yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] Brulsturm:
Marcel,

You asked for reasons to continue your work:

EXACTLY because of this! This shows (again) Google's true colors.

Only 1-2% of the users might get your app(s) from Github, but they are probably ones wich already freed themselves from Googles chains. And the ones that appreciate the true value of your work the most.

Your work, apps and attitude towards privacy is what keeps me believing I 'm on the right track, living Google-free (99%) for more than 7 years, or something now.

I could put it different: Thanks to apps like FairEmail it is possible for me in everyday life.

The more people discover what Google really is and that you can live whithout, the better.

Whatever you decide, thanks for your software! (and please don't quit)
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
This is the best news I've heard all day.

I'm not a developer and know a little bit of code but I do have a few Google Play Store questions. How long does it take them to approve your software? I also noticed when other developers announce an update it can take almost a week before I see it. Is the app rollouts controlled by the developer or is that too also controlled by google? If I'm seeking an update I wish Google would let us update it even if it is set to a staggered rollout. This is why I started using the GitHub version for one they were more current and second is because Google takes forever to roll out updates.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
It works like this:

Developer uploads an update via the Play store developer console

Google scans the update and either approves or disapproves it

Google makes the app available in the Play store

This can take an hour or a week.
[Android Apps and Games] olifee:
I'm a bit late to this topic, but I also want to share my supportive words.

I'm a long-time pro user, and decided to support the project by going pro a few days after installation. I've never even once had any bad feeling about FairEmail. It's not only the most feature-rich client I know, it's also the most privacy oriented one, and it has the best support I have experienced.

I sometimes dream there would be a second Marcel on this planet developing an equally well-made mail client for desktops. FairEmail really goes to show that an application with high usability and a lot of features is not impossible on smartphones. This may be my personal ignorance of the plethora of apps our there, but I'm unaware of any other application which manages to pull that off — and is open source and privacy-oriented at the same time.

I'm just in love with FairEmail and the way it evolved and may still evolve, and I think I will always be. Thanks to Marcel for developing an app which handles the hundreds of mails thrown at me every day with ease, presents them to me in a way I can handle them, and makes my life easier to live. :)
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I have a suggestion for the privacy policy more as a help than for privacy and not necessarily needed in this version of the policy. For where it says that the feature is turned off by default can we have a link to the frequently asked questions on how to enable that feature? (Unless of course that violates Google policy and if so forget it then).
[Android Apps and Games] selemine:
It feels a bit weird that a domain icon request has to be declared but it's their store and their rules .

Now we know for sure.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
I can imagine that a search in the settings will let you find the feature very quickly.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I am digging through the settings again as some of those were not familiar to me (I always make a backup before I go changing things just in case).
[Android Apps and Games] Itcouldbeyou:
Well if you enable it, every spammer can know if you received the mail by using a private domain with a favicon. Might even work with subdomain.spammer.com. So I do understand they want it to be declared - if it was enabled in the first place.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Correct, but it was not (and isn't) enabled by default. Moreover, there was (and is) a clear privacy warning below the option.

Also, favicons, etc, will not be looked up for messages in the spam folder.

Moreover, it was declared in the privacy policy, but apparently not in a format as required by Google.

Edit: I like your username ;-)
[Android Apps and Games] SH1st:
Hello,

Just a message to express my support to Marcel. I'm using Fair Email for quite some time now, and that's the best Email client on Android in my opinion.
[Android Apps and Games] mithrial:
Thanks for your app. It's the best one, I've bought it for all my devices and donated just now additionally.

However, you don't owe me anything. I hope of course you'll continue but it's completely up to you. Whatever you choose, it's totally up to you and it's fine by me. (Not that you need my blessing anyway, I don't know how to formulate that in a better way.)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Everyone is important to me, which is maybe a bit of a problem as well, and which might need to be addressed in a yet to be determined way too.

The huge number of supportive messages I received the past days are making a difference in any case.

Anticipating a possible return in the Play store: if you have the Play store version installed and didn't review/rate the app yet, this might be a good moment.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
Sorry, it took me longer than expected to reply. But you should have received an email a few minutes ago, and hope it helps you a little :)

Am glad to hear that Google was cooperative in the end. Even more so to hear you are continuing development. That's great news.

You have a wide range of people using your apps, and most of us are thankful for the time and work you put in those amazing apps. Even if there are many a***oles too, the wide majority of your users appreciate your work. I think this incident with Google showed it more than ever.

In the next year, I'll be participating in writing the EU programme of my party and you can bet that I'll be remembering this issue and how Google acted with the same answer over and over again just until the call today. Next time, we might have an MEP lobbying for the FOSS community, who knows 😜

Jokes and wishful thinking aside, feel free to save my email address or XDA handle to contact me if you need any assistance again, @M66B. Might take several hours — not everyone can offer a quick and amazing support like you 😉 — but I'll reply for sure.

P.S.: I'm not a professional data protection officer (just a volunteer in the Liberale Demokraten). So take any advices with no warranty, please. Will still try to help to the best of my knowledge.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
You don't have to dig for it yourself - let the machine / FairEmail search by tapping on the magnifying glass in the settings above and then entering the feature / search term. This is much faster!
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
That's what I was doing. I think I have become quite efficient at finding my way around the settings. I usually will try to search the frequently asked questions if I'm not sure of something. I found a few things I didn't know about. I still am not quite sure what the difference between Show Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), Avatars, and favicons is.

I also can't figure out what LanguageTool is used for. I know LanguageTool has a spell checker but I couldn't find one in the Fairemail settings. I see there is language detection but I'm not quite sure what that is for.

No matter what I still love this app. I'll be the first to admit I'm still learning all of its ins and outs but it's still the best email app. Likely if you want to change something it's there in the settings. Fairemail has the best customization of any app I've ever used. This thread has the most corespondents I've ever made on XDA and I'm amazed at the support for users and for the developer. You are all amazing keep up the great work. It's groups like this that make me so proud FOSS apps. You would likely never find this kind of support and love for a app or project if it was close sourced.
[Android Apps and Games] fraschi51:
Click in the main-menue on support, then scroll down - there you'll find all, what you wish to know {and much more ... ;-) }
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
Umm that's the Frequently asked questions or help documents I was searching through.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
BIMI: link

Avatars was Gravatar and Libravatar a bit hidden. They will be split in the next version again.

Favicons: link

BIMI, Gravatar, Libravatar and favicons are all ways to show some contact image.

LanguageTool (long press the save draft button) is for spell and style checking and was in the GitHub version available only, but that will probably change.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
BIMI - the domain owner defines an SVG file that shall be used as the sender's image / icon

Favicons - https://example.com/favicon.ico is fetched, if an email from user@example.com is received

Gravatar / Libravatar - The hashed value of the email address is sent to the "avatar service provider" and it returns a picture. The email address owner will usually be able to upload an own picture with said "avatar service provider" for it to be returned.

___

LanguageTools - spell checking. Just long-press the save button when composing an email and the spell checker will run.
[Android Apps and Games] wimstefan:
Reading all the comments the last week is really heartwarming!

And it because of you Marcel - not only the excellence of your apps but most of all because you are a rare bread: kind, gentle, supportive beyond ratio, super fast & responsive. With people like you the harsh world we're living in is a better place. So I want to thank you for that 🙏🏼 And of course your wonderful apps 😏

If you'd leave the Google Play Store and distribute your app via other channels like GitHub as you've initially offered as an option in the beginning when all the hassle started I'm sure a lot of users would follow you and new users would join. Just the a******s left behind 😉

Having said all that the most important thing remains the swift recovery of your girlfriend. I wish you guys all the best!!! 🙏🏼

PS: Another donation is on its way.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1900 is available on GitHub now and in the Play store test program after Google's approval (which is the main goal of this release).

Changelog/download:

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

My girlfriend is slowly recovering too :-)
[Android Apps and Games] NorLa:
:love:(y) I think I speak for many users here when I say: So happy you are going on ... and so happy FairEmail is going on. Version 1.1900 is already installed.

Hope very much that the problems with Google are cleared up with this - and that you regain the joy of working with FairEmail. Do it for the users who appreciate your work - and ignore the others.

Our best wishes for you ...
[Android Apps and Games] reinob:
Marcel, glad to hear things are going better again.

I just installed 1.1900 from Github, and all looks fine!

Hartelijk dank!! :)
[Android Apps and Games] avalx:
One of the best news in a while! 😄

About continuity of your projects and especially the recovering of you girlfriend! I wish you both all the best in the future.

Thanks once more for all your amazing apps and your hard work.
[Android Apps and Games] elchmartin:
@M66B

I think I got the pro version pretty much after I read about the app here on xda.

Really happy ever since. I think I also convinced a few friends and relatives, but dont really know if the heard my advice ;-)

Anyways, I am *incredibly* happy with the app and think I only got support once for activating the pro.

please continue developing this. It is maybe my most needed app.
[Android Apps and Games] ROO3VER:
Receiving a notification this morning Version 1.1900 is available on Github i was very happy to see you regained the

motivation for an update.

This whole situation made a lot of people speak up and support you. For every 1☆ rewiew in the playstore there are probably a 1000 (or more)people who like Fairmail.

Maybe this whole thing happening was not that bad and maybe even necessary.

As a great Dutchman used to say:

Elk nadeel heb z'n voordeel

Read: every disadvantage has its advantage
[Android Apps and Games] Irish_Dude:
I am currently on version 1.1899 and downloaded the latest github version 1.1900a but when I try to install, I get the error mrssage

"App not installed as package conflicts with an existing package"

Any idea what the issue is lads?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You are likely trying to install the GitHub version as an update over the F-Droid version. This isn't possible because the digital signature is different.
[Android Apps and Games] Irish_Dude:
Thanks Marcel

So what's the best way to install the new version without losing my settings and configuration?

Or should I just wait until the new version is pushed to F-Droid?

Lots of happy people on reddit and discord because you are back developing and 5* reviews are pouring in on Google :)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You can either wait for a new F-Droid build, or uninstall the F-Droid build and install the GitHub release.
[Android Apps and Games] de_Wolf:
If you have the PRO version, then proceed as follows:

- Export settings

- Uninstall F-Droid version

- Install GitHub version

- Import settings

Edit: [Oh, I was to slowly..., Marcel, you must not reply so quickly :-) ]
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
+ authorize any Gmail accounts again via the quick setup wizard
[Android Apps and Games] davidcc:
Hello @M66B

I just wanted to thank you for your amazing job! I'm a PRO user since 2020 and I don't now what else would I be using if FairEmail disappeared. I always used FairEmail from Github or F-Droid so now I can't see the app on the Play Store but once Google approves it again I will go there to give you 5 stars and also I will donate again, you deserve it.

Best wishes to you and your loved ones
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
I would keep a backup of the export so if you need it for a future use. I make a export anytime I make any major changes to the settings or if I know I'm getting a new device or wiping the device I make a export as well. This way I have the settings and the accounts for whenever I may need them. I have nine email accounts but only really use two of them.
[Android Apps and Games] 4ndr0x:
When switching from Play Store build to F-Droid build, can I transfer my license? Bought via Play Store, but also donated to you via bank transfer in the past (not for pro features, just a normal donation).

As you might continue that project now (thanks for that!), I guess it might be better to avoid Play Store from now on?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You can't use a Play store purchase without the Play store, in any case I can't support his (Play store policies).

Regarding the bank transfer, please contact me via here:

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

As an XDA moderator recently pointed out, this XDA thread is supposed to be about the free version of the app.
[Android Apps and Games] DenyDarko:
Popular open-source email app is bound to return to the Play Store after updating its privacy policy

Google didn’t quite make clear what the issue was initially

www.androidpolice.com

There's the article 😁
[Android Apps and Games] 4ndr0x:
Article from German news https://www.golem.de/news/nach-sper...n-fairemail-geht-doch-weiter-2205-165663.html
[Android Apps and Games] ROO3VER:
Congratulations Marcel, Fairmail is famous:giggle::giggle:
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
(German) 1* reviews like this "Spyware" do not really help to let the app return in the Play store, which is at this moment still undecided.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I prefer "normal", so I can start developing again, which is at this moment hard given the sheer volume of messages I receive (including press inquiries, that is). What I want to do for myself, to satisfy my perfectionist nature, LOL, and to create opportunities for new features, is to write a new styled text to HTML converter. Currently, the app ships a modified copy of the Android converter , but this is not really ideal. In fact the latest version added some more "hacks" to fix some, but not all, bullet/number lists issues.

Your old and grumpy developer aka drama queen.
[Android Apps and Games] chris122380:
Someone else mentioned in this community (I can't remember who it was) that you might want to have someone else handling the communication and you the developing. This way you don't become so overwhelmed.
[Android Apps and Games] nadir husain:
Marcel should make it something like the K9 or AquaMail forum where users help each other out and the developer only steps in a couple of days in a week or if there is a critical issue that no one else can answer.
[Android Apps and Games] Will_T:
Edit: Found it and yes it seems like they want the focus on the free version with mainly just mentions and links to the paid version so deleted my original comment.
[Android Apps and Games] mkasimd:
I'm sure the press asks pretty much the same questions. Maybe it's worth publishing a press release on your website and nicely pointing them to your statement there might save you some time, if too many journalists are writing to you.

I know you hate this, but automatic responses will help you greatly if you receive too many emails.

You want this to remain a personal project and with a lot of personal touch on top. You don't want to give a corporate look. That's understandable. But the more users you have and the more prominent your apps become, it might be better to add "corporate" elements that ease your own work load and let you focus on development.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
This will be fixed in the next release.
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
Store to sent is enable for the "test" message which was used for the debug info.

I'm going to sent you right now a debug info when I try to open a sent message in an account where store sent is not enable.

Where is this menu ?

EDIT to [MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION]

Clear data of FairEmail and all becomes good
[Android Apps and Games] yorikkk:
Sorry, maybe am I blind or something but I don't see any magnify glass to start a search :?

The paid version
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I will double check the code later, but this could "simply" have been caused by data corruption.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
You will find the magnify glass at the top of a folder message list in the action bar, except for the unified inbox because the unified inbox is a collection of folders.
[Android Apps and Games] yorikkk:
eeeerr... i was looking for it in the unified folder indeed... my bad :eek:
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
I "often" have this kind of alert message in the inbox folder.

I did a FC of FairEmail and a wipe cache and at reopen the alert is gone.

I will do a screenshot next time.

[MENTION=2799345]M66B[/MENTION]

Just had this error (see screenshot). Sent you a debug mail.

May be I have an explanation...

I was trashing the 3 debug mails I sent to you this morning.

For 2 mails, trashed OK.

For the last one, it didn't go to trash. And now it's no more in sent folder too.

This mail has completely disappeared, even when I check using webmail.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I cannot reproduce this in any way, so please try to provide the exact steps to reproduce this.
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
I think it's my f***** provider.

Now another problem.

When I trash a sent message, the line of the message stays blank. And the message is not moved to trash.

See screenshot and debug mail sent right now.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
The screenshot is not available to me. XDA attachments often do not work.

Just wait and the empty item will go away. The database is likely busy, for example with synchronizing messages.
[Android Apps and Games] pearljohn:
Would you consider adding the option of a totally black theme?
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Please see here:

https://github.com/M66B/open-source-email/blob/master/FAQ.md#FAQ15

Maybe if there would be more people using and supporting FairEmail.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
[MENTION=4913921]BreckZeBoulay[/MENTION] I have double checked the code and I don't see any potential problems. As you are the only one reporting this problem, it is reasonable to assume this is/was being caused by data corruption. My advice is to reinstall FairEmail.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
A next version will have multiple select with as options to move to spam, trash, archive or a specific folder. Since this can be done for individual messages already and swipe left/right does something similar, I am considering this as a convenience feature and therefore make it a pro feature.
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
When I import settings (a fresh backup), I choose the backup file and nothing happens.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Nothing happens is not likely. Did you select a file and confirmed the selection?

If you get an error, this will be fixed in the next release.
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
I tap on the *.json to select it and I directly go back to the settings section (manage account, manage identities, according........)

No error. Just nothing.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Maybe the export file is empty or damaged. What is going on on your device?
[Android Apps and Games] BreckZeBoulay:
In sent folders, (now) after a tap on

simple

message, only the title is shown. Another tap is needed to expand it.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
That is by design. Sent messages, messages in the outbox and messages in the archive are not auto expanded.
[Android Apps and Games] Tech Home:
It makes me really happy that the discussion with Google led to the continuation of the awesome email client! And I'm also glad that your girlfriend is recovering too.

I've really enjoyed these for me rare good news. I can't say more than thanks. It means really much for me. Thanks, thanks!
[Android Apps and Games] :
Thank You Marcel for continuation of development! FairEmail is my favorite e-mail client and is the only email app I want to have on my degoogled phone :)

You are awesome!
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
I didn't receive feedback from Google's privacy and policy team yet. I don't expect feedback today, on Ascension Day, in any case.

Also, I asked better to be thorough than to be fast to prevent trouble later on again.

I'll keep you informed.
[Android Apps and Games] Dakkaron:
Really happy you managed to talk with a real person at Google. That's not something many smaller devs ever manage to do.

I didn't know FairEmail before, but I've been using (and recommending) Netguard for years.

I'll definitly check out FairEmail, though.

Btw, I think it's kinda funny to see how many people seem to think, that a one-time payment of $6 would give them a right to unlimited life-time updates.

Any app can be discontinued at any time (and most will at some time). Unless you have a contract specifying otherwise, that's just how that works.

There is a term for what those guys expect. It's (incredibly cheap) indentured servitude. And luckily, that's illegal.
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Version 1.1900 has been approved by Google and is available in the test program now.

I didn't receive feedback from Google's privacy and policy team yet though.
[Android Apps and Games] nadir husain:
Did you specifically ask for a response? They may not even bother replying . Just the fact that they approved the release means you are good to go.
[Android Apps and Games] crok.bic:
Just updated it, I hope you continue ;)
[Android Apps and Games] M66B:
Normally, approving apps is an automated process as far as I know, but in this case I should receive direct feedback from Google's privacy and policy team too.
[Android Apps and Games] La_Globule:
Congratulations Marcel 👏

It's the begining if a new life for you and FE !
[Android Apps and Games] OldRoutard:
Marcel, just to add my voice to all those who have so much appreciated FE.

Your work has been really appreciated. Good luck, thanks for reconsidering and I wish you and yours all the best.