Last night Organic Maps was removed from the Play Store without any warnings or additional details due to “not meeting the requirements for the Family Program”. Compared to Google Maps and other maps apps rated for 3+ age, there are no ads or in-app purchases in Organic Maps. We have asked for an appeal.
As a temporary workaround for the Google Play issue, you can install the new upcoming Google Play update from this link: https://cdn.organicmaps.app/apk/OrganicMaps-24081605-GooglePlay.apk
The Announcement on various Networks:
Fosstodon Post
Twitter Post
Telegram Post
If you don’t know what Organic Maps is, it is an alternative to OsmAnd and google maps, more info on the official site (link) and GitHub.
Maybe an error? Honestly this is a weird one. I hope we will learn more in the coming hours.
You can still get it on the other channels, like F-Droid or Obtainium. Still, we all know that not being on the Play Store is an heavy sentence for any Android app.
EDITs
- Added F-Droid link.
- Fixed Typo in the obtainium link.
Welp, egg on my face because it in fact, did crash.
Edit: Okay so I installed a much older version from the f-droid archive, 3.1.7.17 (random choice) and got it to show me the list of apps. Clearly some sort of regression happened. If I had the time, I’d figure out the exact version.
Edit 2: Which is the only way I can install play store apps. Play Store through microg crashes when I try to look at an app.
I searched “waydroid aurora store crashing” on DuckDuckGo a while back and found a thread that said it was a regression in Aurora Store v4.3 and that v4.2 works. I’m not sure how to download old versions of apps from F-Droid though.
It’s easy in Aurora Droid at least, there’s an “Other Versions” tab on the app page.