Google asks what we think of their plans to block Android app installs outside of Google Play (unless the developers let Google verify their identity and pay a fee).

Want to tell them your opinion, just submit this form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN3UQeNspQsZCO2ITkdzMxv81rJDEGGjO-UIDDY28Rz_GEVA/viewform?usp=dialog

Under-reported detail: If you don't pay a fee to Google, they limit how many people can install your apps and how many apps you are allowed to have.

Source: https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides/android-developer-console

***** Google's plans to restrict sideloading on Android are an authoritarian wet dream come true *****

Let me be really clear about how horrifically dangerous #Google's plans are to restrict #Android sideloading to "verified developers" (that is, entities for which Google has full verified identity and associated information that they could hand over to authorities on demand).

This means that even though you own your Android device, you cannot install apps obtained from ANY source (except perhaps apps you build yourself that will only be permitted to run on your own device) unless Google knows pretty much everything about who created that app.

The ways that this could be abused are so numerous I won't even start listing them here, other than to note that it is absolutely horrific overreach by Google and at least appears to be Google bending over for abusive government demands, and could put already vulnerable individuals and groups at even more risk.

Absolutely disgusting.

L

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

🇨🇿 Czech Republic is now OPPOSED to Chat Control, as announced by Prime Minister Petr Fiala:

"On behalf of myself and the entire TOGETHER coalition, I want to say clearly: we will not allow the monitoring of citizens' private correspondence. We do not agree that any emails or messages on platforms such as WhatsApp or Messenger can be monitored. Protecting our children is important, but we have to do it differently."

This now leaves eight undecided member states.

We've been working on improving On-Screen Keyboard support in computers, mobile devices and TVs as part of the We Care About Your Input - KDE Goals initiative.

Check out what has been done so far in Plasma Virtual Keyboard and tell us what you'd like to see next. 💻️📱📺️

https://discuss.kde.org/t/plasma-virtual-keyboard-feedback-needed/39008

#kde #linux #accessibility #kdegoals #osk #virtualkeyboard #wayland

@kde@lemmy.kde.social

I see a lot of good posts about the meaning of "sideloading" recently. I've been saying this for years. It's a bad word designed to control how people think about installing software.

For more examples like "sideloading" you might enjoy GNU's words to avoid list. It recently got updated to include "artificial intelligence" too. https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html

Maybe they should also include "sideloading".

📣 Hello! We've formally sent a proposal to the GNOME Foundation and KDE e.V. leadership for a unified Linux App Summit (LAS) that would merge GUADEC, Akademy, and the current LAS into a single event.

We're sharing it with you as an open letter. Our goal is to create a more efficient, cost-effective, and impactful conference for everyone. We invite you to read the full proposal and share your thoughts.

🔗 https://href.tf/LAS2026

#Linux #GNOME #KDE #FOSS #OpenSource #LAS2026 #GUADEC #Akademy

thread on @gnome@floss.social 's Discourse: https://discourse.gnome.org/t/an-open-letter-a-proposal-for-a-unified-linux-app-summit-las-2026/31124/2

Word to save new files on Microsoft’s servers by default

You already need custom noscripts and third-party applications that make custom Windows ISOs to make installing Windows somewhat bearable - unless you enjoy spending hours manually disabling all the anti-user settings in Windows - and now there's another setting to add to the massive, growing list of stuff you have to fix aft

https://www.osnews.com/story/143202/word-to-save-new-files-on-microsofts-servers-by-default/

#Office

Microsoft just pulled a classic bait-and-switch tactic by ending free #Office licenses for NPOs. 😡 

Don't let Big Tech lure you into their platforms with their "free" offerings. Open source alternatives like Linux + Tuta put YOU in control. ✊

Because you deserve better. ❤️ 

Read more: 👉 https://tuta.com/blog/microsoft-office-free-for-non-profits-ends

👨‍👩‍👦 Oggi è venuto un mio parente e mi dice tutto convinto:

"Io con Google non ho nulla a che fare, non lo uso mai!"

Io: "Ah sì? Bene, allora facciamo una prova."

Gli faccio accendere il Wi-Fi, collegarsi al mio router e nel frattempo avvio tshark per catturare le richieste DNS.

📡 Quindi, senza che lui tocchi nulla, il suo telefono Android comincia a chiacchierare con mezzo ecosistema Google:

- www.google.com
- mtalk.google.com
- android.apis.google.com
- connectivitycheck.gstatic.com
- www.google.cn…
e ovviamente non poteva mancare anche WhatsApp con g.whatsapp.net.

😅 Morale della favola: puoi anche non aprire mai Chrome, Gmail o il motore di ricerca, ma se hai Android in tasca, Google ti accompagna ovunque, anche senza invito.

📲 Il suo telefono fa più chiamate a Google di quante ne fa lui ai parenti la domenica! 😂

Worth repeating while everyone is asking about recent changes Google have made "influenced" by certain characters in videos.

GrapheneOS is NOT going anywhere.

GrapheneOS will CONTINUE to support existing devices.

GrapheneOS WILL support Pixel10.

GrapheneOS WILL be ported to Android 16 QPR1 as planned.

Current changes have no bearing.

A few days ago, we finally merged an early implementation of link layers (layers linking to external files) into @GIMP@floss.social.

This has various usages, e.g. the ability to work at several people on a same image by linking a separate document (e.g. someone working on backgrounds and another on characters). Or again when working with different software.

For instance, in this example, the layer links a #SVG file. As soon as it is saved in #Inkscape, #GIMP picks up the updated version automatically:

Nice article 😎 4 reasons Q4OS is the best operating system to breathe some new life into your old laptop https://www.xda-developers.com/q4os-is-the-best-os-to-breathe-new-life-into-your-old-laptop/

#4chan and #KiwiFarms Sue the #UK Over its #AgeVerification Law

https://www.404media.co/4chan-and-kiwi-farms-sue-the-uk-over-its-age-verification-law/

#privacy #politics #OSA #politics

This week's comic, inspired by a study showing that AI summaries on top of search results are dramatically cutting traffic to websites.

#internet #technology #tech #journalism #disinformation #socialmedia #oligarchy

I Read The Ubuntu Linux Manga - Ch 1 - 5 #Linux #YouTube https://youtu.be/W6AjpItyqns