like that. I wasn't sure if this counts as financial info on play store so just to be safe I checked that box.
  
  That makes sense. I believe you have nothing to be concerned about, but I'm not a dev, so who am I to say 🤷‍♂️
  Great app!
- Intriguing, my first reaction is that this must be some accident. On iOS it’s marked as not collecting data, and the privacy policy is a single line.
  I’m sure the dev will swing by shortly, I’m just expressing my surprise at seeing that
  
  I have explained in the parent comment.

Installed, I love all the themes! Thanks!
- The most fun feature to make. I love all the theme suggestions from users.
  
  Is there a FUCK SPEZ theme?

This would be amazing to be integrated with Voyager. People could migrate to Reddit via Fediverser and clone only their subreddits to the device.
- What's voyager?
  
  An Apollo-like Lemmy client that is also implemented as a PWA

For the love of god please make a dark mode
Edit: nvm found out there is a settings menu. FYI it's easy to overlook, at least for smooth brains like me
I love this app. I can lurk all my favorite subs without using their dogshit website, its convenient and allows me to lurk AND give them a constant middle finger without indirectly supporting pedophile spez and his army of abusive subreddit mods. Thank you!
- There are multiple light and dark themes already available in Settings > Appearance. Will add a full theme customiser as a vanity feature somewhere in the future.

Does this violate any applicable policies such as Reddit's or Google's end user agreement?
- Afaik No?

Seems nice, how do you handle reddit overpriced api, or do you not use it maybe?
- it's just for lurking, so not using it

Looks great, I've been using Stealth but it has trouble with albums and some other content. It also doesn't let me search for posts in a specific subreddit.
This looks like it will do both of those things, as well as being actively maintained and improved. Thanks for making it.

I can vouch that this thing is pretty dope. While I don't even so much as lurk Reddit at this point, it was definitely useful when there was a natural disaster in my area and I was checking the local sub for updates.

It looks like gated communities can't be accessed using your app. I tried opening /r/steroids and just got a blank page
- Reddit limitations :(

Hey I use this all the time on my browser, really appreciate it. I did install the "app" when prompted by chrome which I think just creates a chrome based app but one of the things I find difficult is getting to r/all and filtering to top hour. All doesn't come up when sarched and filtering by hour isnt an option.
Ill give the actual app a go and I really appreciate your work, it is a great experience.
- Yes that's the web app. You can install from play store now, it has many new features.
  
  I got it thanks, for now the web app is preferable because I can get r/all and filter better. I would also recommend adding a download function for images and videos.
  
  There does seem to be some minor issues. I'm seeing the same posts I saw earlier reappear as I scroll, and it doesn't seem to be updating unless you sort by new.

As a suggestion/feedback. Could you please make it so you can block certain subreddits from appearing in your feed? I know you can subscribe but I am actually fine with most subreddits apart from a select view.
- In next updates.
  
  Huzzah! Thanks man!

thx I just downloaded the ios app. I havent used reddit much anymore but I do miss few subreddits to check the latest news.
- Thank you for checking out the app.

Hi, thanks again for making this app. Any chance of swipe to collapse? I find it takes less effort than double tapping
- Since both left and right swipes(to go back and forward) work already it will be messy to implement that.
  
  I meant like Alien Blue and Apollo where if you swipe on the comment and not on the edges, Apollo had a full half centimeter of edge space for front and back while AB was more like RDX (which imo is better really)
  No worries if you don’t want to though, just thought I’d ask

I had some issues trying to import my subreddits via the .json file on my Fire HD10 tablet. The on screen pop up I am able to select the file just fine but I am not able to hit the import or cancel button. Import worked just fine on iOS version.
- Try tapping around the import button(like 1-2cm up/down where the import button is). Are you able to hit the cancel button?
  
  I did. I even used a stylus. It’s like the buttons don’t have an ability to activate. I am unable to hit either the import or cancel button.

I suggest arrows to navigate main comments (I think they also call them "parent comments" or something). As an example, Sync for Lemmy and Now for Reddit have them.
- Can you please elaborate? Like the arrow that takes you to the next comment?

There are subreddits I want to archive before things get any worse, any tools I can use or any way to adapt the backend for this task?

Looks nice! I sent a link to the gf who's on iPhone. She's always complaining about ads, and I never know what's out there for her as I'm on android. I installed it too so I can give it a look.
After not looking at Reddit's front page in a year, it's a bit of a shock seeing an unfiltered feed! 😮
- 95% of the features are same on iOS and Android.

I still need to really take the App a test drive, but my initial observation is the inability to display in landscape. That's my own personal pet peeve with all Apps.
- Had to disable landscape mode because it didn't feel as finished(you can still landscape video by swiping from left to right on a full screen video), I will make some adjustments for tablets and wider viewports in general and then push an update in near future.

Nice app, considering i still lurk on some subreddits using mobile browser.
Btw, is there a way to refresh the subreddit page? Seems I can't do usual pull down to refresh for now
- tap the three bars on top left > Refresh

Looking for a Chromeless way to import subs from Android
- use any other browser? you just have to login once.
  
  The script method provided for Chrome does not work in Firefox.

Hey, very cool app. One thing that could be a massive improvement is the ability to tap the thumbnails in "compact mode" to open a bigger version of the image without loading the whole post. Boost (for reddit and for lemmy) has something like this (though not as snappy as I'd like), and relay for reddit had the perfect implementation of this. It was quick and easy. You tap the thumbnail to blow the image up to the max screen width, tap again to dismiss the image. Ideally there would be no lag between when you tap and when the image is loaded, same with dismissing. (I disabled double tap in relay so the image dismissal didn't wait for a 2nd tap, making it quicker.)
Obviously this is a very nice and niche feature, so it might be outside the scope of the app. But if you find yourself itching to add some features, keep this in mind :) It would fit well with the "fast, fluid browsing" theme of the app.
I took a video to give a quick example but uploading it to lemmy.world isn't working, I don't want to share my youtube account, and I don't want to make you download a random file from a file sharing site, so you can check out this behavior in those 2 apps if you need an example.
- I get what you are saying, just pushed an update to Apple with the new compact mode. Android soon.
  
  ❤️

makes app to evade reddit ads and stuff.
uses google service framework and puts it out only in playstore.
whats wrong with people?

Maybe the wrong place, but I’ve consistently had a bug with the iOS version where it will start repeating posts after awhile with no way to fix it. Refresh or restarting the app doesn’t fix it.
- It's the correct place. If you only subscribe to a handful of subs and they don't update frequently your home feed will be stale. Other than that I don't see any reason. If you could explain further on what screens you face this problem I will be able to help.

You should consider seasonal themes like halloween and shit down the road
- Here me thinking what a theme called Shit Down the Road would look like.
  
  Lol nah not quite what I meant. Just a huge fan of giving my entire phone seasonal overhauls. Apparantly it's not a popular idea. Ah, well.
  ¯(ツ)/¯
- Yes I will add some seasonal themes for sure.
  
  My autism fixation thanks you

Can you please offer a download off of genocide tech corp platform?
- Something like f-droid would be nice.
  
  Or just builds available on GitHub.

98 comments