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Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

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Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#31

Post by lern_too_spel »

jhall1468 wrote: post #15
scohesc wrote: post #4

So Google is selectively oppressing certain app developers by using the "Rules for thee, not for me" ideology. Well, they've been doing it for years and that's why there's people in the US Government talking about anti-trust investigations... Hopefully something comes of it.

Gboard doesn't have in app purchases, the other one does. The rules are different because the apps are different.

1. Google didn't say that the reason for the rating was IAP and instead pointed to something that is common between that app and Gboard.

2. Other keyboard apps have IAP but still have an E rating: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gingersoft...

I find it very unlikely that Google is intentionally picking on this small app, but by being more lenient in reviewing its own apps, Google is abusing its position.

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#32

Post by mtgx »

NKosmatos wrote: post #25

I understand it’s a difficult choice to leave the play store, but you’re playing by their rules, their game and in their own field. They can do whatever they want because they’re google.

It's not as simple as that when Google's Play Store is its own monopoly, enforced by shady contract deals Google has made with manufacturers to ensure no alternative can exist on Android.

If Google didn't do that, and any manufacturer were free to install whatever app store they wanted (even in conjunction with the Play Store), then maybe you could say that developers can just move to another store if they don't like Google's because "another store is just one click away" (the argument Google likes to make to "prove" that its search business is not a monopoly, which of course isn't true at all for app stores).

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#33

Post by yellow_lead »

netsharc wrote: post #3

I use Gboard, and today it had a strange prompt on the bar above the keyboard: "Do you like typing German?".. I was curious and I pressed it, it lead to a prompt where there was text I could copy paste and I guess post on my social media, about how much I enjoy using Gboard... So you fucking want me to advertise for you, Google? And for what reason? Does someone want their promotion/bonus and for that they have to re…

I got the same prompt yesterday for Chinese. I think I'll join you in that review.

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#35

Post by deftnerd »

osrec wrote: post #21
djsumdog wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, it would be one thing if Google stated that as a reason. I really hate this in-app purchase model, and now being applied to something as stupid as a keyboard, something that can literally monitor all your data and send back your most common words to advertisers ... ugh. I pre-ordered a Purism 5 from the next batch in anger a few weeks ago. I want off this Android/eyeProduct bullshit. I want full control of my…

How would your ideal open-source smartphone ecosystem be structured? Genuinely interested as I'm looking to explore this as a potential project myself with my team.

Flat subscription of $10 a month for the app store. Once a month, your phone tells the store what percentage of time you spend in apps from that store. Firefox has 40% of your time? They get $4.

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#36

Post by gnode »

magashna wrote: post #2

Seems malicious on Google's part since middle finger is official unicode

The hypocrisy of Google notwithstanding, I'm not sure why something being included in Unicode should have any bearing on its societal acceptance or consequently its age rating.

The Swastika exists as a Unicode character, yet is outlawed in Germany, along with other Nazi-associated symbols (Strafgesetzbuch section 86a).

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#37

Post by magashna »

gnode wrote: post #36
magashna wrote: post #2

Seems malicious on Google's part since middle finger is official unicode

The hypocrisy of Google notwithstanding, I'm not sure why something being included in Unicode should have any bearing on its societal acceptance or consequently its age rating. The Swastika exists as a Unicode character, yet is outlawed in Germany, along with other Nazi-associated symbols (Strafgesetzbuch section 86a).

I believe there are contexts where it's allowed, being part of Unicode I assume wouldn't be illegal.

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#38

Post by istjohn »

Fnoord wrote: post #24
parliament32 wrote: post #13

On a related note, does anyone have recommendations for a Gboard alternative? I've disabled all the "pipe everything I type directly to HQ for analysis" things in Gboard but I'd prefer a non-Google alternative.

If you don't mind having source or phoning home, SwiftKey. If you're a CLI poweruser Hacker's Keyboard (FOSS) [1]. There is also Simple Keyboard (FOSS) [2] and there's a bunch of others available on F-Droid. I do wonder what we should switch to from Qwerty, on mobile specifically. There is, for example, Keybee [3]. [1] https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.pocketworkstation.pckeyb... [2] https://f-droid.org/en/packages…

I've been using and loving MessageEase [1] for several years now. There's a learning curve, but as much typing as I end up doing on my phone, the investment was well worth it. It's also hugely customizeable and makes coding much easier on a phone--not that I make a habit of that.

[1] https://www.exideas.com/ME/index.php

Re: Google’s Play Store gives a worse age rating to Fleksy, a Gboard rival

#40

Post by __jal »

judge2020 wrote: post #10
netsharc wrote: post #3

I use Gboard, and today it had a strange prompt on the bar above the keyboard: "Do you like typing German?".. I was curious and I pressed it, it lead to a prompt where there was text I could copy paste and I guess post on my social media, about how much I enjoy using Gboard... So you fucking want me to advertise for you, Google? And for what reason? Does someone want their promotion/bonus and for that they have to re…

Pretty standard method to obtain new users, but I don't think Google is unable to advertise their keyboard on their own.

Pretty bullshit method. Any software that wastes my time begging me to market for them gets uninstalled, period.

I don't know why anyone puts up with that.

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