this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2024
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Free and Open Source Software

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Last night Organic Maps was removed from the Play Store without any warnings or additional details due to "not meeting the requirements for the Family Program". Compared to Google Maps and other maps apps rated for 3+ age, there are no ads or in-app purchases in Organic Maps. We have asked for an appeal.

As a temporary workaround for the Google Play issue, you can install the new upcoming Google Play update from this link: https://cdn.organicmaps.app/apk/OrganicMaps-24081605-GooglePlay.apk

The Announcement on various Networks: Fosstodon Post
Twitter Post
Telegram Post

If you don't know what Organic Maps is, it is an alternative to OsmAnd and google maps, more info on the official site (link) and GitHub.

Maybe an error? Honestly this is a weird one. I hope we will learn more in the coming hours.

You can still get it on the other channels, like F-Droid or Obtainium. Still, we all know that not being on the Play Store is an heavy sentence for any Android app.

EDITs

  • Added F-Droid link.
  • Fixed Typo in the obtainium link.
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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

I doubt this has much to do with Google maps and more to do with Google being cockwombles in general.

Organic maps in the US is fucking awful and quite literally unusable.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

It's too bad that it's not available without anti-features in F-Droid. I disable all anti-features in Settings so intially I thought OrganicMaps is not in F-Droid until I checked the website.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Yeah... I wonder if it's the same story here - devs trying to interpret the rules in their own special way and Google putting their foot down.

EDIT: as far as I can tell they kept referral links in the Google Play version and still claim to have no ads or tracking.
I guess they're still lying.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

F-Droid promotes free and open software, this also includes freedom from proprietary network services, ads etc. Look here for a list: https://f-droid.org/docs/Anti-Features/

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