DeGoogle Yourself

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A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

Here you may post anything related to DeGoogling, why we should do it or good software alternatives!

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Alternative to Google's "Messages" app (for SMS) on Android? (play-lh.googleusercontent.com)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml

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Does anyone know of an open-source alternative to Google's "Messages" app, which takes care of SMS/text messages on my phone?

I was looking for open-source alternatives on PlayStore and F-Droid but can't really find anything – most apps seem to target some extra purpose than simply handling SMSs.

(Edit: I'd like to stay away from the "Simple Mobile Tools" line because I don't know if it's open source, and I don't like the way they promoted some apps – forcing users to update to pro and similar.)

Cheers!

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[–] pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

I'm all for supporting developers. Usually I test an app for a month, and if it works well, I make a regular donation (else I uninstall it).

However, while trying out the free version of "Simple Gallery" from Simple Mobile Tools, they sent an update that suddenly made it only last for 14 days, then you had to upgrade to premium. I simply don't like this kind of behaviour, that's why I don't use their products.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Really? I've been using Simple Gallery which I downloaded from F-Droid, and I've never seen such a thing.

The creator is Tibor Kaputa?

[–] pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I don't know who's the creator. Here's the app – you can also see the complaints from some users:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.gallery

[–] Aopen@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I have installed this app and never had any paywall in simple apps suite
https://f-droid.org/packages/com.simplemobiletools.thankyou/

[–] pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah there's a mystery about completely different availability policies by the developer in GPlay and in FDroid...

[–] JoYo@lemmy.ml -1 points 2 years ago

what's the mystery? use fdroid.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I had to follow links all the way to github to discover this, but yes, it's the same person. Oddly, F-Droid doesn't seem linked to from anywhere, and the description on the web site seems to indicate the free versions of their apps have been abandoned, yet the version I have is fully functional and still receives regular updates.

This is the one I use: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.simplemobiletools.gallery.pro/

It's fully functional. If it's missing any features, then I sure don't notice.

[–] pglpm@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ha that's a fun mystery!!

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago

I can see why the users with the Google Play version are unhappy. What the developer is asking for payment is very reasonable (especially since it's a one-time payment), but it looks like he wasn't upfront about this and opted for the good old-fashioned bait-and-switch.

[–] baseless_discourse@mander.xyz 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

That is really disappointing. Although it is perfectly fine for developer to ask for money, especially for FOSS app. It seems like their communication is not exactly on point.

I guess the best course of action is to try on fdroid, if you like it buy on Gplay (or just donate if it not terribly inconvenient), and continue to use the fdroid version.