Title
For everyone still using Simple Tools apps, switch to Fossify it’s a fork that has all that crap removed
Guys.
Dont install FOSS apps from the Playstore. Use F-Droid (F-Droid Basic if you are on an updated OS)
Thanks.
A personal recommendation is to use Droidify, it’s just a great F-droid front-end.
You can download the APK here: https://f-droid.org/packages/com.looker.droidify/
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I agree that F-Droid is great!
What I usually do is to buy the pro version on Google Play and install it later on F-Droid.
On the other hand I don’t see anything wrong for non tech people to install FOSS apps from the Play Store. The apps are still FOSS
Not exactly. When building for play store release - google injects their tracking into the binary.
I think this is a myth. Android Studio or something allows to build it in, but Google doesnt automatically do that. Afaik
They were sold to ZippoApps, who specializes in adding crapware to apps.
What else would we expect anyway…
Tibor betrayed us and sold the Simple Apps suite to a sleazy adtech company a while ago, there were multiple posts on this suggesting replacements, then one of the most active devs forked it into Fossify, removing all the branding and references to the original, work is still ongoing on this, already some of the apps have been rereleased, here’s a handy matrix of the progress on the rerelease from somebody on Github
Hmm, this app is also in the F-Droid repository with its old outfit.
Luckily it got forked : https://github.com/FossifyOrg/SMS-Messenger
Damn, how did I even manage to miss that Simple apps have been bought off? I’ve used them for years and am still subscribed to the reddit community…
Some people suggest the action could possibly be deemed illegal, by breaking the licence the project was made under.
https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/General-Discussion/issues/241#issuecomment-1837452672 - the dev’s explanation, and replies which discuss the legal issues
https://old.reddit.com/r/fossdroid/comments/1893j2p/simple_mobile_tools_is_about_to_be_acquired/
Wow, the new owners enshittified those apps really fast.
Throwback to when they announced releasing a simple phone. Fun times.
“have full network access” BIG YIKES
I’m really curious about the amount of money exchanged. It must have been an enormous amount in order to do a “I’d even sell my mom for that” and don’t feel dirty
the developer, and this isnt exaggeration, does not understand gpl v3. he literally got confused when people told him he had no right to sell contributed code. you can see for yourself in the github discussions
I’m just using the default GrapheneOS SMS app, but it’s concerning seeing the number of these FOSS apps lately adding major privacy invasive permission changes. Are there a few big companies buying them up for a quick buck, or what?
Shit, anyone have a good calendar on fdroid?
Etar on f-droid
Oof, those permissions alone scream proprietary spyware. There’s no more speculation here, it has officially become enshittified.
that’s because that’s what happened. Simple mobile tools got bought out by a company known for exactly that: putting ads and spyware in apps
thankfully since its open source, there’s already a fork in the works called Fossify
