Workaround Android file format restrictions?

8 respuestas [Último envío]
GNUser
Desconectado/a
se unió: 07/17/2013

Hey everyone,

SO, as we have discussed in the past, Android has a "whitelist" file formats list, which means you can only download (either online or over bluetooth) certain formats files. It just so happens that the ROM I am using in my tablet has no whitelist support for RAR files as well as EPUB files.
I would like to download these (online), and thought maybe using Orbot and changing the extension when downloading would work, but it didn't. DOes anyone knows any other workaround?
I also tried using a download manager installed from F-Droid, but the same happens. So... I am out of ideas. Does anyone knows a workaround for this?

I could download the files with my computer, and change the extension to "txt" send them over bluetooth and then rename them in tablet to the correct extension (I do this a lot) but would like to not be dependent in two machines for one simple job.

Thanks!

nadebula.1984
Desconectado/a
se unió: 05/01/2018

What about transferring said file types (e.g. epub) via a secured channel like SSH/SFTP? The system should have no idea about what is being transferred.

Of course, the best way is to unlock the bootloader and purge Android.

GNUser
Desconectado/a
se unió: 07/17/2013

Well, if I am transferring the files from my computer to my tablet, I can use a number of solutions. What I can't do is download from a website (even with https and orbot in place).

As for the second paragraph, it is not an option, since the ROM I am using is no longer being developed and I don't have the necessary skill to make the changes and rebuild it.

nadebula.1984
Desconectado/a
se unió: 05/01/2018

Since the operating system you've been using denies your Freedom 0, then it's non-free software. And you are asking for advice here (a free software community), I could only suggest that you try to replace the system. If you can't, then replace the hardware. There are many tablets well supported by much better operating systems (LineageOS, SailfishOS, PostmarketOS, etc.).

GNUser
Desconectado/a
se unió: 07/17/2013

I think you misunderstood.
I am running an AOSP based Android ROM, which is basically AOSP, with the proprietary drivers and firmware that are present in most Android flavors around (You mention LineageOS, but they are very similar in that regard). What I am facing is an issue that comes from a security feature in Android, which is to restrict certain file formats from being downloaded to the device. You could have the very same issue with Replicant for example. I mentioned I don't have the skill to change it, but the code is certainly available to do so. There is nothing "non-free" about this, at least in terms of accepting Android as a base for an OS.
I use and AOSP based ROM because it was the most free software compliant for my device, there are not GAPPs and I only install stuff from F-Droid. Again there is nothing "non-free" about this.

What I was hoping to get here, was a possible workaround the security feature to make it possible for certain file formats to be downloaded to the device, without having to mess with the code which I don't have the skill to do.

If anyone can help, I would be glad to hear.

Thanks for the replies anyway nadebula.1984

andyprough
Desconectado/a
se unió: 02/12/2015

> If anyone can help, I would be glad to hear.

FOSS Browser from Fdroid has a "save as" function where you can write your own file name and extension for your download.
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.baumann.browser/

Not sure if this browser will work on your AOSP based system or not. But if it will, I think the browser will do what you want. I have used it in the past to download audio files as .txt files, and then convert back to listen to them.

GNUser
Desconectado/a
se unió: 07/17/2013

Thanks. FOSS works in my device but it doesn't solve the issue. I had tried changing the extension in the filename before, and it still gives an unsuccessful download.

Thanks for the suggestion, hope some other solution comes up.

andyprough
Desconectado/a
se unió: 02/12/2015

You should probably contact the developers for the AOSP based image and tell them what you need. See if they know of a way.

nadebula.1984
Desconectado/a
se unió: 05/01/2018

You mean that certain "security feature" is preventing you from downloading certain types of file? This is denial of Freedom 0 (more precisely, censorship, which is inherently incompatible with the philosophy of free software), not a security feature at all.

Again, if you can't replace the software, then replace the hardware.