Stack Exchange for Android brings the full experience to mobiles

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 28, 2014
Apps, Google Android
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Stack Exchange is a network of questions and answers sites, and probably best known around here for the programming site Stack Overflow, the computing site Super user, it its math site.

The site is not limited to technology even though that is a strong part of it. You will also find business, life and arts, or culture and recreation groups on the network.

The sites do all use the same technology to operate and look like other "answers" types of sites on first glance. What sets it apart, besides the fact that the quality of answers is usually higher than in places such as Yahoo Answers, is that anybody can ask a question or post an answer on most groups, even without an account.

What is also different are the various gamification elements of the site, with users gaining reputation or badges while using the site.

Stack Exchange has released the official Android app for the service. The operators note that an iOS version is also in the making and will be launched later.

Stack Exchange for Android

stack exchange android super-user

The application for Android is free of charge and can be downloaded directly from the Google Play store. You do not need an account to use it, but can sign up for one or log in to an existing account.

You will notice that the generic feed that is displayed to you then is a bit off, or at least, it is off on my Galaxy Note 2 phone. Instead of just displaying one column of articles like you see on the first screenshot above, it displays a second cut off column to the right of that. It is very likely that this will get fixed soon however.

The feed is a new feature which does more than just display a list of topics from the sites you are subscribed to. Instead, it is a mix of all of your replies -- answers, comments, chat messages -- interesting questions tailored to your interests, and customized recommendations of questions that the app believes you can answer, based on sites and tags you participate in.

You can add sites that you are interested in, so that you can switch quickly between them using the app. All sites you subscribed to are listed on the left menu for fast access.

The sites look all identical when you open them. Active questions are displayed by default on the screen, which you can change at the top to use a different sorting filter such as newest or top.

sites-feed stack overflow mobile

Each question is displayed prominently, with the number of votes and answers listed next to it. When you open a question with a tap, you are taken to it right away. Here you find the question in detail, and all available answers.

The application supports notifications, which will be displayed whenever you receive a new inbox message on Stack Exchange. Notifications can be customized in the settings, for instance to set up quiet hours, or switch from vibration to sound.

The app asks for several permissions such as full network access, find accounts on the device, or modify or delete file contents of your USB stoage, which are all explained on the Stack Overflow website.

Verdict

If you are a Stack Exchange user, then using the app is a no-brainer provided that you have access to an Android device. If you are new to the site, you may also use it to get to know it. Since you do not need an account to browse the app, it is ideal for that as well.

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Comments

  1. bruh said on August 18, 2023 at 1:25 pm
    Reply

    Uhh, this has already been possible – I am not sure how but remember my brother telling me about it. I’m not a whatsapp user so not sure of the specifics, but something about sending the image as a file and somehow bypassing the default compression settings that are applied to inbound photos.

    He has also used this to share movies to whatsapp groups, and files 1Gb+.

    Like I said, I never used whatsapp, but I know 100% this isn’t a “brand new feature”, my brother literally showed me him doing it, like… 5 months ago?

  2. 💥 said on August 18, 2023 at 3:55 pm
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    Martin, what happened to those: 12 Comments (https://www.ghacks.net/chatgpt-gets-schooled-by-princeton-university/#comments). Is there a specific justifiable reason why they were deleted?

    Hmm, it looks like the gHacks website database is faulty, and not populating threads with their relevant cosponsoring posts.

  3. 45 RPM said on August 19, 2023 at 6:29 pm
    Reply

    The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk that it’s about to be deleted from my ‘daily reads’.

    It’s really like “Press Release as re-written by some d*ck for clicks…poorly.” And the subjects are laughable. Can’t wait for “How to search for files on Windows”.

    1. owl said on August 20, 2023 at 12:51 am
      Reply

      > The page on ghacks this is on represents the best of why it has become so worthless, fill of click-bait junk…

      Sadly, I have to agree.

      Only Martin and Ashwin are worth subscribing to.
      Especially Emre Çitak and Shaun are the worst ones.

      If ghacks.net intended “Clickbait”, it would mark the end of Ghacks Technology News.
      Ghacks doesn’t need crappy clickbaits. Clearly separate articles from newer authors (perhaps AIs and external sales person or external advertising man) as just “Advertisements”!

      We, the subscribers of Ghacks, urge Martin to make a decision.

  4. chessandonions said on August 20, 2023 at 12:40 am
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    because nevermore wants to “monetize” on every aspect of human life…

  5. Frank Rizzo said on August 20, 2023 at 11:52 pm
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    “Threads” is like the Walmart of Social Media.

  6. Ashray said on August 21, 2023 at 4:06 pm
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    How hard can it be to clone a twitter version of that as well? They’re slow.

  7. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:16 pm
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    Yes, why not mention how large the HD files can be?
    Why, not mention what version of WhatsApp is needed?
    These omissions make the article feel so bare. If not complete.

    1. Paul(us) said on August 21, 2023 at 5:18 pm
      Reply

      Sorry posted on the wrong page.

  8. Marc said on August 21, 2023 at 6:00 pm
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    such a long article for such a simple matter. Worthless article ! waste of time

  9. plusminus_ said on August 21, 2023 at 7:54 pm
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    I already do this by attaching them via the ‘Document’ option.

  10. John G. said on August 21, 2023 at 11:43 pm
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    I don’t know what’s going on here at Ghacks but it’s obvious that something is broken, comments are being mixed whatever the article, I am unable to find some of my later posts neither. :S

  11. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:28 pm
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    Quoting the article,
    “As users gain popularity, the value of their tokens may increase, allowing investors to reap rewards.”

    Besides, beyond the thrill and privacy risks or not, the point is to know how you gain popularity, be it on social sites as everywhere in life. Is it by being authentic, by remaining faithful to ourselves or is it to have this particular skill which is to understand what a majority likes, just like politicians, those who’d deny to the maximum extent compatible with their ideological partnership, in order to grab as many of the voters they can?

    I see the very concept of this Friend.tech as unhealthy, propagating what is already an increasing flaw : the quest for fame. I won’t be the only one to count himself out, definitely.

    1. Tom Hawack said on August 23, 2023 at 2:34 pm
      Reply

      @John G. is right : my comment was posted on [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/23/what-is-friend-tech/] and it appears there but as well here at [https://www.ghacks.net/2023/07/08/how-to-follow-everyone-on-threads/]

      This has been lasting for several days. Fix it or at least provide some explanations if you don’t mind.

  12. Tom said on August 24, 2023 at 11:53 am
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    > Google Chrome is following in Safari’s footsteps by introducing a new feature that allows users to move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen, enhancing user accessibility and interaction.

    Firefox did this long before Safari.

  13. Mavoy said on September 16, 2023 at 2:17 pm
    Reply

    Basically they’ll do anything except fair royalties.

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