>"for the debloating i used xda forums. they have a lot of forum posts about what is safe to remove from any device but as always be careful. don't try to remove gpu drivers or something"
I am using AIMP. I was specifically looking for apps with downloadable APKs for sideloading. I can't use the Play Store because I don't have a google account. Looks like PowerAmp also has an APK.
I'd also very strongly recommend F-Droid. TBH I can't really speak to the quality of music apps on it - I just use VLC - but it doesn't require an account and it has lots of good apps.
I use Auxio from F-Droid. It's quite simple (which to me is a benefit) and my only real complaint is how similar shuffle on and off look on Android Auto. It handles non ASCII titles correctly where some others didn't (from what I remember due to weirdness with the Android media store) and it picks up new media/edited quickly and reliably which can be a sore spot with others. I don't know how Android's media store is apparently so incompetent that most music apps don't work correctly using it.
Looks like they also allow you to buy with a credit card on their website, and they say Google Services aren't required if you buy that way. Very cool!
PowerAmp is an incredible app, used it and loved it before. I have a self-hosted streaming setup, so I've personally found Symfonium (1) to be my go-to. I'm glad things worked out for the author with this setup, and honestly the headphone jack is a sight for sore eyes.
>"for the debloating i used xda forums. they have a lot of forum posts about what is safe to remove from any device but as always be careful. don't try to remove gpu drivers or something"
Suggestion: Use the Universal Android Debloater
https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-an...
The author is using PowerAmp.
I am using AIMP. I was specifically looking for apps with downloadable APKs for sideloading. I can't use the Play Store because I don't have a google account. Looks like PowerAmp also has an APK.
I'd also very strongly recommend F-Droid. TBH I can't really speak to the quality of music apps on it - I just use VLC - but it doesn't require an account and it has lots of good apps.
I use Auxio from F-Droid. It's quite simple (which to me is a benefit) and my only real complaint is how similar shuffle on and off look on Android Auto. It handles non ASCII titles correctly where some others didn't (from what I remember due to weirdness with the Android media store) and it picks up new media/edited quickly and reliably which can be a sore spot with others. I don't know how Android's media store is apparently so incompetent that most music apps don't work correctly using it.
can also vouch for Auxio - happy user of 5 years
Looks like they also allow you to buy with a credit card on their website, and they say Google Services aren't required if you buy that way. Very cool!
Use Aurora Store to download apps from Play Store without an account (very trustworthy app IMO, has been around and working for years):
https://auroraoss.com/aurora-store
Sidebar, PowerAmp is the app I miss most moving from Android to iOS. Nothing on iOS comes close, Doppler is the closest I've found and it's just OK.
I have an old LG V-60 lying around which with its quad DAC is the perfect phone for this
I've been using an iPhone 5 as a standalone portable music player and an iPhone 3G (not 3GS) as an office music player daily since they came out.
Even the latest versions of macOS support them perfectly, down to the icons.
I just use VLC but I just play long sets not individual tracks
Now if Winamp was available for Android so I could use the Enhancer plugin...
https://winampplugins.co.uk/enhancer/enhancer.html
I've never found a sound processor that can make music sound so amazing somehow
I couldn't find a good player for linux, so am using Symfonium on my old android phone with music on raspberry pi with navidrome
PowerAmp is an incredible app, used it and loved it before. I have a self-hosted streaming setup, so I've personally found Symfonium (1) to be my go-to. I'm glad things worked out for the author with this setup, and honestly the headphone jack is a sight for sore eyes.
(1) https://www.symfonium.app/
Now I'm wondering if I can load plexamp on my ancient Nexus 5a...