Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.

People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google’s Play store, without having to:

  • pay Google
  • give government ID to Google
  • agree to Google terms and conditions

People should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google’s Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.

e.g. via F-Droid.

We’ve got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.

https://keepandroidopen.org/

https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/@neil/116087210269757672

kbobabob
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-74d

It doesn’t mean that it will be severely restricted either.

What’s wrong with making devs verify? How does that hurt the end user if side loading still works?

@[email protected]
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94d

Because it exposes devs of projects that may not want to be exposed such as ICE trackers. Furthermore it gives Google veto power over whst you can sideload

kbobabob
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13d

it gives Google veto power over whst you can sideload

Source?

@[email protected]
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13d

The source is Google themselves doing exactly this.

@[email protected]
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6
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3d

These questions are always asked in the opposite direction. What’s right with making devs verify? What does it gain and end user?

kbobabob
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-13d

You think AI app slop is good? Cause that’s all you’ll have if literally anyone can just put an app into whatever store they want.

@[email protected]
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13d

So let the app stores sort that out. If Google wants signing on play store then fine. Don’t force it on people who don’t want it.

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3d

This isn’t about the play store: it’s about installing anything at all. I couldn’t care less if AI slop is on the play store though to answer your question

@[email protected]
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24d

Nobody saying it definitely will be either, but that there’s a possibility and that’s what the concern is.

Mark with a Z
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33d

If someone makes an app and I want to install it, that’s between me and the developer.

What’s wrong with making devs verify?

It’s just okay to you if an unwanted third wheel wants the power to choose which developers apps I can install? They also conveniently collect a fee for it.

kbobabob
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13d

It’s a curated app store. App devs are still free to just not put it on that store and host it themselves. You can definitely keep it between you and the dev.

Mark with a Z
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53d

But this has nothing to do with a curated app store? Nobody is complaining about play store verification. Google is planning to block “unverified” developers’ apps from being installed at all, from any source.

@[email protected]
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43d

This is not about Google Play it’s an OS level thing.

kbobabob
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13d

Oh, I misunderstood.

I do wonder how long until someone figures out a way around it though.

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