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What would happen to projects like F-Droid, Termux, etc.?
Why even run Android at that point anymore? iOS devices get security updates for longer and have much less data collection than stock Android. GrapheneOS won't survive the next generation of devices because bootloader unlocking will also go away ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44765939 ), and without kernel security updates that OS can't continue. Now there's also no more sideloading, so what purpose does Andr…
The comment in the thread you linked directly contradicts the claim that "bootloader unlocking will also go away".
Why even run Android at that point anymore? iOS devices get security updates for longer and have much less data collection than stock Android. GrapheneOS won't survive the next generation of devices because bootloader unlocking will also go away ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44765939 ), and without kernel security updates that OS can't continue. Now there's also no more sideloading, so what purpose does Andr…
More info:
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answ...
Personally...we all know the Play Store is chock full of malicious garbage, so the verification requirements there don't do jack to protect users. The way I see it, this is nothing but a power grab, a way for Google to kill apps like Revanced for good. They'll just find some bullshit reason to suspend your developer account if you do something they don't like.
Every time I hear mentions of "safety" from the folks at Google, I'm reminded that there's a hidden Internet permission on Android that can neuter 95% of malicious apps. But it's hidden, apparently because keeping users from using it to block ads on apps is of greater concern to Google than keeping people safe.
> we will be confirming who the developer is, not reviewing the content of their app or where it came from
This is such an odd statement. I mean, surely they have to be willing to review the contents of apps at some point (if only to suspend the accounts of developers who are actually producing malware), or else this whole affair does nothing but introduce friction.
TFA had me believing that bypassing the restriction might've been possible by disabling Play Protect, but that doesn't seem to be the case since there aren't any mentions of it in the official info we've been given.
On the flip side, that's one less platform I care about supporting with my projects. We're down to just Linux and Windows if you're not willing to sell your soul (no, I will not be making a Google account) just for the right to develop for a certain platform.
Why even run Android at that point anymore? iOS devices get security updates for longer and have much less data collection than stock Android. GrapheneOS won't survive the next generation of devices because bootloader unlocking will also go away ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44765939 ), and without kernel security updates that OS can't continue. Now there's also no more sideloading, so what purpose does Andr…
iOS does a tremendous amount of data collection including for the usage of ads as per Apple's privacy policy. All the same types of data that stock Android collects, even.
You may believe Apple is a generally better steward of that data than Google, but using iOS does not reduce the amount of data being hoovered up in any meaningful capacity.
> Now there's also no more sideloading, so what purpose does Android even serve anymore?
I hate this change, but I still prefer Android. iOS is hardly perfect nor does it do everything better...
Ah, then I guess everything is fine. I'm sure they aren't in favour because it gives governments greater control over what apps we're allowed to have on our phones. That would be absurd.
If this actually goes through, there will be no option in the mobile OS market for an OS that both:
a) allows the installation of apps without any contractual relationship with any party, and
b) allows the use of mainstream and secure apps like banking
I am gonna start carrying around a laptop with a 5G modem instead.