As you said, F-Droid is the way to go. But if you want to browse the Play store without ads, use Aurora. It's an open-source client for Google play that doesn't show ads and doesn't even require you to log in with Google.
They used to have a nice obvious detail page for every app, now I get some small entry, a bunch of other apps that I might also want to install (spoiler, I don't), and it's harder to see useful information.
Do they really think I've gone to the Play Store to install my bank's app, but I might also want to install a different bank's app?
Yo dawg I heard you like installing bank apps with your banks app
Similarly, this old tweet: https://twitter.com/GirlFromBlupo/status/982156453396996096
Dear Amazon, I bought a toilet seat because I needed one. Necessity, not desire. I do not collect them. I am not a toilet seat addict. No matter how temptingly you email me, I'm not going to think, oh go on then, just one more toilet seat, I'll treat myself.
Yeah man, you can search for the exact name of the app you're looking for, and it will appear 4th or 5th on the list. Fuck Google.
One thing in Google's defence (I know...) is that it may be the makers of those other apps successfully optimising their apps search terms and SEO tags and so on, so that they appear when the user has searched for a different app.
Obviously it's still on Google for relying too much on an algorithm that doesn't prioritise the app name enough, but people gaming the system doesn't help either.
Nah, this changed literally overnight. One day search worked, next time I used it, it was this shit.
It was clearly a change by Google.
The playstore is just flooded with garbage apps.
Once my apps are installed, the play store is only there for updates. Searching for new apps on the store is just rubbish.
Aurora Store: "Allow me to introduce myself"
I find it's more about the ad and tracker filled apps on the store instead of the store itself.
Not only the Playstore, same is true for the iOS Appstore as well. You only get served subscription begging crap there.
Yeah, at some point, I was experimenting with basically firewall apps to prevent tracking and realized that around 99% of apps on the Play Store have tracking built-in. As I later learned, that's because Google heavily encourages it in their app development tooling. Either way, F-Droid it is for me.
The question is how to help the unwashed masses learn to use F-Droid.
Say how to get started....
You are not even allowed to call a shitty app a shitty app.
Yeah my negative review of the Reddit app got removed for not being "truthful" when I (imo fairly) reviewed it as the dumpster fire it is.
I had an app that did a simple job, and worked flawlessly for more than a year. Then it suddenly started putting display-filling ads in my message feed. I looked things up, and learned that the app has been bought by some online shopping profitteer company, and not only spews ads, but also collects all kinds of data all of a sudden.
If that does not describe a "shitty app", I don't know. One Star Review (would have given 0 stars if possible), and instant uninstall.
Fdroid is my favorite. But yeah the app store is having some issues.
Don't think many people are aware of the app called App Finder. It's really great for finding new apps, has way better search filters and doesn't require Google account whatsoever. Exists in Playstore and as an APK from their own website.
Why does it have in-app purchases?
Probably marked like that, as they do have a premium version of the app: https://skyica.com/appfinder/comparison/
Ah, so there's a premium version with more info on the downloads, and (I think) more search filters. Thanks!
Indeed :) I only have the free version, but might pay for the app as it is really nice and simple to use.
That looks really useful, I'll try it out if I need to search
Ah, the "play store". Happy playground of spending! Starting off on the wrong foot with just the name. Of course its a trashed up ad spew bucket and dark pattern shitehole.
Not only it's a nightmare but also invasive. I don't want Google Play scanning my apps constantly. Play protect has proven time and time again to not be very effective at stopping malicious apps. Turn that shit off.
Call me a control freak but what I usually do is update my apps, turn off internet access to the Google play store and only grant internet access back to it when I decide I want to update my apps.
Ads being flooded was expected to happen. It was only a matter of when they were going to start bloating the play store.
Remember, companies don't care about YOU. They are only there to make profit.
I use Aurora store if I absolutely need an application from the Google Garden. But otherwise, yes, I agree. I use almost exclusively fdroid.
I solely live out on fdroid and do not have play store and let me tell you it is really really better.
Yeah, it feels like there's a huge opportunity for a better paid app store on Android. I'm surprised so few people are pursuing this.
I mean samsung store is the closest, but it's mostly dead and ad filled like the play store
I thought I was the only one.
I'm afraid I will get malware, just stepping in to the play store. Yep.
Just install the bare minimum and get out asap.
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