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Show HN: Gander, an Android file viewer that asks for no permissions at all

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Why This Matters

Gander is a lightweight, open-source Android file viewer that emphasizes privacy by operating offline without requesting any permissions. It consolidates viewing of various file types into a single app, providing a secure alternative to cloud-based document viewers. Its permissionless design makes it especially relevant for privacy-conscious users and those seeking a secure, offline solution in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways

Gander 🪿

Take a gander at any file. A tiny, open source, fully offline file viewer for Android that opens PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, photos, videos, audio, Markdown, text and code in one app, with zero permissions, no ads, no tracking and no internet access at all.

Every phone ships with a dozen half-viewers that bounce your documents to cloud services. Gander is the opposite: one small APK (about 15 MB) that renders everything on the device. It cannot phone home because it does not even hold the INTERNET permission.

Screenshots

Home: recents and folders Folder browsing PDF

Word (.docx) PowerPoint (.pptx) Excel (.xlsx)

Features

One viewer for everything : documents, spreadsheets, slides, images, video, audio, Markdown, code

: documents, spreadsheets, slides, images, video, audio, Markdown, code Pinch zoom and smooth scrolling everywhere, with deep zoom into huge photos (tiled decoding)

everywhere, with deep zoom into huge photos (tiled decoding) Recent files with thumbnail previews (image, video frame, PDF first page)

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