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'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

theverge.com

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Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#11

Post by chapz »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #4
ColdStream wrote: post #2

It is funny how we have two storm fronts here. Google trying to lock down apps to only Google approved developers, and legal decisions to open up alternative app stores that would potentially use apps that are not Google approved. One wonders which side will win this one? All I know is, I still want my F-Droid with apps that Google doesn't have power over.

HN in general has completely misunderstood app verification. App verification is what allows rival app stores to be installed without a warning, even if they aren't installed from a system app store. It is a direct result of this ruling. It's still possible to install any app with a warning. A future Google Android build will require developer mode to be enabled to install those apps. That is the problem to address,…

App verification means, Google can deny apps entry into Android for whatever reason Google comes up with. There are no clear and objective rules nor are there any real options to object.

And that is the problem. Google can just deny anything that does stuff in a creative new way or that poses a competitive risk.

And, if Google decides you are not comming in, there is no warning you can click to go around that.

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#12

Post by graemep »

alightsoul wrote: post #10

I am not sure I am against app verification. I almost installed an APK that was a banking infostealer. Is there really no other way? Microsoft fixed this with a built in virus scanner on Windows

That is exactly the problem a choice of app stores solves. Instead of downloading APKs you se stores you trust, and some store apps support multiple repos. Its a Linux like solution.

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#13

Post by martheen »

alightsoul wrote: post #10

I am not sure I am against app verification. I almost installed an APK that was a banking infostealer. Is there really no other way? Microsoft fixed this with a built in virus scanner on Windows

Android, at least those with Play Service, already have built-in scanning for APKs right now. The main problem is currently only Google can "trust" the dev signature for apps they release, so if an app or dev is in Google's naughty list, either for outright malware or for an adblocker, they're out.

At least there will be a setting for users to allow any app from any dev, which those who know about it will enable right away, and those who don't know about it have no business to use it anyway.

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#14

Post by [deleted] »

ColdStream wrote: post #2

It is funny how we have two storm fronts here. Google trying to lock down apps to only Google approved developers, and legal decisions to open up alternative app stores that would potentially use apps that are not Google approved. One wonders which side will win this one? All I know is, I still want my F-Droid with apps that Google doesn't have power over.

[deleted]

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#17

Post by kotaKat »

Anyone else noticed that every single other company that had a bone to pick against Apple or Google (companies like Match and Spotify) haven't been saying shit lately about any of this?

It's always still just Epic Games being whiny and pissy?

Kinda weird. I guess once Spotify got 300+ million paid subscribers they lost the plot themselves on what they were fighting for (and haven't given us things like promised AirPlay 2 support still). I guess the Match Group found other ways to pry and extort money out of sad lonely people.

But Timmy? Oh, Timmy needs his 63% developer take of in-game purchases inside Fortnite. The kids need their skins!

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#18

Post by skeledrew »

lern_too_spel wrote: post #4
ColdStream wrote: post #2

It is funny how we have two storm fronts here. Google trying to lock down apps to only Google approved developers, and legal decisions to open up alternative app stores that would potentially use apps that are not Google approved. One wonders which side will win this one? All I know is, I still want my F-Droid with apps that Google doesn't have power over.

HN in general has completely misunderstood app verification. App verification is what allows rival app stores to be installed without a warning, even if they aren't installed from a system app store. It is a direct result of this ruling. It's still possible to install any app with a warning. A future Google Android build will require developer mode to be enabled to install those apps. That is the problem to address,…

> App verification is what allows rival app stores to be installed without a warning, even if they aren't installed from a system app store

Wrong. That's what the company wants. App verification isn't needed for anything, and a "rival app store" is just another app store and should be treated as such.

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#19

Post by inigyou »

ColdStream wrote: post #2

It is funny how we have two storm fronts here. Google trying to lock down apps to only Google approved developers, and legal decisions to open up alternative app stores that would potentially use apps that are not Google approved. One wonders which side will win this one? All I know is, I still want my F-Droid with apps that Google doesn't have power over.

Both. If they copy Apple, which they will, you'll be able to install any app store but the app store will only be able to install Google-approved apps.

Re: 'Not acceptable': Judge orders Google to make rival app store installs easier

#20

Post by inigyou »

kotaKat wrote: post #17

Anyone else noticed that every single other company that had a bone to pick against Apple or Google (companies like Match and Spotify) haven't been saying shit lately about any of this? It's always still just Epic Games being whiny and pissy? Kinda weird. I guess once Spotify got 300+ million paid subscribers they lost the plot themselves on what they were fighting for (and haven't given us things like promised AirPl…

They're probably afraid to get banned by Google (which is guaranteed to happen and they did ban Epic), lose all their revenue and go out of business before the lawsuit finishes (Epic's is still going after years and years)
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