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

9to5google.com

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

#501

Post by PeterStuer »

al_borland wrote: post #281
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.

> will not go as they think it will. How will it go? Where are people going to go? People who draw a hard line on this can’t go to iOS for more freedom. Linux phones aren’t ready for prime time. So what’s left? Going back to a flip phone that doesn’t even have the capability of running apps in the same class?

China has a whole slew of more advaced phones than we have here. They just can't export them to us because 'IP' and other 'security' restrictions.

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

#502

Post by artisin »

rvnx wrote: post #406

If this is a thing then the solution they offer is incorrect. A big giant red screen: “warning the identity of this application developer has not been verified and this could be an application stealing your data, etc” would have worked. What they want is to get rid of apps like YouTube Vanced that are making them lose money (and other Play Store apps)

It's such a simple and effective solution that could be implemented overnight and 'help to cut down on bad actors who hide their identity to distribute malware, commit financial fraud, or steal users personal data' tomorrow. Mission accomplished, internet saved, and everyone's happy just like a fairy tale out of the early 2000s.

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

#503

Post by tgma »

The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software.

On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallman portrayed but they still hardly recognize this was EXACTLY his concern when he started the Free Software movement.

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

#504

Post by palmfacehn »

The attempts to roll out digital ID are similar to the perennial efforts to backdoor encryption. When one push fails, the proponents regroup and formulate a new approach. The recent successes with "age verification" have encouraged digital ID proponents. Expect further encroachments, scaremongering and trial balloons.

Natural incentives exist for tech majors to capture this space.

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

#505

Post by RainyDayTmrw »

There's an Android app called GPSLogger.[1] It does exactly what it says on the tin. Runners use it to track their own progress. Photographers use it to geotag their own photos.

The thing is, GPS access as a permission is a bit scary. You could imagine some dubious uses for it. Moreover, you could imagine some such dubious uses creating a public relations nightmare for Google. So, Google just forces them out of the Play Store. (Technically, it's a routine renewal, but the GPS permission causes them extra scrutiny, to the point where the author burned out and gave up.[2])

Do we expect that this author should, or for that matter will, give their identity to Google after this? Or is GPSLogger just dead after this change lands?

[1]: https://gpslogger.app/ [2]: https://github.com/mendhak/gpslogger/issues/849

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

#507

Post by joelthelion »

I think this might backfire in that it might be enough to prompt technical people to seriously start looking for alternatives.

I personally will be extremely unhappy if I no longer can run dns66, newspipe or Firefox with ad blocking on my phone.

I think I might also start spending less time on my phone, which would be a good thing for me and a terrible thing for Google (in aggregate of course).

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

#508

Post by baq »

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.

It’s like uber, doordash or carvana, you can’t fund a huge project like this without free money. ZIRP is the moat.

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

#509

Post by BrenBarn »

tgma wrote: post #503

The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software. On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallma…

It's possible to believe both that Stallman is over the top and that stuff like this Google action is bad, and even to be right on both. It's even easier to believe that Stallman has had some good ideas but is still a deeply flawed human being, and has also incidentally not been the most effective advocate for his own ideals.
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