A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions • Hacker News Board

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#111

Post by SCLeo » Tue, May 24, 2022, 4:18 PM UTC

josephcsible wrote: post #31

jokoon wrote: post #11

I use the calendar one. Since it went not free, the free version doesn't generate notifications or alerts anymore. I almost missed appointments or meetings because of this. This is planned obsolescence at best. I seriously despise everything about this.

You only have to pay if you want to get it from the Play Store. They make the pro version available for free on F-Droid.

... This is obviously not about the money. Everyone here can easily afford to buy the pro version off the Play Store. The issue is about them pushing people to pay by removing features AFTER they already invested their time, data, and habit into the app.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#112

Post by kupfer » Tue, May 24, 2022, 4:29 PM UTC

tjpnz wrote: post #68

Have there been any attempts to package multiple apps together as one? Imagine having a swiss army knife of FOSS apps for simple everyday tasks, with a single set of permissions and consistent UI/UX.

I think Öffi/Offi does that. I install one app and get three icons with different functionalities. I think it's a bit annoying, because I cannot hide them individually.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#113

Post by zimbatm » Tue, May 24, 2022, 4:37 PM UTC

glook wrote: post #42

I am a heavy user of f-droid and avoid these 'Simple' apps. The high level of nag is not just annoying but borders on begging. Having pro versions where you can change colors defeats the idea of open source. I hate bringing the negative energy, but there is a treasure of apps available with f-droid other than these. I am glad they have their own website and wish they just went and did their own thing there.

User buys a $600.- phone and then complains about a $2.- app. It's not enough that the application is open source, it should also be completely free of charge!

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#114

Post by Seb-C » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:02 PM UTC

Having tested dozens of Gallery apps, I have to say that I had a hard time finding one that does not do magic with my files, but rather uses the file system (directories) to organize it.

I have thousands of photos carefully sorted, categorized and synchronized with other devices, and Android's way of managing photos just does not work for me. Everything is messed up and ordered or grouped by some magic algorithm instead of showing me directories.

It seems that the app I'm using is somehow featured here now, but the previous version disappeared from the store? I'm confused and afraid of attempting any update because I don't want this feature to disappear.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#115

Post by shrimp_emoji » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:04 PM UTC

notyourday wrote: post #109

cortesoft wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I contribute to open source by writing it and participating in the community, not by spending dollars.

Alas, neither my grocery store nor does my landlord care about nice feels. Hence I do HTTP 402 Pay me.

And so your software will be poisoned by value extraction from the user, which will be inferior to software from someone not wanting to make money, which I'll use instead. :D

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#116

Post by teknopaul » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:12 PM UTC

todorov84 wrote: post #101

I don't trust this developer. For the last two years or so they tried to retire "Simple Gallery" (which already had no ads or extra permissions required) and move people to its paid version by releasing updates with nag screens and fewer and fewer functions (edit: removals). Every single time someone complained in a review, they would reply a canned answer: "Hey, there are many improvements in the Pro app version, it…

Agree. OpenSource but without the free as in beer. You have to pay if you don't want orange. They should try the service model every one else works on. App Stores are slightly responsible for reducing devs monetization options.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#117

Post by teknopaul » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:15 PM UTC

notyourday wrote: post #109

cortesoft wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I contribute to open source by writing it and participating in the community, not by spending dollars.

Alas, neither my grocery store nor does my landlord care about nice feels. Hence I do HTTP 402 Pay me.

Don't call it Open Source if you don't understand what it means. Call it shareware or freeware with nag screens.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#118

Post by teknopaul » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:17 PM UTC

phalangion wrote: post #110

mburee wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly, if you don't want to develop open source software, just don't do it

And if you don’t like how someone manages their open source software, don’t use it.

That's what peeps here are recommending. Save yourself a download if you are used to the normal OS model.

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#119

Post by lupire » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:18 PM UTC

teknopaul wrote: post #116

todorov84 wrote: post #101

I don't trust this developer. For the last two years or so they tried to retire "Simple Gallery" (which already had no ads or extra permissions required) and move people to its paid version by releasing updates with nag screens and fewer and fewer functions (edit: removals). Every single time someone complained in a review, they would reply a canned answer: "Hey, there are many improvements in the Pro app version, it…

Agree. OpenSource but without the free as in beer. You have to pay if you don't want orange. They should try the service model every one else works on. App Stores are slightly responsible for reducing devs monetization options.

You or anyone can fork it, right?

Re: A group of open source Android apps without ads or unnecessary permissions

#120

Post by teknopaul » Tue, May 24, 2022, 5:18 PM UTC

zimbatm wrote: post #113

glook wrote: post #42

I am a heavy user of f-droid and avoid these 'Simple' apps. The high level of nag is not just annoying but borders on begging. Having pro versions where you can change colors defeats the idea of open source. I hate bringing the negative energy, but there is a treasure of apps available with f-droid other than these. I am glad they have their own website and wish they just went and did their own thing there.

User buys a $600.- phone and then complains about a $2.- app. It's not enough that the application is open source, it should also be completely free of charge!

Yes, if its Open Source it should be free of charge.

Open Source means something, not just that the source code is available.