Hey Google, what happened to all the fun?
An Android app, "Is It Tuesday?" created in 2010, faces removal from Google Play Store due to lacking purpose under new policies. Author explores challenges for developers and values software freedom. Consideration for alternative platforms like Fdroid.
Read original articleThe article discusses the journey of an Android app called "Is It Tuesday?" created by the author back in 2010 as a fun and pointless application. Despite being on the Google Play Store for 14 years, the app faced removal due to Google's new "Minimum Functionality policy," which deemed it lacking in purpose. The author's appeal to keep the app was denied, highlighting the challenges developers face with platform control. The incident raises questions about the value of simple, entertaining apps in a tech environment focused on functionality and data collection. The author reflects on the importance of maintaining software freedom outside the control of large tech companies. While the app will be removed from the Play Store, the author considers alternative platforms like Fdroid for its future availability, emphasizing the enduring humor and nostalgia associated with such whimsical creations.
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If you're going to put your stuff into one of the proprietary phone/tablet app stores today, it is important to make sure you can look yourself in the mirror and say, "I know this is probably a bad way for society, but I think I can get more money this way, at least in the short term." So at least you know what you're doing.
The longer that people sell out, the harder it will be for society to dig itself out.
In actual fact, it does have function. I have personally asked "is it Tuesday?" more than zero times in my life. This app functions perfectly in helping answer that question.
Seems no different than a weather app in terms of its function - it communicates real time information about the day.
What does this mean?
If you make apps for Google, they get to ruin your day at any point in the future. If you put up a website, you own it. You control it. It will work as long as the code still runs, and you never need to update a “manifest number” or whatever.
If you want it to be an icon, create a bookmark and drag it onto your phone’s Home Screen. In fact I do this anyways with some websites that do have apps because the website works and that’s good enough.
The same goes for Twitter vs the Fediverse. Do you know what already is a network of media servers that connect over a common protocol? The internet. Create a blog. It works forever.
But, yeah, I miss the old Google too.
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