Re: Google Play Music

[Arlen Holder]

> On topic question of clarification please (no abbreviations please):
>
> Can someone summarize a few things for the rest of us on this thread:
> 1. What was Google Play Music good for (presumably streaming music)?
> 2. What is the suggested replacement (it's hard to believe it's YouTube)?
> 3. Was it a subscription or free service (seems like it was subscription)?
>
> If Google Play Music was a subscription for streaming ad-free music...
> o T'ain't there a ton of free ad-free "music streaming" alternatives?

Regarding:
o Google Play Music
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/zep7Cj0yCcw>
"Mike Easter asked...
GPM announced its demise and suggested YT, but I'm anti-YT.
I read a couple of articles about replacement, and one of those
suggested these: Music Player Go, Poweramp Music Player,
Omnia Music Player, Pulsar Music Player, VLC for Android, AIMP,
Simple Music Player, or Musicolet.
I currently simply/only play ripped CD mp3/s offline.
I'm only familiar w/ VLC linux and I favor open source.
Is there any reason that shouldn't be my choice?
I'm not inclined to audition several players. "

Googling... "What the heck is Google Play Music Anyway?"
o <https://i.duckduckgo.com/?q=what+is+google+play+music>

The first hit is an app on the Google Play Store:
o Google Play Music, by Google LLC
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music>

Which says it's
a. Free ad-supported music radio
b. Upload your own music to play on all platforms
Desktop: <https://googleplaymusicdesktopplayer.com/>
c. Subscription to on-demand music & downloads

Second hit is Wikipedia:
o <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play_Music>
"Google Play Music was a music and podcast streaming service
and online music locker operated by Google"
"In August 2020, Google announced that the service would start gradually
shutting down in September, and will be replaced by YouTube Music and
Google Podcasts by December 2020"

Third hit is Android Central:
o Google Play Music: Everything you need to know!
<https://www.androidcentral.com/google-play-music>
"YouTube Music is supposed to take over for Google Play Music"
"Purchased music will be migrated to YouTube Music"
"Uploaded music will be migrated to YouTube Music"
"If you still pay $8/month for Google Play Music, you'll keep paying
$8/month when Google Play Music is retired for YouTube Music."
Bear in mind, over a 50 year period, that's almost five thousand dollars.

Fourth hit is Android Authority:
o How to use Google Play Music
<https://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-use-google-play-music-845165/>
"It's a competitor for similar services like Apple Music, Spotify,
and Pandora."

"You can also use Google Play Music for free, though that is limited
to artist radios, limited skips, and ads."
What's a "skip"? (see below for answer)

"Once downloaded, fire up the app, and sign in with your Google account."
Well, that leaves me out then.

"If you don't subscribe to Google Play Music, you'll run into some
limitations"

"You'll get ads, and the occasional prompt to subscribe"

"You won't be able to play specific songs you're looking
for, only radio stations. They'll get you close to what you want,
but not to specific songs. You also have a limited number of skips,
up to six in an hour."
Ah, so that's what a 'skip' is....
--
Given the "suggested" replacement is "YouTube Music", I'll google that.

[Arlen Holder]

Apparently these are the extant Google Play Music apps:
o iOS:
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-play-music/id691797987>
o Windows/Linux/MacOS
<https://googleplaymusicdesktopplayer.com>
o Android:
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music>

And the extant YouTube Music apps:
o iOS
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/youtube-music/id1017492454>
o Windows/Linux/MacOS
<https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/thread/3938751>
o Android:
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.music>

Apparently Google suggests "YouTube Music" as the GPM replacement.
o <https://duckduckgo.com/?q=what+is+youtube+music>

I openly admit I'm no audiophile as I date to the days of the phonograph,
so I look for answers in this, the first hit of that GPM replacement search
o <https://music.youtube.com>

On Windows, I search for a random singer:
o <https://music.youtube.com/search?q=gordon+litefoot>

That shows a selection, & then an ad, and then up pops the song audio:
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=PH0K6ojmGZA&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

Second hit happened to be Android Central (I read in order of appearance)
o YouTube Music: Everything you need to know
<https://www.androidcentral.com/youtube-music>
"With YouTube Music, YouTube is ready to dominate the streaming market
with a music app built upon its video empire. YouTube Music has an app
with a truly unique interface, an unparalleled content library,
and more than a few kinks to work out, but YouTube Music is
here to stay and here to compete."
"The service starts at $9.99/month — but no one should pay that"
"There's no real sugar-coating it: using YouTube Music as a free user on
Android is bad. There are ads every three to six songs and you don't get
access to all of its features. YouTube Music is worlds better when you
pony up for the paid tier, and YouTube Premium is absolutely worth
paying for."

While I'm humming off key to the song, whose words I know by heart, I muse
obviously Android Central has never heard of NewPipe freeware created by
God herself for us freeware junkies...
o PSA: NewPipe v0.20.1 (YouTube ad-free clone on steroids) workaround posted earlier today [newpipe-FIXED.zip]
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/kjwJS4AeiVc>

While I was looking that up, the next song played, unasked for:
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=MeRlumGqZlY&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

Humming along, I read the next hit:
o YouTube Music or Google Play Music? Google's Music Services Explained
<https://www.pcmag.com/news/youtube-music-or-play-music-googles-music-services-explained>
"What's the difference between Google Play Music and YouTube Music?
Not much, which is why Google is merging them."
"Currently, Google has three overlapping audio-related services.
The first, and oldest, is Google Play Music. It lets you upload your own
music, or pay for a subscription to access more than 40 million songs.
It has machine learning-driven radio stations, curated playlists, and
even a section to subscribe to and listen to podcasts.
But it is also not long for this world"

"Then there's YouTube Music. With YouTube, of course, you can find music
videos for millions of songs - and watch them ad-free with
YouTube Premium."

Obviously, PC Magazine never heard that NewPipe works great on Windows!

"But if you're more interested in listening than watching, there's
YouTube Music. (Although, you can also watch music videos on YouTube
Music, so yeah, confusing.) YouTube Music, which launched in June 2018,
adds personalized radio stations, curated playlists, and a personal music
library. Ditch the ads and unlock some other features with YouTube Music
Premium, which costs $9.99 per month."

Note over a 50 year lifetime, that's six thousand dollars for what is free.

As I'm almost done... the next song queues up on my PC but breaks up
<https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fT_J-LNqVvw&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>
I wonder if it's breaking up on purpose? Dunno. Never used it before.
(It's not like I don't have tens of thousands of songs on my iPods and hard
drives already, which were simply slid onto the iPods using SharePod
freeware):
o Is there any functionality the iTunes abomination does, for a dual-boot Win/Ubuntu PC that can't be done, better, WITHOUT iTunes?
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.phone.mobile.iphone/F-gWC05h1xQ>

Oh... now I have an ad in Spanish! (Must be my VPN geolocating to Spain?)
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=Oddo4MVeeBY&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

Lynyrd Skynyrd is fine but I click on another Gordon Lightfoot to test it:
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RxE51jXbe4s&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

While I listen to that, again, breaking up a bit (I get my Internet over
WISP from a half dozen miles away over the air, so it could be that or the
VPN which switches among over six thousand vpn servers all day every day).

Next hits seem to be more instructive than informative:
o How Google's YouTube Music compares to Spotify and Apple Music
<How Google’s YouTube Music compares to Spotify and Apple Music>
"YouTube Music's introduction coincided with the rebranding of
YouTube Red to YouTube Premium, the company's ad-free video
subscription service, and a refresh of the previous YouTube Music app."

Why anyone pays for YouTube Red is beyond me, given New Pipe is great.
o Update on NewPipe freeware which allows you to search/view/download/rip/subscribe/etc. to YouTube videos all WITHOUT seeing a single ad or having a Google Account
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/oP8hpaZs480>

While I was reading that, the Windows browser started playing Bellamy Bros.
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-gz-kj8NXCA&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

Which I switch to something more to my liking, and after suffering through
some kind of foreign language ad (again, likely due to the random VPNs)
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=B34qwRrkSvQ&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

While humming to that (more breaks in the music, so the streaming sucks):
o YouTube Music and YouTube Premium, explained
<https://www.tomsguide.com/us/youtube-music-youtube-premium-faq,news-27226.html>
"YouTube Music will feature everything you expect from a streaming music
service, including millions of songs, albums, thousands of playlists
and artist based radio. Its major differentiator is YouTube's
"catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos"
that aren't on other platforms."

While reading up on that, I get a bit of Crosby Stills & Nash:
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=OvGfQCsfzUo&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>

Still, I wonder what earthly advantage is this site over NewPipe?
o Why hasn't anyone ported the fantastic NewPipe open source code to iOS (which gets around Google's restriction on free iOS 14 PIP)
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.phone.mobile.iphone/zkylXbJDCc0>

Scrolling along the sides, I don't see any more Gordon Litefoot.
o So I just let it run through the Google-chosen selections...

Moving to the next hit...
o YouTube Music is replacing Google Play Music: Here's where, when, and why
<https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/what-happens-to-google-play-music-youtube-music/>
"YouTube Red is now called YouTube Premium, and it will still provide an
ad-free experience across all of YouTube, along with background play,
the ability to download videos to watch offline, and access to YouTube
Originals. YouTube Premium includes the new YouTube Music Premium
experience, though, so its price is now $12 per month, as opposed to the
previous $10 price tag for YouTube Red.

So to break it down: YouTube Music lets you stream music with ads.
YouTube Music Premium lets you stream music without ads, and has a few
extra perks. YouTube Premium gives you an ad-free experience on YouTube,
with some additional features and access to YouTube Music Premium."

Again, hasn't anyone on the Internet ever heard of New Pipe freeware?
o NewPipe freeware was updated recently to version 0.19.3
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/HBrXIReEJr4>

Moving on...
o How to Enable High-Quality Audio Streaming in YouTube Music
<https://www.howtogeek.com/676941/how-to-enable-high-quality-audio-streaming-in-youtube-music/>
"As everything is set to Normal by default, you'll want to increase the
quality, especially while listening at home."

Just to report what Google is playing, it's American Woman
o <https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=uDOQguimngQ&list=RDAMVMPH0K6ojmGZA>
--
See also:
o Have you been able to get NewPipe freeware running yet on Windows?
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/rfyVKidB8X8>

[Arlen Holder]

On Sun, 1 Nov 2020 20:38:37 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder wrote:

> See also:
> o Have you been able to get NewPipe freeware running yet on Windows?
> <https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/rfyVKidB8X8>

BTW, before you try reputed "Google Play Music" replacements you should try
out NewPipe freeware which works on Android & under free emulation on a PC.
o <https://newpipe.schabi.org/>

Here are some screenshots I took recently to help others set it up:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/MpcJdvbq/share01.jpg> Bring up NewPipe 0.20.2
o <https://i.postimg.cc/Zqptz2MQ/share02.jpg> Search for Feynman Lectures
o <https://i.postimg.cc/9M23m13Q/share03.jpg> While playing, tap to share
o <https://i.postimg.cc/d1jbLdvm/share04.jpg> Without playing, longpress search results to share
o <https://i.postimg.cc/dt1bVLfr/share05.jpg> The result is then shared

Here are some GUI snapshots:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/2yYK4N0W/newpipe02.jpg> Picture in Picture
o <https://i.postimg.cc/90BNbgkn/newpipe03.jpg> Allow overlay display
o <https://i.postimg.cc/XYN9Khm3/newpipe04.jpg> About NewPipe & Trending
o <https://i.postimg.cc/3xLmt1QG/newpipe05.jpg> NewPipe GUI & Trending
--
See also:

[Arlen Holder]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2020 07:17:29 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

>> What was Google Play Music good for (presumably streaming music)?
>

> For me, I only used it offline to play ripped mp3/s, an ersatz iPod
> player of stored media data.

Thanks Mike for answering the question as a lot of OP's don't answer
questions, which means it's hard for the team to help them out.

If you were streaming, and, particularly if you were _paying_ to stream,
then my expertise in using NewPipe for years would be of benefit to you.
o <https://newpipe.schabi.org>
o <https://newpipe.schabi.org/blog/pinned/release/newpipe-0.20.0/>
o <https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/>
<https://i.postimg.cc/9fyRGjbN/audio02.jpg>

Since you're simply playing the songs that are already archived, I can't
help you more but others can help you as I'm sure they're doing the same.

For me, as I noted earlier, I simply use these two tools for archived MP3s:
o Music Player by SimpleMobileTools <com.simplemobiletools.musicplayer> 5.4.1 (72)
o Music Player GO <com.iven.musicplayergo> version 4.19 (143)
<https://i.postimg.cc/6pk42Qrv/audio01.jpg>

I think the URLs are the following but I hope others have better advice:
o SimpleMobileTools <https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools>
o Music Player GO <https://github.com/enricocid/Music-Player-GO>

Note: Android apps usually work just fine on the PC with free emulation.
--
The few people who are purposefully helpful are who make Usenet wonderful.

[Mike Easter]

Arlen Holder wrote:
> For me, as I noted earlier, I simply use these two tools for archived MP3s:
> o Music Player by SimpleMobileTools <com.simplemobiletools.musicplayer> 5.4.1 (72)
> o Music Player GO <com.iven.musicplayergo> version 4.19 (143)
> <https://i.postimg.cc/6pk42Qrv/audio01.jpg>

Those two were named in the 'best' 8 from the article in my OP:

Earlier:
> I read a couple of articles* about replacement, and one of those suggested these: Music Player Go, Poweramp Music Player, Omnia Music Player, Pulsar Music Player, VLC for Android, AIMP, Simple Music Player, or Musicolet.


https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/10/22/the-8-best-local-music-players-on-android-now-that-google-play-music-is-dead/
The 8 best local music players on Android, now that Google Play Music
is dead


--
Mike Easter

[sms]

On 11/2/2020 8:48 AM, Mike Easter wrote:

<snip>

> https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/10/22/the-8-best-local-music-players-on-android-now-that-google-play-music-is-dead/
>  The 8 best local music players on Android, now that Google Play Music
> is dead

I really like "Music Folder Player"
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.zorillasoft.musicfolderplayer>.

[Arlen Holder]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2020 08:48:50 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

> https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/10/22/the-8-best-local-music-players-on-android-now-that-google-play-music-is-dead/
> The 8 best local music players on Android, now that Google Play Music
> is dead

Hi Mike,

We've worked together a lot, where I appreciate your purposefully helpful
advice, so I strive to pay back where and when I can when you ask for help.

I belatedly realized I had AIMP in my to-be-tested "someday" folder:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/fRNg5hn0/audio01.jpg>

Hence I had 4 of those top 8 free music players as I had VLC under video:
o <https://i.postimg.cc/XvN1Scvj/video01.jpg>

All my 500 or so apps are free, ad free, and usually Google-free
o Where "Aurora Store" tells us which are GSF independent & ad free
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/>
Note: Aurora completely replaces "Google Play" in its entirety!
[You don't ever need to set the operating system to an "account".]
(Which gives you privacy that you can't get on iOS which requires it.]

The great news is the free mobile apps work fantastically on the PC also!
o That gives us terabytes of MP3 audio to choose from at any time!
(And the same user interface, if that's your schtick.)

So that all benefit from every post, here are Mike's cite's suggested URLs:
o Music Player Go
o Developer: Ivan D'Ortenzio
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.iven.musicplayergo/>
<https://github.com/enricocid/Music-Player-GO>

o Poweramp Music Player (Trial)
o Developer: Max MP
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxmpz.audioplayer>

o Omnia Music Player - Hi-Res MP3 Player, APE Player
o Developer: Rhythm Software
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rhmsoft.omnia>

o Pulsar Music Player - Mp3 Player, Audio Player
o Developer: Rhythm Software
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rhmsoft.pulsar>

o VLC for Android
o Developer: Videolabs
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc>

o AIMP
o Developer: Artem Izmaylov
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aimp.player>

o Simple Music Player
o Developer: Simple Mobile Tools
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.musicplayer>

o Musicolet Music Player [No ads]
o Developer: Krosbits
<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/>
--
There is almost no software on a computer that you need to pay for.

[Arlen Holder]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2020 14:08:19 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

> I was able to restore GPM to the 'original factory' v. with the
> settings/ applications/ function which works again w/ my mp3 storage;
> but there is not a setting for it to not update. I seem to recall some
> updating process by which I was notified of updates, but I don't recall
> being able to pick and choose which.

Hi Mike,

My recommendation is to install an "auto archiver" which saves all the APKs
so that whenever _any_ app "updates" (for whatever reason), you _still_
have the old APK saved off on your sdcard (or wherever you tell it to go).

Note: I often save all APKs to Windows which has terabytes of storage, and
which allows easy organization & installation onto any number of Android
devices (which, again, is something the poor iOS users can't possibly do).

There's a setting to save _every_ version so you can "roll back" to any
desired version, as long as you installed it at one point in your history.

This is one of those fantastic features of Android that the poor iOS users
don't even know they lack - where - luckily - you can easily set this up at
any time, since it archives even system apps that are already installed:
o What method you use to backup & share your installed apps on Android?
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/FsRRoQbdKeo>

o What free non-root Android backup & restore solution do you recommend for general use?
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/jZ8IxxgXFys>

o Tutorial: How to back up non-root Android apps and their data over Wi-Fi using Helium freeware on Windows
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/ZUEJUrPrEog>

Another trick, which it seems you may have used, which works for system
apps that can't be removed (i.e., if you're not root), is to "uninstall"
all the updates, so that only the original app is left on the system (which
is the app version the mobile device was born with).

You can then manually archive that APK (see links above) in case it gets
accidentally "updated" (by whatever method), so that you'll _always_ be
able to get back to the last known good version you liked best.

Good luck, as I thank you for helping me a lot over the decades.
--
On Usenet, you find out that intelligent people do exist, which is nice.

[Arlen Holder]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2020 17:45:25 -0800, Mike Easter wrote:

> Apparently my apps get so far behind because most of the time that phone
> is turned off, so apparently it doesn't 'check in' by wifi regularly.

o <https://i.postimg.cc/NjkLvYdy/aurora01.jpg> aurora replaces google play
o <https://i.postimg.cc/W3h4ZZTr/aurora02.jpg> filters stuff Google won't
o <https://i.postimg.cc/ZR25xq5Q/aurora03.jpg> spoofing & updating settings

Mike,
It has been my experience that almost no apps "get much better" over time.
o Not on Windows, not on Linux, not on Android, nor on iOS

Hence, my recommendation is NOT to update an app unless it definitely has
something in the newer version that you _know_ is something you want.

In fact, my $100 Moto G7 updates the OS far too much for my liking, IMHO,
o Are they updating your Android device too frequently lately?
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/a_62P0R-O6M>

In effect, the only apps I bother to update are those that need to be
updated, e.g., NewPipe recently got screwed by Google messing with their
YouTube API, so we all had to update it to the latest version.

o PSA: NewPipe v0.20.1 (YouTube ad-free clone on steroids) workaround posted earlier today [newpipe-FIXED.zip]
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/kjwJS4AeiVc>

In summary, unless an app _requires_ an update, I leave it alone.

BTW, I use the Aurora Store instead of Google Play (for privacy):
o <https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/>

Aurora downloads the _exact_ same APKs (it's an anon Google Store scraper
just like NewPipe is an anon Google YouTube scraper just like AddressToGps
is an anon Google Maps scraper) so you don't have to worry about malware.
o <https://i.postimg.cc/NjkLvYdy/aurora01.jpg>

What I love about Aurora store is they give you filters Google Play won't
give you, e.g., you can filter out all Google apps for example, which
obviously Google Play wouldn't let you do.

You can filter on free, ad free and GSF free, which is my default.
o <https://i.postimg.cc/W3h4ZZTr/aurora02.jpg>

You can even spoof your device, location, and language so that you can
access more apps than otherwise (I've never needed this though).
o <https://i.postimg.cc/ZR25xq5Q/aurora03.jpg>

Even so, just like with Google Play, there is a setting for auto updating
the apps, which, in your case, you'd need to ensure was turned off.
--
Usenet allows purposefully helpful people to share their experiences.

[Arlen Holder]

On Mon, 2 Nov 2020 20:23:12 -0700, 123456789 wrote:

> In my 2013 Astro version there's none of that crap. It was (and still is
> for me) a very basic no frills app. A file manager with APK backup
> capability. That's it. I have tried some later versions and hated them
> all. Kinda proves our point about keeping old versions, huh... ;)

Thanks for that clarification as it's good to know what's the last known
good version of some of these file manager apps (e.g., ES File Explorer
used to be good but it went over to the dark side long ago).
o <https://i.postimg.cc/rmvDBN8Q/files01.jpg>

I agree with you that most programs that are good, don't usually get better
with success - they get worse - or more to the point - with successful
downloads, the developers are approached by others to slip in their
"goodies", such as "market research" opportunities and the like.

Or, like CCleaner was on Windows, they're sold to the bad guys
o (e.g., the saying "Corel is where good software goes to die.")

We seem to have the same philosophy, which is born of experience:
a. Keep only the best apps
b. Autoarchive the APK (just in case they get updated)
b. Don't update the app unless absolutely necessary

In keeping with our combined experience, my favorite autoarachiver of
choice also went over to the dark side at some point in time (AFAIK)
when it switched from "Apex Apps" to "Trustlab"

This old version has no ads + an intuitive exit:
o App Backup & Restore <mobi.infolife.appbackup> 4.1.9 (79) Apex Apps
This newer version has obnoxious ads + an obnoxious exit:
o App Backup & Restore <mobi.usage.appbackup> 1.6.0 (60) Trustlab
Note: The version 4.1.9 is _older_ than the version 1.6.0 of the app.

This is the current crapware that went over to the dark side at some point
o Backup & Restore, by Trustlook Security Lab
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.appbackup>

Notice it has 10,000,000+ installs, but I feel sorry for those who had the
"update" button checked, because it got worse when it switched from Apex
Apps to Trustlab & then worse yet when it went to Trustlook Security Lab.
o <https://www.facebook.com/appbackuprestore/>

Now, people can pay twenty bucks just to get rid of the obnoxious ads...
o <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobi.infolife.appbackuppro>

Or, they can just use the older 4.1.9 APK from Apex Apps, like I do.
o They get automatic APK backup of every version, even installed sys apps
--
On Usenet, purposefully helpful people combine experiences so all benefit.