In August, Google announced that it will require developer verification to install Android apps, including through sideloading. That’s continuing, but Google is working on a solution for “experienced users.”
Technically not. But only technically. The only reason to allow side loading at all is to allow “experienced users” to put unverified apps on their devices. Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense to even make such a concession.
It looks like they’re going to have two different solutions: one for power users and one for hobbyists and students.
My main problem with this is twofold. They explain exactly nothing about how they achieve “experienced user sideloading”, they don’t explain what an “experienced user” is, and they don’t explain in any detail whether or not they’re going to allow sideloaded apps to be unverified.
The other part of the problem is that I don’t trust Google. There’s way too many instances of them backing down publicly from a decision they made and then implementing it in a different way over time.
The truth is this announcement doesn’t give us any details so all we can make are assumptions.
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So they’re backing out, but in a way that would still conveniently kill f-droid?
Technically not. But only technically. The only reason to allow side loading at all is to allow “experienced users” to put unverified apps on their devices. Otherwise it doesn’t make much sense to even make such a concession.
It looks like they’re going to have two different solutions: one for power users and one for hobbyists and students.
My main problem with this is twofold. They explain exactly nothing about how they achieve “experienced user sideloading”, they don’t explain what an “experienced user” is, and they don’t explain in any detail whether or not they’re going to allow sideloaded apps to be unverified.
The other part of the problem is that I don’t trust Google. There’s way too many instances of them backing down publicly from a decision they made and then implementing it in a different way over time.
The truth is this announcement doesn’t give us any details so all we can make are assumptions.
Their definition of experienced user is being able to follow an online guide to tap 5 times in a menu to enable developer mode. It is all a big joke.