Nextcloud cries foul over Google Play Store app rejection
Technology
31
Beiträge
25
Kommentatoren
747
Aufrufe
-
This works very well for tech enthusiasts and people who self-host nextcloud at home.
The issue is when you are a government or university, it becomes harder to get all your users (which are probably not all tech savvy) to install a third party app store deal with the Android warnings about installing from third-parties, etc etc.
And this is probably the user base Google are targeting with this move (assuming it's malicious) . When the higher ups complain that their files are not syncing and need to install things with a special procedure they sometimes wonder why they are not using M365 or Google which seems hassle free.
Not to mention the "see this big alert saying this isn't safe? Well for this one time it /is/ safe so do so" While curbing the mentality of "oh it was safe last time so it must be safe this time"
-
Just switch to the F-Droid version.
Better: make sure all the apps you use come from F-Droid
It's not as simple as telling people to use F-Droid. People with non-rooted phones won't get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle. Unless I'm misremembering? I wouldn't know because I run rooted CalyxOS now. Last time I used F-Droid on a plain Android phone is a while ago for me.
-
This post did not contain any content.
They bullied Syncthing the same way. Fortunately, Syncthing-fork is still developed and available on F-droid.
I understand a well-curated app store (which Play Store is not) placing some limits on apps getting all files access. In a modern security model, that's not a permission most apps should have, however synchronization and file management apps obviously should have it.
-
It's not as simple as telling people to use F-Droid. People with non-rooted phones won't get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle. Unless I'm misremembering? I wouldn't know because I run rooted CalyxOS now. Last time I used F-Droid on a plain Android phone is a while ago for me.
I get update notifications from f-droid but have to update inside the f-droid app.
-
Just switch to the F-Droid version.
Better: make sure all the apps you use come from F-Droid
Obtainium is better, get the apps directly from the source
-
It's not as simple as telling people to use F-Droid. People with non-rooted phones won't get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle. Unless I'm misremembering? I wouldn't know because I run rooted CalyxOS now. Last time I used F-Droid on a plain Android phone is a while ago for me.
They added that a while ago for all users on Android 12 and up
-
They bullied Syncthing the same way. Fortunately, Syncthing-fork is still developed and available on F-droid.
I understand a well-curated app store (which Play Store is not) placing some limits on apps getting all files access. In a modern security model, that's not a permission most apps should have, however synchronization and file management apps obviously should have it.
And if you grant access to your own apps, but deny them to your competitors, that is totally a monopoly abuse
-
Obtainium is better, get the apps directly from the source
Expand on this please. I am unfamiliar.
-
This post did not contain any content.
"We don't care," - Google, probably.
-
They added that a while ago for all users on Android 12 and up
In the Basic version only, last time I checked the "original" F-Droid couldn't do it. And there's also some minimum API level an app has to target to be eligible for automatic updates (found that out through updating microg and having to click "update" still)
-
This post did not contain any content.
This and the fact gallery cloud provider API stuff is locked down to whoever Google gives permission to should get a lawsuit.
-
It's not as simple as telling people to use F-Droid. People with non-rooted phones won't get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle. Unless I'm misremembering? I wouldn't know because I run rooted CalyxOS now. Last time I used F-Droid on a plain Android phone is a while ago for me.
I have automatic upgrades on my non-rooted phone. I use droidify but i'm pretty sure the official F-droid client works the same way.
-
This post did not contain any content.
Google be Like : just use Google Drive
What if , no….
-
Expand on this please. I am unfamiliar.
Its an open source software manager, you put in a source (like github) and it manages it (even doing auto updates).
-
Obtainium is better, get the apps directly from the source
I actually like that the F-Droid maintainers check over the apps and warn about anti-features/stop offering new versions if they enshittify.
-
I actually like that the F-Droid maintainers check over the apps and warn about anti-features/stop offering new versions if they enshittify.
Their apps also cause tons of problems compared to the ones directly from the source
-
It's not as simple as telling people to use F-Droid. People with non-rooted phones won't get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle. Unless I'm misremembering? I wouldn't know because I run rooted CalyxOS now. Last time I used F-Droid on a plain Android phone is a while ago for me.
People with non-rooted phones won’t get automatic updates via F-Droid which is a big hurdle.
Not true if the app to update targets a high enough API version (I think API 34 or 35) and if you use F-Droid Basic.
NOTE: The Basic version of F-Droid Client has a reduced feature set (e.g. no nearby share and no panic feature). It targets Android 13 and can do unattended updates without privileged extension or root.
-
Their apps also cause tons of problems compared to the ones directly from the source
How so? OOTL here
-
This post did not contain any content.
That and the process of being audited for your app to gain access to Google Drive is apparently a nightmare on top of being super expensive.
No wonder so many apps don't even bother adding the ability to sync files with like Joplin.
I hope the EU eventually crack down on that bullshit.
-
They bullied Syncthing the same way. Fortunately, Syncthing-fork is still developed and available on F-droid.
I understand a well-curated app store (which Play Store is not) placing some limits on apps getting all files access. In a modern security model, that's not a permission most apps should have, however synchronization and file management apps obviously should have it.
Was going to comment the same, this issue has existed for some time for other apps. LibreTorrent ran into the same issue and now the F-Droid version is their full-featured app while the Google Play version is restricted due to Google.
Interesting that Nextcloud managed to last this long on Google Play without running into the same limitations (until now that is).
