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posted by mrpg on Sunday October 22 2017, @02:14AM   Printer-friendly
from the gratis-and-libre-only dept.

Martin Brinkmann reports via gHacks

F-Droid is an alternative application store for Android [...] that provides users with a catalog of free and open source software. [It is] useful for Android users who don't want to link their device and data to the Google ecosystem, and [...] for installing applications that are not offered on Google Play.

Note: The last [pre-1.0] version is offered [...] on the main F-Droid homepage at the time of writing. You need to visit this page on the website to download version 1.0 of the application. Also, note that you need to enable the installation of apps from unknown sources in the settings to install the application.

[...] F-Droid 1.0 comes with a redesigned interface. The application opens a What's New page on start that highlights new releases.

Note that you cannot switch the program language [any more], at least not right now. This means that you are stuck with the Android device's language.

[...] new features are [...]

  • Improved tracking protection (HTTP Etag, TLS).
  • Background updates with privileged extension. workflow for updating applications overhauled completely.
  • Faster index updates.
  • A "What's New" section that highlights changes in the current release.
  • Screenshots and feature graphics support, if available.
  • Fully translatable app summaries and descriptions.
  • Support installing media, OTA, Zip and other files.
  • Donations to app developers highlighted.

The general feel of the application has not changed, however.

In the comments there, Coriy notes that installed apps are now beneath a tab ("annoying, but livable"); auto-updates to your local repository are now clunkier; and that FOSS app updates have always been slow in reaching F-Droid relative to the stuff at Google Play.


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  • (Score: 4, Informative) by bart9h on Monday October 23 2017, @05:34PM

    by bart9h (767) on Monday October 23 2017, @05:34PM (#586436)

    Exactly. I reluctantly go to Play store only if I don't find a suitable app on F-Droid.

    The apps are usually much smaller and to-the-point.

    I have dozens of F-Droid apps installed. Some recommendations: Clip Stack, DiskUsage, FBReader, Ghost Commander, Hacker's Keyboard, Mathdroid, NewPipe, OsmAnd, OS Monitor, Throughput, Puzzles.

    Starting Score:    1  point
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