cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/11117839

Fossify Phone (fork of Simple Dialer) has been released on F-Droid.

Fossify Gallery (fork of Simple Gallery), Fossify File Manager (fork of Simple File Manager) and Fossify Calendar (fork of Simple Calendar) are also available for download on F-Droid, with more to come.

(ICYMI: Simple Mobile Tools suite was acquired by an adware company and their apps on the Google Play Store now contain trackers and unnecessary permissions. This report from Exodus shows that the old version of Simple Gallery had 0 trackers and 10 permissions, whereas the app, after sale, contains 9 trackers and 21 permissions!)

About Fossify: Fossify is all about community-backed, open-source, and ad-free mobile apps. A fork of the SimpleMobileTools, which is no longer maintained, and we’re here to continue the legacy, bringing simple and private tech to everyone.

  • ElPussyKangaroo@lemdro.idEnglish
    191·
    5 months ago

    Love this. If only call recording were built into this app… Even as a root-only feature, that’d be great.

    • rmstyle@feddit.de
      64·
      5 months ago

      The problem is probably a legality thing. In Germany for example AFAIK people need to be told they are recorded and must accept to this. So by implementing such a feature, you need to adhere to local laws, which differ from country to country and may make it way to complex and dangerous to implement.

      • Bilb!@lem.monsterEnglish
        24·
        5 months ago

        Isn’t following the local law the end user’s responsibility? Like how in the US it’s not lawful for me to install and use certain patented codecs without buying a license. (We all do, anyway.) Would it be “illegal software” or would it just make it easier for the end user to violate the law?

      • FiskFisk33@startrek.website
        4·
        5 months ago

        That’s not the case here in Sweden. Recording is legal here, it’s super infuriating no call app supports recording for the reason of legality in other countries.

  • Aielman15@lemmy.world
    9·
    5 months ago

    Damn, thanks for letting me know. I’ve been using the Simple suite for years and even bought some of them because I wanted to reward the developer. I’m saddened by the news of the acquisition. I’ll swap them with the new fork.

      • ForgottenFlux@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        62·
        5 months ago

        Apps are typically removed from the IzzyOnDroid repository if they are later added to the main F-Droid repository. While that makes sense (since the goal of that particular repository is to host apps before they’re accepted into the main F-Droid repository), it can leave you with installed apps which no longer receive updates.

        • Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          2·
          5 months ago

          They are using repeatable builds, so the fdroid version is signed by fossify. You can update between github, izzy, and fdroid, and in the future likely also google play, if they release there.

          I dug up the meta discussion on it. Mentioned there is the issue to add reproducible builds to the phone app, which is marked complete since that was released on github and izzy last week.

          Further for me the app is marked installed on both entries in fdroid, which means the fdroid and izzy repos should serve bit by bit identical apks, from my understanding (the installed mark being based off of the apk hash).

  • OlPatchy2Eyes@lemmy.world
    7·
    5 months ago

    How does my default phone app on Android threaten my security? Does this app use data for calls or cell connection?

    • ForgottenFlux@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      23·
      5 months ago

      Android’s Messages, Dialer apps quietly sent text, call info to Google

      Google’s Messages and Dialer apps for Android devices have been collecting and sending data to Google without specific notice and consent, and without offering the opportunity to opt-out, potentially in violation of Europe’s data protection law.

      According to a research paper, “What Data Do The Google Dialer and Messages Apps On Android Send to Google?” [PDF], by Trinity College Dublin computer science professor Douglas Leith, Google Messages (for text messaging) and Google Dialer (for phone calls) have been sending data about user communications to the Google Play Services Clearcut logger service and to Google’s Firebase Analytics service.

      “The data sent by Google Messages includes a hash of the message text, allowing linking of sender and receiver in a message exchange,” the paper says. “The data sent by Google Dialer includes the call time and duration, again allowing linking of the two handsets engaged in a phone call. Phone numbers are also sent to Google.”

      The timing and duration of other user interactions with these apps has also been transmitted to Google. And Google offers no way to opt-out of this data collection.

      • Vaeril@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        4·
        5 months ago

        Am I wrong in feeling like if my phone isn’t completely degoogled, there is not much point in not using Google apps because Google has so much integration into Android when not degoogled? I kinda view Google spying on me as unavoidable until I degoogle.

        • MiltownClowns@lemmy.world
          5·
          5 months ago

          I switched to graphene so these make sense. I agree, though, if Google is baked in to your OS you’re pissing in to the wind trying to stem the flow of data to them.

    • EunieIsTheBus@feddit.de
      61·
      5 months ago

      The default app is only just like any other app. The fact that it is the default / preinstalled doesn’t mean it is minimal or necessary software. In fact any company can release their own slightly modified version of Android. That’s also the reason why a Samsung smartphone, a google pixel and some other random small company might all have Android xyz installed but you get a different set of preinstalled apps, different Launcher / home screen or standard settings.

      So what your default app does or can do depends what or whose app it actually is and random people from the internet cannot tell you more about it if you don’t give more context.

    • shrugal@lemm.ee
      9·
      5 months ago

      They also released a Fossify messenger and contacts app. You might have to enable or refresh the IzzyOnDroid repo to see them now, or wait until they come to the default F-Droid repo.

      • ForgottenFlux@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        2·
        5 months ago

        Apps are typically removed from the IzzyOnDroid repository if they are later added to the main F-Droid repository. While that makes sense (since the goal of that particular repository is to host apps before they’re accepted into the main F-Droid repository), it can leave you with installed apps which no longer receive updates.

        • Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          1·
          5 months ago

          They are using repeatable builds, so the fdroid version is signed by fossify. You can update between github, izzy, and fdroid, and in the future likely also google play, if they release there.

          I dug up the meta discussion on it. Mentioned there is the issue to add reproducible builds to the phone app, which is marked complete since that was released on github and izzy last week.

          Further for me the app is marked installed on both entries in fdroid, which means the fdroid and izzy repos should serve bit by bit identical apks, from my understanding (the installed mark being based off of the apk hash).

  • megaman@discuss.tchncs.de
    1·
    5 months ago

    Does this app not do voicemail? I just got a voicemail and had to reset the standard google phone app as default to listen, then switch back to this one as default.

    I imagine im missing something obvious here that i couls just search the web for, but i downloaded this app because of you all in the first place, so it is your collective responsibility to set it up for me as well.