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ES File Explorer - one of the MOST popular Android apps - always connected to 3 Chinese servers. Shitload of proofs and logs and ... nobody cares.

mtgx 8y ago
> nobody cares Are you saying everyone is aware about those things? I for one never use a Chinese app or an app that was bought by a Chinese company ever again (sorry, Opera). But I doubt 99% of the users even realize who owns these apps.
- TheForumTroll 8y ago
  Is it for privacy reasons or racist reasons? If it is for privacy you don't use US made apps either I hope.
aogl 8y ago
Do you have more information on this?
kbenson 8y ago
Yuck. I installed that a while back to ease dealing with some local files on the phone for some testing, and it's been sitting on there for a while. Uninstalled, since regardless of whether it's true now, it could be true in the future, and an app not used is both an app not needed and a security hole waiting to happen at this point.
MrEfficiency 8y ago
I cant remember why I uninstalled, but the UI changed and I couldnt do something I used to be able to. I think it was navigating videos and being able to hit 'Next' in-video. Whatever the case it broke and I found a new file explorer.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
stevenwoo 8y ago
What alternative is there for something like an Android TV set top box (I'm using to mount USB drives)?
- remir 8y ago
  Roku or a RasPi 3 with Kodi on it.
  - LeifCarrotson 8y ago
    No, what alternative is there to browse files on an Android device?
    - SauciestGNU 8y ago
      Simple File Manager is available on FDroid and probably also the Play Store. Simple Tools are usually good enough for me.
    - simcop2387 8y ago
      I use amaze myself, also available from FDroid (and google play I think too) https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.amaze.filemanager/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.amaze.filemanager/
    - metamet 8y ago
      Last I checked, Solid Explorer was still kosher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplorer2&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplor...
      - m-p-3 8y ago
        My favorite so far. I hope the developer will not ruin his apps reputation for a quick sell later on, like many other apps from other devs.
    - TheForumTroll 8y ago
      The best app I have found is by far X-plore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgames.Xplore https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatg...
Kagerjay 8y ago
I still can't believe android doesn't have a native file explorer. The fact that you need to install a 3rd party addon for such an essential feature boggles me. I can't read a PDF without a file explorer. I currently use Solid Explorer due to ES File Explorer's shadiness
- dstaley 8y ago
  Android has had a built-in file explorer for about three years now.[1] It's actually pretty good! I haven't had the need to download a third-party one since Marshmallow. [1] https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/30/android-m-feature-spotlight-built-in-storage-manager-becomes-much-more-usable/ https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/30/android-m-feature-s...
JTbane 8y ago
The problem is your average user only sees glowing reviews of ES File Explorer on the Play Store. They do not care to search for information about the data egress to Chinese servers, and are lulled into a false sense of security by the Play Store itself, which claims to 'verify' all apps on it.
beardbound 8y ago
Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the heads up. I even keep up with security stuff. I don't ES File Explorer any more because I don't really do specific file management on my phone. That's disturbing.

mtgx 8y ago

> nobody cares Are you saying everyone is aware about those things? I for one never use a Chinese app or an app that was bought by a Chinese company ever again (sorry, Opera). But I doubt 99% of the users even realize who owns these apps.

TheForumTroll 8y ago
Is it for privacy reasons or racist reasons? If it is for privacy you don't use US made apps either I hope.

aogl 8y ago

Do you have more information on this?

kbenson 8y ago

Yuck. I installed that a while back to ease dealing with some local files on the phone for some testing, and it's been sitting on there for a while. Uninstalled, since regardless of whether it's true now, it could be true in the future, and an app not used is both an app not needed and a security hole waiting to happen at this point.

MrEfficiency 8y ago

I cant remember why I uninstalled, but the UI changed and I couldnt do something I used to be able to. I think it was navigating videos and being able to hit 'Next' in-video. Whatever the case it broke and I found a new file explorer.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

stevenwoo 8y ago

What alternative is there for something like an Android TV set top box (I'm using to mount USB drives)?

remir 8y ago
Roku or a RasPi 3 with Kodi on it.
- LeifCarrotson 8y ago
  No, what alternative is there to browse files on an Android device?
  - SauciestGNU 8y ago
    Simple File Manager is available on FDroid and probably also the Play Store. Simple Tools are usually good enough for me.
  - simcop2387 8y ago
    I use amaze myself, also available from FDroid (and google play I think too) https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.amaze.filemanager/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.amaze.filemanager/
  - metamet 8y ago
    Last I checked, Solid Explorer was still kosher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplorer2&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplor...
    - m-p-3 8y ago
      My favorite so far. I hope the developer will not ruin his apps reputation for a quick sell later on, like many other apps from other devs.
  - TheForumTroll 8y ago
    The best app I have found is by far X-plore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatgames.Xplore https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lonelycatg...

Kagerjay 8y ago

I still can't believe android doesn't have a native file explorer. The fact that you need to install a 3rd party addon for such an essential feature boggles me. I can't read a PDF without a file explorer. I currently use Solid Explorer due to ES File Explorer's shadiness

dstaley 8y ago
Android has had a built-in file explorer for about three years now.[1] It's actually pretty good! I haven't had the need to download a third-party one since Marshmallow. [1] https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/30/android-m-feature-spotlight-built-in-storage-manager-becomes-much-more-usable/ https://www.androidpolice.com/2015/06/30/android-m-feature-s...

JTbane 8y ago

The problem is your average user only sees glowing reviews of ES File Explorer on the Play Store. They do not care to search for information about the data egress to Chinese servers, and are lulled into a false sense of security by the Play Store itself, which claims to 'verify' all apps on it.

beardbound 8y ago

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the heads up. I even keep up with security stuff. I don't ES File Explorer any more because I don't really do specific file management on my phone. That's disturbing.