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KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

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Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#71

Post by vbsteven »

michaelt wrote: post #57
vbsteven wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was afraid of having to do exactly that, create a new app with a new name and move all of the customers over... I ended up fixing it eventually by somehow clearing all versions in alpha/beta channels and uploading a new fixed version without the SMS permission with increased version number multiple times, and then bubbling that up to production. For reference, we only used READ SMS permission in this app to improve…

we only used READ SMS permission in this app to improve the phone number validation process What's wrong with the SMS Retriever API [1] which seems to be designed explicitly for this purpose? [1] https://developers.google.com/identity/sms-retriever/overvie...

I was not aware that existed and it looks like it can improve our situation. Thanks!

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#72

Post by jraph »

anowlcalledjosh wrote: post #60
icebraining wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What friction? It's easier to use than the Play Store.

It also doesn't come preinstalled on any devices I'm aware of, which adds a significant amount of friction. Even once you've installed it, it can't auto-update apps.

Yes it can, though it needs to be installed as a privileged app.

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#73

Post by Iolaum »

morganvachon wrote: post #47
sodosopa wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> it’s on every android device by default Amazon tablets do not have the Google Play store.

Right, they have Amazon's app store which is arguably worse than Google Play (and I say that as someone who absolutely detests Google). Their "free forever" apps are only free because you're trading personalized analytics for them, which can't be turned off without removing the app in question. That being said, Amazon Fire tablets are good cheap devices if you want to experiment with custom ROMs and truly Free app st…

Can you point out a FireOS tablet that's still being sold and the custom ROM that supports it?

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#74

Post by tetromino_ »

Svoka wrote: post #28
wy6psk wrote: post #11

It seems to be here so I don't know what the post is about. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kde.kdecon...

https://twitter.com/albertvaka/status/1107924636799504384 > I'm about to upload a version of KDE Connect to the Play Store with the SMS functionality removed. Google removes app from the app store until you upload new version. Not sure if you know, but for KDE Connect SMS access is part of core functionality, allowed use of the API, and author wanted to call explain it as written in [0] but there is nowhere to call.…

But are you sure it is an allowed use of the API?

According to https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... an allowed use of the API is "connected device companion apps that enable sending and receiving of SMS or calls".

Did KDE Connect allow sending and receiving SMS from your PC? The only thing I see in the app description is getting "notifications for incoming calls and SMS messages", which might have been insufficient.

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#76

Post by snaky »

snazz wrote: post #70
forgotmypw3 wrote: post #30

I don't bother with GP anymore, just look on F-Droid for anything I need. Better/faster app store app. Better warnings about undesirable app behavior. Better quality apps in the store. And no nag screen for billing info every time I download a free app. This seems to be a general trend in software, and perhaps life in general: an abusive, lower quality default option for those not "in the know", and better alternativ…

The app updating process in F-Droid is fairly buggy (I can’t tell if I’ve tapped the button or not from the upgrade page and sometimes it just doesn’t work), but in general it is a big improvement. I’m guessing the “average” person wouldn’t be too happy about losing the Play Store since proprietary apps aren’t available in F-Droid (by design).

An average person doesn't need to remove Play Store to install F-droid.

But if that average person want to remove Play Store (and Play Services blobs) completely from his devices, he still can use and update the most of his apps using Yalp. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.yeriomin.yalpstor...

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#77

Post by stevehawk »

noobermin wrote: post #42

Remember this the next time you don't get that job at Google. Somehow the most selective and elite of tech institutions can't bother to do customer service.

It's one of the reasons I'm convinced that Google et al don't hire the best engineers/programmers, but really just the best interviewers.

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#78

Post by dragonwriter »

noobermin wrote: post #42

Remember this the next time you don't get that job at Google. Somehow the most selective and elite of tech institutions can't bother to do customer service.

> Somehow the most selective and elite of tech institutions can't bother to do customer service.

I'm not at all surprised that an organization that prides itself on elite engineering above all else falls down hard in other areas and doesn't even recognize how much of a problem it is. (Though, to be fair, Google Express, IME, has had superlative customer service, so it's not that Google can't do customer service.)

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#79

Post by snazz »

snaky wrote: post #76
snazz wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The app updating process in F-Droid is fairly buggy (I can’t tell if I’ve tapped the button or not from the upgrade page and sometimes it just doesn’t work), but in general it is a big improvement. I’m guessing the “average” person wouldn’t be too happy about losing the Play Store since proprietary apps aren’t available in F-Droid (by design).

An average person doesn't need to remove Play Store to install F-droid. But if that average person want to remove Play Store (and Play Services blobs) completely from his devices, he still can use and update the most of his apps using Yalp. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.yeriomin.yalpstor...

I had forgotten about Yalp. Wouldn’t you still encounter compatibility issues with apps that require Play Services functionality?

Re: KDE Connect removed from Google Play store for violating new policy on SMS

#80

Post by kop316 »

simonh wrote: post #51
kabacha wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ech at least on android you can easily install apps outside of google play. _I_ find it scary to make business with as you can be pretty much _snapped_ out of existance in a single decision.

I don't really follow the argument. If you are a commercial company, the Play store is pretty much all that matters in terms of business viability. At a commercial level, the fact a few geeks can side-load apps is next to irrelevant. Who builds a business on side-loaded apps?

I actually would wish more companies had a repository that was compatible with F-Droid. F-Droid makes.it possible for anyone to make a repository and then it will handle all of the app store side of the house.
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