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This website helps you quickly find and install FOSS alternatives to Google apps
If you're not a fan of Google's apps and want an easy way to find free and open source alternatives, you can try this website with FOSS apps.
If you've flashed a new ROM on your device, I'm sure you follow it up by flashing Google apps or a GApps package. That's mainly because a Custom ROM can be barebones without your usual set of apps that are required to use your phone. However, what if you don't like Google's set of apps? Or you just don't want to be stuck into the Google app ecosystem and want to break out of it? That's where FOSS apps come into the picture. FOSS stands for Free and Open Source and is essentially a set of apps that are free to use as well as open-source. These can be used as replacements to your usual set of apps like Google dialer, Google messages, YouTube, etc. If this sounds interesting to you, there's a new website that lets you find and install FOSS alternatives to Google apps in a quick and easy manner.
Open GApps releases flashable Google app packages for Android 10 custom ROMs
Months after the Android 10 source code was uploaded to AOSP, the Open GApps team has finally released official GApps packages for Android 10 ROMs.
If you want to use any app that requires Google Play Services on a custom ROM, you'll most likely need to flash a separate Google apps package or GApps after flashing the ROM. This step is something that most custom ROM developers require you to do in order to avoid legal challenges with them building Google apps into their third-party custom ROMs. Following the launch of each major Android update, the Open GApss team rolls out their latest flashable GApps packages for that version of Android. While the team has previously had a flawless track record of promptly releasing GApps packages for the latest Android build, things were a bit different this time around.
The challenges Huawei faces getting Google apps on the Huawei Mate 30
It's widely believed that users will just be able to sideload the Google Play Store and other Google apps on the Huawei Mate 30, but it's not that simple.
Tomorrow, journalists from around the world will gather at a venue in Munich, Germany to watch Huawei Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu announce his company's latest consumer products. The company is expected to unveil two wearable accessories, a television, and four smartphones. The focus will largely be on the new Huawei Mate 30 series of smartphones, which Google confirmed cannot be sold with Google Play apps and services. Without Google's suite of apps, the new Huawei phones will have a tough time in Europe, India, and other markets. But Richard Yu hinted at IFA 2019 that the company has a workaround to allow users to install Google apps on the Mate 30, noting that the process will be "quite easy" for users. We're no stranger to sideloading Google Play apps and services at XDA, but given Huawei's unique circumstances, we thought it might be worth exploring what options the company has and whether they really can offer a way for users to download Google's app suite.
[Update: Moving to SourceForge] OpenGapps team explains the future of their Google apps hosting situation
After a tussle with GitHub over storage limitations, the OpenGApps has now decided to self-host its APK repositories via GitLab.
Although Android is open source, it's difficult for most users to stomach using an Android device without Google Play apps and services. Projects like OpenGApps make it possible for users to easily get their favorite Google apps on custom ROMs. OpenGApps even comes in bundles of various sizes with each bundle comprised of Google Play Services and the Google Play Store along with a number of other Google apps.
Open GApps ARM/ARM64 packages for Android Pie ROMs now available
Looking to install an AOSP-based Android 9 Pie custom ROM? You'll need the right GApps package for that. Luckily, Open GApps now supports Android Pie!
If you want to flash a custom ROM and use the Google Play Store or any other applications that require Google Play Services, then you'll most likely need to flash a separate Google apps package (commonly referred to as "GApps.") This is something that custom ROM developers require you to do to avoid any legal challenges with them bundling Google apps into their third-party custom ROMs. Since Android Pie was announced and its source code uploaded to AOSP, we've been looking forward to the Open GApps team's official release of their latest flashable GApps packages. Now, the team has released Android Pie-compatible GApps packages for the ARM and ARM64 architectures in all variants.
Unofficial Open GApps for Android Pie brings Google Play apps and services to custom ROMs
Android Pie was announced just last week, but XDA Senior Member Nezorflame has stepped up and provided the community with an Open Gapps solution.
The Open GApps Project is an open-source effort to bring up-to-date versions of Google application packages to devices that don't have them. We typically see these recommended after you flash a custom ROM since developers are not allowed to include these applications and services in their custom builds of Android. When a new version of Android comes out, it can take some time before the Open GApps team gets everything ready for the new update. Android Pie was announced just last week, but XDA Senior Member Nezorflame has stepped up and provided the community with a temporary solution.
There are nearly 16,000 Google Play Certified Android devices
According to the latest statistics from the Google Play Developer Console, there are nearly 16,000 Google Play Certified Android devices on the market. This number likely vastly underestimates how many Android devices are out there, though!
The Android operating system is often compared to Microsoft Windows because of how ubiquitous it is. While Windows continues to dominate on the desktop, Android has been dominating on smartphones for years. At Google I/O 2017, Google announced that Android was installed on over 2 billion devices. That's a staggering number to consider, and it's a testament to just how successful Google's business model with Android has been. Most of us are familiar with Android devices from large brands like Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, LG, Sony, Oppo, OnePlus, Motorola, and more, but there are actually a ton of devices from manufacturers you've never heard of. Just how many? There are a little over 16,000 Google Play Certified devices, and even that number likely vastly underrepresents the true number of Android devices that have ever been made!
How to Check if a Phone or Tablet is Certified Android Before Buying
Looking to buy a new Android smartphone or tablet, but worried that it won't support the Google Play Store and Google apps like Gmail, Google Photos, Google Maps, and more? Here's how to check if your device is Certified Android BEFORE you buy it!
So you want to buy an Android smartphone or tablet. There are so many devices out there that it can be a real headache trying to decide what to get. If you can afford it, you could shell out hundreds of dollars for flagship devices like the Samsung Galaxy S9, Huawei P20 Pro, or Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium. You could alternatively go for a mid-range device like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, Honor 9 Lite, or Motorola Moto X4. Budget phones like the Nokia 1 or ZTE Tempo Go are also options. Despite vastly different specifications, features, and pricing, all of these devices have a few things in common: they're made by major Android OEMs and are Certified Android devices so they can support the Google Play Store.
Google Removes the 100 Device Registration Limit from the Uncertified Device Page
We recently learned that Google would begin blocking any uncertified device from accessing Google Play apps and services. We now have new information: the whitelist that users can sign up for now no longer has a 100 device registration limit!
Good news for the Android community today: Google has heard our concerns. When we first broke the news that Google would begin blocking Google Play uncertified devices from accessing Google apps and services, there was a lot of confusion about what this would mean for users. At first, it seemed like the webpage wasn't working at all, and then it worked with IMEI values, and then we were told it accepted the Google Play Service Framework Device ID (but only in decimal format). One last thing that users, especially developers, were concerned about is the fact that the page seemingly only allowed for 100 IDs to be whitelisted. However, a Google representative has confirmed that they are removing this limit from the uncertified device registration page and that the webpage now accepts GSF IDs in their original hexadecimal format.
How to Fix the "Device is not Certified by Google" Error
Are you having trouble with signing in to your Google account? Can't access the Google Play Store or use Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Play Music, or Photos? Seeing a "device is not certified by Google" error? Here's how to fix that.
A few days ago, we reported that Google is starting to block uncertified Android devices from accessing Google Play apps and services. That means that any device that isn't certified by Google will no longer be able to download and use apps like Gmail, Google Maps, Google Play Music, Google Photos, and more. There's a huge market for devices that don't ship with Google apps out of the box, ranging from name-brands such as Amazon all the way to less recognized Chinese brands. If you buy an Android device and you see the "device is not certified by Google" warning, what can you do about it? You don't have many choices, but we'll run down the list of available options so you can maybe unblock Google apps on your uncertified Android device.
PSA: Always Use the GApps Package Recommended by your ROM Developer
LineageOS continues to recommend MindTheGapps instead of OpenGApps. The reason is because OpenGApps currently breaks important functionality in LineageOS, and users should always use GApps packages that are recommended by their ROM developer.
GApps (short for Google Apps) packages are add-ons for custom ROMs that are necessary in order to get Google apps such as Google Play Services and the Play Store on your device. Developers do not bundle Google apps with their custom ROMs because the apps are proprietary. Instead, ROM developers often recommend third-party packages that can be flashed separately on top of their builds.
Open GApps Now Supports Android 8.1 Oreo (ARM+ARM64, x86+x86_64)
Open GApps now supports Android 8.1 Oreo. GApps packages based on Android 8.1 for the ARM and ARM64 platforms are now available.
GApps packages (short for Google Apps) are essential in the custom ROM development community. The reason why GApps are not bundled with custom ROMs such as LineageOS is that while LineageOS is an open-source Android distribution, Google apps are not open-source. Apps such as the Play Store, Gmail, Maps, etc, do not use the Apache or GPLv2 license. Therefore, custom ROM developers can't bundle them with their builds, as doing so presents legal challenges.
[APK] Google Email 6.3 Now Available through the Play Store
Google Email is now available on the Play Store for Nexus and Google Play edition devices, and we've mirrored the APK for your sideloading pleasure!
Earlier today, Google gave us yet another "Update Wednesday" with new versions of Chrome Beta, Drive, Hangouts, My Tracks, and Translate. Seemingly not content with simply updating the above, Google has now given us one more: Google Email---no, not Gmail.
Much of what users commonly refer to as "Android" isn't actually a part of the OS itself, but rather first-party Google applications that have become integral to Android's functionality or look and feel. This includes apps like Gmail and the Google Play Store. And for most people, it's optimal to use these first party Google applications. But if you're running a rooted device with a source-built custom ROM, chances are that you need to download a separate Gapps package.
Yesterday, we had all the makings of a classic Google Update Wednesday. In the morning, we first saw a rather significant update to Google Camera to version 2.2, which brought us 16:9 capture, self-timer support, and two new panorama modes (fisheye and wide-angle). And then a few hours later, we were greeted by several updates to Chrome, Chrome Beta, Goggles, Docs, Sheets, Device Manager, and Books.
About a month and a half ago, Google launched their Google Camera app in the Play Store. The app brought many new features such as a faux depth-of-field blur feature similar to what we've seen in the HTC's Duo Camera System, but without the need for a separate sensor. While innovative, Google Camera was far from perfect, something that can be expected from any new application release. However, Google quickly filled in some of the gaps by releasing an update earlier this month that brought back the ability to take snapshots while recording video.
You may recall that early last month, Chrome Beta for Android gained better fullscreen video support, as well as the ability to undo closed tabs when it was updated to version 35.0.191634. Now one and a half months later, this feature has made it out of beta and into the 35.0.1916.122 stable build.
Google's first party application updates have been coming a bit out of band over the past few weeks. Rather than the typical "Google Update Wednesdays" that we've become accustomed to seeing, it's now not uncommon to see these Gapps updates appear seemingly at random.
Earlier today, Hell froze over just a little bit when Google announced that PayPal payment support was on its way to the Google Play Store. At the time of the announcement, Google stated that this feature was going to be available starting today. And folks, they weren't kidding. Google Play Store 4.8.19 has now begun making its rounds to consumer devices.