People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil
I'm with you on this. The list of disabled ('cos I can't uninstall) Google apps on my phone is impressively long and includes play services and play store. I rely on F-Droid and, heaven help me APKpure - which has both the additional apps I can't get from F-Droid but also the worlds biggest collection of UX anti patterns for flinging ads in every conceivable way and at all times. Hate it but still prefer it to Google.I hate this new proposal from Google but don't know what to do. Polite suggestions welcome
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@ancientsounds F-Droid has been talking to various competition regulators, yes.
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@bamboombibbitybop It will not.
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@DaveMasonDotMe Quite possibly!
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil @linuzifer wäre das nicht auch was für @lnp ? liebe den podcasf btw
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@neil During the last five years, I spent a fairly significant amount of time developing an android app. I got a developer account and had an alpha release on the play store.
Unfortunately, personal circumstances took my focus away from it for some time, and by the time I got back to it, my account had been deleted after I hadn't responded to one of their requests.I found the sign up process unpleasant and intrusive, so the idea of going through it again is not appealing. Naturally, I thought about putting my app on another store. The idea of that company being in control of what I can provide to other people to run on their devices was enough to make me quit. I won't be releasing my work as long as this restriction is being held over us.
@GerardThornley @neil One reason I release small apps as free software, not to Google, is that I want to let anyone interested continue when I switch to working on something else. Proprietary apps are forced dead when the initial developer prioritizes life. Companies behind Netscape and StarOffice realized it in time for their apps to survive. I think any company soon to close should mimic them. At least so that oligopolies forcing them out of the market don't get away with it for free.
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@neil
Not saying i agree with Google. But how is the OS community going to fight the forces of evil trying to hijack our code?Between malware labs, ai slop and slop powered malware labs, i am worried. The idea of making sure real accountable humans are writing honest code seems appealing....
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla and run android apps from F-Droid. Google cannot prevent that.
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@neil You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla and run android apps from F-Droid. Google cannot prevent that.
> You can always get a phone with SailfishOS from Jolla
This is not really a viable option for the many, many people in the world who have Android devices.
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@neil I'm sure you're already aware Epic Games have an ongoing legal battle with Google/Apple about putting their own store on Android/iOS based on the same principles.
@KeefJudge @neil Epic still wants 12% of everything on that store though.
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@KeefJudge @neil Epic still wants 12% of everything on that store though.
@drgroftehauge @neil True, but the point is people ought to be able to choose which store they have on their phone, not just the Google Play one.
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil We need to stop feeding this beast entirely, move away from iOS/Android, and not just put it on a diet.
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil f-droid and aurora shop
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@Thales_Curiosities @neil This is a small volunteer effort so far, we need help to make it a success. Get involved! Could you set up this email that you are thinking about?
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@neil f-droid and aurora shop
@Charlie_House @neil Google's Android Developer Verification gives them the possibility to prevent any app from running on all Android devices, no matter the source. That is why there is this campaign. Even if you get the app from F-Droid, Aurora, etc. etc. Google would still be able to prevent it from running
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@neil I'm sure you're already aware Epic Games have an ongoing legal battle with Google/Apple about putting their own store on Android/iOS based on the same principles.
@KeefJudge @neil It is important to remember that Epic Games is a corporation focused on maximizing profit, not free software or user freedom. Also, Epic v. Google is a lawsuit between two private parties. Epic and Google are working on a business deal right now, this is highly likely to undermine any potential benefits that lawsuit could have for the rest of us. To the point: that lawsuit is useful but not enough.
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@KeefJudge @neil It is important to remember that Epic Games is a corporation focused on maximizing profit, not free software or user freedom. Also, Epic v. Google is a lawsuit between two private parties. Epic and Google are working on a business deal right now, this is highly likely to undermine any potential benefits that lawsuit could have for the rest of us. To the point: that lawsuit is useful but not enough.
@eighthave @neil No argument here - was just pointing out the two are quite related.
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@GerardThornley @neil One reason I release small apps as free software, not to Google, is that I want to let anyone interested continue when I switch to working on something else. Proprietary apps are forced dead when the initial developer prioritizes life. Companies behind Netscape and StarOffice realized it in time for their apps to survive. I think any company soon to close should mimic them. At least so that oligopolies forcing them out of the market don't get away with it for free.
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@steve @neil
Compared to a wild west anything goes lord of the flies app repo? Probably.I yearn for the day when OSS can provide a trustworthy app ecosystem that can also let devs earn a living - something easy and consolidated yet safe from enshitification. But in my 15 years as a linux user and oss enthusiast, things have just gotten more fragmented. Seems this is now androids future too...
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@steve @neil
Compared to a wild west anything goes lord of the flies app repo? Probably.I yearn for the day when OSS can provide a trustworthy app ecosystem that can also let devs earn a living - something easy and consolidated yet safe from enshitification. But in my 15 years as a linux user and oss enthusiast, things have just gotten more fragmented. Seems this is now androids future too...
