5 ms·

Google should be ashamed. Just cancel an app without a possibility to actually appeal to the person. Maybe in this case, Google didn't act in bad faith, but ha

Google should be ashamed. Just cancel an app without a possibility to actually appeal to the person. Maybe in this case, Google didn't act in bad faith, but having such a system in place has a method. It's something every developer should have in mind before deciding to develop anything on Google platform.

prox 4y ago
Yup, another case of the Monopoly of Google.
- charcircuit 4y ago
  It's not like you can't get the app on android anymore. You can download it right now from fdroid.
  - mdrzn 4y ago
    He won't be maintaining or supporting it anymore.
  - Barrin92 4y ago
    I would wager the amount of android users who even know what fdroid is, is < 5%, if not much lower. Getting flagged as spyware or booted from the Play Store effectively destroys any project that relies on funding.
  - prox 4y ago
    It’s kind of missing the point of having a company shutting down your business without much recourse for objection. I currently have to deal with Google on a matter, and the lengths I have to go through to even get a response is ridiculous. And this is on their ads platform, so technically I am their best kind of client who brings in money. And there is no alternative, that is the monopoly.
  - FabHK 4y ago
    From the author (in the linked thread): > If the app can't be in the Play store anymore, there is no point in continuing supporting this app because about 99% of the users download the app from the Play store. And some more context: --- Begin quote --- The balance The few euros I receive in return for what's being offered and the fun of developing things are no compensation for the thousands of questions I answer every month, for unfair Play store reviews and for stress about unclear Google requirements. The verdict I have not reached a conclusion yet, but the question I am asking myself is why I would continue with the project. Maybe it is the moment, with a sick girlfriend, but I currently don't see it. Alternatives GitHub only version: 98% of the audience will be lost. Strip down the app: more bad reviews Paid support: more bad reviews Stop answering questions: more bad reviews Bad reviews will shift the balance only in the wrong direction. Core problem Google. There is no sensible way to appeal in case of bad reviews or alleged violations of Play store policies. People. They are generally pretty demanding and on the other hand everything should be free. Myself. An old and grumpy developer, who maybe should retired. Input is welcome. --- End quote ---
    - BeefWellington 4y ago
      I think we're reaching a point where because of the unreliability of the two major platforms there may be a path for developers to go the Youtuber route and start Patreon to fund development. You already see this in certain genres of games (notably adult content) that are typically just hidden on stores. I can certainly understand the reasons behind simply abandoning ship at this point. If it's not worth it, it's not worth it. My only hope now is that Thunderbird on Android will approach the quality without adding any heinous anti-features.
      - nicolas_t 4y ago
        I suggested that in the forum too. I support quite a few developers through patreon, paypal subscriptions or Github: Calibre, a lot of mister devs, Karabiner Elements (Tekezo), Scummvm (Eugene Sandulenko) From what I've seen from comments of supporters on patreon, the community tends to be much nicer to the dev than typical forums. It's always strange to me that people who don't want to pay tend to be the worst when it comes to support and politeness.
mcv 4y ago
It would certainly be nice if at least their feedback was a bit more meaningful and explained the actual problem, and not just a vague category that they thought most closely fits the issue.
- g_p 4y ago
  Part of the problem as well here is that the alleged policy violation doesn't gives enough information for a developer to even figure out what behaviour they're seeing, let alone where in a complex app that feature is. Then, secondly, when their automation gets it wrong, or there is some misunderstanding over something, there's no ability for the developer to actually have any kind of meaningful or substantive discussion - if you can't work out what the issue is, based on their incredibly high level description, you're out of luck, as you won't get any meaningful intelligent or personal response from anyone - expect templated, automated emails that are not in any way addressing the message you sent.

prox 4y ago

Yup, another case of the Monopoly of Google.

charcircuit 4y ago
It's not like you can't get the app on android anymore. You can download it right now from fdroid.
- mdrzn 4y ago
  He won't be maintaining or supporting it anymore.
- Barrin92 4y ago
  I would wager the amount of android users who even know what fdroid is, is < 5%, if not much lower. Getting flagged as spyware or booted from the Play Store effectively destroys any project that relies on funding.
- prox 4y ago
  It’s kind of missing the point of having a company shutting down your business without much recourse for objection. I currently have to deal with Google on a matter, and the lengths I have to go through to even get a response is ridiculous. And this is on their ads platform, so technically I am their best kind of client who brings in money. And there is no alternative, that is the monopoly.
- FabHK 4y ago
  From the author (in the linked thread): > If the app can't be in the Play store anymore, there is no point in continuing supporting this app because about 99% of the users download the app from the Play store. And some more context: --- Begin quote --- The balance The few euros I receive in return for what's being offered and the fun of developing things are no compensation for the thousands of questions I answer every month, for unfair Play store reviews and for stress about unclear Google requirements. The verdict I have not reached a conclusion yet, but the question I am asking myself is why I would continue with the project. Maybe it is the moment, with a sick girlfriend, but I currently don't see it. Alternatives GitHub only version: 98% of the audience will be lost. Strip down the app: more bad reviews Paid support: more bad reviews Stop answering questions: more bad reviews Bad reviews will shift the balance only in the wrong direction. Core problem Google. There is no sensible way to appeal in case of bad reviews or alleged violations of Play store policies. People. They are generally pretty demanding and on the other hand everything should be free. Myself. An old and grumpy developer, who maybe should retired. Input is welcome. --- End quote ---
  - BeefWellington 4y ago
    I think we're reaching a point where because of the unreliability of the two major platforms there may be a path for developers to go the Youtuber route and start Patreon to fund development. You already see this in certain genres of games (notably adult content) that are typically just hidden on stores. I can certainly understand the reasons behind simply abandoning ship at this point. If it's not worth it, it's not worth it. My only hope now is that Thunderbird on Android will approach the quality without adding any heinous anti-features.
    - nicolas_t 4y ago
      I suggested that in the forum too. I support quite a few developers through patreon, paypal subscriptions or Github: Calibre, a lot of mister devs, Karabiner Elements (Tekezo), Scummvm (Eugene Sandulenko) From what I've seen from comments of supporters on patreon, the community tends to be much nicer to the dev than typical forums. It's always strange to me that people who don't want to pay tend to be the worst when it comes to support and politeness.

mcv 4y ago

It would certainly be nice if at least their feedback was a bit more meaningful and explained the actual problem, and not just a vague category that they thought most closely fits the issue.

g_p 4y ago
Part of the problem as well here is that the alleged policy violation doesn't gives enough information for a developer to even figure out what behaviour they're seeing, let alone where in a complex app that feature is. Then, secondly, when their automation gets it wrong, or there is some misunderstanding over something, there's no ability for the developer to actually have any kind of meaningful or substantive discussion - if you can't work out what the issue is, based on their incredibly high level description, you're out of luck, as you won't get any meaningful intelligent or personal response from anyone - expect templated, automated emails that are not in any way addressing the message you sent.