Was watching MKBHD’s video about apps on his phone and remembered i also did similar post 5 years ago. So, was interesting to do a refresh and compare how my setup and habits have changed.
Home Screen – has a few changes, but for the most part stayed similar. Mostly because i am still “rocking” my old Pixel XL 1 with Android 10 (was 8 out of the box, updated to 9 and then to 10; yeah, it is not like currently with 7 years of software updates promised). I am thinking to switch to my now work phone Pixel 9A, so the setup and look will change. Still using default Google Landscapes wallpapers that rotate daily. A few new images added to that collection throughout the years. Might notice that weather is missing from the home screen widget. It just stopped working and disappeared a few years ago (perks of using obsolete OS, i guess). I go to Google Now to see the weather. Yeah, i really need to ditch my oldie, but i am so used to its shape and screen.
App Launcher – still just 5 apps on the home screen. New Pixels are narrower and only allow 4. So, when i switch i probably will drop Viber as it is not used that often. But it has replaced Phone and SMS apps. Messages are being used for various appointment or deliveries notifications, but not that often to be on the home screen. Next one is my public transit app m.Ticket to check bus schedules and buy and activate tickets. Have replaced Trafi with it after they have done a bad UI refresh and made many things inconvenient. And this one just works much faster than Trafi. Chrome is on the same sport, same as Keep notes (reminds me how much i prefer older icons than new white circles with a logo inside..). And i have replaced Outlook with Thunderbird a year or so ago after Outlook started to show ads right inline in the Inbox (ads looking like emails is pure garbage). TB doesn’t have live IMAP push, but i am fine with it.
Notifications Drawer – still almost the same, but Hotspot button replaced with Bluetooth at the end as i have started using BT earphones a few years ago. Don’t use it all the time, so keep it off mostly to save the battery and not to get annoyed with rogue pairing requests from headphones around me 🙂 Expanding the drawer can see Auto Rotate button added. I hate my screen flipping around when using in one hand and maybe holding it slightly skewed sometimes, so i have it turned off most of the time. Probably don’t need that button at all as some apps add their button on the screen when they detect position change (latest Android does that too on the system level).
Apps:
Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Chrome, Clock, Contacts – all the same default apps.
Cool Reader – still use it from time to time to read books downloaded from the internet.
Etransport – not being used for years, but occasionally i might need to call a cab, so have it installed.
Feedly – still using it a lot for my RSS feeds. It looks weird on my Samsung 8 inch tablet. Some UI glitch with spacing and articles titles. But it works fine on the phone.
Files, Google, Keep Notes, Keepass – no changes.
Kindle – i had it briefly installed in 2019-2020 when i bought my first book from Amazon. So, it was on and off and currently is installed as i am reading yet another book there. As it also opens PDFs i might keep it installed.
m.Ticket – from the home screen
Maps, Messages, Phone, Photos – as usual.
Play Store, SEB Lietuva – banking app, for some reason now it cannot fit the name and cuts it.
Settings, SIM Toolkit – defaults.
Smart-ID – which has replaced mobile signature for me as it got so expensive and Smart-ID is free of charge for now. Used to sign electronic documents, approve money transfers, secure login and more.
Steam – barely used. I mean to play some game there, but haven’t touched any in a few years now. Keep installed as Steam account guard is tied to it.
Thunderbird – from the home screen, email app replacing the Outlook.
Viber – i hate the app, but it is what i must use to stay in touch with family and some friends. Also, some deliveries are being posted in Viber now. The app is slow, annoying with ads and other features being pushed to your face. UI is not convenient and it is a battery drain often even if i don’t use it, but it is stuck in the background for some reason.
Youtube – don’t use it that much on the phone, but sometimes watch a short video or two while commuting.
YT Music – one of the recent additions. In the last couple of years i have started to use it more. Again, during commute mostly. Especially with new wireless earbuds.
Removed/Replaced:
Dropped Adrobe Reader (don’t read that many PDFs and if i do, i think it opens with Chrome or some internal viewer and currently with Kindle). Also removed BG Stats as i don’t play board games that often and got tired of keeping stats.
No Conversations and Xabber apps – stopped using XMPP/Jabber. When i use it, it is only on the desktop now.
Docs – gone as i don’t need it usually. Probably was installed for some case, just like Sheets at some point.
Google Play Music was first replaced by Youtube Music, then with Spotify for a few years (which was on the home screen) and now back to Youtube Music as i have subscribed to Youtube Premium a few years ago and it has YT Music bundled and Spotify was upping the price so often.
Skype – gone. It was installed just for one job interview.
Trafi – replaced by m.Ticket
Twitter – it got removed soon after making first post as i didn’t see much use of it and could always use web version (just like i do with LinkedIn and refuse to install an app for it). I know it is X now and i have last logged in to it months ago, but don’t have anything to read or follow there.
So, there were a few changes. Most significant being new email app, as i use email a lot, often just to make short notes to myself. Public transit app changed. Stopped using XMPP, so a few apps dropped. A few new apps like Kindle for books, cab hailing app, YT Music or Smart-ID for digital signatures. Lots of staples sticking around – Chrome, Keep, Photos, Feedly, Youtube, banking app. 33 in 2019, 29 in 2025.