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Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

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Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#41
post #20

Genuine question – do Android people get ads in their OS default camera, calculator, calendar, phone, file-manager or SMS messaging applications? Or do have these Fossify application some extra privacy features that do not come with the default ones?

>Or do have these Fossify application some extra privacy features that do not come with the default ones?

It's this one. Google's built-in apps are closed source with undisclosed telemetry. Fossify are open source, and they don't send your contacts or calendar entries to Google. Google's apps also serve Google ecosystem lock-in, and Google's ecosystem serves ads.

The non-google options on the Play store give you the option of not sending telemetry to Google, but at the cost of typically violating privacy in other ways or including ads.

Fossify avoids either of those costs.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#42
post #20

Genuine question – do Android people get ads in their OS default camera, calculator, calendar, phone, file-manager or SMS messaging applications? Or do have these Fossify application some extra privacy features that do not come with the default ones?

Us Android people like to use open-source software. A stark contrast to Apple people.

I think many Apple users, especially people in the software industry, would prefer Apple software to be open source. It's not that they don't care, it's just that Apple quality is superior in multiple ways (hardware and software).

And it's not a coincidence that their software is closed. They can command ridiculously high margins and continue to invest in high quality products.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#43
post #38

This really tells a story about the sad state of android devices, that you have to use third party apps for basic stuff like the file manager to avoid spyware/adware.

I use hundreds, if not thousands, of third party software in my Linux OS and I don't think the OS is in a sad state.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#45

The apps are so simple, so clear, no fuss, no ads, no nothing. Just the functionality you need from every app. Excellent work! This is the only project I immediately "donated" with the Thank You app.

Me too, but I hate having the useless Thank You app installed

You can donate, remove the thank you app and use the f-droid versions.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#46
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't see any ads on the mentioned apps on my Pixel phone. I do have ads in the Play Store app and in the Gmail app, though.

Google photos these days on my pixel constantly has various prompts to turn on their backup service. It is so intrusive it might as well count as an ad. Fortunately Aves is pretty good.

Google Photos also sometimes promotes a printing service. I forgot about that.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#47
post #20

Genuine question – do Android people get ads in their OS default camera, calculator, calendar, phone, file-manager or SMS messaging applications? Or do have these Fossify application some extra privacy features that do not come with the default ones?

Not having ads doesn't mean they aren't full of trackers.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#48

After my smartphone vendor's SMS app, and Google Messages both started serving me non-stop loans ads and gambling ads (never gambled ever in my life), I switched to Fossify Messages, and it has been going great for me. Never looked back.

Where are ads displayed in your Google Messages? I have never seen any ads and I struggle to even imagine where they would place an ad within its interface.

Re: Fossify – A suite of open-source, ad-free apps

#50
post #20

Genuine question – do Android people get ads in their OS default camera, calculator, calendar, phone, file-manager or SMS messaging applications? Or do have these Fossify application some extra privacy features that do not come with the default ones?

No ads on the original apps, but these do have privacy benefits, they also just don't have useless features like the AI stuff that keeps getting crammed into default apps.
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