this post was submitted on 14 May 2025
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(page 2) 21 comments
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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago

So, I totally remember this pop-up and luckily until now it has not directly impacted me. I auto-backup my photos/videos off my phone and do move non photos/videos on/off nextcloud on occasion but haven't noticed I could no longer upload regular files.

Luckily...

I self-host Nextcloud I already use F-Droid

So, it wasn't much work to uninstall the play version and instlall the f-droid version. I should probably go through all my apps and see what's available on f-droid and swap. But 1) that's a lot of work and 2) there are some features that break when you do that. I know some mapping software won't work on Android Auto if not from the play store.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago

I don't have an Android phone currently but I thought I'd check on iOS and, yep, Google Drive has access to all files. Well that's a bit hypocritical.

[–] [email protected] 145 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Thankfully the full feature will still work if you get the app from F-Droid

Hopefully this will motivate more people use F-Droid

[–] [email protected] 78 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I noticed that in their info text shown to their users, they don't mention F-Droid. I wonder if google doesn't allow them to mention other stores as part of their "security" policies.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 day ago

Interesting, Yes I think users should be made aware that if they get the app from F-Droid it will work as intended.

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[–] [email protected] 72 points 1 day ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (8 children)

Unfettered capitalism is just fucking exhausting. What a bunch of assholes. I really need to degoogle my life. Idk how to strip android off my phone and replace it with whatever, but I guess I'm about to find out.

Edit: ty all. I'm gonna check out f droid and go from there!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 23 hours ago

You can just install it off f-droid instead of the play store.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Take a look at GrapheneOS.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 day ago

The thing is that this isn't even unfettered capitalism.

Unfettered capitalism would be so much worse, which is saying something.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I've been wanting a Linux-based degoogled phone for a while now, and though it sorta exists if you happen to have the right phone model, it definitely isn't ready for the everyday consumer. But if it's something you really want to do, there are a few options out there. I've done the best I can from not using the google ecosystem at all beyond android, which is my last big hurtle.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I've been looking at possible phone options too. There are several degoogled Android options but it's still Android of course. And switching to a Linux phone seems like it would be really limiting without access to Android/iOS apps. Do Linux phone users just use the browser to replace all those apps? I guess it could work, though it seems less ergonomic.

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[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I don't think we need a Linux-Based Phone, A deGoogled Android fork would do, and it would be a familiar place for most users.

Hopefully a company like Samsung offers deGoogled options in the future.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Samsung? that must be a joke right?

I agree that android itself is not really our "opponent". It'll take at least a decade until the community puts together something as remotely capable as android. It would be much easier to take AOSP, or Calyx, and revert google changes that do not tie users into google services, but still were strongarmed in there by google, several things that are limiting user freedom (that is, without accessible options to turn the restrictions off).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

Samsung is just an example. I would like any big manufacturer to fork Android and strip Google out of it.

If Samsung does it, it would be great for the deGoogle movement, and would open the floodgates for others.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

Samsung aren't exactly good guys either. At this point I'm not sure there is a company who isn't out to put profit over everything else.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 22 hours ago

I know Samsung aren't good guys, but a big company like them ditching Google will open the floodgates for others to also be able to do it

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago

There are already: GrapheneOS (only for Pixel phones) and /e/os for example.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

The problem in this case is the Google Play Store, not Android.

Google is blocking Nextcloud from updating their app on the Play Store unless they remove this vital permission. But nothing is stopping Nextcloud from making their app available on third party app stores with the approriate permissions.

If you download the app from F-Droid instead, it should work correctly.


That is not to say that what Google is doing isn't monopolistic. I'm just pointing out that you can bypass this restriction by not using their app store.

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[–] [email protected] 152 points 1 day ago (1 children)

As the article mentions, this isn't a security "feature," it's anti-competetive. The worst part is that Nextcloud isn't even really in competition with Google. Setting up a Nextcloud server isn't hard, but it's not a trivial task. Sharing it outside your local network also requires a bit of skill, especially if done securely. That is to say, Nextcloud users probably tend to be more tech-savvy.

The people using Nextcloud aren't going to suddenly decide to switch over to Google Drive. I'll get it from FDroid before I downgrade to Google Drive. If that wasn't an option, I'd set up an FTP server or even WebDAV.

[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The worst part is that Nextcloud isn’t even really in competition with Google. Setting up a Nextcloud server isn’t hard, but it’s not a trivial task. Sharing it outside your local network also requires a bit of skill, especially if done securely. That is to say, Nextcloud users probably tend to be more tech-savvy.

That's only true for those who self-host this. There are lots of companies offering Nextcloud hosting. That's probably why Google doesn't like Nextcloud. I'm not saying Google is right. Actually what Google is doing here is quite pathetic.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 21 hours ago

Actually what Google is doing here is quite pathetic.

So business as usual then?

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