Many of us have numerous apps installed on our smartphones, and a significant portion of them go unused.

For me, the reason behind this accumulation of apps is that whenever I come across an interesting one on platforms like Reddit or YouTube, I tend to install it immediately, holding onto the hope that I may use it in the future. The consequence of this habit is that my phone becomes cluttered with a graveyard of forgotten apps, occupying valuable storage space, consuming bandwidth, and draining battery life.

One potential solution that has crossed my mind is the concept of “app bookmarking” or virtual installations. Play store can add a button for this type of installation. Bookmarked apps would be distinguishable in the app drawer, with their icons present while the app itself is not actually installed. They would remain dormant until needed, at which point they would be automatically downloaded and launched.

Please note that this idea differs from instant apps in its approach. Basically you would only install the icon of the app and place it wherever you want (on home screen, in folders, etc.) but it’s not there until you actually decide to open it.

What do you think?

  • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I think a better way could be just downloading the APK, which you can then move wherever you want.

    Unfortunately the play store won’t allow that, so you’ll need to use third party apps like the Aurora Store from f-droid, which allows downloading the APK file from the play store, even specific versions of it.

    • antizero99@lemmynsfw.com
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      1 year ago

      Let me introduce you to apkmirror. Download the apks at your leisure and even go back in time and grab older versions if/when you feel the need.

      • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Yes, but without a proper app that would help in verifying the APK signature, I don’t want to deal with this. I mean a few times maybe, but not regularly.

        • antizero99@lemmynsfw.com
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          1 year ago

          Apkmirror is the trusted source for this. You do you but apkmirror is the source for this, they have been around for as long as I can remember and I’ve never read anything about the apks being non genuine