yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1901 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

This version fixes all reported bugs and there is a small behavior change: scrolling to the end of a list or message will show the compose or answer button now, without needing to scroll in the other direction again.

Google's privacy and policy team confirmed the approval of the app. For more news, please see here.
[Android Apps and Games] heinhuiz:
Meta updates its privacy policy to make it easier to understand how it uses your data

Meta is updating its Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to make it easier to understand its data practices. Read on.

www.xda-developers.com

Coincidence?
[Android Apps and Games] Surfinette:
Dear Marcel,

I've only discovered the various drama that have affected both your personal and dev lives because I hadn't been on this forum for months and hadn't updated FE for quite some time (FE is so good and already satisfies my needs well enough that I don't feel the need to upgrade too often). So reading backwards through 40+ pages of this thread was a shock to me.

First, I hope your GF keeps recovering. Life in good health is so precious.

Second, I want to reiterate my strong support to you. FE is by far the best email client out there. I couldn't manage my multiple accounts without it and would be quite desperate/sad should its support end. And you Marcel are the nicest and most dedicated dev I've ever "met" either virtually (through public forums such as XDA) or in person (at my workplace). So, whatever the next steps I want to warmly thank you!

I hope you'll be able to learn how to become insensitive (or less sensitive) to unfair negative comments (this earth is full of as***les and you have no control over this). You should only feed yourself with positive energy received from all the good people who love and respect you and your fantastic work.

You're having a strong positive impact on people: not only the daily happy users of your apps, but also now beyond. Your story has been in the media, and now it's seems that some political parties or lobbies could use your story to encourage the EU increase their support towards independent dev, FOSS, etc...

So now you're reaching a new iconic status, and you'll have to learn to live with it! 😇😉

Sending more positive energy ❤️❤️❤️ from France
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Thanks.

My girlfriend is slowly recovering, although frustratingly slow (especially for herself).

I never wanted an "iconic status", and only wanted to help people protect their privacy because in my opinion this was and still is necessary, but I guess it is what it is and that I need to deal with it now. Maybe it helps to increase awareness about privacy matters though, which would be a good side.

I like to thank the many people who have been rather supportive last week. This is the main reason why I am continuing.
[Android Apps and Games] Surfinette:
Iconic people don't become icons from their own will, but from their good and impactful actions.

While I've always been privacy aware (but not necessarily obsessed), I learned a lot about privacy and the lack of privacy on the internet just by using FE and reading your well detailed faq. So you made me a better (and maybe smarter) person with regards to privacy and open source topics 😀

And what I've learned from you, I've shared with family and friends, so indeed you're having an impact beyond just your apps. These may be small steps (especially as many people are giving up on privacy), but still positive steps.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
So, how do I deal with reviews like this?

I would like to have seen a reason and even better being contacted for help, but instead it is just shooting down and not getting any chance.

In any case, this is why I am still a bit hesitant to restore the app in the Play store, which I will do probably anyway, possible at the end of this day or tomorrow morning.
[Android Apps and Games] de_Wolf:
Ignore them! (even if it will be difficult for you)

You know very well that this statement is not true.

We all and you know the quality of your software products.
[Android Apps and Games] deechte:
Ignore them +1.

This is no new advice.
[Android Apps and Games] 30jp:
Ignore.

If they don't say why FairEmail is so bad, just ignore it.

Or give a standard answer along the lines of:

"Dear .... I'm sorry you're not happy with FairEmail, but if you don't explain why FairEmail is so bad, then I can't help you as the developer of the app.

Too bad because I would have loved to do that.

Sincerely"

Stay friendly and keep it short and sweet.

New people who want to use FairEmail and read this think, hey stupid review with friendly helpful response from the developer. I want to try that app.
[Android Apps and Games] NorLa:
Such reviews without justification are annoying, but you can't really prevent them - don't worry! Only those who take the trouble to get to know FairEmail will realize what a fantastic app it is.

If you want to respond to it at all, it might be like this: "Too bad you're having a problem with FairEmail - please tell me what the problem is, only then can I help you solve it."

Even if you don't get a response to that, others will see that you responded and offered help. Personally, I would be more impressed by such a spontaneous help than by the 1-star rating...
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I would reply to there one star with. "I would like to have seen a reason but please feel free to contact me for support at <Insert contract email address>"

Though I am starting to wonder if Google Play is starting to get fake reviews or bot reviews.

In rare cases where I have actually read a review of a app that's new to me, I will often ignore one liners. They tell you absolutely nothing of the problems the user may be having. I would advise you to ignore them as well. Like I said in a previous post you still outrank the majority of the Google Play Store and have the highest rating of any email app. So obviously this person has no idea what they're talking about.
[Android Apps and Games] sack_reis:
Giving a 1 star review with no explanation to an app, that is as well developed and supported like Fairmail is ridiculous. I think at this point you have to assume, as others have pointed out, that such reviews are fake by bots or competitors.

Especially looking at the available alternatives i simply cannot fathom an actual human being trying Fairmail and then thinking: "gee, this sucks. 1 star!"

Thank you for the all great work you are doing. Hope you can find the much needed balance from all this bull**** somehow.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
I'm sure that's just because the evaluator isn't used to such good stuff ... ;-)
[Android Apps and Games] bruno.mercier:
Well people have a right not to like it and, following, not to use it.

As long as it is only a few, well no reason to investigates much.

Well, if it get to 95 % of the rating... maybe worth.

But that's not the case :D.

I believe unhappy people are more prone to let it be known that the one happy, so the truth is always better than the figures can show...

No question, best app mail so far from my perspective (and for my need!)
[Android Apps and Games] sssubito:
1 star + no explanation whatsoever: typical troll --> ignore those, not worth to even reply with some standard answer which you, Marcel, anyway don't like either. Free your mind from such trolls and simply ignore them. Total ignorance is what such trolls deserve. Don't feed trolls with any response or reaction, that's their worst punishment.
[Android Apps and Games] Friedel25:
Hi Marcel,

I completely agree with what de_Wolf and many others wrote about this, and would only like to add a few numbers. In the German Play Store there are since 19.05.2022:

167 reviews with 5 stars

1 review with 4 stars (20.05.)

1 review with 3 stars (22.05.)

1 review with 1 star (20.05.).

According to my (hopefully correct) calculation this is an incredible average of 4.96. Please look in here and not at what idiots or maybe bots write. I think you can also see here how many users are quietly highly satisfied, and are now speaking out to support you because of your problems with Google - as well as here in the thread. I can hardly think of an app that would generate so many heartwarming reactions because of a possible discontinuation.

All the best and good health to you and your girlfriend :)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
There are about 19 five star reviews needed to compensate one 1 star review. So,

Lately, there were more 5 star ratings than before, for which I am grateful, but this isn't representative for what is averagely happening.

Of course I should ignore "troll" ratings, but I guess I am sensitive person, some say a "drama queen", and therefore this is difficult for me. That said, the support I have seen can't be ignored either, so I will restore the Play store version as soon as version 1.1901 has been approved by Google.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1901 has been released to the Play Store as a "production" version after confirmation from Google's privacy and policy team. It may take a few hours or more before FairEmail is available again worldwide in the Play Store.

https://faircode.eu/faq.html
[Android Apps and Games] wimstefan:
"Just" ignore.

Edit: This was a response to your question what to do with 1* reviews as you've might have guessed already 😏
[Android Apps and Games] Itcouldbeyou:
I don't think this is necessarily true. Think about your mom/granddad. My mom would have an absolutely awful experience with FairEmail. She can barely setup Whatsapp and maybe remembers her mail address correctly. Now she has to remember this strange thing called password, that her son changed because she used her birthday as PW everywhere.

Is is unfair to write a bad review because you don't know how to use Email? Absolutely. I think that is what Americans call Karens. Frustrated people, who complain about things they don't understand. If you ask them questions, there is a chance they will b*tch even more and hurt you further. I don't think that anyone who leaves a 1-line 1-star review wants to help or wants any help.

I know you want to help, but you can't save everyone. I don't know what you do apart from your OSS projects, but from what I can tell, you have a positive impact on (a small part of) the world. Thank you.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I think the main question, given the described scenario, is why your mom isn't asking for help. She can write a review after all. Everybody would be happier if she wrote in a more positive form, like "Please help, I can't ..." or "How can I ...". She would get an answer mentioning my email address for personal support in return and I would do my best to make her "can".
[Android Apps and Games] Itcouldbeyou:
The reason is: "Whatsapp worked and I'd rather blame my incompetence on this app. Why won't my son simply use Whatsapp?" (I'm not saying my mom writes bad reviews, but she would have a bad time with the app.)

FairEmail is not meant to be as easy to use as whatsapp, simply because Email is more difficult to use then a service tied to your phone number.

And a lot of people are frustrated. They are not mad at you specifically. They are frustrated for whatever reason. And when something doesn't work as easy as they expected, they simply vent in a non-constructive way.

I know it is frustrating for you, but as others have said, you have to ignore them.
[Android Apps and Games] de_Wolf:
And you can also find something positive about FE under NetGuard reviews in the Play Store:

15 March 2022

At this point I must (once again) take up the cudgels for the programmer. I've been using Netguard for 5 years now and I don't know of any firewall that works so effectively and is also so clearly designed. Of course, a training period is necessary, but that is what every firewall requires. My respect to Marcel Bokhorst. By the way, also for the FairEmail app! Top!!!
[Android Apps and Games] cobbert:
Glad to see you back up and running. Donated a few more bucks your way.

Have a great day.
[Android Apps and Games] heisert:
Sorry Marcel,

I really don't know what's more annoying: the bad reviews or your constant complaints about it.

For years I (and many others) have been telling you to just ignore it!

Your app has been the

best

Android mail client for years. I don't know why you don't believe that.

Even if you fall to 3.8, it doesn't matter. The people who gave bad reviews are long gone anyway and didn't bother with the app or didn't understand how to use it.

An friend also deleted Fairemail because he could not see any (advertising) pictures. :rolleyes: F*ck these users!

Should they be happy somewhere else!?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Just "ignore" my complaints.
[Android Apps and Games] OldRoutard:
I'm afraid you're right. It's like the inability or sheer laziness to detect fake news.

Every little counts in this fight. Good apps but also education, help, advice. We can all do something, every day.
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
I don't know if this is meaningful or not but I just went to the Google playstore for another round of upvoting/downvoting and found that Fairemail is still not listed. I'm in the US.

Fwiw.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
The app is still in the approval process of Google ...

So, that's unfortunately correct.

I will update here if the app gets approved:

https://faircode.eu/faq.html
[Android Apps and Games] maybeme2:
Thank you.
[Android Apps and Games] jsusang:
Yay! Outstanding to hear the good news about your girlfriend and e-mail client, @M66B!

Thank You!

(keeping my fingers crossed that NetGuard might be saved)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
NetGuard is already available in the Play store again.
[Android Apps and Games] Exmet:
I paid for both FE and NG because I love what the apps do and what they represent. I'm so relieved to learn that the projects will live on.

On a side note, my version is 1.1887, and there don't appear to be any updated versions via the F-Droid app. But I know that newer versions have been released. What's going on?
[Android Apps and Games] de_Wolf:
I don't know, @Exmet. The (German) view in the F-Droid store shows the following version number regarding FairEmail:

Version 1.1899 (1899) proposed Added on 2022-05-22

FairEmail | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

Voll ausgestatteter E-Mail-Client. Saubere intuitive Oberfläche. Mit Datenschutz

f-droid.org
[Android Apps and Games] Exmet:
I guess it was an issue with originally installing via the play store. I think I wasn't able to donate if it wasn't via the play store.

Anyway, I uninstalled the app and reinstalled via F-Droid, so now I'm on version 1.1899.

Unfortunately, I lost my Pro features.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
To restore the pro features, please contact me. Note that you can't use a Play store purchase outside of the Play store.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
Download the Play Store version (you can still do that even if you don't see it in the Play Store by going to purchased apps or under "see recent updates"), make sure the pro version is activated, and then you can get the latest update from GitHub. I have found that it will still honor the pro license. Then in settings under miscellaneous I enable "check for GitHub updates". This way I keep my Pro license plus I also stay current with the most current updates..
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This is reportedly working, but it is up to Google if the Play store purchase is being recognized.

Note that there shouldn't be too much discussion about the pro features here (XDA rules).
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1902 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

This version was released to fix a memory leak.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I would like to have this German 1 star rating about spam filtering being voted down:

Link.
[Android Apps and Games] Kockowan:
Dear Marcel,

glad to read about the re-approval from Google's Play store, thank you very much for your effort!

One question: I am using activated FairEmail Pro and wondering how to 'conserve' those features without repeated re-activations while switching between sources.

Activation had been done by PayPal, actual installation is F-Droid version 1.899.

Is it possible to switch to Github- or Google Play Store- version (and back?) without loosing the activation? How to do so?

Thanks and best regards!
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
For support on the pro features, please use this contact form:

https://contact.faircode.eu/?product=fairemailsupport

XDA rules basically allow discussing the free version of the app only here.
[Android Apps and Games] wimstefan:
I would *love* to vote those reviews down but these kind of links never work for me. Clicking them always brings me to my own review 🤔
[Android Apps and Games] Friedel25:
Downvoted.

These links don't work for me either, so I sort by date to find the review. For regions other than my own DE, this no longer works for me, as it seems that sorting by date is no longer possible when accessing the Play Store via browser at the moment.
[Android Apps and Games] hteles:
Mine too!

Also im using an early access version...
[Android Apps and Games] heinhuiz:
@alexgieg That table is a nice try, but you ignore the fact that people can not only give 1 or 5 stars, but also 2, 3 or 4. In my perception on the internet ratings of 1, 2 and 3 stars are all to be considered as bad, 4 stars will be so-so, and only 5 stars is good. This will dramatically change your figures (although there is no scenario in which a mean score of 4.7 or 4.8 can be translated as far from perfect).
[Android Apps and Games] alexgieg:
That doesn't affect it as much as it looks like it would. I could try and crunch the numbers further under different scenarios, but the percentages would likely slide only a little. That's because if people voted accurately, with a perfect distribution, then a 50% split would of likes vs. dislikes would be 3.0 stars. That's definitely not the case, so the realistic scenario is for a 50% appreciation to be much closer to 1.4 stars than to 3.0 stars.

Now, there's a different factor that does influence the star count meaning, and that's reviewing being:

a) Spontaneous. Anyone who remembers there is such a thing as providing a review and feels it important enough to go and actually do one;

b) Forced. Everyone must do a review or they cannot use an app, period;

c) Annoyed. The app constantly nudging users via interstitial screens, banners, and similar stuff.

The table I provided generalizes for case "a", with some unspecified error bars, but with the general shape of the curve preserved. It doesn't apply to cases "b" and "c".

In case "b" 3.0 stars would indeed represent the average for a 50% appreciation, with the different star counts following a Normal distribution, and the curve as a whole skewing towards one tail or the other under different appreciation ratios.

In case "c" I'm not sure. I think for those a 50% appreciation is lower than 3.0 stars, but no idea what the distribution would be like. I know I myself tend to not give nice star votes for apps that keep annoying me to review them, even if I generally like the app. If other people do similarly, that would draw an average 50% appreciation below 3.0 stars. No idea by how much though.

Be as it may, my post wasn't exhaustive, but more an attempt to maybe help @M66B possibly get a more accurate intuitive grasp of the meaning of star counts and of the impact of bad reviews.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I strongly object to this comment. I seldom ever give a five-star rating to anything. I would consider one bad, 3 good, and 5 excellent. So to say anything less than a five as not being good enough is totally wrong. I still consider a three or four rating to be a good product. Try finding me an app in the Play store with five stars (you likely won't find one). To say something with four stars is not a good product is false, misleading, and inaccurate.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I strongly object to this: apps with an average rating below 4 stars are effectively dead in the Play store. That's what happens when there are over one million apps to choose from.

In fact, if NetGuard, currently at 4.3, will drop below 4.0, the project will be stopped for this reason.

If you rate below 4 stars, you effectively say "go away". If you don't want an app to go away, please don't do this. Also consider the troll ratings if you rate yourself.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I disagree. You can't say that there are other apps that can even compare to Netguard. Netguard is unique enough on its own that what would you expect your users to find in its place in the play store? Back to Fairemail there is no email app NONE even rated higher then it. My point is I don't trust the star rating system. Now I have given Fairemail a 5 star rating because I believe it's that kind of quality of an app but to say that some of my apps on my phone that I believe are three or four star rated apps should quit development I highly disagree. I'm constantly complaining to Google at the poor quality of some of their products in hopes that they change them. I occasionally will go in and give more stars as I see fit. However just because a few pour ungrateful users feel that an app is one or two stars does not speak for the majority and does not determine the quality of your product. I will repeat what I've already said in this post and others there is no email app none in the Play Store comparable to Fairemail. There's nothing even close to the quality, security, usability (may take a learning curve to use but that is the case with any app), and frequency of updates found anywhere in the Play store. So please don't allow a few bad apples to spoil the bunch.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1903 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval.

Changelog/download:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/releases

If you are using Gmail, I would like you to double check if moving drafts to the archive/trash folder works as expected.
[Android Apps and Games] de_Wolf:
Before you stop the project, please talk to me. NetGuard has a rating of 4.7 in my view on the German Play Store!
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I didn't know there was an issue before. However I just created a draft from the Gmail app and then deleted from drafts using Fairemail and it's showing in there twice. See attached screenshot.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
@M66B if I refresh the trash folder the duplicate goes away.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
One of the messages is dimmed (grayed), which means it isn't synchronized with the email server.

What happens if you pull down the trash folder to synchronize the folder list?
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
The duplicate then goes away.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Okay, let me give this some thought. For now, I don't consider this as a serious problem, especially not compared to drafts disappearing completely when moving to the archive or trash folder, which was fixed now.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I didn't realize it was even an issue before but that tells you how much I go deleting drafts. I'm always willing to test though and report back.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This issue seems to be caused by a recent behavior change of the Gmail server.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I am trying to set my trash to Auto delete after 7 days. Is this the correct properties settings for doing that and do I have to set this up per account or is there a unified trash properties (I would think it would need to be per account just asking)?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This is okay.

There are no unified folder properties, so this needs to be set up for each account/folder.