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Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

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Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#271
post #262
post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. F-Droid/Amazon/whatever can't automatically update installed apps unless the phone is rooted. It's not an even playing field - Google has a de facto monopoly on Android.

> unless the phone is rooted. That's absolutely not true at all. All that happens is that, the first time you try to install from such an application (or any other application other than your store, eg: the first time you try to install an apk after you download it from your browser), a settings windows appears telling you this application can't install more applications on your phone until you give it permissions. F…

Comment you replied to was talking about automatic updates, not installing apps. Google Play and vendor installed apps can automatically update apps in the background without needing to prompt the user for permission to install each individual update, while a typical f-droid install requires the user to click through each update and press “install” at the prompt. This can be fixed by making f-droid a system app, which requires root or an unlocked bootloader.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#273
post #242

I like the way that the author of Simple Mobile Tools [0] made donations. Applications are free and open source, but there is a paid app Simple Thank You [1]. That's also how I was thinking about doing "donationware" on a mobile app store. Side note: They are also available on F-Droid. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/cluster?clp=ig... [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobi.…

This is against policy. Not sure if it is enforced though

https://play.google.com/about/spam-min-functionality/min-fun...

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#275
post #262
post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. F-Droid/Amazon/whatever can't automatically update installed apps unless the phone is rooted. It's not an even playing field - Google has a de facto monopoly on Android.

> unless the phone is rooted. That's absolutely not true at all. All that happens is that, the first time you try to install from such an application (or any other application other than your store, eg: the first time you try to install an apk after you download it from your browser), a settings windows appears telling you this application can't install more applications on your phone until you give it permissions. F…

That's absolutely true.

To install apps without user prompt on Android, you need INSTALL_PACKAGE permission. Guess what? You cannot use that permission on third-party apps (meaning any app installed by the user, in opposition to apps that are pre-installed on the ROM), since it's for first-party apps only. The documentation backup this claim: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.per... Without that permission, you cannot have automatic updates.

The feature you are referring to and shows in your screenshot refers to the ability to launch an APK install prompt (that the user have to click through) using an Intent. It cannot be considered as automatic update. So, yeah, it's not an even playing field.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#277

A general comment: the need of the hour is to educate the billions of 'ordinary' computer users about the basics of software, privacy, security and trust. We must not fall into the narrative being parroted around off-late that considers end-users as pretty much dumb content consumers who should not be expected to ever know even the minimum about the underlying tech and therefore every decision needs to be made for th…

I've tried to educate many people on a personal level and failed miserably almost every time, being perceived and dismissed as an evangelist for some weird ideology they don't care about (and I took it very slow and tried really, really hard not to sound as one). Maybe they are right, after all? Who am I to dictate or even influence what they should care about, especially if they don't experience that clearly. People…

I wonder, were at some point doctors warning about cancer from second-hand smoking dismissed like that.

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#278
post #242

I like the way that the author of Simple Mobile Tools [0] made donations. Applications are free and open source, but there is a paid app Simple Thank You [1]. That's also how I was thinking about doing "donationware" on a mobile app store. Side note: They are also available on F-Droid. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/cluster?clp=ig... [1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobi.…

This is against policy. Not sure if it is enforced though https://play.google.com/about/spam-min-functionality/min-fun...

I think it's pretty common though, for example buying a "key" separately from the main app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas....

Re: Open-source apps removed from Google Play Store due to donation links

#279
post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Totally broken implementation” is very close to BS, at least strongly exaggerated. They’re both highly successful distribution models. Of course, every system has downsides. You’re free not to participate

Really? It's basically impossible to distribute apps for iOS outside the AppStore and very difficult (all security, warranty warnings, settings, etc.) to distribute them outside the PlayStore.

Yeah... really. As a user, I (and >99% of others) just don't care about the distribution channel. The stores work. I've never been hit by a security issue. Choice is plentiful. Prices are ok.

So "totally broken" just isn't a rational description.

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