A few years from now: After reviewing the usage of the approved sideloading feature, we discovered no more than 0.01% of users ever sideload an application. For security, sideloading is now disabled on all devices forever.
Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
331–340 of 1001 posts
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#332I've grown increasingly hateful towards both my Android and iOS devices over the last decade. The platforms themselves are increasingly user-hostile, and their appstores are crammed full of shitty, privacy-invading, telemetry-hoovering, dopamine-triggering, ad-filled, lipstick-covered apps that are often garbage compared to the pioneering days of mobile. I miss the days of my old Palm Pilot. Is anyone working on fixi…
I too miss Palm. I had a Pilot, then a Treo, and finally a Pixie. When HP bought Palm, I switched to iPhone. It was a sad day.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#333This was probably the reason Nokia died. Symbian development, already cumbersome and app deployment required some such procedure. I remember there was an joint effort in a china based forum and many of us got a cert and a key for our phones. I was reading Nokia obituaries from its executives and the sorry state of Symbian development and app deployment was not considered as a cause. So here it, is young executives re…
No so young, but just as short-term and thoughtless.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#334I predict Windows will end up going this route before Google backtracks on it. This is the future; partially fuelled by malware, partially fuelled by the desire for platform control, and partially fuelled by government regulation.
government unregulation
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#335Official announcement: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-... 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…
It's never about security (at least not user's security). It's like you pointed out only about power and locking in customers. They don't care if your phone gets hacked or you bank account drained. They care about the bottom line. Android is fine. Google should have 2 layers if they're worried playstore 1 has only well vetted authors and apps. playstore 2 can be the free for all (mostly) of the current store. These could be two different apps or prominent tags. Choice is good, lock down is bad. Corporate does not like employees or customers to have freedom, that's why it's our duty to fire people like the current US regime who always side with corporations over customers.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#336I never really got into "phone" progrmaming, always waiting for the shenanigans to die down. But somehow the shanigans have gotten worse and for a significant chunk of the world population, the phone is the only computation device they have at all.
You now need to have an online account to setup and login on a Windows desktop. It's obvious what the trend is and it's not allowing consumers control over their stuff.
Not related to the OP, but no you don't.
Just look up how to skip the "OOTB (out of the box) experience" and you can still bypass having to set up a cloud account on Windows 11 and can just set up a local account like normal. :)
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#337So people from countries US has sanctioned can't even develop and use mobile apps anymore. This will change millions of innocent lives. So unfair and racist. The reason my people are in this mess in the first place is a US coup.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#338> Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store This is absolutely unacceptable. That's like you having to submit your personal details to Microsoft in order to just run a program on Windows. Absolutely nuts and it will not go as they think it will.
Isn't it basically the same requirement as Apple enforces for iOS? If you want to build an iOS app which other users can install, you must register (and pay).
It's a step of questionable utility, and I suspect it comes from requirements of (not exactly freedom-loving) governments of Brazil, Malaysia, and Singapore, where the demand for registration will be enforced first. Maybe it will even remain geographically limited.
The article is very light on details. Crucially, it lacks any links to actual Google documents.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#339I knew this was coming thanks to the nincompoops bankers and IMDA together with horny uncles who fall for love/job scams here in Singapore. The reason I use android over iOS is that I can load apps for personal automation. I think the current scenario where bank apps refuse to run on phones with sideloaded apps is far more acceptable. Im not sure scammers will not find a way around this. I can still be able pin web apps.
FWIW I'd rather not use my phone for critical transactions its making authorities lazy. The number of times Ive had to fight thanks to "buggy" payment code that deducts money is not funny and banks are getting worse at customer support day by day.
Also what the fuck are the governments doing with tax payer money, instead of going after criminals, we go after citizens.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#340Squeeze, Raban. Squeeze hard.