Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store
Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store.
Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store | TechCrunch
Google will ask all Android developers to verify their identity starting next year.Sarah Perez (TechCrunch)
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surewhynotlem
in reply to Mas • • •NotMyOldRedditName
in reply to surewhynotlem • • •Glitchvid
in reply to NotMyOldRedditName • • •max_dryzen
in reply to Mas • • •Zwuzelmaus
in reply to max_dryzen • • •Zwuzelmaus
in reply to Mas • • •If it starts for real, the freedom of Android is lost.
We need to sue them 1000 times and more before they can even start this.
themachinestops
in reply to Zwuzelmaus • • •NuclearDolphin
in reply to Mas • • •patrick
in reply to NuclearDolphin • • •NuclearDolphin
in reply to patrick • • •T156
in reply to NuclearDolphin • • •msage
in reply to T156 • • •Tenkard
in reply to T156 • • •Truscape
in reply to T156 • • •kittenzrulz123
in reply to NuclearDolphin • • •1. UIs that have simply not gotten any attention
2. A severe lack of decent hardware
3. Scaled down desktop apps on a phone (seriously who thought this was a good idea)
4. No security whatsoever
5. Basic features missing or requiring a significant degree of tinkering to get working such as audio or calling
filcuk
in reply to NuclearDolphin • • •boonhet
in reply to filcuk • • •obelix
in reply to boonhet • • •I'd argue it doesn't "just work" any longer. I recently left iOS for Android, after 10 years with an iPhone. The keyboard was the first issue, the OS stalling and making the device heat up was another. The lack of actual smarts got a bit annoying, too. You ask Siri something and it goes down a k-hole.
I'll probably end up on a Fairphone without any Google tripe, which is a shame, because I quite like my new OnePlus 13.
kittenzrulz123
in reply to filcuk • • •DeathByBigSad
in reply to kittenzrulz123 • • •iPhones are too expensive for some people. Not everyone has $500 lying around.
You can't get an iPhone for $100, an unlocked Motorola phone is only about $100, if you get a carrier locked version its like $30-$40 (and you can carrier unlock them 60 days after activation, just get the cheapest 30 day plan will do, you don't even need 60 days of service to get it unlocked.
Pricing wise, Android phones will still have advantages, even with google's autocratization.
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tabular
in reply to Mas • • •NuclearDolphin
in reply to tabular • • •max_dryzen
in reply to tabular • • •afk_strats
in reply to max_dryzen • • •panda_abyss
in reply to Mas • • •Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul
Or, said in the common corporate tongue, “embrace, extend, extinguish”.
dorumon
in reply to Mas • • •VeryFrugal
in reply to Mas • • •Shady_Shiroe
in reply to Mas • • •I guess it's time to switch to developing apps for Linux mobile distro
The only reason I like android is cuz I can make my own apks and use them without issue.
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padge
in reply to Mas • • •xthexder
in reply to Mas • • •How are they going to enforce this? Is side loading getting some extra signing step only Google can provide?
I shouldn't need to go through Google at all to release an Android app if it's not on their store. This is bullshit
shortwavesurfer
in reply to xthexder • • •Any device with Google Play services will enforce this. Any device that does not have Google Apps and services will not enforce this.
In this case, China actually has a leg up over the West because they haven't had Google Play services for a long time.
Sir_Kevin
in reply to shortwavesurfer • • •shortwavesurfer
in reply to Sir_Kevin • • •DeathByBigSad
in reply to shortwavesurfer • • •China is pushing in the same direction. The government want to develop Harmony OS that is gonna have compatibility issues with .apk installs and they could design it in such a way to make VPNs unusable. China is a State Capitalist regime, they will learn all the tricks that the west is using and do their capitalism with an even more stronger grip.
China is not FOSS friendly. Remember how Reddit is keep nagging you to install their app and make an account. Well in China, a lot of their platform/services doesn't even have a desktop client, or even a web browser log-in. You can try visiting some of the mainland Chinese websites yourself. They force you to enter a phone number to sign up and some even require you to scan qr code with their phone app to log in to the website (meaning you're supposed to sign up in their phone app first, PC use is considered "secondary"). Almost everything requires an app on a smartphone.
Edit: P.S. Overseas Chinese Citizens need to download a government spyware app on their phone in order to submit an application to renew passports. I know because my father is a PRC citizen.
shortwavesurfer
in reply to DeathByBigSad • • •Superorbit
in reply to Mas • • •Emily (she/her)
in reply to Mas • • •like this
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Mihies
in reply to Emily (she/her) • • •yeehaw
in reply to Mihies • • •like this
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NekuSoul
in reply to yeehaw • • •What's extra funny is that I already did all of this, and yet, I've been informed that my developer account is subject to deletion because I'm not active enough. Since my game does not get regular updates I said F this, let them delete my account. It's still available for sideload on itch.io anyway. Jokes on me for believing that.
So yeah, it seems like Google is actively hostile towards building a library of software/games that just work and intentionally only wants live service garbage apps on their platform because those make more revenue.
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Mihies
in reply to yeehaw • • •Integrate777
in reply to Mihies • • •like this
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Mihies
in reply to Integrate777 • • •nutsack
in reply to Integrate777 • • •DeathByBigSad
in reply to Mihies • • •I highly doubt they'll sign Torrent clients.
(Yes I torrent on my phone, cuz why not lol 😛)
DreamlandLividity
in reply to DeathByBigSad • • •onewithoutaname likes this.
DeathByBigSad
in reply to DreamlandLividity • • •DreamlandLividity
in reply to DeathByBigSad • • •Right sorry. I thought you meant developers won't sign them. Obviously you mean Google.
I hope Google at least will only sign identities, e.g. you really are DeathByBigSad and this is your key which you can sign apps with. Not look at the apps themselves. That may be too much to hope for. 🙁
Mihies
in reply to DeathByBigSad • • •themachinestops
in reply to Mihies • • •Mihies
in reply to themachinestops • • •yeehaw
in reply to Emily (she/her) • • •The closer google gets to apple, the more similar they become. Except apples shit generally all works well together. Knock off air tags, chromecast, audio groups, and so many other things are riddled with bugs and never fixed.
If you make android the same as iOS, I might as well switch.
PalmTreeIsBestTree
in reply to yeehaw • • •GlenRambo
in reply to Mas • • •ayyy
in reply to Mas • • •Xatolos
in reply to ayyy • • •No, it's nothing like what Apple's been doing.
Apple has been losing in court about everyone needs to give them money anytime anything makes any money on iOS, or even thinking absolutely allowing others to install anything beyond their App Store.
This is Google demanding every app that can be installed on Android must be signed by them, and the only cost is registering with them your name and address, possibly verified by government ID. (And quite possible doxxing you at the same time as they already do on the Play Store....)
These are very different, and unlike Apple, will more likely be applauded by numerous world governments in the current "anything a child can even remotely even know about" must have its users be checked to make sure they are "allowed to".
Pycorax
in reply to Mas • • •yeehaw
in reply to Pycorax • • •Pycorax
in reply to yeehaw • • •boonhet
in reply to Pycorax • • •Pycorax
in reply to boonhet • • •DeathByBigSad
in reply to boonhet • • •Pycorax
in reply to yeehaw • • •BlameTheAntifa
in reply to Mas • • •FryHyde
in reply to BlameTheAntifa • • •BlameTheAntifa
in reply to FryHyde • • •plyth
in reply to BlameTheAntifa • • •postmarketOS // real Linux distribution for phones
postmarketOSAda
in reply to plyth • • •Truscape
in reply to Ada • • •Ada
in reply to Truscape • • •JackbyDev
in reply to Mas • • •like this
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boonhet
in reply to JackbyDev • • •cookie019
in reply to Mas • • •Eager Eagle
in reply to Mas • • •and just like that google expands their walled garden and becomes apple 2
remember when the internet was an open platform and computers were yours to run programs you wanted?
ronigami
in reply to Eager Eagle • • •DegenerationIP
in reply to Eager Eagle • • •We had it coming.. I do let my thoughts Go, that you Someehen need to identify yourself to even connect to the internet.
They didn't apply laws to regulate some stuff, so now they start hammering down to enforce Control.
And big tech and companies will absolutely be one of the hardest Driver for this. There are Potential new ways to make Money. Basically a wet dream for especially big tech.
mybuttnolie
in reply to Mas • • •wabafee
in reply to mybuttnolie • • •vaultdweller013
in reply to wabafee • • •nutsack
in reply to wabafee • • •iglou
in reply to wabafee • • •smiletolerantly
in reply to wabafee • • •mholiv
in reply to wabafee • • •ratzki
in reply to Mas • • •kittenzrulz123
in reply to ratzki • • •nutsack
in reply to ratzki • • •DegenerationIP
in reply to nutsack • • •tranquil_cassowary
in reply to ratzki • • •nibbler
in reply to ratzki • • •MonkderVierte
in reply to Mas • • •like this
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festus
in reply to MonkderVierte • • •xthexder
in reply to festus • • •InnerScientist
in reply to Mas • • •Balldowern
in reply to Mas • • •So I guess my next phone will be a Chinese phone. Even if it spies on me, I'll have the freedom to install whatever I want from anywhere.
The Chinese have a golden window of opportunity. Let's hope they don't mess this up.
SugarCatDestroyer
in reply to Mas • • •nutsack
in reply to Mas • • •LuigiMaoFrance
in reply to nutsack • • •Right now? Yeah, its very easy to do, and there's a download link for it included in GrapheneOS's preinstalled app-store.
I am however worried that eventually Google will make running custom software (apks, alternate firmwares) so difficult that development for those will stop long term.
xcjs
in reply to Mas • • •Android developer verification requirements
Google Docschaospatterns
in reply to xcjs • • •xcjs
in reply to chaospatterns • • •A valid question.
It's the official survey form from the Android Developer page on the matter: developer.android.com/develope…
Android developer verification
Android DevelopersHal-5700X
in reply to Mas • • •Will, what's the point now? Fuck it get an Apple. Why not.
EDIT This is going to be the future for us. Stop sideloading apps, then lock the bootloader.
IngeniousRocks (They/She)
in reply to Mas • • •jcs
in reply to IngeniousRocks (They/She) • • •MNT Research GmbH
mnt.reIngeniousRocks (They/She)
in reply to jcs • • •3laws
in reply to IngeniousRocks (They/She) • • •RealM__
in reply to Mas • • •goddamnit I JUST bought a new Fairphone 5 and opted not to go for e/os variant, because I was worried of incompatibility issues.
Guess I'll have to learn how to replace my phone OS in 2026...
python
in reply to Mas • • •Evil_Shrubbery
in reply to Mas • • •\
(lemmy.blahaj.zone/30883044)
ritten
in reply to Mas • • •Lutra
in reply to Mas • • •Shanmugha
in reply to Mas • • •I sent Apple to hell because of dumb "you can't change UI to your liking", guess Google is next
*yes, this was seen miles away. I work with a laptop most of the time, so phone doesn't matter much for me, apart of a box that rings a few times a year
**Yes, both companies are run by greedy dumbfucks. I am getting tired and angry that finding companies that are different takes actual dedication. It should not be this way