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- 1
StreetComplete, the popular open-source app that lets users answer simple questions to improve OpenStreetMap data, has released a public beta of its iOS version. The app has long been a favorite on Android, and iPhone users have asked for an iOS port for years. The launch drew strong interest from the mapping and open-source communities, with many welcoming the wider availability.
- 2Conversations app ditches Google Play, goes free●Breaking Up with Google Play: Why Conversations Is Now Free
Developer Daniel Gultsch has announced that Conversations, the popular open-source XMPP chat app for Android, is no longer distributed on Google Play and is now free of charge. In his announcement he explains the reasoning behind leaving the Play Store, and the move is drawing wide attention among developers debating the costs and constraints of Google's app distribution.
- 3Google accused of bundling ads into Android system updates●Google now ships "ads" with their Android system update?
Google is facing criticism over claims that its Android system updates now include advertisements delivered directly to devices. Users and developers are questioning whether the company is using its update mechanism as an advertising channel, renewing long-standing debates about Google's control over the Android ecosystem and how far it will go to monetise its platform.
- 4Anger over Google's Android Developer Verification Program●Fuck Android Developer Verification Program
Developers are pushing back against Google's Android Developer Verification Program, a policy that will require all app developers to register with Google even for apps distributed outside the Play Store. Critics say the scheme undermines Android's openness and effectively forces sideloaded apps through Google's gatekeeping, making it harder to share software anonymously or without corporate approval.