- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.zip
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.zip
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.
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Let Google know what you think about this: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN3UQeNspQsZCO2ITkdzMxv81rJDEGGjO-UIDDY28Rz_GEVA/viewform
Who organized this form? Is there something official to make it look like it’s not just signing me up for spam?
A valid question.
It’s the official survey form from the Android Developer page on the matter: https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides
Damn, it feels like someone is treating a 1984 novel like an instruction…
Guess I’m going back to a dumbphone next time because I’m NOT letting Google see what I’m downloading, I’d rather carry a laptop all day.
GrapheneOS works likea champ on my used Pixel 7 Pro, it was less than 100USD about 6m ago
There are alternatives to Google and Apple products. I recommend the MNT Pocket Reform if you’d like a full keyboard, or a Librem 5 if you prefer a more typical smartphone form factor.
That pocket reform looks super cool, added to the “save up for me” list
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.
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…
Will, what’s the point now? Fuck it get an Apple. Why not.
EDIT This is the future. Stop sideloading apps, then lock the bootloader.
Fuck google, verify my ass motherfuckers
devils.
Time to build more PWAs please?
will I be able to install the Google Play store on graphino S
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.
Verify my balls, Google.
if you’ve ever sent a nude, they probably can.
I’d be careful yknow, I hear they hired Barry Zuckercorn
He’s very good!
This is awful. One of my favorite differences between Android and iOS, as both a user AND developer is sideloading.
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.
Only reason I stick with Apple is because their stuff simply works and is supported (in most cases) for almost 10 years.
Sideloading still works, just the apps have to be signed. Still awfull.
We just need to find a way to fake it, I guess anyone that wants to sideload has to root.
The only way to fake it would be to use a “public” signature, but then again, I’m sure google will revoke them eventually. I guess rooting won’t be enough, one would have to change some internal binaries. Perhaps it’s time for a ungooglified android OS 🤷♂️
How many great apps will we lose because of this, though?
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.
That’s wild, I made a developer account in like 2010 and released an app and forgot about it. I still get developer emails about my account lol. I never touched it.
I’d say a big ton of them :(
Can Nintendo request Google revoke authorization for emulator developers? Or publishers requesting revoking any of the hugely popular manga aggregator apps. Or maybe they’ll just outright refuse them from the start, like they will with revanced.
none of those apps would receive authorization in this scenario. you would not be able to use them
I’m on your side and you are correct, besides Google amassing a ton of money (each registration costs $25) they will have total control and we know that Google is far beyond “not evil”.
I highly doubt they’ll sign Torrent clients.
(Yes I torrent on my phone, cuz why not lol :P)
Torrent client is just an application, author shouldn’t be responsible - naive thinking I suppose
Torrent clients are not illegal in any way. So why not?
Idk, apple doesn’t allow them on their app store.
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. :(
Hasn’t Apple been losing in court across the world for doing exactly this?
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”.
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
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.
I’m so glad I degoogled my phone already. Fuck Google!
I know right. I am degoogle class of 2019, and I’m so glad to have done so.
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.
We are looking at nothing less than the death of the internet. Needing to give your ID to access Spotify. Not being able to install software on the device you purchase.
