- Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?
Absolutely not. Sideloading is fundamental to Android and it is not going away. Our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice. We want to make sure that if you download an app, it’s truly from the developer it claims to be published from, regardless of where you get the app. Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer.
- Making APKs available to your test team
If your team’s current test process relies on distributing APKs to testers for installation using methods other than adb, you will need to verify your identity and register the package. This also applies if you make APKs available to your test teams through Google Play Internal Testing, Firebase App Distribution, or similar solutions through other distribution partners.
- Do I still need to register my apps if I’m only distributing to a limited number of users?
We recommend you register. It’s a simple, one-time process that will allow anyone to download and install your app. However, if you prefer not to, we are also introducing a free developer account type that will allow teachers, students, and hobbyists to distribute apps to a limited number of devices without needing to provide a government ID.
- What can I do to prepare for developer verification?
The best way to get ready and stay updated is to sign up for early access. We’ll start sending invitations in October.
We recommend you participate in developer verification because, even though verification is not required to develop apps with Android Studio, you will need it to distribute apps to certified Android devices. Apps installed through enterprise management tools on managed devices will also be installable without being registered.
- Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?
Absolutely not. Your sideloaded app will simply refuse to run if the developer has not verified themselves with Google. This will cause any older app that is no longer updated to fail, as well as any apps by developers whom dislike Google’s repeated monopolistic behaviour, and opt-out of the program. In short, most apps currently sideloaded will no longer be able to. We call this ‘sideload rightsizing’. We will also be keeping users safe by suing the developers of apps we don’t like, such as Grayjay, FreeTube, NewPipe, Shizuku, and Magisk - this will be much easier with their government IDs showing their legal names and addresses.
Ftfy Google.
Isn’t the Magisk dev working at Google now? Would be funny if they sued him
I haven’t used Magisk in some time, admittedly wasn’t aware of this. However I see that since he was hired, Magisk seems to no longer have a goal of bypassing SafetyNet or obfuscating itself. Any issue logged about bypassing it or failures using banking apps, etc simply get automatically closed on the GitHub issue registry. So while Magisk still aims to give root and manage access to it, it no longer touches anything related to hiding root access or obfuscating itself from detection since topjohnwu went to work for Google…
So yeah he’s not gonna get sued, he has been bought.
I could be wrong though, this is only 20 mins of research, so take it with a grain of salt.
As a developer of 4 FOSS android apps (both on f-droid and the play store): Does anyone know if there’s an existing campaign by other devs to oppose this, and boycott the play store until they cave? I’d be happy to participate.
Fuck you, Google.
Google can go fuck themselves. I’ve at least started looking at Ubuntu Touch and potentially going to virtualize it and see how it works. I hope the accessibility is alright though because I rely on magnification and a screen reader to use my device. So I’m going to cross my fingers.
If most app developers comply and I can’t get apps on lineage or graphene anymore, and Linux isn’t accessible on mobile, I will just have to abandon mobile entirely and go back to my Linux laptop.
After this initiative, it will be real easy for google to identify the ones who build those “track ICE” apps and others that the powers that be may not be happy with.
Yeah, this is most infuriating thing about this. Other countries could compel any apps they deem bad and ask for identification.
All I heard was is “COMPLY”. Yeah, no thanks. I will keep my shades on.
“Does this mean you no longer have freedom of speech?”
“Absolutely not. Our new “protest permit” requirements simply means only authorized protests are permitted, everyone else go to the Gulag”
I will not register any of my applications with this fascist garbage, I’d rather deprecate them and stop developing on android altogether.
This doesn’t fix anything
The problem is Google gate keeping the platform.
how does one start repressions and censorship? by saying “it’s for your own safety”
Because we love developers we want them free to not complying to big corp Google spyware. Please devs love the users back and don’t comply!
hopefully this will cause more hand support & financial support towards linux phone
You could do what I did and let them know via feedback that you’ll be leaving for Apple since its the same thing now.
I won’t actually be going to apple, but to a linuxphone, but saying Apple is probably going to have more impact so I went with that.
Edit: This is feedback to them linked in that page.
If you have a dev account, I recommend using it to give them feedback.
How is Apple and Google remotely the same
If we’re talking about loading apps - as in the subject of this post - pretty much exactly the same. Registered developer account, a walled garden ecosystem, etc.
Not at all
Android still has way more flexibility that iOS will ever have. App verification is very much a step in the wrong direction but it isn’t nearly as locked down as iOS.
Its more that from the position of optics stating you are going to leave for Apple is a bigger deal to Google than saying you are upset. Average person isn’t going to use adb or install a custom rom to get non play store apps working.
So just approaching it like a regular person who happens to use Android who isn’t super tech savvy saying might as well go to Apple if sideloading isn’t easy is more effective than ranting about sideloading from the position of an Android nerd. Those people are truly niche and less than 1% and would be dismissed with a laugh.
Please read the first comment in this chain again.
can i a(i)db on iphone to permanently install applications?
Is it relevant to complaining to google about their stupid decision they are trying to brush off as if it were nothing?
Because I assume you (and others) are missing the entire point of my comment.
There is a feedback form linked directly in the blog post. Use it. Let them know this would impact their income.
it would have to get much worse in order for an android enthusiast to move to a worse platform for developers.
they would rather go full linux than ios
Sounds familiar… oh, right, from my comment this entire chain is from.
I won’t actually be going to apple, but to a linuxphone, but saying Apple is probably going to have more impact so I went with that.
I’m responding to
If we’re talking about loading apps - as in the subject of this post - pretty much exactly the same. Registered developer account, a walled garden ecosystem, etc.
they’re not the same at all. even after this registration change fully rolls out it will still be much easier to sideload apks on android than ipa on ios.
you cannot distribute updates at all on ios without their review and there’s no ability to sideload with random apps. you can now and still can easily do this on android especially for registered businesses that do sideloading.
i work professionally releasing on both platforms and it’s so much easier releasing to production vs apple who suddenly rejected future updates until i changed the screenshots to fit their aesthetic.
they’re not “pretty much exactly the same” for developers nor consumers.
Let’s talk security:
- No smart phones
- profit
In today’s digital age its not doable. You need a smartphone if you work, get medical assistance, access social media, do online payments.
Now, if you mentioned using an alternative OS like Linux we can agree.
(Coming from the US)
- Your personal device isn’t a work provide piece of equipment. They will provide one for you. Keep it professional like a work computer, don’t do personal things on it.
- there’s plenty of ways to get help medically = cvs, Walgreens, anyone can call 911, you don’t need to go to a hospital; there’s plenty of clients, those medical apps also have 1-800 numbers
- you don’t NEED access to social media and also use a tablet or computer
- tablet of computer, you’re not paying bills daily and payment cards still work.
Sundar the creep now gonna be approving what apps you can install on your hardware
Never trust a rapist…
