Add simple apk download

Thibaultmol

For people that have an ungoogled phone or for whatever reason don't want to use the play store, it would be nice to have a direct download link to the actual apk file available.

it would be nice if the apk was available via an fdroid repository, but i understand that's more work https://f-droid.org/docs/Setup_an_F-Droid_App_Repo/

It would also be a workaround (which would only temporarily be needed) as the kagi app doesn't have 5K downloads yet; to show up in the search options on Pixel devices's search widget. see: https://discord.com/channels/1256077108111868035/1306793038894334003/1306798703968915467

greyfivenine8244

Sounds like a really good idea! I'm not very experienced in developing Android applications, but how would it look with updates? Because especially at this stage of development, there are relatively frequent updates for the app, and the PlayStore is, of course, very well suited for that.

Thibaultmol

greyfivenine8244 if it was through fdroid, then fdroid would look into that.

if it was just a regular apk download then i suppose having a 'new update available' popup would be ideal? i don't know. i personally do either fdroid or play store. rarely do raw apk

Thibaultmol

related but different: https://kagifeedback.org/d/5622-allow-download-on-f-droid

RoxyRoxyRoxy

As a Kagi user I'm obviously trying to get away from Google's environment. While I mainly use iPhone I have an Android based music player that I'd love to install the Kagi app onto. I don't have a Google account though, meaning I can't install it through Google Play. It would be great to offer a direct apk download for the app for users that wish to avoid/don't have a Google account.

A link to the apk download could be added in the Setting Kagi as Your Default Search Engine docs page.

armoire834

F droid would be great. But it could also be put on the github repo and downloaded with obtanium. Either would be great as i also dont use google play

jimmielightner

Piling in on this! I use a de-Google'd Pixel with GrapheneOS and refuse to download cruft from Google Play store. <puke emoji> I've allowed the browser to hang on to my Kagi session, but I think it'd be sweet to be able to use the native app! Obtainium and F-Droid are both great at keeping things updated. Just publish the APK somewhere :-)

daum3ns

I totally agree with @jimmielightner and @RoxyRoxyRoxy
it's all about getting away from google so it's kinda funny that you publish the app there 😃
i mean i understand it, because lots of people use it but for de-googled phones it's a show stopper...

please just provide us the apk somewhere 🙂
if you would publish the apks on github for example then obtainium can handle the updates...

flibbo

I would like to be able to use Kagi Privacy Pass on mobile without Google Play - that would be fantastic!

As others have pointed out, simply publishing the apk on github or the website is enough. Folks can use Obtainium to regularly check for updates.

Adding the apk to fdroid is also ok, but maybe more work for the devs.

techtrest_40528

Same here. I am using a de-googled GrapheneOS. would be great to get an alternative Kagi distribution channel. Github would be ideal to track app changes via Obtainium.

jbutz

To add more reasons this would be good, Google is further locking down Android as a platform by requiring verification for all Android app developers. Moving to F-Droid and alternative app stores is one of the ways we can push back. So if de-googling isn't enough to move this up the product backlog, maybe keeping Android open is.

https://keepandroidopen.org/

Edit: And with this, I'd like to suggest all Kagi Android apps be available on a more open app store.

RoxyRoxyRoxy

jbutz We're taking a look at this now, thanks for bumping so I can update everyone

ThisisaRandomUser

RoxyRoxyRoxy Hi, any updates for this? We just want Kagi to publish / host / upload their android apk on GitHub, that's it! so users not having access to Google Play Store can also enjoy immense privacy value Kagi products provides. It's really just about accessibility, nothing else.

For example - Obsidian too does something like that, they have a github repo where they provide releases (only release) for their app while having the source code proprietary.
Link to the Obsidian repo - https://github.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-releases/

Would really appreciate if you can share some details about what's going on behind the scenes to solve this accessibility issue. Or an ETA for the same?

It's rather really simple to do compared to what you guys do daily, Fight Big Tech! Not to mention hosting apps somewhere except Google Play Store like GitHub, GitLab aligns with your mission to avoid big tech.

GreenCucumber

Hi @RoxyRoxyRoxy any updates?

RoxyRoxyRoxy

We're still working out the best way to go about this. It's complicated by a few considerations such as billing APIs. It's planned and a priority, as soon as we can get these out to you we will.

unknown

@RoxyRoxyRoxy

We're still working out the best way to go about this. It's complicated by a few considerations such as billing APIs. It's planned and a priority, as soon as we can get these out to you we will.

You might want to look into how Ente and Tuta handles biling for inspiration and faster outcome.

unknown

@RoxyRoxyRoxy
Hi, it's been almost a month? How long does it going to take? Any ETA?