Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

9to5google.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

421–430 of 1001 posts

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#421

Post by staplers »

nabogh wrote: post #395
throw10920 wrote: post #393

This is really bad. I think that most people on HN will agree with that. The problem is that most normal people (HN is not normal - mostly for the better) don't even understand what sideloading is - let alone actually care . How can we fix this? (aside from making people care - apathy enables so many political problems in the current age, but it's such a huge problem that this definitely isn't going to be the impetus…

We need another os in the market. A duopoly just isn't competitive enough. Too bad the cost of entry is so high.

  A duopoly just isn't competitive enough. Too bad the cost of entry is so high.
I've heard this one before.. given the apt political analogy , I wouldn't hold out hope.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#422

Post by atomicfiredoll »

eadmund wrote: post #357

This is completely, absolutely and totally unacceptable. My phone is my phone, not Google’s. They have absolutely no right to prevent me from running whatever software I wish on that phone. This must not be allowed to stand.

Looking at what's been going on in the E.U. vs. the U.S., it seems pretty clear that one of the only things companies this big, with this much control over the markets fear is regulation.

Maybe people live in a country where adding new regulations is difficult at the moment. In that case, push at for it at the state or province level. Push for it wherever you can. Suddenly these companies have to figure out how to work around 50 different state level laws? Painful. Good. Make it hurt to be evil.

People need to come together and push for regulatory roadblocks to things like this at every level. I think that's part of how you keep control of your own property and stand up against it.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#423

Post by BrenBarn »

nine_k wrote: post #338
gethly wrote: post #96

> 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 limi…

> Isn't it basically the same requirement as Apple enforces for iOS?

Yes, which is why it's bad.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#424

Post by ricudis »

Before quickly running to dismiss this move, please at least do your research with regards to the situation in the countries mentioned in the article, especially Singapore and Thailand.

Side-loaded malware has been an epidemic in SE Asia, and there are MILLIONS of dollars stolen (mostly from pensioners!) via side-loaded malware disguised as gambling apps - the local population is particularly suspectible to gambling, especially the older generations that are not so tech-savvy.

It's good they decided to do something about it.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#425

Post by MathMonkeyMan »

"Google to prevent users from installing programs on Android phones."

This might do more good than harm, since I'm willing to believe that scams involving APKs are prevalent, but come on. I need your permission to install software on my phone? Are you sure it isn't just that you want more control over everyone's phones?

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#426

Post by derbOac »

So where do we complain? (Aside from shaming Google on social media or writing to politicians.)

If I look through Google's contact links, it's all oriented around getting help with a problem rather than letting them know I'm going to move to something else if they go through with this. (And yes, even if Apple has the same types of restrictions on app store, if a more open alternative OS didn't work out for me, I'd move to them to punish the one dropping freedom of use.)

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#427

Post by eru »

medhir wrote: post #407

Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access

Root access on your phone isn't enough: there's layers below root.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#429

Post by staplers »

hedora wrote: post #382
gethly wrote: post #96

> 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.

Their comparison to airport security is apt. The US considers airports “constitution free zones”, and apparently they think the same of phones now too. Cutting through the excuses, this is just another step in converting the US from a democracy to a fascist dictatorship. Want to write software? Papers please.

  The US considers airports “constitution free zones”
And the rest of the country as well now. The highest authority is threatening municipalities with military takeover.

Corporations are reading the room and pulling out any hostile tactic they've kept in their back pocket waiting for an occasion like this.

This is only the beginning with digital IDs. It's absolutely going to get worse and all of human history is available as evidence to what occurs with unchecked power.

Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android

#430

Post by DanOpcode »

edg5000 wrote: post #372

It's starting to look like I may end up with two phones. One with Lineage and most of my apps, hopefully, and another one with Play Protect which hopefully will be just my bank app. Google has become way too powerful and is encroaching step by step on our freedom, it's terrible. Tt's been going on for a long time. It's the IT equivalant of authoritarianism!!

Yeah, I think I will do that strategy as well. I will probably put Graphene on my next phone, and if any apps don't work I will keep them on another phone.
Post reply on HN