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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

#211

Post by CountHackulus »

krageon wrote: post #132
Santosh83 wrote: post #86

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…

> who should not be expected to ever know even the minimum about the underlying tech I have worked in this industry for long enough to know that even assuming a minimum of knowledge at all is a bad idea. You can fight this fight as you want, but this comment has nothing in it to convince be otherwise.

Why do you think this? It's a pretty bold statement.

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

#212

Post by panpanna »

Pxtl wrote: post #204
Steltek wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't conflate Apple's monopoly with Google's store. Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. The only thing stopping people is satisfaction with the status quo and/or ignorance. However, Apple totally rules their walled garden, with some added gross exploitation to boot (recent "Sherlocking" story for Luna Display).

I have to say, I'm really disappointed how few open-source projects are even on F-Droid. It feels like every time I hear about a new OSS android app, I look for it on F-Droid and find it's only on the Play Store.

It's partially on fdroid.

It's not always trivial to submit new apps and ensure it compiles correctly on their build servers. Same goes for updates, which can be silently dropped due to any number of tool issues.

If you are a front or backend developer please consider investing a weekend or two helping fdroid improve their systems.

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

#213

Post by codazoda »

lovelearning wrote: post #179
Steltek wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't conflate Apple's monopoly with Google's store. Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. The only thing stopping people is satisfaction with the status quo and/or ignorance. However, Apple totally rules their walled garden, with some added gross exploitation to boot (recent "Sherlocking" story for Luna Display).

Android/Google don't make it easy though. Installing an APK requires a security setting change. Search results for "install f-droid on android" on google are very unhelpful for a general user compared to search results from DDG or Bing.

I've never used f-droid, but decide to try it on my (original) Pixel XL. I clicked "Download" and the file saved. I pulled down the top drawer and opened the file with "files". I clicked the APK and got a security warning with a link to the exact "settings" page where I change it. I clicked the security option off. I returned to files and clicked the APK again and it installed.

This is very wordy and sounds a bit complicated, but it was simply a few extra taps and it installed. A pretty good balance of not too easy that a novice might do it by accident and still accessable.

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

#214

Post by chrisseaton »

Vogtinator wrote: post #95
segfaultbuserr wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The strangest fact is, those donation pages only have some links, there is no in-app payment. I don't understand what Google is thinking about when they banned donations... Wait. I suddenly understand something I've seen previously... There is a workaround! You simply upload two versions of the app, the free edition and the supporter edition. The support's edition is a paid app. You can ask the users who want to supp…

That way google gets a cut of the donation.

What’s wrong with that? They’re paying to host and review the app and create the platform it runs on.

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

#215

Post by oefrha »

Steltek wrote: post #169
djsumdog wrote: post #138

The Apple/Play stores are essentially a totally broken implementation of something that had existed for over a decade before: package repositories. It's embraced and extended Linux/BSD package/ports trees, except without things like the ability to add a 3rd party repository with other authors signing keys, pin certain versions, etc. https://battlepenguin.com/tech/android-fragmentation/#packag... We could go on about…

Don't conflate Apple's monopoly with Google's store. Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. The only thing stopping people is satisfaction with the status quo and/or ignorance. However, Apple totally rules their walled garden, with some added gross exploitation to boot (recent "Sherlocking" story for Luna Display).

The sherlocking story is as gross as, say, systemd implementing systemd.timer so that users don’t need a crappy, third-party, paid version of cron anymore (okay, the analogy breaks down since it’s pretty hard to find something less gross). Not that I’m a big fan of systemd, or stopped using cron.

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

#216

Post by whalesalad »

xnyan wrote: post #193
whalesalad wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your analogy is certainly interesting... but expecting everyone to want or know how to look under the hood of their car is a little delusional. Most people don’t even know or care to check their oil. They drive from A to B and only take their car in for service when a light is illuminated on the dash or if it’s making a funny noise. Personally, I do all my own maintenance and love to look under my hood. My wife? She’…

A better analogy might be a hood locked with a separate key only Apple has. Your wife wants to visit an experienced local car shop? Pound sand.

Tesla.

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

#217

Post by iicc »

Steltek wrote: post #169
djsumdog wrote: post #138

The Apple/Play stores are essentially a totally broken implementation of something that had existed for over a decade before: package repositories. It's embraced and extended Linux/BSD package/ports trees, except without things like the ability to add a 3rd party repository with other authors signing keys, pin certain versions, etc. https://battlepenguin.com/tech/android-fragmentation/#packag... We could go on about…

Don't conflate Apple's monopoly with Google's store. Anyone can go install F-Droid or Amazon or whatever on their Android phone. The only thing stopping people is satisfaction with the status quo and/or ignorance. However, Apple totally rules their walled garden, with some added gross exploitation to boot (recent "Sherlocking" story for Luna Display).

>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.

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

#218

Post by giancarlostoro »

black_puppydog wrote: post #77

The very same thing happened to manyverse (android ssb client) the other day. Got de-listed, resubmitted without donation page, now it's back up. How google tries to claim any sort of support for open source is beyond me. What open source app doesn't need a donation link? Those approved and funded by google don't, okay. But other than that?

Seems to have happened to AndOTP:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21269542

This is ridiculous. May as well only publish open source apps on F-Droid and similar.

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

#219

Post by teknopaul »

caconym_ wrote: post #166
djsumdog wrote: post #138

The Apple/Play stores are essentially a totally broken implementation of something that had existed for over a decade before: package repositories. It's embraced and extended Linux/BSD package/ports trees, except without things like the ability to add a 3rd party repository with other authors signing keys, pin certain versions, etc. https://battlepenguin.com/tech/android-fragmentation/#packag... We could go on about…

The primary goal of package repositories is to make available the software users need. The primary goal of Apple/Play/whatever stores is to make money.

Shocking they can ban an app that has a voluntary donations link.

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

#220

Post by lm28469 »

dangerface wrote: post #158
lm28469 wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 them by a small minority of corporations, govts, and the tech elite acting as gatekeepers and overseers. That's what we do in every other domains, what's the difference here ?

The domain is information not technology. We need to drop the attitude that technology is a new scary thing it's not. Technology is an extension of our selves we have been using it for thousands of years to expand our ability. Pen and paper was the old technology if you don't know how to use it you are illiterate, if you don't know how to use the new technology you are still just illiterate. The baby boomer attitude…

> I can't be arsed to improve as a person so every one else has to dumb it down for me

Do you apply that to yourself out of tech ? Are you literate in art, philosophy, astrology, history, chemistry, medicine, &c. (more than surface knowledge) ? Where do you draw the line ? Is using google maps without knowing how the GPS system works in details an issue ? What about cooking ? Do you know which chemical reactions create tastes ? Are you buying food from supermarkets, why don't you hunt and grow your own ?

> The baby boomer attitude

As if millennials+ were better. Using a pc/smartphone daily doesn't mean you're tech literate, it's a prime example of familiarity != knowledge.

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