[Archived][App][5.0+] Frost for Facebook [Open Source]

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asdfasdfvful

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Apr 21, 2013
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This thread is no longer maintained. Please go to GitHub for future issues and discussions


------------------------------------------------

Welcome to Frost for Facebook!

Notice on Play Store removal

Main web page

Downloads through Github

Frost for Facebook is also available through F-Droid

Frost is a fully themable, fully functional alternative to the official Facebook app.
While being a web wrapper, Frost contains many unique and native features such as:

True multi user interactions - More than just an option in a settings menu, Frost's account switcher is right in the drawer. You are one tap away from switching accounts, and everything refreshes on the switch so that you can view other accounts instantaneously. Furthermore, the notification service will fetch notifications from all accounts, and will let you know which account has the new notification.
Better multitasking - Frost contains an overlaying web browser that can be drawn on top of your foreground task. Open links and notifications with a full screen view, then swipe away to get back to your previous task.
Contextual awareness - Frost integrates additional features via long presses. Need to copy a block of text or share a link? Long press the text. Need to zoom into an image or download it? Long press the image!
Material Design - Built for lollipop and up, Frost focuses strongly on a beautiful and functional UI, and embraces material transitions and dimensions.
Complete theme engine - Frost contains very comprehensive themes that customize all components of the app. Frost is also the only app to support transparent themes.
Fully opened - Nothing speaks for privacy more than being open sourced. Frost is proud to be one of those apps, and can be found on github (Link in the app's about section)
Fixes the little things - Frost is community driven, and many tweaks are added to address minor inconveniences and give a full native experience, despite being a web app. To list a few:
   • Focusing on a text input will prevent refreshing, so you don't accidentally swipe and lose your progress.
   • Horizontal swipe can be enabled along side the viewpager swipe with a simple long press
   • Automatic bug reports are sent when a crash is detected, so even if you don't contact the devs, you are helping contribute by using the app.

Mandatory permissions used and why:

• Internet, Network State, Wifi State - Frost fetches the pages from Facebook's mobile website. It also needs the network state so as to limit internet usage when you are on a metered network.
• Receive Boot Completed - Frost notifications persist on reboot, and need this permission to be added each time.
• Vibrate - Needed to vibrate phone for notifications; this can be toggled in the settings
• Billing - For purchasing pro and unlocking all of Frost's features

Optional permissions used and why:
(these are only requested when they have to be, and are disabled until then)

• Read/write external storage - Needed to upload photos in a new status and save photos when prompted
• Fine/coarse location - Needed for the check in option if users wish to search for their location

• That's it! No privacy intrusion and no extra demands.

Permissions NOT used and why:

• Wakelock - Frost takes advantage of Android's Job Scheduler, and lets the framework decide when to run background services. Frost therefore doesn't need to constantly run in the background, nor does it force your phone to stay awake.
• Retrieve running apps - Frost has no need to access external apps or see what else is running
• Identity - Frost manages its accounts internally and uses it solely to give you access to your account. We don't depend on other personal information and we don't even save your email.
• Camera - While the camera permission can be added to allow you to directly take photos and upload them, we've decided that it would be best to allow you to do so externally and then share the photo with Frost

* Frost is a third party app and is in no way affiliated with Facebook Inc.*
 
Last edited:

asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
2,976
3,851
Montreal
allanwang.ca
Preview

frost_themes.png
frost_glass.png

frost_multi_accounts.png
frost_swipe.png

frost_quick_links.png
 
Last edited:

asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
2,976
3,851
Montreal
allanwang.ca
Links

Frost is primarily distributed through XDA Labs (and no longer through the play store). The app is completely free and open sourced. All that I ask is you rate the app if you like it and give me feedback if there are issues so I can improve it :).

Alongside the release builds, there are automatic builds which are generated with each commit. Use this at your own discretion.
 
Last edited:

kos25k

Senior Member
Nov 15, 2012
3,197
444
thanks!but I am realy anxiety by the time when a FB app come out with option to see only photos from friends in news feed!
 

kos25k

Senior Member
Nov 15, 2012
3,197
444
how dude?for example I want to see only photos.I didn't find till now such an app neither option.I am really fed up with fb algorithm.full of craps are appearing in my news feed and for an unknown reason I dont see all of my friends photos..
 

asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
2,976
3,851
Montreal
allanwang.ca
how dude?for example I want to see only photos.I didn't find till now such an app neither option.I am really fed up with fb algorithm.full of craps are appearing in my news feed and for an unknown reason I dont see all of my friends photos..

Types of posts typically have different classes of attributes. You can use that to your advantage to filter out air you don't want to see. The downside is you are loading a lot of content that you don't actually need.
 

xk0niR

Senior Member
Jun 21, 2014
409
112
Is it possible (maybe with a small Substratum theme?) to change the App Opening/ Splash Screen to pure black?
 

asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
2,976
3,851
Montreal
allanwang.ca
Is it possible (maybe with a small Substratum theme?) to change the App Opening/ Splash Screen to pure black?

Even though the app itself is fully themable, I wrote it with substratum in mind. Overlays can replace the splash color, which should change the splash screen color.

I can add options in the future to toggle this without other modifications, but they have to be hardcoded and the activity package will need to be switched.
 

asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
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is it better than swipe for facebook?

I've talked with the dev of swipe before. If you want my honest opinion, I can't say that Frost is objectively better (right now). My app was made about 4 months ago, and I'm a full time student. Swipe was made well over a year ago, and is now the dev's full time job. We do have different backgrounds, and my background allows me to perhaps better structure my app, but the time difference means that swipe has more features than mine at the current stage. Some features are on my todo list, but it'll take time.

With that said, our apps offer different features. I don't have PIP Videos or Chat heads, but I have a lot of the points mentioned above. Some of them are exclusive to Frost as well. I'd say Swipe did a very good job in being innovative in this field, and I'm sure Frost will become another contender among its competitors.
 

nhicko95

Senior Member
I've talked with the dev of swipe before. If you want my honest opinion, I can't say that Frost is objectively better (right now). My app was made about 4 months ago, and I'm a full time student. Swipe was made well over a year ago, and is now the dev's full time job. We do have different backgrounds, and my background allows me to perhaps better structure my app, but the time difference means that swipe has more features than mine at the current stage. Some features are on my todo list, but it'll take time.

With that said, our apps offer different features. I don't have PIP Videos or Chat heads, but I have a lot of the points mentioned above. Some of them are exclusive to Frost as well. I'd say Swipe did a very good job in being innovative in this field, and I'm sure Frost will become another contender among its competitors.
i see thanks for that
 

Anvith Lobo

Member
Jan 18, 2016
15
0
Man I always hated the Facebook app! but damn this app is beautiful.

PS: does anyone know anything similar to instagram
 

Skittles9823

Inactive Recognized Contributor
Jan 9, 2015
1,821
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25
Sydney
Google Pixel 3a XL
Not sure if ive just messed up or if facebook is broken but i cant get the actual website portion of the app to load.


-EDIT-
Never mind. Just checked m.facebook.com its its straight up down.

Sent from my LG Nexus 5X using XDA Labs
 

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asdfasdfvful

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2013
2,976
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allanwang.ca
this is your modded instagram dude
https://xdaforums.com/android/apps-games/2-october-2017-v1-00-instagram-t3683899
bytheway..is it possible to hide fb active online status as x messenger privacy xposed module does?

Are they open source? Do you have a link? I stumbled across an accidentally feature that did that a while ago, but now it isn't working. If it's something feasible I may consider implementing something.

Add this app to fdroid :D

I've seen your request on github. I still have to change some things before it's compatible, but hopefully it will make its way there eventually.

Not sure if ive just messed up or if facebook is broken but i cant get the actual website portion of the app to load.


-EDIT-
Never mind. Just checked m.facebook.com its its straight up down.

Sent from my LG Nexus 5X using XDA Labs

Same here - seems to FB is (temporary?) broken..
Have try'd another FB App - same error message

Wow... thanks for the info. Within the past half hour I've received 4 one star ratings because of this and I wasn't sure what was going on. Hopefully Facebook fixes itself...
 

Skittles9823

Inactive Recognized Contributor
Jan 9, 2015
1,821
2,116
25
Sydney
Google Pixel 3a XL
Wow... thanks for the info. Within the past half hour I've received 4 one star ratings because of this and I wasn't sure what was going on. Hopefully Facebook fixes itself...

No worries dude. Yea those normal users do love to one star for reasons out of the devs control. Even though im yet to see facebook loading, it still looks beautiful. Love the transparent theme, fits perfectly with Quetzal Dark.

-edit-
Facebook mobile is back up.

Sent from my LG Nexus 5X using XDA Labs
 
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    This thread is no longer maintained. Please go to GitHub for future issues and discussions


    ------------------------------------------------

    Welcome to Frost for Facebook!

    Notice on Play Store removal

    Main web page

    Downloads through Github

    Frost for Facebook is also available through F-Droid

    Frost is a fully themable, fully functional alternative to the official Facebook app.
    While being a web wrapper, Frost contains many unique and native features such as:

    True multi user interactions - More than just an option in a settings menu, Frost's account switcher is right in the drawer. You are one tap away from switching accounts, and everything refreshes on the switch so that you can view other accounts instantaneously. Furthermore, the notification service will fetch notifications from all accounts, and will let you know which account has the new notification.
    Better multitasking - Frost contains an overlaying web browser that can be drawn on top of your foreground task. Open links and notifications with a full screen view, then swipe away to get back to your previous task.
    Contextual awareness - Frost integrates additional features via long presses. Need to copy a block of text or share a link? Long press the text. Need to zoom into an image or download it? Long press the image!
    Material Design - Built for lollipop and up, Frost focuses strongly on a beautiful and functional UI, and embraces material transitions and dimensions.
    Complete theme engine - Frost contains very comprehensive themes that customize all components of the app. Frost is also the only app to support transparent themes.
    Fully opened - Nothing speaks for privacy more than being open sourced. Frost is proud to be one of those apps, and can be found on github (Link in the app's about section)
    Fixes the little things - Frost is community driven, and many tweaks are added to address minor inconveniences and give a full native experience, despite being a web app. To list a few:
       • Focusing on a text input will prevent refreshing, so you don't accidentally swipe and lose your progress.
       • Horizontal swipe can be enabled along side the viewpager swipe with a simple long press
       • Automatic bug reports are sent when a crash is detected, so even if you don't contact the devs, you are helping contribute by using the app.

    Mandatory permissions used and why:

    • Internet, Network State, Wifi State - Frost fetches the pages from Facebook's mobile website. It also needs the network state so as to limit internet usage when you are on a metered network.
    • Receive Boot Completed - Frost notifications persist on reboot, and need this permission to be added each time.
    • Vibrate - Needed to vibrate phone for notifications; this can be toggled in the settings
    • Billing - For purchasing pro and unlocking all of Frost's features

    Optional permissions used and why:
    (these are only requested when they have to be, and are disabled until then)

    • Read/write external storage - Needed to upload photos in a new status and save photos when prompted
    • Fine/coarse location - Needed for the check in option if users wish to search for their location

    • That's it! No privacy intrusion and no extra demands.

    Permissions NOT used and why:

    • Wakelock - Frost takes advantage of Android's Job Scheduler, and lets the framework decide when to run background services. Frost therefore doesn't need to constantly run in the background, nor does it force your phone to stay awake.
    • Retrieve running apps - Frost has no need to access external apps or see what else is running
    • Identity - Frost manages its accounts internally and uses it solely to give you access to your account. We don't depend on other personal information and we don't even save your email.
    • Camera - While the camera permission can be added to allow you to directly take photos and upload them, we've decided that it would be best to allow you to do so externally and then share the photo with Frost

    * Frost is a third party app and is in no way affiliated with Facebook Inc.*
    46
    Hey all,

    As you have noticed, Frost has unfortunately been pulled down from the play store due to violations of forwarding traffic to a particular site (m.facebook.com). I'm not sure if this was picked up by the Google team themselves, or if an opposing app decided to flag me for this reason. It is pretty upsetting that only I have been flagged, but either way, it seems quite unlikely that it will go back again. I considered filing a request to address this, but I feel like it would be a never ending battle, and frankly not worth my time.

    The good news is that the app is fully open source, and that I have an apk source you can download from:
    https://github.com/AllanWang/Frost-for-Facebook-APK-Builder/releases/tag/v1885

    The version above is the latest release as of this date.

    The bad news is that pro will no longer work, since it isn't bound to the play store. For existing users, it should be just fine, so long as Google continues to honour the payments.

    So what is going to happen with Frost? As of now I'm not sure. I'm a full time university student and I haven't been able to devote as much time to Frost compared to the summer, but it's not a project I plan on ditching soon. I still use the app myself, and Facebook is a relatively important means of communication. For now, the most likely route seems to be a main release to F-Droid. This will mean that I have to remove crashlytics, the bug tracking (closed source) library, but it may also mean that I will go fully FOSS and release everything for free with donation options.

    Given that Frost has become quite mature, and continues to live on Google Play for those who have downloaded it, I think the pro version will continue to be a worthy purchase for those who got it, if even to support the development. However, if you feel like this change affects your decision and you've bought it after March 1, 2018, you can feel free to reach out to me with your purchase token and I will refund you.

    As a final note, Frost was never meant to be just for the money. Unlike some of the other applications, I don't inject ads in the free version so I can benefit from the user base. Frost has always been about offering a better solution, and in helping other developers in the process. My activity here will increase again when summer break is here, and for those of you who stick around, prepare to see more great things to come.
    34
    Links

    Frost is primarily distributed through XDA Labs (and no longer through the play store). The app is completely free and open sourced. All that I ask is you rate the app if you like it and give me feedback if there are issues so I can improve it :).

    Alongside the release builds, there are automatic builds which are generated with each commit. Use this at your own discretion.
    25
    Try this test release.

    Everything should be fixed here. In the future, I will try to set up a download manager within the app so updates are fetched automatically