Re: Re: Our community
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Wed Feb 25 2026 09:39 pm

Yeah I just looked now as well, there is nothing yet on google play.

From what I saw on Absinthe, it sounded like it should be on the Google Play store.. Either way, I'm curious to try it out. It sounded like it should at least be on Absinthe (maybe as an .apk you can download and sideload on your device?)

Nightfox

From what I saw on Absinthe, it sounded like it should be on the Google Pla store.. Either way, I'm curious to try it out. It sounded like it should least be on Absinthe (maybe as an .apk you can download and sideload on you device?)

It's on 20forbeers as well, but I hate side loading anything on my phone anymore.

... Women... you can't live with 'em... pass the beer nuts.

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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Thu Feb 26 2026 05:58 am

It's on 20forbeers as well, but I hate side loading anything on my phone anymore.

Why do you hate side loading? It's not difficult to do, and it's a way to install apps that aren't available in the Google Play store.

Nightfox

It's on 20forbeers as well, but I hate side loading anything on my pho anymore.

Why do you hate side loading? It's not difficult to do, and it's a way to install apps that aren't available in the Google Play store.

I don't piss with my phone anymore. When I had my s2 YEARS ago, I had it rooted, custom OS installed, tweaks, etc. I just don't see the fun in it anymore. Plus when I get home, the phone gets shut off anyways. I have VOIP so no need for my cell.

... Black Holes are what happens when God divides by Zero

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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Fri Feb 27 2026 01:22 pm

Why do you hate side loading? It's not difficult to do, and it's a way to
install apps that aren't available in the Google Play store.

I don't piss with my phone anymore. When I had my s2 YEARS ago, I had it rooted, custom OS installed, tweaks, etc. I just don't see the fun in it anymore. Plus when I get home, the phone gets shut off anyways. I have VOIP so no need for my cell.

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an Android phone to be able to side-load apps. I've never rooted a phone before; I've always been able to side-load Android apps with the stock phone setup. You just need to copy the APK to the phone, and you can use a file explorer to open the .APK and it will ask you if you want to install the app.

Nightfox

Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Fri Feb 27 2026 01:22 pm

Plus when I get home, the phone gets shut off anyways. I have
VOIP so no need for my cell.

These days, phones aren't just phones.. I actually don't often take actual phone calls on my smartphone much anymore. And you can do VOIP on a smartphone too. Google Voice is pretty much a VOIP app, from what I understand. Also, a lot of cell phones & carriers these days offer wifi calling, which seems to be like it's basically VOIP.

Nightfox

Nightfox wrote to Exodus <=-

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an Android phone to be able to side-load apps. I've never rooted a phone before; I've always been able to side-load Android apps with the stock phone setup. You just need to copy the APK to the phone, and you can
use a file explorer to open the .APK and it will ask you if you want to install the app.

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to sideload,
I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you "HAVE" to have
you app in their store and signed a certain way. Something they are calling Developer Verification. I know that the F-Droid people are pretty freaked out about it.

https://f-droid.org/en/2026/02/24/open-letter-opposing-developer-verification.html



... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
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What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an Android

You from fucking mars?

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an Android phone to be able to side-load apps. I've never rooted a phone before; I've

Yes I know this. Its 2 simple clicks, find the apk and click on it to install it. I just choose not to play with it. Phone are NO interest to me anymore.

... LABEL NOT FOUND: go anywhere you like.

--- Renegade v1.40/DOS
* Origin: The Titantic BBS Telnet - ttb.rgbbs.info (21:1/144)

These days, phones aren't just phones.. I actually don't often take actual phone calls on my smartphone much anymore. And you can do VOIP on a

Yeah, but it's not connected to a wall and have extra handsets you can setup around the house.

smartphone too. Google Voice is pretty much a VOIP app, from what I understand. Also, a lot of cell phones & carriers these days offer wifi calling, which seems to be like it's basically VOIP.

You're thinking of just the service, I'm using a VOIP to a land line.

... Breaking Windows isn't just for kids anymore...

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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: nblade to Nightfox on Sat Feb 28 2026 10:57 am

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to sideload, I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you "HAVE" to have you app in their store and signed a certain way. Something they are calling Developer Verification. I know that the F-Droid people are pretty freaked out about it.

I've heard about that. But hopefully they aren't taking away the ability to sideload (as you said). If they aren't, then I'd think there wouldn't be anything to worry about.

Nightfox

Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Fri Feb 27 2026 05:17 pm

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an
Android

You from fucking mars?

? Sorry, I've just never heard that term before. I'm not sure why the snark..

Nightfox

Nightfox wrote to Exodus <=-

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an
Android

You from fucking mars?

? Sorry, I've just never heard that term before. I'm not sure why the snark..

I've never heard that stupid lingo either... and not sure either.
<SHRUG>



... Gone crazy, be back later, please leave message.
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: nblade to Nightfox on Sat Feb 28 2026 10:57 am

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to sideload, I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you "HAVE" to have you app in their store and signed a certain way.

That's the same thing as taking away sideloading. What does sideloading mean to you?

If the app is in the play store and you have to deal with Google to be able to allow it on the phone at all, then that's taken sideloading away.

As a user, I don't appreciate Google telling me what I can and can't do with my general computing device, which is what I paid for.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: The Wanderer to nblade on Fri Feb 27 2026 07:28 pm

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to
sideload, I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you
"HAVE" to have you app in their store and signed a certain way.

That's the same thing as taking away sideloading. What does sideloading mean to you?

If the app is in the play store and you have to deal with Google to be able to allow it on the phone at all, then that's taken sideloading away.

As a user, I don't appreciate Google telling me what I can and can't do with my general computing device, which is what I paid for.

One of the reasons I prefer to use Android phones is that (as opposed to Apple), Google has been generally less restrictive on what you can do with your device (as in allowing sideloading of apps, etc.). I hope they don't disallow side-loading.

I'd think developers would still need to sideload their apps onto devices before they're in the Play Store in order to do testing though, so I'm not sure how it would work if they disallow sideloading. Maybe there would be a special case for sideloading the app for developers with Android Studio or something.

Nightfox

I have VOIP so no need for my cell.

Wait, cell phones are for voice calls? Weird.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an
Android

? Sorry, I've just never heard that term before. I'm not sure why the snark..

To answer the question, it means, "mess around with my phone".

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
* Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)

Hello Nightfox!

27 Feb 26 15:04, Nightfox wrote to nblade:

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to
sideload, I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you
"HAVE" to have you app in their store and signed a certain way.
Something they are calling Developer Verification. I know that the
F-Droid people are pretty freaked out about it.

I've heard about that. But hopefully they aren't taking away the
ability to sideload (as you said). If they aren't, then I'd think
there wouldn't be anything to worry about.

And if your phone has an unlockable bootloader so you always can flash a custom ROM, then there's even less to worry about.

Regards,
Jegor

--- msged/lnx 6.3 2026-02-22
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Adept to Nightfox on Sat Feb 28 2026 11:36 am

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an
Android

To answer the question, it means, "mess around with my phone".

Thanks.

I suspect it may be a common term in some parts of the world, but I haven't heard it where I live.

Nightfox

Nightfox wrote to Exodus <=-

These days, phones aren't just phones.. I actually don't often take actual phone calls on my smartphone much anymore. And you can do VOIP
on a smartphone too. Google Voice is pretty much a VOIP app, from what
I understand. Also, a lot of cell phones & carriers these days offer
wifi calling, which seems to be like it's basically VOIP.

I've been playing with SIP service from VOIP.MS, looking for
alternatives to roaming. There are SIP clients for Apple and Android -
so far it works pretty well.

What I need is to be able to travel overseas, forward my cell phone
number on unavailable to a SIP number (or GV) and have it ring via
Wifi.



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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Exodus to Nightfox on Fri Feb 27 2026 01:22 pm

I don't piss with my phone anymore. When I had my s2 YEARS ago, I had it rooted, custom OS installed, tweaks, etc. I just don't see the fun in it anymore. Plus when I get home, the phone gets shut off anyways. I have VOIP so no need for my cell.

IMO it is not about fun. It can be fun, but it is not about it.

It is about Google sucking balls and their cursed OS sucking balls and using the bandwidth you pay for in order to track what you do.

And so that is why people replaces stock Android for something else and then loads it up with adblockers and other cool stuff, because when you pay for the phone you are supposed to be its master and not the other way around.


--
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: The Wanderer to Nightfox on Sun Mar 01 2026 07:56 am

So, uhm, what's the state of linux phones these days? ... I honestly do not want to switch to another platform in the near future.

Short term solution is jumping to GrapheneOS. It is an Android-based system that works without any google components whatsoever (that is not their selling point but it is a feature it has). If you need Google material you can install it inside of a sandbox.


--
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On 27 Feb 2026, Nightfox said the following...

One of the reasons I prefer to use Android phones is that (as opposed to Apple), Google has been generally less restrictive on what you can do
with your device (as in allowing sideloading of apps, etc.). I hope
they don't disallow side-loading.

I'd think developers would still need to sideload their apps onto devices before they're in the Play Store in order to do testing though, so I'm
not sure how it would work if they disallow sideloading. Maybe there would be a special case for sideloading the app for developers with Android Studio or something.

I don't even own an Android and I feel ya here. I hope they don't go that route.

The way apple does it for developers is an app called "test flight". You share it with your QA team thru the app. The only users who can download your app have to be designated, so it's not feasible or even possible to share it out to a ton of people. At least that's how it worked more or less back before I retired(ish).

-grim

... What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?

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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Nightfox to The Wanderer on Fri Feb 27 2026 07:53 pm

One of the reasons I prefer to use Android phones is that (as opposed to Apple), Google has been generally less restrictive on what you can do with your device (as in allowing sideloading of apps, etc.). I hope they don't disallow side-loading.

Absolutely - probably the primary reason I have been with an adroid device since they were half decently usable. I was reminded last night in an article how restrictive IOS was (and really still is), and it's kind of sad any other competition has been essentially effectively wiped out of the picture.

I'd think developers would still need to sideload their apps onto devices before they're in the Play Store in order to do testing though, so I'm not sure how it would work if they disallow sideloading. Maybe there would be

That's the thing - if you're Google(tm)(c)(r) Approved, pay your fees, follow the program, etc., you'll have access to so the things you've been able to do until now, right?

That's very Apple-ish of them. Google's pulling a control card here, which should disgust anyone that understands... unfortunately very few understand any part of it.

So, uhm, what's the state of linux phones these days? ... I honestly do not want to switch to another platform in the near future.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: Yak Station - Some yakkin' happenin'... (21:3/233)

Pretty sure I remember when their tagline (or ethos) was "Do no evil"...

... As a matter of fact, it IS a banana in my pocket!

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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: ben to The Wanderer on Sun Mar 01 2026 10:20 am

Pretty sure I remember when their tagline (or ethos) was "Do no evil"...

Pretty bad sign when they rescinded that!
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: Arelor to The Wanderer on Sun Mar 01 2026 05:40 pm

Short term solution is jumping to GrapheneOS. It is an Android-based system that works without any google components whatsoever (that is not their selling point but it is a feature it has). If you need Google material you can install it inside of a sandbox.

Hmm... I already jumped to /e/, which is Lineage... I don't want to jump again but perhaps Graphene will be way to satisfaction in the short(er) term.

Thanks!
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: Yak Station - Some yakkin' happenin'... (21:3/233)

And so that is why people replaces stock Android for something else and
then loads it up with adblockers and other cool stuff, because when you
pay for the phone you are supposed to be its master and not the other
way around.

I have a Pixel 9 Pro with GrapheneOS. It's pretty neat. I dig having "containers" (more or less) to separate work from personal. It's a really
cool implementation, and they're partnering with a new hardware vendor (which they have not announced) to build phones moving forward in perpetuity without needing anything from Google. It's the most privacy focused smartphone out there, I think.

|03--|11[|05esc|13!|05dEMONIC|11]|03--|07

--- DayDream BBS/UNIX (Linux) 2.15a
* Origin: [>mONTEREYbBS.COM>] (21:3/203)

Nightfox wrote to Exodus <=-

What does "piss with my phone" mean? And you don't need to root an Android phone to be able to side-load apps. I've never rooted a phone before; I've always been able to side-load Android apps with the stock phone setup. You just need to copy the APK to the phone, and you can
use a file explorer to open the .APK and it will ask you if you want to install the app.

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to sideload,
I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you "HAVE" to have
you app in their store and signed a certain way. Something they are calling Developer Verification. I know that the F-Droid people are pretty freaked out about it.

https://f-droid.org/en/2026/02/24/open-letter-opposing-developer-verification.html



... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
___ MultiMail/Linux v0.49

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* Origin: bbs.alsgeeklab.com:2323 (21:1/126)

The Wanderer wrote to nblade <=-

Re: Re: TERMinator
By: nblade to Nightfox on Sat Feb 28 2026 10:57 am

That's the same thing as taking away sideloading. What does sideloading mean to you?

If the app is in the play store and you have to deal with Google to be able to allow it on the phone at all, then that's taken sideloading
away.

As a user, I don't appreciate Google telling me what I can and can't do with my general computing device, which is what I paid for. ---

Yes, that is pretty much the F-Droid people's POV on it. While "Side-Loading" will still be
around, if you have to register every App with Google no matter what, then Side-loading is
nerfed and there is little point to it. I am not sure how that affects Apps that are being
developed. Personally I am a little sick and tired of people taking away my ability to do
things in the name of "security". I mean I have an APP MacroDroid that does Macros. Used to
that you could have Google Assistant run the MacroDroid macros with a certain Phrase. However
seems Google "broke" it and in the name of "security" they have no plans on fixing it.

The sad thing is It does matter what you pick, iPhone or Android these days. Both of them want
to lock you down and "control" what you see or hear. Not to mention both want to know what you
see or hear, so they can use or sale that data in some way. Forget 1984 where goverments are
controlling us, it is now the corporations that watch us and manipulate us.




... Internal Error: The system has been taken over by sheep at line 19960
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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: GRiM to Nightfox on Sun Mar 01 2026 07:19 am

The way apple does it for developers is an app called "test flight". You share it with your QA team thru the app. The only users who can download your app have to be designated, so it's not feasible or even possible to share it out to a ton of people. At least that's how it worked more or less back before I retired(ish).

I've done some iOS development, and I seem to recall seeing that. I suppose that's a way to do it for development & testing.

Nightfox

Re: Re: TERMinator
By: nblade to Nightfox on Tue Mar 03 2026 06:17 am

Nightfox, while I don't think they are taking away the ability to sideload, I understand that Google is trying to make it so that you "HAVE" to have you app in their store and signed a certain way. Something they are calling Developer Verification. I know that the F-Droid people are pretty freaked out about it.

https://f-droid.org/en/2026/02/24/open-letter-opposing-developer-verificat ion.h tml

I'll have to read up on that.

Nightfox

esc wrote to Arelor <=-

I have a Pixel 9 Pro with GrapheneOS. It's pretty neat. I dig having "containers" (more or less) to separate work from personal. It's a
really cool implementation, and they're partnering with a new hardware vendor (which they have not announced) to build phones moving forward
in perpetuity without needing anything from Google. It's the most
privacy focused smartphone out there, I think.

I wonder if Intune will see a work "container" as a non-jailbroken
phone? I do like the idea of keeping work/personal data separate, and
running work apps and data in a container sounds ideal.



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Re: Re: TERMinator
By: nblade to The Wanderer on Tue Mar 03 2026 06:17 am

The sad thing is It does matter what you pick, iPhone or Android these days. Both of them want
to lock you down and "control" what you see or hear. Not to mention both want to know what you
see or hear, so they can use or sale that data in some way. Forget 1984 where goverments are
controlling us, it is now the corporations that watch us and manipulate us.

I was pretty happy moving to /e/OS, and while these changes are apparently not going to affect de-googled phones, who knows what the future holds as Google continuously works to take control of everything they can.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
* Origin: Yak Station - Some yakkin' happenin'... (21:3/233)

I wonder if Intune will see a work "container" as a non-jailbroken
phone? I do like the idea of keeping work/personal data separate, and running work apps and data in a container sounds ideal.

I think so. They're totally split from one another. I could be wrong but the way I have it set up, I have my admin profile (just for installing and uninstalling applications), my work profile (which only has necessary work things and has my email logged in, etc), and my personal profile which has everything ... well, personal. :P

Yeah afaict it's all logically separated so I'm not sure how intune would
work.

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As a user, I don't appreciate Google telling me what I can and can't do with my
general computing device, which is what I paid for.

Then we should have youtube premium for free if they want to control
our devices.

***wcTaglines: Press any key to continue or any other key to quit
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Arelor wrote to Exodus <=-

It is about Google sucking balls and their cursed OS sucking balls and using the bandwidth you pay for in order to track what you do.

I hate the choice between Apple and Google.

... Science is meant to be questioned.
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Ben wrote to The Wanderer <=-

Pretty sure I remember when their tagline (or ethos) was "Do no
evil"...

There is a big movement in degoogling whenever one can.


... "Spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans and spam."
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