I think the requirement to register and identify yourself is OK. I cant see the justification for a fee.
The R software repo requires that a contributor have a valid email address and be identifiable and contactable. There are regular checks ā¦ if my email address lapses it deletes my packages.
Being able to contact and identify contributors to a software repo is basic security . We all complain about AUR not having this security.
I want Google Android Repo to be a trusted source.
If that means contributors have to jump through hoops, so be it.
Blocking apps from other repos like Fdroid is a bit heavy handed. They could give a warning or make it convoluted to deter people.
Linux does not block AUR or PPA or Python & Julia libraries . Rust also has questionable downloads. Linux leaves these things open for the user to decide.
BSD effectively blocks core contributions by isolating the OS from packages. It has rather strict user package vetting.
Android is currently more like Linux, but it is moving toward where BSD sits.
From what I read the registration is not difficult, time consuming but if it protects end users then itās a good move. Not sure there is a cost
It neednāt be like this. Here is Nick from France on his YT channel talking about using a Linux phone for 30 days to try it out.
Yeah, Iām not mad for this development.
Not keen on anything that makes it more difficult to distribute FOSS. Yeah, okay, thereās the āpower usersā bypass where you can tap a setting seven times, wait 24 hours, and install apps from āunknownā sources (eg. F-Droid)ā¦ But is the average user going to do that? Itās already a task to get people away from propriety software and onto FOSS alternatives; now imagine you need to walk someone through an advanced flow that requires a 24 hour wait?
I have never found anything useful on Fdroid.
Please enlighten me ā¦ what do I need jt for?
I try and use FOSS versions of apps wherever I can, so Iāve replaced a lot of the default apps with a FOSS version. My most used apps are probably Mastodon for social media, C2K for getting back into running (love this as it has the 10k and 5k time improvement programme included and doesnāt have a voice that interrupts your audiobook), soloforge for calorie tracking, SSHBorg for managing my VPS.
Thereās probably Google Play equivalent for everything I use, but Iāll put up with friction to support FOSS projects. Itās fun and motivating to see real end users for your projects.
Am also quite into APK modding and such, but thatās another storefrontā¦
I used to do long distance running. It is all about controlling breathing and aerobic fitness. The legwork is not the limiting factor.
My stepson has just given me a phone with that on, no idea why or what I am going to use it for, or even why he changed, new toy to experience
Millions of people support the goog and this is their reward. I do not approve of the goog, period. Far too anti-privacy. If I have to give up my phone, so be it.
We are a lazy lot and we want something that works reliably.
Yes, I forgot about that. It did come from Fdroid.
Easy to miss - I first used TermUX from the default Gogol (sic) app store - but it started playing up (not doing stuff I wanted) and the fix was to install it from F-Droid - and - I wasnāt sure my āstockā Samsung flagship phone (an S+ at the time) would allow me - with Samsungās GARBAGE āsecuired with Knoxā ecosystemā¦
But it was painless - got the F-Droid app store installed and re-installed TermUX from F-Droid and it started doing the stuff I wanted - woo hoo!
Google want to kill thatā¦ what part of ādonāt be evilā did they not understand? One of the fundamentals was ādonāt become Evil Corpā - which they went ahead and did - now theyāre going full steam with ENSHITTIFYING their platformā¦
Thanks google/evil/alphabet corpā¦
Knox is meant to make sure you do not install custom firmwares and not install things from non-samsung-approved sources; itās not meant to protect you, itās meant to protect samsung and google.
I hope the EU catches up on this and slaps Samsung with a gigantic fine for it.
Also, I hope google will get fined for their forced registration practices.
fines fines finesā¦ blah blah blahā¦
Itās all fine until someone goes to jail (or gaol as we should say in the Anglosphere) - then itās FāKING HILARIOUS!
But in reality that never happensā¦ look what happened when Epstein then went to gaol for the 2nd time - he didnāt stay inside (alive) very longā¦ everyone knew he was going to sing like a canaryā¦
Australia tried to institute gaol sentences for both wage theft (bosses stealiing employees wages) and āindustrial manslaughterā (running systems that let/enable/encourage employees to die on the job) - NONE of that ever happened - because gaol is too hard for corporate c-ntsā¦
The French had the right idea in 1789 - that amazing machine invented by Monsieur Guillotine was a HUGE wake up callā¦ Mark my words - weāre heading to thatā¦ I reckon we need itā¦
Use the tax system . Proper FOSS software is tax exempt because it is effectively owned by the publicā¦ anything else should be taxed like cigarettes.
That opens up a whole new debate, total ban on cigarettes could not come soon enough in my mind.
We have reached the stage where taxes on cigarettes and vapes are high leading to an underground illegal tobacco industry complete with gang wars , arson , and public shootings.
A total ban , with strong policing, is sorely needed.
That is exactly what happen in the US when alcohol was outlawed in the 1920s. It was called the prohibition. It backfired badly creating a black market and gangs. It got so bad the nation wide ban was repeal in 1933.