Another example of arbitrary playstore rules killing a FOSS app - playstore version of termux is stuck on a 2-year-old release (0.101) and can't run on Android 10 at all. If you install from F-Droid - latest version is available (0.117) and works on Android 10, too.
FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
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Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is very black and white thinking. Large organizations can do both good and terrible things. Google still serves are huge portion of search traffic which pretty clearly is a good thing. Youtube has an incredible wealth of tutorials & educational content. Deepmind is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. Various OSS projects continue to be pushed out. Gmail has been an amazing free resource for millions etc.…
> Google still serves are huge portion of search traffic which pretty clearly is a good thing. Hard disagree there, a single company dominating search is not a good thing.
Some of us remember Lycos and AltaVista, you know.
The alternative isn't necessarily "there's five competing high quality google search competitors".
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#113Just wait 5-10 years and it will probably be the same way on Windows and MacOS. They will argue that installing arbitrary, unvetted software through the web is dangerous, so it's only reasonable for Microsoft and Apple to make this very difficult and instead promote installing all software through their app stores (which they already start doing). Once software is primarily distributed via these stores they will also start asking for a cut of any revenue that is made through that software. The reason it's not like that already isn't that they're very nice, it's just that historically computers were open platforms and it will take longer to convert them to the walled gardens that smartphones have been from the very beginning of their existence.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#114Earlier quoted context omitted.
These aren't payments. The user isn't purchasing anything.
Only one of these two statements is true.
"Developers charging for apps and downloads from Google Play must use Google Play's billing system as the method of payment. Play-distributed apps must use Google Play's billing system as the method of payment if they require or accept payment for access to features or services, including any app functionality, digital content or goods."
You're right, GP should have been more explicit: these aren't payments subject to Google Play's "us-only" policy.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#115Just wait 5-10 years and it will probably be the same way on Windows and MacOS. They will argue that installing arbitrary, unvetted software through the web is dangerous, so it's only reasonable for Microsoft and Apple to make this very difficult and instead promote installing all software through their app stores (which they already start doing). Once software is primarily distributed via these stores they will also…
We need to legislate requiring web installs of software for all computer and smartphone operating systems. Any device owner should be allowed to run their own software on their computer.
This bullshit has to stop.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#116Earlier quoted context omitted.
AMP failed.
I switched to Duck Duck Go on mobile as a direct result of AMP. So not only did AMP fail, but Google lost most of the eyeball time they were getting from me and they're not getting it back any time soon.
Yeah that was what made me switch to DDG from GSearch as well in late 2018.
I use the terminal theme in DDG, and it's become the canonical SERP in my mind. When I do !g every now and then, it feels like GSearch has become AltaVista with a dash of MySpace.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#117Tell Google how you feel about that by searching "google app store alternatives", then installing Aurora Store. https://auroraoss.com/ https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS From the Aurora Store FAQ: What is the difference between Aurora Store and Google's Play store? Unlike Google's Play Store, Aurora Store doesn't track your downloads or the apps you use. We respect your privacy. Aurora Store is also unaffected by Google ma…
This may also be relevant to those wishing to switch. In the part of the FAQ concerning using your own account to login.
>However, you may want to be careful as Google retains full rights to block any account under their Google Play Terms of Service §4 (opens new window), because using Aurora Store clearly violates their terms of services. Being banned means that the very Google account you used to sign in with will be blocked forever. It might be worth using a dummy account for that reason.
I don't know how often using aurora store has actually resulted in a ban though.
Here's the google play ToS:
https://play.google.com/intl/en-us_us/about/play-terms/index...
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Google still serves are huge portion of search traffic which pretty clearly is a good thing. Hard disagree there, a single company dominating search is not a good thing.
Some of us remember Lycos and AltaVista, you know. The alternative isn't necessarily "there's five competing high quality google search competitors".
I think the web felt a lot larger and more reachable in the Lycos and AltaVista days, I'd be happy to go back there over the nightmare we have now.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#119From looking at the report, I'm not sure I understand this decision. The referenced policy is about in-store or in-app purchases , primarily of digital content, and a free donation is not "purchasing" anything. (Even taking this precedent at face value, it could impact any app that prominently features links to websites where donations are asked for, which seems quite unreasonable.)
I think it's most likely this was done by someone lazy or not paying attention.
Re: FOSS app removed from the Play Store for linking to the project's website
#120Just wait 5-10 years and it will probably be the same way on Windows and MacOS. They will argue that installing arbitrary, unvetted software through the web is dangerous, so it's only reasonable for Microsoft and Apple to make this very difficult and instead promote installing all software through their app stores (which they already start doing). Once software is primarily distributed via these stores they will also…
The possibility of OS vendors forcing users to only install software from their walled gardens is the reason Valve started to support Linux, created their own Linux distro (Steam OS, now based on Arch Linux) and ultimately why Steam Deck was built.
IIRC the main trigger was Windows 8 that back then had a strong push to only use Windows Store to install software.
Valve could not conceivably continue doing business if OS vendors took a cut of all purchases via their walled garden store, not to mention having the OS vendor limit what games they can distribute and how.