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AnkiDroid: Google Play no longer allowing Open Collective donation link

924 points by hexa555 1mo ago

Klaster_1 1mo ago
AnkiDroid has been such a great boon for me, thank you for sharing the link and reminding that they would benefit from my donation.
- wafflemaker 1mo ago
  Seconded here. So far only used ready made sets, especially the fantastic CCNA one from Jeremy's IT Labs. But I guess that if I fix few more errors, I'll break into creating my own cards.
  - pferde 1mo ago
    I found that creating and adding to my own decks is the best way to learn. It's also a lot of fun creating the cards/notes structure, with some cards being created conditionally upon state of certain fields in the note, etc. It's a bit like creating a database schema.
  - yakireev 1mo ago
    Creating a card is a first step in learning that card. Worth it! And you don't have to do that on your phone - there's a desktop app available.
- overtone1000 1mo ago
  I made hundreds of cards to get me through the ACR core exam, and I'll be teaching my kids to make cards when it's time for them to do intensive memorization. Paper is just fine, but I think this is a situation where digital is better.
charcircuit 1mo ago
[dead]
dataflow 1mo ago
> Play billing "must not be used in cases where payments include … tax exempt donations" > Note: 501(c)(6) is a tax-exempt status; donations are not tax-deductible for the donor. Google's communications explicitly state "tax-exempt". Isn't it pretty obvious that the problem is the donations aren't tax-exempt, despite the organization being tax-exempt? Your note suggests you already understand this. Logically, the payment processor (who deals with sales taxes rather than income taxes) should worry about the taxability of the transaction rather than the tax status of the recipient, right? > Specifically, your app allows users to contribute donations to an organization that is not tax-exempt. So whoever is writing their email is mixing these two up, but you're reading the policy itself and it is fairly clear-cut what it means for you, right?
- Conan_Kudo 1mo ago
  Yes, but unsurprisingly most people don't understand that distinction well enough.
- david_allison 1mo ago
  We've been seeking official clarification from Google on this for over a month. That's what we're seeking here. It's not clear given Google's policy wording and replies. We've removed the links, and can move forward once clarification has been provided.
  - dataflow 1mo ago
    Their emails are confusing, but they came after the alleged violation in private communication, not what you were going from at the time of the alleged violation. If you ignore them momentarily (surely you understand they probably aren't as well-scrutinized by lawyers, which would explain why they appear to mistakenly refer to the tax status of the recipient rather than that of the donation), is anything else actually confusing or inconsistent? Their policies, the relevant laws, and what common sense would have you expect - they seem pretty cut and dried. Are they inconsistent with anything other than their emails, which came after the fact? From another angle: why/how do you feel the tax-exempt-mess of the recipient itself could sensibly be the determining factor here, rather than the taxability of the transaction itself? Is there any law or precedent or anything outside their emails that would suggests a payment processor should look at the tax status of the recipient rather than that of a transaction?
free652 1mo ago
>clarification on whether an IRS 501(c)(6) determination satisfies "tax exempt donations". These donations aren't tax exempt. 501(c)(3) are tax exempt. If users are paying via Google pay these payments must be tax exempt to the *user*.
amiga386 1mo ago
Not Google's first rodeo. They pulled the same move in 2019: https://www.phoronix.com/news/WireGuard-Ejected-Play-Store https://www.phoronix.com/news/WireGuard-Ejected-Play-Store This is why software should not be subjected to an "app store" type distribution system, where a monopolist retains absolute control of what software can run on your devices, and can capriciously deny distribution to developers for whatever reason it likes.
- brainwad 1mo ago
  You can install from other stores (AnkiDroid is on F-Droid, for example), or from direct file download on Android already. The problem is rather thay most users just use the store preinstalled on their phone as part of Google's deal with OEMs to bundle Google Play Services. So either you follow Google's rules, or you lose all the users who don't want to leave the walled garden, even though they can.
  - amiga386 1mo ago
    Yeah, not for much longer though: https://keepandroidopen.org/ https://keepandroidopen.org/
    - 999900000999 1mo ago
      Thanks for sharing. Everyone is speed running towards a future where you need a permit to write software. Try to run a binary that doesn’t have the right cert( or whatever it’s called on Windows) and you get a bunch of warnings. Even if Android is open , normal people will only use the App Store. I can imagine China forcing Apple to allow 3rd party installations of software one day . The EU did something where to my knowledge Apple still gets a cut of each sale.
      - Create 1mo ago
        https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.en.html This article appeared in the February 1997 issue of Communications of the ACM (Volume 40, Number 2).
Edymilson 1mo ago
[dead]
maelito 1mo ago
If only PWA were not made invisible by Apple. The install button has been moved voluntarily to the share menu. The UE should make it mandatory to permit PWA install popups on all platforms. Such problems wouldn't arise, because this app could be installable as a cached Web app. A native mobile application could be installed only for specific functionalities.
- Gander5739 1mo ago
  This is on Android, though.
  - vachina 1mo ago
    Android and iOS keep each other in check
    - Gander5739 1mo ago
      I wish. It's not like the (former) openness of Android pulled iOS any more open; in fact, it feels more like the reverse.
    - charcircuit 1mo ago
      The difference here is iOS has an official Anki app and buying it (it costs $25) is the best way to support Anki.
- trollbridge 1mo ago
  Every slop website would then repeatedly try to pop up and install button.
- nottorp 1mo ago
  > The UE should make it mandatory to permit PWA install popups on all platforms. "It works better in the app?". No thanks. In 99.95% of cases the reasons for that popup are predatory, not in the interest of the user.
  - 1mo ago
zetanor 1mo ago
I suppose there might be a way to sign up for the alternative billing scheme: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16497028 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... but make sure to "pay the relevant Play service fee, starting October 1, 2026." Very cool, Google.
- zoobab 1mo ago
  "pay the relevant Play service fee" We were promised alternative app stores in the EU, but the European Commission does not stop them.
sunaookami 1mo ago
>We are forced to remove donation links immediately from our Play Store build in 2.24.X, and are doing so under protest So you are still complying.
westurner 1mo ago
It sounds like Epic Games v Google must be heard again? Does that precedent apply to this, or did they settle? Epic Games v. Google: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_v._Google https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_v._Google GitHub Sponsors is another way to raise for an open source organization.
- notpushkin 1mo ago
  > GitHub Sponsors is another way to raise for an open source organization. Which they do in fact use, with OSC as a fiscal host. Still doesn’t help here though – Google is unhappy with the nature of transaction (donation that is not tax-exempt in the U.S.), not with the platform on which it occurs. If they instead made the donations go to e.g. the lead developer, it would probably be allowed (“peer-to-peer payments” can’t use Google Play billing, so the app can “lead users to [another] payment method” [1]). Whether this is a good idea is a whole another question. [1]: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9858738 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
  - westurner 1mo ago
    A majority of the people that have contributed to Android did not contribute with the understanding that Google would monopolize payments in all apps on the app store. They must have updated their terms.
shevy-java 1mo ago
Every day Google commits to more Evil. How much more Evil can this world take from Google? Also - all those monopoly-stores need to be broken up. It can not be that these mega-corporations continue to be protected by a selfish US government wanting to install monopolies globally.
- pmkary 1mo ago
  When they first said "Don't be Evil," I guess they meant this to others; as in "we want all that evil for ourselves."
SigmundurM 1mo ago
> Donations are not tax-deductible > Because we are a 501(c)(6), OSC is not a registered 501(c)(3) charity; donations to hosted member projects are not tax-deductible. This is consistent with IRS guidelines — open source donations aren't automatically classified as charitable simply because they are FOSS. > If your project has a clear charitable purpose, a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor may be a good fit. - https://docs.oscollective.org/welcome-and-introduction-to-osc/what-is-fiscal-hosting https://docs.oscollective.org/welcome-and-introduction-to-os...
- lokar 1mo ago
  But the recipient of the donation is tax exempt, which is what Google says the requirement is.
  - bunderbunder 1mo ago
    IANAL, but it seems like the wording in the public-facing version of the policy is a little muddy. As far as I'm aware, "tax exempt donation" not a thing that actually exists in US tax law. It seems to be a conflation of "tax deductible donation" and "tax exempt organization". Knowing how big corporations do things, that document was likely written by someone who doesn't fully understand the jargon or even how pedantic you have to be about words when dealing with legal concepts, who didn't set the policy themself, and who is not responsible for enforcing the policy. So we should take its specific choice of words with a grain of salt.
yogthos 1mo ago
[flagged]
emursebrian 1mo ago
Shit like this is yet another reason why we don't have apps in the app store. In app purchases are a non-starter for us. As I understand it, there are ways to work around accepting payments or donations outside of the app stores. It adds one more thing to have to do and explain to users. And even with that piece taken care of, we would need to be constantly vigilant about changes in Apple or Google policies that might eject our app from the storefront.
skeledrew 1mo ago
Apps need to exit the Play Store. I have a whole slew of apps which haven't been updated for a while now because Aurora Store isn't working because of whatever Google of doing. Meanwhile the ones installed via FDroid and other means are perfectly up to date. It's a crappy state of affairs as Google continues to close the boiling Android frog.
- renegat0x0 1mo ago
  I think there are more and more apps on f-droid. On my end the experience was more pleasant on f-droid than on Google. On f-droid I had to manually push some things, in repositories. That I solved in a week or so. On Google end I had to verify my account. Which was not easy feat. - had to provide my ID several times, because it got rejected multiple times - I uploaded driving license - the verification process was stuck - only after help ticket google employee pushed it forward - I had to provide many more details, also had to use banking to pay substantial amount of money - I currently trying to create app, but it requires 14 testers, and it can still be rejected, if their involvement was too poor I am wondering what more things Google will invent to make my life worse. By the way my app: https://github.com/rumca-js/OfflineWebSearch https://github.com/rumca-js/OfflineWebSearch
  - Ajedi32 1mo ago
    From a user perspective I think F-Droid is really good too, mainly because it only allows FOSS apps by default, which cuts out a lot of the BS you see in Play Store apps. You can go download a random, no-name app from F-Droid and be very confident it does what it says on the tin and won't be riddled with ads or spam you with notifications.
    - 2Gkashmiri 1mo ago
      Thats the only reason for at least me to use f droid and I have for the last decade I think. It "just works". As opposed to play store apps requiring "play store services" meaning having to sign into play store. It refuses to do so on a FOSS principle so I am literally cut off from a lot of apps. Aurora store helps but apps that "require play store services" don't work.
kelvinjps10 1mo ago
I hope they can solve this is one of my favorite apps on android.
amazingamazing 1mo ago
Make web apps.
pmkary 1mo ago
In Iran, we have a reverse market competition rule that is "instead of the market lowering prices to be competitive with the lowest price, as soon as one actor pushes the prices up, all other actors raise their own prices as fast as humanly possible." I'm amazed to see the exact playbook be used here. Instead of people opposing Apple's horrible App Store, it seems that every other store is studying their strategies. I think by the time of Apple's next court case on the App Store, the judge will pay them something back as they'll arrive at the conclusion of Apple doing nothing out of the ordinary.
torutofu 1mo ago
Play blocking the donation link on a free app that actually needs those donations is a weird hill
- deleted 1mo ago
  [deleted]
neves 1mo ago
Digital infrastructure became so important that it must be regulated. We can't leave app stores at the whim of mega corporations.
- a2ff6eeb0 1mo ago
  The mega corporations need to be broken up.
- KetoManx64 1mo ago
  [flagged]
- alerighi 1mo ago
  Nooo what you are saying communist. I also think so, but each time someone (typically the EU) does something in the direction (e.g. digital market act) the US government, companies and citizens accuse us to be communists, against progress, that we overregulate, that the "free market" regulates by itself, and similar bullshit.
  - neves 1mo ago
    The irony is that just in communist China the corporations must submit to the Government. You may argue that it is terrible. They don't have a democratic gov. But the alternative looks worse every day.
  - mplewis 1mo ago
    "Everything I don't like is communism"
- charcircuit 1mo ago
  Just because Google built something valuable that doesn't mean the government should take control of it. This line of reasoning also leads to the government taking over YouTube and changing the rules there due to how "important" it is.
  - jmusall 1mo ago
akshayrajeshwar 1mo ago
Just chiming in to say that, as a user, F-Droid is so nice and comfortable. Never have I ever had to worry about predatory bs. Thanks to everyone involved :)
lai7th_0 1mo ago
[flagged]
mannanj 1mo ago
I've been more minimal and focused in my technology usage, specifically lucky enough to keep my phones and devices in "no notifications" mode for much of their lifecycle. My desktops and screens also have 0 apps on them ever, if I want to open something I just open a search UI and tap it and open it. It works great on Mac, and iPhone. I imagine as more people try this sort of user experience, they might wonder like I am "Why use a Google experience device at all?" Most of what I use these days is simple and the extra value-add AI features, attention driven designs that justify new OS and new hardware, and even app stores barely feel necessary. OK some people say "but banking software" but very rarely do I have to use my banking software in a way I couldn't get to in the web browser? I believe we're very close to having a 80:20 experience designed out in both hardware and software for laptops, phones and smart watches. I can't see these monopolies holding out much longer.
Lucaichyexp 1mo ago
[flagged]
segmondy 1mo ago
Google has gone full rouge and DGAF.
LoganDark 1mo ago
we think complying by removing donation links is a bad idea because it just lets google get away with this and won't cause any users to notice. you need to let disruptions like this reach the users so that google might do something about this
j45 1mo ago
This is not a great look for what is likely shoddy AI application affecting a free/open source/non-profit project. Google's AI can't even line up the facts of it's own TOS as laid out in the ticket. If it's covert AI running in the background, it should at least throw out a bone as a github issue or something to let people submit on it. In a time where marketplace options are supposed to be opening up, an app for learning ends up in the crosshairs.
v1z 1mo ago
[dead]
alerighi 1mo ago
Being a developer, I can say that working with Google is a pain. There is no possibility to talk with a human, all communication is answered by the same AI-generated response that links you to the same AI-generated documentation. And if such AI does something wrong (which it does) no matter what they WILL REMOVE your app. Because they don't care about you. Sometimes the only way out is to publish the app again with another package identifier, because once they flagged it even if you remove all reference to the offending feature there is no way that they will accept it (it unfortunately happened, fortunately before releasing the app to the public so we could switch without affecting users). In some sense I prefer Apple (and I say it as an Android user), you surely pay an annual fee to publish to the store, but if you have some issues you can open a ticket where a fucking real human will look into it and answer you, and explain what to to.
- megagpt4 1mo ago
  My experience was that my person got banned from ever submitting apps. I could try making a new account, but I'd have to provide ID so their AI might know to ban me again.
- HeavenFox 1mo ago
  I have apps published to both the Play Store and App Store, and I agree. Despite the stereotype, Apple is much nicer to deal with. If you work within the Google ecosystem, you enjoy none of the benefits of the supposedly open Android system, but need to deal with more bureaucracy, more limitations, and worse support.
sezaidemirer 1mo ago
Good Work!!!
acrion 1mo ago
[flagged]
iririririr 1mo ago
every single comment in this thread about leaving the app store and using fdroid etc... are we forgetting google already announced they will shut it all down in a few months?
surcap526 1mo ago
[dead]
kazinator 1mo ago
Can't you construct the link at run-time from obfuscated pieces, and only show it according to some halfway clever condition?
redanddead 1mo ago
anki nerds unite
orsenthil 1mo ago
Just remove the open collective link. Point to your homepage where the motivated donors will certainly pay. You already should know how many of the motivated users actually care about donations. The goal of this story and publishing it in HN seems to catch more eyeballs and marketing of Ankidroid, under new leadership. All I am suggesting is, just play along with Google. No harm here. I am sorry, if I am wrong. Happy to be wrong too.
- abd-nh 1mo ago
  AnkiDroid is still independent and is not managed by a new leadership like the computer app, if that's what you're suggesting.
  - orsenthil 1mo ago
    Oh I see. I mistook it then. Sorry, my bad.
- orsenthil 1mo ago
  > The goal of this story and publishing it in HN seems to catch more eyeballs and marketing of Ankidroid, under new leadership Ugly and wrong. I am sorry.
ClientEngineHQ 1mo ago
[flagged]
fsckboy 1mo ago
we need an Android app to "actively" complain to and about Apple, and an iPhone app to collectively agitate against Google
deleted 1mo ago
[deleted]
my_username_is_ 1mo ago
It's becoming more and more clear to me that my next phone won't be an Android
josmar 1mo ago
My next phone won't be an android, but a Linux phone, and I'll keep this old phone as a secondary device for banking apps.
- cube00 1mo ago
  > I'll keep this old phone as a secondary device for banking apps Our bank has just bumped the minimum Android level again to the point where the Play Store reviews are flooded with people complaining they can only access their banking via the web now.

924 points by hexa555 1mo ago

AnkiDroid has been such a great boon for me, thank you for sharing the link and reminding that they would benefit from my donation.

wafflemaker 1mo ago
Seconded here. So far only used ready made sets, especially the fantastic CCNA one from Jeremy's IT Labs. But I guess that if I fix few more errors, I'll break into creating my own cards.
- pferde 1mo ago
  I found that creating and adding to my own decks is the best way to learn. It's also a lot of fun creating the cards/notes structure, with some cards being created conditionally upon state of certain fields in the note, etc. It's a bit like creating a database schema.
- yakireev 1mo ago
  Creating a card is a first step in learning that card. Worth it! And you don't have to do that on your phone - there's a desktop app available.
overtone1000 1mo ago
I made hundreds of cards to get me through the ACR core exam, and I'll be teaching my kids to make cards when it's time for them to do intensive memorization. Paper is just fine, but I think this is a situation where digital is better.

charcircuit 1mo ago

[dead]

dataflow 1mo ago

> Play billing "must not be used in cases where payments include … tax exempt donations" > Note: 501(c)(6) is a tax-exempt status; donations are not tax-deductible for the donor. Google's communications explicitly state "tax-exempt". Isn't it pretty obvious that the problem is the donations aren't tax-exempt, despite the organization being tax-exempt? Your note suggests you already understand this. Logically, the payment processor (who deals with sales taxes rather than income taxes) should worry about the taxability of the transaction rather than the tax status of the recipient, right? > Specifically, your app allows users to contribute donations to an organization that is not tax-exempt. So whoever is writing their email is mixing these two up, but you're reading the policy itself and it is fairly clear-cut what it means for you, right?

Conan_Kudo 1mo ago
Yes, but unsurprisingly most people don't understand that distinction well enough.
david_allison 1mo ago
We've been seeking official clarification from Google on this for over a month. That's what we're seeking here. It's not clear given Google's policy wording and replies. We've removed the links, and can move forward once clarification has been provided.
- dataflow 1mo ago
  Their emails are confusing, but they came after the alleged violation in private communication, not what you were going from at the time of the alleged violation. If you ignore them momentarily (surely you understand they probably aren't as well-scrutinized by lawyers, which would explain why they appear to mistakenly refer to the tax status of the recipient rather than that of the donation), is anything else actually confusing or inconsistent? Their policies, the relevant laws, and what common sense would have you expect - they seem pretty cut and dried. Are they inconsistent with anything other than their emails, which came after the fact? From another angle: why/how do you feel the tax-exempt-mess of the recipient itself could sensibly be the determining factor here, rather than the taxability of the transaction itself? Is there any law or precedent or anything outside their emails that would suggests a payment processor should look at the tax status of the recipient rather than that of a transaction?

free652 1mo ago

>clarification on whether an IRS 501(c)(6) determination satisfies "tax exempt donations". These donations aren't tax exempt. 501(c)(3) are tax exempt. If users are paying via Google pay these payments must be tax exempt to the *user*.

amiga386 1mo ago

Not Google's first rodeo. They pulled the same move in 2019: https://www.phoronix.com/news/WireGuard-Ejected-Play-Store https://www.phoronix.com/news/WireGuard-Ejected-Play-Store This is why software should not be subjected to an "app store" type distribution system, where a monopolist retains absolute control of what software can run on your devices, and can capriciously deny distribution to developers for whatever reason it likes.

brainwad 1mo ago
You can install from other stores (AnkiDroid is on F-Droid, for example), or from direct file download on Android already. The problem is rather thay most users just use the store preinstalled on their phone as part of Google's deal with OEMs to bundle Google Play Services. So either you follow Google's rules, or you lose all the users who don't want to leave the walled garden, even though they can.
- amiga386 1mo ago
  Yeah, not for much longer though: https://keepandroidopen.org/ https://keepandroidopen.org/
  - 999900000999 1mo ago
    Thanks for sharing. Everyone is speed running towards a future where you need a permit to write software. Try to run a binary that doesn’t have the right cert( or whatever it’s called on Windows) and you get a bunch of warnings. Even if Android is open , normal people will only use the App Store. I can imagine China forcing Apple to allow 3rd party installations of software one day . The EU did something where to my knowledge Apple still gets a cut of each sale.
    - Create 1mo ago
      https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.en.html https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.en.html This article appeared in the February 1997 issue of Communications of the ACM (Volume 40, Number 2).

Edymilson 1mo ago

[dead]

maelito 1mo ago

If only PWA were not made invisible by Apple. The install button has been moved voluntarily to the share menu. The UE should make it mandatory to permit PWA install popups on all platforms. Such problems wouldn't arise, because this app could be installable as a cached Web app. A native mobile application could be installed only for specific functionalities.

Gander5739 1mo ago
This is on Android, though.
- vachina 1mo ago
  Android and iOS keep each other in check
  - Gander5739 1mo ago
    I wish. It's not like the (former) openness of Android pulled iOS any more open; in fact, it feels more like the reverse.
  - charcircuit 1mo ago
    The difference here is iOS has an official Anki app and buying it (it costs $25) is the best way to support Anki.
trollbridge 1mo ago
Every slop website would then repeatedly try to pop up and install button.
nottorp 1mo ago
> The UE should make it mandatory to permit PWA install popups on all platforms. "It works better in the app?". No thanks. In 99.95% of cases the reasons for that popup are predatory, not in the interest of the user.
- 1mo ago

zetanor 1mo ago

I suppose there might be a way to sign up for the alternative billing scheme: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/16497028 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ... but make sure to "pay the relevant Play service fee, starting October 1, 2026." Very cool, Google.

zoobab 1mo ago
"pay the relevant Play service fee" We were promised alternative app stores in the EU, but the European Commission does not stop them.

sunaookami 1mo ago

>We are forced to remove donation links immediately from our Play Store build in 2.24.X, and are doing so under protest So you are still complying.

westurner 1mo ago

It sounds like Epic Games v Google must be heard again? Does that precedent apply to this, or did they settle? Epic Games v. Google: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_v._Google https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games_v._Google GitHub Sponsors is another way to raise for an open source organization.

notpushkin 1mo ago
> GitHub Sponsors is another way to raise for an open source organization. Which they do in fact use, with OSC as a fiscal host. Still doesn’t help here though – Google is unhappy with the nature of transaction (donation that is not tax-exempt in the U.S.), not with the platform on which it occurs. If they instead made the donations go to e.g. the lead developer, it would probably be allowed (“peer-to-peer payments” can’t use Google Play billing, so the app can “lead users to [another] payment method” [1]). Whether this is a good idea is a whole another question. [1]: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9858738 https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
- westurner 1mo ago
  A majority of the people that have contributed to Android did not contribute with the understanding that Google would monopolize payments in all apps on the app store. They must have updated their terms.

shevy-java 1mo ago

Every day Google commits to more Evil. How much more Evil can this world take from Google? Also - all those monopoly-stores need to be broken up. It can not be that these mega-corporations continue to be protected by a selfish US government wanting to install monopolies globally.

pmkary 1mo ago
When they first said "Don't be Evil," I guess they meant this to others; as in "we want all that evil for ourselves."

SigmundurM 1mo ago

> Donations are not tax-deductible > Because we are a 501(c)(6), OSC is not a registered 501(c)(3) charity; donations to hosted member projects are not tax-deductible. This is consistent with IRS guidelines — open source donations aren't automatically classified as charitable simply because they are FOSS. > If your project has a clear charitable purpose, a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor may be a good fit. - https://docs.oscollective.org/welcome-and-introduction-to-osc/what-is-fiscal-hosting https://docs.oscollective.org/welcome-and-introduction-to-os...

lokar 1mo ago
But the recipient of the donation is tax exempt, which is what Google says the requirement is.
- bunderbunder 1mo ago
  IANAL, but it seems like the wording in the public-facing version of the policy is a little muddy. As far as I'm aware, "tax exempt donation" not a thing that actually exists in US tax law. It seems to be a conflation of "tax deductible donation" and "tax exempt organization". Knowing how big corporations do things, that document was likely written by someone who doesn't fully understand the jargon or even how pedantic you have to be about words when dealing with legal concepts, who didn't set the policy themself, and who is not responsible for enforcing the policy. So we should take its specific choice of words with a grain of salt.

yogthos 1mo ago

[flagged]

emursebrian 1mo ago

Shit like this is yet another reason why we don't have apps in the app store. In app purchases are a non-starter for us. As I understand it, there are ways to work around accepting payments or donations outside of the app stores. It adds one more thing to have to do and explain to users. And even with that piece taken care of, we would need to be constantly vigilant about changes in Apple or Google policies that might eject our app from the storefront.

skeledrew 1mo ago

Apps need to exit the Play Store. I have a whole slew of apps which haven't been updated for a while now because Aurora Store isn't working because of whatever Google of doing. Meanwhile the ones installed via FDroid and other means are perfectly up to date. It's a crappy state of affairs as Google continues to close the boiling Android frog.

renegat0x0 1mo ago
I think there are more and more apps on f-droid. On my end the experience was more pleasant on f-droid than on Google. On f-droid I had to manually push some things, in repositories. That I solved in a week or so. On Google end I had to verify my account. Which was not easy feat. - had to provide my ID several times, because it got rejected multiple times - I uploaded driving license - the verification process was stuck - only after help ticket google employee pushed it forward - I had to provide many more details, also had to use banking to pay substantial amount of money - I currently trying to create app, but it requires 14 testers, and it can still be rejected, if their involvement was too poor I am wondering what more things Google will invent to make my life worse. By the way my app: https://github.com/rumca-js/OfflineWebSearch https://github.com/rumca-js/OfflineWebSearch
- Ajedi32 1mo ago
  From a user perspective I think F-Droid is really good too, mainly because it only allows FOSS apps by default, which cuts out a lot of the BS you see in Play Store apps. You can go download a random, no-name app from F-Droid and be very confident it does what it says on the tin and won't be riddled with ads or spam you with notifications.
  - 2Gkashmiri 1mo ago
    Thats the only reason for at least me to use f droid and I have for the last decade I think. It "just works". As opposed to play store apps requiring "play store services" meaning having to sign into play store. It refuses to do so on a FOSS principle so I am literally cut off from a lot of apps. Aurora store helps but apps that "require play store services" don't work.

kelvinjps10 1mo ago

I hope they can solve this is one of my favorite apps on android.

amazingamazing 1mo ago

Make web apps.

pmkary 1mo ago

In Iran, we have a reverse market competition rule that is "instead of the market lowering prices to be competitive with the lowest price, as soon as one actor pushes the prices up, all other actors raise their own prices as fast as humanly possible." I'm amazed to see the exact playbook be used here. Instead of people opposing Apple's horrible App Store, it seems that every other store is studying their strategies. I think by the time of Apple's next court case on the App Store, the judge will pay them something back as they'll arrive at the conclusion of Apple doing nothing out of the ordinary.

torutofu 1mo ago

Play blocking the donation link on a free app that actually needs those donations is a weird hill

deleted 1mo ago
[deleted]

neves 1mo ago

Digital infrastructure became so important that it must be regulated. We can't leave app stores at the whim of mega corporations.

a2ff6eeb0 1mo ago
The mega corporations need to be broken up.
KetoManx64 1mo ago
[flagged]
alerighi 1mo ago
Nooo what you are saying communist. I also think so, but each time someone (typically the EU) does something in the direction (e.g. digital market act) the US government, companies and citizens accuse us to be communists, against progress, that we overregulate, that the "free market" regulates by itself, and similar bullshit.
- neves 1mo ago
  The irony is that just in communist China the corporations must submit to the Government. You may argue that it is terrible. They don't have a democratic gov. But the alternative looks worse every day.
- mplewis 1mo ago
  "Everything I don't like is communism"
charcircuit 1mo ago
Just because Google built something valuable that doesn't mean the government should take control of it. This line of reasoning also leads to the government taking over YouTube and changing the rules there due to how "important" it is.
- jmusall 1mo ago

akshayrajeshwar 1mo ago

Just chiming in to say that, as a user, F-Droid is so nice and comfortable. Never have I ever had to worry about predatory bs. Thanks to everyone involved :)

lai7th_0 1mo ago

[flagged]

mannanj 1mo ago

I've been more minimal and focused in my technology usage, specifically lucky enough to keep my phones and devices in "no notifications" mode for much of their lifecycle. My desktops and screens also have 0 apps on them ever, if I want to open something I just open a search UI and tap it and open it. It works great on Mac, and iPhone. I imagine as more people try this sort of user experience, they might wonder like I am "Why use a Google experience device at all?" Most of what I use these days is simple and the extra value-add AI features, attention driven designs that justify new OS and new hardware, and even app stores barely feel necessary. OK some people say "but banking software" but very rarely do I have to use my banking software in a way I couldn't get to in the web browser? I believe we're very close to having a 80:20 experience designed out in both hardware and software for laptops, phones and smart watches. I can't see these monopolies holding out much longer.

Lucaichyexp 1mo ago

[flagged]

segmondy 1mo ago

Google has gone full rouge and DGAF.

LoganDark 1mo ago

we think complying by removing donation links is a bad idea because it just lets google get away with this and won't cause any users to notice. you need to let disruptions like this reach the users so that google might do something about this

j45 1mo ago

This is not a great look for what is likely shoddy AI application affecting a free/open source/non-profit project. Google's AI can't even line up the facts of it's own TOS as laid out in the ticket. If it's covert AI running in the background, it should at least throw out a bone as a github issue or something to let people submit on it. In a time where marketplace options are supposed to be opening up, an app for learning ends up in the crosshairs.

v1z 1mo ago

[dead]

alerighi 1mo ago

Being a developer, I can say that working with Google is a pain. There is no possibility to talk with a human, all communication is answered by the same AI-generated response that links you to the same AI-generated documentation. And if such AI does something wrong (which it does) no matter what they WILL REMOVE your app. Because they don't care about you. Sometimes the only way out is to publish the app again with another package identifier, because once they flagged it even if you remove all reference to the offending feature there is no way that they will accept it (it unfortunately happened, fortunately before releasing the app to the public so we could switch without affecting users). In some sense I prefer Apple (and I say it as an Android user), you surely pay an annual fee to publish to the store, but if you have some issues you can open a ticket where a fucking real human will look into it and answer you, and explain what to to.

megagpt4 1mo ago
My experience was that my person got banned from ever submitting apps. I could try making a new account, but I'd have to provide ID so their AI might know to ban me again.
HeavenFox 1mo ago
I have apps published to both the Play Store and App Store, and I agree. Despite the stereotype, Apple is much nicer to deal with. If you work within the Google ecosystem, you enjoy none of the benefits of the supposedly open Android system, but need to deal with more bureaucracy, more limitations, and worse support.

sezaidemirer 1mo ago

Good Work!!!

acrion 1mo ago

[flagged]

iririririr 1mo ago

every single comment in this thread about leaving the app store and using fdroid etc... are we forgetting google already announced they will shut it all down in a few months?

surcap526 1mo ago

[dead]

kazinator 1mo ago

Can't you construct the link at run-time from obfuscated pieces, and only show it according to some halfway clever condition?

redanddead 1mo ago

anki nerds unite

orsenthil 1mo ago

Just remove the open collective link. Point to your homepage where the motivated donors will certainly pay. You already should know how many of the motivated users actually care about donations. The goal of this story and publishing it in HN seems to catch more eyeballs and marketing of Ankidroid, under new leadership. All I am suggesting is, just play along with Google. No harm here. I am sorry, if I am wrong. Happy to be wrong too.

abd-nh 1mo ago
AnkiDroid is still independent and is not managed by a new leadership like the computer app, if that's what you're suggesting.
- orsenthil 1mo ago
  Oh I see. I mistook it then. Sorry, my bad.
orsenthil 1mo ago
> The goal of this story and publishing it in HN seems to catch more eyeballs and marketing of Ankidroid, under new leadership Ugly and wrong. I am sorry.

ClientEngineHQ 1mo ago

[flagged]

fsckboy 1mo ago

we need an Android app to "actively" complain to and about Apple, and an iPhone app to collectively agitate against Google

deleted 1mo ago

[deleted]

my_username_is_ 1mo ago

It's becoming more and more clear to me that my next phone won't be an Android

josmar 1mo ago

My next phone won't be an android, but a Linux phone, and I'll keep this old phone as a secondary device for banking apps.

cube00 1mo ago
> I'll keep this old phone as a secondary device for banking apps Our bank has just bumped the minimum Android level again to the point where the Play Store reviews are flooded with people complaining they can only access their banking via the web now.