Call Blocker?

RASelkirk · Feb 27, 2020

Hi All,

I have "Call Blocker" by Vlad Lee on my phone, it works great. I wanted to add it to the wife's phone, went to Google Play and it's no longer offered. Any idea why? I really don't want anything 3rd party, would prefer direct from Google...

App: https://vlad-lee-call-blocker.en.uptodown.com/android

Bad link on Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vladlee.callblocker

TIA!

Russ

Steven58 · Feb 27, 2020

It looks to me as if he upgraded his work to a paid version with trial. Here's the link to his current app on Play.

puppykickr · Feb 28, 2020

You said that you don't want any third party apps, but you posted a link to it from UpToDown?

Why not download it from there?

Anyway, if for some reason you don't want to, then you can extract the apk of the app from your phone and then send her the apk.

It will require the same 'Allow Install Of Apps From Untrusted Source" as downloading from adifferent appstore, but will be the same app and version asbwhat you have.

You will most likely need to download an app to extract the apk, and I bet there is one on the PlayStore. (Sorry, I only know of third party apps that do this.)

Then, you can send her the apk via bluetooth (very slow), internet, or Wi-Fi- each of which will require an app to perform the function. (Again, Google may have these,but I only know of specfic third party apps that do.)

You could upload the apk to your Google Drive account, then send her a link to it with a text.

Or, you could just download it wth the link from UpToDown that you provided...

Really, life can be a bit easier with an appstore called F-Droid.
On it you can find many apps that you should find very useful, especially for times like these.

APK Extractor
NitroShare
HTTP Share

These apps are all FOSS (Free Open Source Software), ad-free, and simple to use.

F-Droid has never had an issue with malware, 'viruses', or that sort of thing. Google, on the other hand, has constant problems with it, literally on the scale of millions of devices affected.

RASelkirk · Feb 28, 2020

puppykickr said:
You said that you don't want any third party apps, but you posted a link to it from UpToDown?

Why not download it from there?

...

I posted that link because it was THE app I have that has since disappeared from Play Store. The other callblocker apps on P.S. have different icons and that was my main method of ID. You'll understand, once you get old enough, that when you are comfortable with a known system, it can be uncomfortable to change to something different...

Russ

mikedt · Feb 28, 2020

RASelkirk said:
Hi All,

I have "Call Blocker" by Vlad Lee on my phone, it works great. I wanted to add it to the wife's phone, went to Google Play and it's no longer offered. Any idea why? I really don't want anything 3rd party, would prefer direct from Google...

App: https://vlad-lee-call-blocker.en.uptodown.com/android

Bad link on Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vladlee.callblocker

TIA!

Russ

Maybe able to transfer the "Call Blocker" app to your wife's phone by Bluetooth. Hold down on the app's icon, and see if "Share" appears, and on the the menu select Bluetooth. That can copy the app to another device, if your phone supports app APK sharing.

FWIW I've used Bluetooth to share VPN apps to friend's phones sometimes.

puppykickr · Feb 29, 2020

RASelkirk said:
I posted that link because it was THE app I have that has since disappeared from Play Store. The other callblocker apps on P.S. have different icons and that was my main method of ID. You'll understand, once you get old enough, that when you are comfortable with a known system, it can be uncomfortable to change to something different...

Russ

I am plenty old to know what you mean.

But here is the thing- it is the same app.
Google is host to the largest amount of adware, malware, and junk apps on Earth.

UpToDown gets their apps from Google Play.

You will find that it is the same app.

The only difference may be that it is possible to find a version old enough that the awful Google Analytics won't work anymore (that is a good thing to find), and you might not even get ads (if the app had ads). UpToDown allows you to download previous versions of apps- something that Google forbids on mobile.

What do you think you have to gain by being so loyal to the Play Store?
After all, they have already screwed your wife out of one of your favorite apps...and probably more if you stick around long enough.

Part of the good that comes with age is not having to put up with BS when it rears its ugly head.

Regardless of how you get the app, if it doesn't come right from Google, you are going to have to 'Allow Install From Untrusted Source'.

It wouldn't matter if I had the app right from Google and sent it to you.

So if you want the app bad enough, you will just have to get the apk, allow the install, and be happy.

You can always go back and turn the setting back off again.

To be honest, if I see an app I want, I look at three other app stores to see if I can get it there INSTEAD of Google.

And something else, to prevent this issue in the future, put a copy of your favorite apks onto some cloud storage somewhere.

That way they are always there.
Sure makes things easier when changing devices or sharing apps.

RASelkirk · Feb 29, 2020

mikedt said:
Maybe able to transfer the "Call Blocker" app to your wife's phone by Bluetooth. Hold down on the app's icon, and see if "Share" appears, and on the the menu select Bluetooth. That can copy the app to another device, if your phone supports app APK sharing.

FWIW I've used Bluetooth to share VPN apps to friend's phones sometimes.

Would be nice, but it doesn't work on my phone. Long-pressing the icon only pops up "App Info". Maybe I'll try his new app on the wife's phone and see what's different.

Russ

tube517 · Mar 1, 2020

The app that Steven posted is the one that was being updated consistently. I used the newer one for a while

With that said I recommend Youmail. It is a far better call blocker.

puppykickr · Mar 1, 2020

RASelkirk said:
Would be nice, but it doesn't work on my phone. Long-pressing the icon only pops up "App Info". Maybe I'll try his new app on the wife's phone and see what's different.

Russ

If you use UpToDown, you can download past versions of the app.
You don't need to worry about what is new.
If you don't like it, then uninstall it and then download the version that you want.

That is one of the great things about UpTo Down, is that you can download older versions of apps if you prefer.

When I first started with Android, there was a music player app that I loved. It was new, so it had some bugs that the dev was working out with each new update.

Well,at the time I had Google Play Store set to auto-update my apps.
Guess what? One day I woke up, opened my beloved music player, and didn't recognize it. All my settings were gone. And... ADS!!! This beautiful, almost magical music player now had ads for the first time.

And Google won't let you go and get an older version- nope. It's their way or the highway. I had been Googled. Right in my Goohole.

So I went back to using the pathetic stock music app. Uggh.

Later, after I gave up on the fear that kept me away from third party apps, I found that great music player again, on UpToDown.

After searching through a few versions, I found the last stable version without ads, and it has been on all of my devices ever since.

Another great appstore that also sources apps direcly from Google Play Store is ApkPure.
Just like UpToDown, you can download previous versions of apps.

RASelkirk · Mar 6, 2020

puppykickr said:
If you use UpToDown, you can download past versions of the app.
You don't need to worry about what is new.
If you don't like it, then uninstall it and then download the version that you want.

That is one of the great things about UpTo Down, is that you can download older versions of apps if you prefer.

When I first started with Android, there was a music player app that I loved. It was new, so it had some bugs that the dev was working out with each new update.

Well,at the time I had Google Play Store set to auto-update my apps.
Guess what? One day I woke up, opened my beloved music player, and didn't recognize it. All my settings were gone. And... ADS!!! This beautiful, almost magical music player now had ads for the first time.

And Google won't let you go and get an older version- nope. It's their way or the highway. I had been Googled. Right in my Goohole.

So I went back to using the pathetic stock music app. Uggh.

Later, after I gave up on the fear that kept me away from third party apps, I found that great music player again, on UpToDown.

After searching through a few versions, I found the last stable version without ads, and it has been on all of my devices ever since.

Another great appstore that also sources apps direcly from Google Play Store is ApkPure.
Just like UpToDown, you can download previous versions of apps.

OK, but do these 3rd party "installers" give the phone system a fit? I have enough problems keeping my phone lined out, the wife is not too savvy on this phone stuff, and I really don't want or need two headaches...

Russ

puppykickr · Mar 6, 2020

RASelkirk said:
OK, but do these 3rd party "installers" give the phone system a fit? I have enough problems keeping my phone lined out, the wife is not too savvy on this phone stuff, and I really don't want or need two headaches...

Russ

A fit?
Please describe.

No, seriously- I have not had problems with UpToDown or ApkPure.

What you may encounter is that the secondary store may not want to update apps that came from other stores, and Google is the same in this respect.

You probably don't want to update any Google apps from secondary stores, because Google scans your device and knows exactly what version of Play Store, Play Services, Drive, etc. your device needs.

With these other stores it is possible to download an incompatible or partially compatible Google app, and that can cause some annoyances.

Just use the other stores for normal apps that you can (or can't, in your case) get from the Google Play Store.

Keep in mind that your device will send up a scary warning.
Google will pester you as well, with their app scanning and such nonsense.

Always remember that of all android app stores, Google Play is number two for malware and scammy apps.

Of course, they are the largest by far, so the numbers will be high in all respects.

But this does not change the fact that they have a ton of bad apps that slip by their 'security'.

If you want 100% safety from a third party, try F-Droid.

The UI requires a bit of effort, the apps are generally not very fancy, but there is no malware on F-Droid.

I have never heard of anyone getting a 'bad' app from there.

Like I said, if you are paranoid, I can download the apps and post the apks for them on my Drive account for anyone to download.

But you would still need to 'Allow Untrusted Sources' and see that same scary warning that you will get when you use the app store.

To be honest, before I knew better, that warning scared the crap out of me.
F-Droid was my first 'extra' app store, and then I discovered UpToDown, and later ApkPure.

F-Droid works best with their app, but although the other two also have apps they are available online in an almost identical form.

RASelkirk · Mar 7, 2020

puppykickr said:
A fit?
Please describe.

...

Keep in mind that your device will send up a scary warning.
Google will pester you as well, with their app scanning and such nonsense.

...

This. I've never installed anything outside PS, but have heard of trouble doing so. Were I to install from a 3rd party, is this "warning" a one time deal on install or every time I use the app? I have "Lookout", will that throw a flag each time it runs? I get bugged pretty easily by BS like this and would rather avoid it (and avoid smashing said phone).

Russ

puppykickr · Mar 9, 2020

RASelkirk said:
This. I've never installed anything outside PS, but have heard of trouble doing so. Were I to install from a 3rd party, is this "warning" a one time deal on install or every time I use the app? I have "Lookout", will that throw a flag each time it runs? I get bugged pretty easily by BS like this and would rather avoid it (and avoid smashing said phone).

Russ

It is a setting, called Allow Untrusted Sources or similar.

If you leave this setting on, then the warning is a one time thing.

If you turn the setting off, then yes, you will get the nag screen again.

And Google will also occasionally pester you to turn on their 'app scan security whatchamacallit' BS.

I always decline.
Google is the number two purveyor of malware.

I know damn well that it is just going to flag anything that I installed from anything not Google. Maybe not. I really don't care what Google thinks about my apps. I don't want their opinions, if I did I would ask them. Each nag message makes that even less likely, hahaha!

I don't trust Google any more than I could throw them.

UpToDown is the second largest appstore second only to Google- and UpToDown does not appear in a list of the top 5 providers of malware.

Google is number two, second only to a shady appstore that provides cracked and hacked apps.

UpToDown is based in Spain, I believe, just for some info.

I have used UpToDown extensively, and can help you if you have any issues or questions about it.

I know the UI is not what you are used to, and it takes time (it did for me, too!) to adjust.

Right now, we are jyst dealing with this one app, so let's see how it goes.

You did say that you have it on one device, correct?

You want to find the version number of the app.
If you have the version that you like, then that is the version number to look for.

If it was updated and you don't like the new version, then you want ghe previous version.

The numbers between apps on the app stores usually match, but can be different.
We just need somewhere to start.

Also, keep in mind that updating an app is easy, and you don't usually lose any of the app's data.
But if you want an earlier version, the the newer version must be uninstalled, and all that app's data will be gone.

This only affects that one app, and only if you are 'downgrading' instead of updating.

If I remember correctly, you just want to put this app onto a device that does not have it, correct?
If this is true, then no worries, it can just be installed without an issue.

Call Blocker?

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