New Advertisement and Internet connection permissions for Simple SMS Messenger on Google Play Store...

For everyone still using Simple Tools apps, switch to Fossify it's a fork that has all that crap removed

Guys.

Dont install FOSS apps from the Playstore. Use F-Droid (F-Droid Basic if you are on an updated OS)

Thanks.

They were sold to ZippoApps, who specializes in adding crapware to apps.

What else would we expect anyway...

Hmm, this app is also in the F-Droid repository with its old outfit.

Luckily it got forked : https://github.com/FossifyOrg/SMS-Messenger

RIP Simple mobile apps. You were amazing while you lasted.

Damn, how did I even manage to miss that Simple apps have been bought off? I've used them for years and am still subscribed to the reddit community...

Some people suggest the action could possibly be deemed illegal, by breaking the licence the project was made under.

https://github.com/SimpleMobileTools/General-Discussion/issues/241#issuecomment-1837452672 - the dev's explanation, and replies which discuss the legal issues

https://old.reddit.com/r/fossdroid/comments/1893j2p/simple_mobile_tools_is_about_to_be_acquired/

"have full network access" BIG YIKES

Throwback to when they announced releasing a simple phone. Fun times.

I'm really curious about the amount of money exchanged. It must have been an enormous amount in order to do a "I'd even sell my mom for that" and don't feel dirty

Wow, the new owners enshittified those apps really fast.

It has begun

(ps install the fork versions of the simple mobile tools suite, its called fossify)

So it begins

Play store version is already infected. There was a buyout of SMT apps.

sigh. Most people will just accept the new default permissions without blinking an eye. They're taking advantage of people's ignorance.

Hopefully fossify will release fossify messenger soon. Fossify's a project forking all the simple apps

Yeah, not suspicious at all.

And here we go... 🪦

sounds like an uninstall

why would you want or need a separate SMS/MMS application on your phone in the first place?

Did they forget to track the google maps history? someone should submit a PR

Tibor betrayed us and sold the Simple Apps suite to a sleazy adtech company a while ago, there were multiple posts on this suggesting replacements, then one of the most active devs forked it into Fossify, removing all the branding and references to the original, work is still ongoing on this, already some of the apps have been rereleased, here's a handy matrix of the progress on the rerelease from somebody on Github

Oof, those permissions alone scream proprietary spyware. There's no more speculation here, it has officially become enshittified.

En-what-iffication everyone?

Will this be pushed to the F-droid version? Only downloaded from there.

Simple Contacts and SMS were the only simple apps I've been using. Fortunately I've found Connect You, which does both. So goodbye simple

!softwaregore@lemmy.world

Absolutely Haram.

I'm just using the default GrapheneOS SMS app, but it's concerning seeing the number of these FOSS apps lately adding major privacy invasive permission changes. Are there a few big companies buying them up for a quick buck, or what?

Already migrated to Deku SMS

I hope the money was worth tanking the good will of the brand. I wish I could code successful apps and the undermine my principles for meager amounts of money and fuck off into the woods

Shit, anyone have a good calendar on fdroid?

https://f-droid.org/packages/com.afkanerd.deku/

Not really the focus here, but Google could really improve those listings by providing some guidance as to what permissions are actually required for certain tasks.

I am not certain I would know if am SMS program needs full Internet access or not.

(I get in this instance everything added is bad.)

Hey op, how did u get that screenshot? My gplay didn't have the new tags 'new' 😥 http://0x0.st/H0pq.png

I just went into Droidify to make sure all my simple apps stopped auto-updating and they all already had ignored new versions checked. Is this something I did or is this something Droidify did or is this something the f-droid repository did? If it's the one of the latter two that's pretty cool.

ugh.

I think a good way to avoid this for any other app in the future is to just use alternativea found on fdroid.

... And disregard the rest :D

When I saw some serious issues with Clock app (from Simple Apps), I deleted and never used it again. So many apps and so many bugs, lol.

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.moez.QKSMS