Fourth beta of Bare 2.0 for Android, based on Chromium 156.0.8078.73, the same Chromium as beta.3. It is a pre-release. The series is now 256 patches.
Which APK to download
For most phones, download Bare-2.0.0-beta.4-arm64-v8a.apk. Use Bare-2.0.0-beta.4-armeabi-v7a.apk only on 32-bit ARM devices. Bare runs on Android 10 or later. There is no x86 build. I have not run the 32-bit build on a phone yet.
Installing and updating
Install over Bare 2.0.0-beta.3 and do not uninstall first. This build has the same package name and signing key and a higher version number, so Android should treat it as an update that keeps your data. I have not tested that update on a phone. I have not tested moving between the Google Play build and this one either. If you want to be safe, export your bookmarks first.
The GitHub build checks for updates. The Google Play build does not.
What's new since 2.0.0-beta.3
Translation
- Translate with your own server. In Settings you can enter the address of a LibreTranslate-compatible server, an optional API key and a target language. The address is one you type yourself, and the page text goes to that server. Plain http is meant for addresses on your own network only. This was checked against a test server only, so treat it as new.
- Translation stays on. After you confirm once for a site, later pages on the same site are translated without asking again. Go to another site and it stops.
Links and apps
- Open links in apps now applies to every kind of link, not only some. Phone, mail and text message links, and links that open Bare itself, are not held back.
Address bar
- The site name is centred and the site icon sits in the bar. Tapping the site icon opens the page info panel.
- The address bar no longer shows a lock or a warning at rest. On a plain http page there is nothing in the bar that says it is not secure. Tap the site icon to see the page info. Pages with a broken certificate still stop at the warning page.
- Share and copy buttons are in the address bar, and the list of suggestions is a rounded card.
- An empty address bar shows no suggestions.
- You can pick a search engine for one search from the address bar. The default stays what you set.
- The address bar shortcut is off by default.
- The bar follows the keyboard, and the bottom bar and the gesture strip stay drawn while the bars scroll away.
New tab page and tabs
- The AI Mode and Incognito buttons are gone from the new tab page, and the page shows the icon of your search engine.
- A new tab rises from behind the bottom bar instead of jumping.
- Pull to refresh moves the page down with your finger.
- The minimal toolbar has its New tab button back, and its buttons give the same tick as the bottom bar.
Menus
- The three-dot menu opens as a sheet from the bottom. Drag it down to close it.
- The extensions menu opens as a card from the bottom, and the extensions icon matches the other bar icons.
Clear on exit
- New options treat leaving the app as exit and close all tabs. They are off by default. With them on, turning the screen off closes every tab and there is no undo.
Beta limits
This is a beta and has not been tested across a wide range of phones. The address bar and menus changed a lot in this build, so tell me if something behaves strangely.
Verifying the download
SHA256SUMS.txt has the SHA-256 of each APK. They are signed with Bare's release key, the same one as beta.3. 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.