3d ago

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

techcrunch.com 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.

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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112 comments

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.
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  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".
  
  none of those apps would receive authorization in this scenario. you would not be able to use them
  
  I highly doubt they'll sign Torrent clients.
  (Yes I torrent on my phone, cuz why not lol :P)
  
  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. :(
  
  Torrent client is just an application, author shouldn't be responsible - naive thinking I suppose
  
  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 🤷‍♂️

112 comments