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FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

email.faircode.eu

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Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#71

Post by forgotmypw17 »

muppetman wrote: post #68
safaci2000 wrote: post #65

it looks like a cool project though what I'd love to see is some solution that makes PGP/Secure Email more accessible to the common person. I know hushmail, tutanota, and protonmail are all around, but still only works if everyone is on the same service. it's interesting how secure email has been solved decades ago (how to do it) but making it accessible has been an ongoing struggle. :( Anyone ran across a more tangi…

Why use PGP when there are such better alternatives these days? Signal springs to mind immediately. PGP is clunky in every way. I know I can readily communicate with almost every one of my workmates securely using Signal or WhatsApp. None of them would have anything other than a passing idea of what PGP was, or how to use it. 20 years ago when there was no better solution, PGP was great. But I think it's probably had…

PGP has support for every language, client, and platform one may be using. It,s time tested and the most widely adopted standard. It supports plaintext. Signal has support for... Signal.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#72

Post by Assossa »

sebsauvage wrote: post #2

I have been using this email app for months, with 4 different email providers. It works like a charm, it's snappy, and privacy-oriented (preview links before opening them, block pixel tracking, and lot of other clever features.) Oh and the developer is very active (several versions a week), very kind and answers very quickly. One of the best bargains. (I bought the full version)

The developer is so active that it is actually annoying for me. I get a notification to update my client almost every time I open the app.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#73

Post by pomian »

kop316 wrote: post #8

I was curious to see if FairEmail could work with OAuth without Google Play (I have a school Google account that does not allow me to log in without OAuth): https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/blob/master/FAQ.md#user-co... "OAuth for Gmail is supported via the quick setup wizard. The Android account manager will be used to fetch and refresh OAuth tokens for selected on-device accounts. OAuth for non on-device accounts…

Using both this and k9 without Google play or any Google. They work great. But both of them, no longer allow storing your mail and/or attachments on 'external' or SD card. That is frustrating. This anti feature, just started in the last few months.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#74

Post by muppetman »

forgotmypw17 wrote: post #71
muppetman wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why use PGP when there are such better alternatives these days? Signal springs to mind immediately. PGP is clunky in every way. I know I can readily communicate with almost every one of my workmates securely using Signal or WhatsApp. None of them would have anything other than a passing idea of what PGP was, or how to use it. 20 years ago when there was no better solution, PGP was great. But I think it's probably had…

PGP has support for every language, client, and platform one may be using. It,s time tested and the most widely adopted standard. It supports plaintext. Signal has support for... Signal.

None of those points detract from the fact PGP is a complex nightmare to use. There's a reason millions of people have Signal/WhatsApp installed and not PGP.

Even Media organisations have ditched it in favour of things like Securedrop (and/or Signal).

I'd argue that Signal is much more widely adopted that PGP ever was.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#75

Post by aasasd »

g_p wrote: post #64
aasasd wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I looked into this, K9 didn't work in background continuously (since Android requires displaying a notification for that, and K9 never implemented it). And nothing seems to be happening in this regard. However, I wasn't able to make FairMail to deliver without a considerable delay either—despite it displaying a notification and being excluded from ‘battery optimization’. But apparently it's just me.

Out of interest, do you use a phone with a custom OEM firmware that has battery-saving features. I've seen issue with FairEmail (and other well-behaved foreground-service using apps) on some OEMs' firmwares. Heck, sometimes even big-name OEMs like Samsung cause issues. On "pure" Android (thinking Pixel, and the relatively pure Motorola devices, etc.) there's no delays at all - it's really impressive. I'll get the not…

It's a Pixel. Starting with 9 or 10, Android limits apps' background activity unless they show a notification (and probably has limits for those too when the screen is off). Plenty of apps had to deal with this, I have four of these notifications.

These limits don't apply to notifications via Google's services (GCM or whatever they're currently called). So if you're using the Gmail app or another app for a specific mail service, sure you will receive push notifications quickly.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#76

Post by aasasd »

muppetman wrote: post #70
aasasd wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last time I looked into this, K9 didn't work in background continuously (since Android requires displaying a notification for that, and K9 never implemented it). And nothing seems to be happening in this regard. However, I wasn't able to make FairMail to deliver without a considerable delay either—despite it displaying a notification and being excluded from ‘battery optimization’. But apparently it's just me.

EDIT: See comment below this - it appears I might be talking out my bottom. It's easy to change an app's background ability in Android. By default apps are forced into the background, but if you change that your k9 email will notify you all day long (it does support IDLE)

There's an issue on their tracker that discusses implementing the notification, and docs that say that without it K9 can only check mail every 15 minutes or so, even if excluded from battery optimization. So I don't know what support for IDLE and ‘background ability’ you're talking about. Before Android 9 or so, sure—it could just run in the background and connect to the servers whenever it wanted.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#77

Post by artificialLimbs »

throwaway81523 wrote: post #21

I'm using F-droid K-9 and am happy with it. What would be the point of switching? If the new thing is flat-out better then it might be worth considering, but I haven't seen any explanation of this.

Can't remember specifics but I couldn't recover email from K9 after my provider pulled the plug and the only copy I had was on device.

Am now a happy user of Fastmail with BYOD(omain). =D

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#78

Post by muppetman »

aasasd wrote: post #76
muppetman wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

EDIT: See comment below this - it appears I might be talking out my bottom. It's easy to change an app's background ability in Android. By default apps are forced into the background, but if you change that your k9 email will notify you all day long (it does support IDLE)

There's an issue on their tracker that discusses implementing the notification, and docs that say that without it K9 can only check mail every 15 minutes or so, even if excluded from battery optimization. So I don't know what support for IDLE and ‘background ability’ you're talking about. Before Android 9 or so, sure—it could just run in the background and connect to the servers whenever it wanted.

Interesting - I can't say I've encountered this but I'm going to check the bug tracker now. Thank you - I have updated my parent comment.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#79

Post by artificialLimbs »

aasasd wrote: post #56

Am I the only one who can't make FairMail deliver mail faster than 15-20 minutes? The notification is on, the battery optimization for the app is off, still nothing. K9 actually receives the message earlier, despite not having a persistent notification.

Same.

It also drank my battery juice like an electroholic.

Re: FairEmail: Open-source, privacy friendly email app for Android

#80

Post by aasasd »

muppetman wrote: post #78
aasasd wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an issue on their tracker that discusses implementing the notification, and docs that say that without it K9 can only check mail every 15 minutes or so, even if excluded from battery optimization. So I don't know what support for IDLE and ‘background ability’ you're talking about. Before Android 9 or so, sure—it could just run in the background and connect to the servers whenever it wanted.

Interesting - I can't say I've encountered this but I'm going to check the bug tracker now. Thank you - I have updated my parent comment.

Here it is: https://github.com/k9mail/k-9/issues/857

The issue is even older than I thought, though I was pretty sure the requirement for a notification specifically appeared around Android 8 or 9.

Also, seeing as K9 doesn't look to be anywhere near frequently updated, I'm not expecting this to change soon.

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