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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

#81
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's nearly impossible to find good, honest apps on the play store anymore. Everything is loaded with ads, in-app purchases, spyware, and wants way more permissions than it needs. Google is making it more and more attractive to completely sever the ties to the play store. Although there are a few things I still want from there.

> Although there are a few things I still want from there. https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.aurora.store/ https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore

> Can not download or update paid apps.

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

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My phone came w/ a folder for apps from my service provider and I've been adding to it any apps which I don't interact with regularly (since I've been able to keep my apps down to a single screen so I don't have to scroll).

You can uninstall them via adb. For Example there are different "unbloat your samsung device" github pages which give you a list of apps you can safely remove.

Instead of needing ADB, you can also go into Settings > Apps, turn on ‘show system apps’, and disable the ones you don’t want from there.

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

#83
post #37
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?

The default phone and SMS messaging application on all Tier 1 Android OEMs is required to be Google Phone and Google Messages. Also as such, Google stopped maintaining AOSP Dialer and AOSP Messages.

I use a Samsung phone and it has Samsung’s phone and SMS apps.

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

#84
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree that Apple's software is superior. Their hardware would be a lot better if the software was.

A lot of their software is better in many ways than e.g. Samsung’s software. However, you do run into artificial limitations (e.g. no sideloading).

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

#85

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.

And the whole lot bypasses your actual telco, so when you’re on your nation’s do-not-call register, you can’t even file a proper complaint, there isn’t even a number to report.

There is a solution even without changing app: disable RCS. Everything real is fine with SMS, so ads are the only casualty. I wonder if this stupidity helps kill the already-struggling RCS.

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

#86
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the only view I use. How on earth is it 'antiquated' lol

It's based on a paper calendar that you would hang up on the wall. You know, from before we had screens about 50 years ago.

Month view is the most useful for me since I can easily see what's coming up, and on what day by where it lies on the calendar grid.

Agenga view is not as useful for me because it doesn't allow quickly scanning events and knowing what is 1 week out, 2 weeks out, etc without stopping and thinking about the dates. Week based views don't show far enough ahead.

I find it amusing and strange that you dislike the view so much you think it should be removed from calendar apps, instead of just switching to a view you like in settings.

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

#87
post #3

To save the next person a few clicks, these are Android apps forked from the Simple Mobile Tools collection when that was sold to ZipoApps.

Thanks.

Simple Mobile Gallery was removed from Fdroid so I wasn't getting updates.

Migrated to this.

The recorder app sucks though, which is a shame.

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

#88
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to use many apps from Simple Mobile Tools and migrated to Fossify's forks when the whole acquisition thing happened. I just went back to check the Simple Mobile Tools to see the effect form ZipooApps' acquisition [1]. What a calamity. Most of them require way more permissions than they used to before the purchase, have trackers, ads and scam-feeling weekly subscriptions. Also probably in breach of the GPL lice…

WEEKLY subscriptions?!

I just checked, and according to the reviews on the flashlight app the weekly subscription is $14.99 to remove ads. For a flashlight.

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

#89
post #79
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's nearly impossible to find good, honest apps on the play store anymore. Everything is loaded with ads, in-app purchases, spyware, and wants way more permissions than it needs. Google is making it more and more attractive to completely sever the ties to the play store. Although there are a few things I still want from there.

Try the app Netguard which implements a nice firewall. I use it to disallow most apps network access with it. Some apps may be allowed to access the net when I'm on Wifi, but not when roaming. Netguard allows you to distinguish between Wifi and Roaming. And you can enable a protocol to check which connections are attempted if you want to to specifically disable certain targets. Disclaimer: just a satisfied and paying…

Anyway to get net guard to work in combination with a VPN client (using wire guard )? (Using mullvad & mullvads client and can't get and netguard & mullvad to run at same time)

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

#90
post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's based on a paper calendar that you would hang up on the wall. You know, from before we had screens about 50 years ago.

Month view is the most useful for me since I can easily see what's coming up, and on what day by where it lies on the calendar grid. Agenga view is not as useful for me because it doesn't allow quickly scanning events and knowing what is 1 week out, 2 weeks out, etc without stopping and thinking about the dates. Week based views don't show far enough ahead. I find it amusing and strange that you dislike the view so m…

You can't see what's coming up if it's the last week of the month.

It's funny how people just can't imagine any other view than the ones all calendar apps have had for the past 30+ years. The only one to do it remotely correct is Apple.

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