Google confirms 'high-friction' sideloading flow is coming to Android

Post by Der_Einzige » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 7:05 AM UTC

Terretta wrote: post #4

71bw wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> like what we do on OSX. ...which is so much of a complicated nuisance that most people simply give up. If this will go the way I think it will prepare to have to skip 10 things, write 3 ADB commands and submit a video of you spinning around for 30 seconds just to install your pirated game.

> so much of a complicated nuisance that most people simply give up Most people should give up. The number of legitimate unsigned apps for MacOS that your grandparents should frictionlessly one-click-to-install is essentially nil. Meanwhile, they're receiving countless bullying demands a day to install keyloggers and drain their bank accounts. The threat model tradeoffs are clear.

Post by 3abiton » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 7:22 AM UTC

AlotOfReading wrote: post #12

Google's long term strategy with Android is baffling to me. Apple has had better mobile hardware for years. Apple has higher consumer trust. Apple has better app selection (for most people). Apple has been increasingly implementing the core features that differentiate Android devices, like USB-C and RCS. Every Android user lost to the increasing iOS market share is another customer Google has to pay exorbitant fees t…

Post by vee-kay » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 7:33 AM UTC

bigyabai wrote: post #7

Terretta wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> so much of a complicated nuisance that most people simply give up Most people should give up. The number of legitimate unsigned apps for MacOS that your grandparents should frictionlessly one-click-to-install is essentially nil. Meanwhile, they're receiving countless bullying demands a day to install keyloggers and drain their bank accounts. The threat model tradeoffs are clear.

The threat model doesn't work. It depends on Apple doing their job, and even $99/year doesn't prevent Apple from signing a Trojan horse of your competitor: https://blog.lastpass.com/posts/warning-fraudulent-app-imper... You want to talk about confusing Grandma? Why isn't Lastpass the first entry on the App Store when you search for it verbatim ? At the going rate, installing signed software is more deceptive than sea…

Post by thaumasiotes » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 7:39 AM UTC

3abiton wrote: post #13

AlotOfReading wrote: post #12

Google's long term strategy with Android is baffling to me. Apple has had better mobile hardware for years. Apple has higher consumer trust. Apple has better app selection (for most people). Apple has been increasingly implementing the core features that differentiate Android devices, like USB-C and RCS. Every Android user lost to the increasing iOS market share is another customer Google has to pay exorbitant fees t…

Their strategy is growing markets, especially in india, and africa, and of course China. It's where the chinese oem dominate. Beside chinese OEM, i think the only other player is Samsung. So google strategy seems to be to circumvent people from misusing their OS by blocking certain services (mainly ads). This is done via apps from fdroid, and rooting and what not. If google can control how people uses their devices (…

Post by ycombinatrix » Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 7:46 AM UTC

vee-kay wrote: post #16

silisili wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a feeling, despite Google's communications, this is all an attempt to thwart the numerous ad-free YouTube apps. Another reason it should have been broken apart years ago. It's laughable that the biggest ad company in the world owns the largest video site in the world, largest browser in the world, largest search engine in the world, and largest mobile OS in the world.

NewPipe (FOSS available on F-Droid) is nice alternative to ads-infested YouTube. I disabled YouTube and YouTube Music apps on my mobile, and I use NewPipe instead. You can even download YT videos or audio from YT videos using it.