[APP][5.0+] FairEmail - Fully featured, open source, privacy oriented email app

[chris122380]

Google was pretty friendly and cooperative and told me the favicons are indeed the problem, and it can/should be fixed by updating in the privacy policy to "disclose how your app accesses, collects, uses, and shares user data":



So, I have updated the privacy policy and added this new table:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/blob/master/PRIVACY.md#summary-of-shared-data

I am not sure if it covers everything, so feedback is more than welcome. @mkasimd maybe you can take a look?

Note that I have also enabled BIMI, Gravatars, Libravatars and favicons for the Play store version again.

The short term goal is to release a Play store test version (and associated GitHub version) and to get the update approved. I will think about the next steps after this has been accomplished. Given the huge number of supportive messages I received (much appreciated!) the project will be continued in some form in any case.

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).

 

[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.

 

[fraschi51]

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).

I can imagine that a search in the settings will let you find the feature very quickly.

 

[chris122380]

I can imagine that a search in the settings will let you find the feature very quickly.

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).

 

[Itcouldbeyou]

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.

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.

 

[M66B]

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.

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 ;-)

 

[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.

 

[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.)

 

[M66B]

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.)

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.

 

[mkasimd]

Google was pretty friendly and cooperative and told me the favicons are indeed the problem, and it can/should be fixed by updating in the privacy policy to "disclose how your app accesses, collects, uses, and shares user data":



So, I have updated the privacy policy and added this new table:

https://github.com/M66B/FairEmail/blob/master/PRIVACY.md#summary-of-shared-data

I am not sure if it covers everything, so feedback is more than welcome. @mkasimd maybe you can take a look?

Note that I have also enabled BIMI, Gravatars, Libravatars and favicons for the Play store version again.

The short term goal is to release a Play store test version (and associated GitHub version) and to get the update approved. I will think about the next steps after this has been accomplished. Given the huge number of supportive messages I received (much appreciated!) the project will be continued in some form in any case.

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.

 

[fraschi51]

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).

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!

 

[chris122380]

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!

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.

 

[fraschi51]

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.

Click in the main-menue on support, then scroll down - there you'll find all, what you wish to know {and much more ... ;-) }

 

[chris122380]

Click in the main-menue on support, then scroll down - there you'll find all, what you wish to know {and much more ... ;-) }

Umm that's the Frequently asked questions or help documents I was searching through.

 

[M66B]

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.

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.

 

[mkasimd]

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.

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 [email protected] 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.

 

[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.

 

[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

 

[NorLa]

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 ...

 

[reinob]

Marcel, glad to hear things are going better again.
I just installed 1.1900 from Github, and all looks fine!

Hartelijk dank!!