First beta of Bare 2.0 for Android, based on Chromium 156.0.8078.25, the same version as 1.0.1. It is a pre-release. The series is now 196 patches. The same code is in open beta on Google Play, without the update check.
Which APK to download
For most phones, download Bare-2.0.0-beta.1-arm64-v8a.apk. Use Bare-2.0.0-beta.1-armeabi-v7a.apk only on 32-bit ARM devices. Bare runs on Android 10 or later. There is no x86 build.
Installing and updating
Install over your existing Bare and do not uninstall first. This build has the same package name and signing key as 1.0.1 and a higher version number, so Android should treat it as an update that keeps your data. I have not tested installing it over 1.0.1, and I have not tested moving between the Google Play build and this one. If you want to be safe, export your bookmarks first.
The GitHub build checks for updates. The Google Play build does not. The welcome appears once after you update, with your current choices filled in.
What's new since 1.0.1
Tabs and the new tab page
- A tabs drawer slides in from the left with your open tabs as page thumbnails, or as a list from its three dot menu. Tap outside it, press Back or swipe left to close it. With the address bar at the bottom, the tabs start at the bottom too.
- The regular tab switcher has the same grid or list choice.
- The new tab page shows the Bare wordmark, and the search box names your search engine. Tap the engine's icon to use another engine for that page only.
- Recently closed lists only the tabs closed on this device.
Toolbar and address bar
- Each button on the bottom bar can be set, including Find in page, Search, Back, Forward and the tabs drawer. The fourth button can be changed too, and the tab count is still the default.
- A sideways swipe along the bottom bar or the address bar switches tabs. The address bar swipe has its own switch in Settings.
- A minimal address bar is a single row with New tab, Tabs and Menu. Touch and hold the address bar to switch between the full and minimal toolbar. The change applies after a restart.
- A bottom address bar stays above the keyboard while you type, with the best suggestion nearest the bar.
- Touch and hold an item in the three dot menu to hide or show it. Every item except Settings can be hidden.
Settings and appearance
- Settings is grouped into Your Browser, Preferences & tools and Bare.
- The app icon can be Light, Dark or Retro. The System theme can use true black.
- Media & Haptics has a switch for a tick when you press a toolbar button, and a switch for whether fullscreen video follows the phone's orientation. It is on by default.
- Developer options can lay pages out at the phone's width while you keep the user agent you chose. This applies after a restart.
- Search engine settings has switches for search suggestions and for suggesting pages from your history. Google (No AI) is available as a search engine.
- The welcome has pages for the toolbar, security options, page translation and where links open. It asks about anything new instead of choosing for you.
Extensions
- Bare says once, in the dialog that adds an extension, that it cannot check whether the extension is safe.
- chrome://extensions fits a phone. Each card shows the extension's version and status, with switches for Enabled and Allow in Incognito. Install CRX, Community and More (Load unpacked, Update all) sit at the top.
- When a
.crxfile finishes downloading, Bare offers to install it. - Keep extensions running makes Android less likely to stop an extension's background page. It is on by default.
- Settings, Extensions, Open extensions chooses between the popup and a full-screen view with a close button.
- The Chrome Web Store is shown as a phone list with a search box and category chips. A detail page keeps the store's own install button.
Downloads
- A download handed to an external manager such as 1DM includes the page address and the user agent. Cookies go along only if you allow it in Settings, Downloads, and never from Incognito. A separate sign-in switch is off by default and shows only while a manager is selected.
- Long press a video that a page streams and choose Download video to fetch the file the page itself names.
Privacy and security
- Security options in Settings and the welcome: secure connections, third-party cookies, hiding your local address in WebRTC and hardened JavaScript.
- The Incognito page is redesigned. You can unlock Incognito with fingerprint or face only, and wipe it after 1, 3 or 5 failed unlocks. Screenshots are allowed in Incognito unless you block them.
- Translate pages sends the page's text to a LibreTranslate-compatible server that you enter, after you confirm. Nothing is sent until you send the page. Google Translate is a separate choice and is off until you turn it on.
- Web push can go through a distributor app that you pick in Settings, Push notifications, instead of Google.
Fixes
- Opening Incognito just after relaunching the app no longer crashes.
- Switching the tab view between list and grid no longer crashes.
- The tabs drawer's grid no longer crashes when the address bar is at the bottom.
Beta limits
This is a beta and has not been tested across a wide range of phones. The 2.0 changes touch tabs, the toolbar, Settings and the welcome, so expect rough edges. The network behavior in docs/network-behaviour.md was last captured on 1.0.0 and has not been captured again for 2.0.
Verifying the download
SHA256SUMS.txt has the SHA-256 of both APKs. Both are signed with Bare's release key, the same one as 1.0.1. apksigner verify --print-certs should show the certificate SHA-256 ae2a0e7fb7a132ec517d26a8e7c83d275e83747b0a777d4a42225b1d343271a0.
Contact
Problems and questions: support@barebrowser.org. Please include your device, Android version and what you were doing.