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

Android developer verification: Early access starts

android-developers.googleblog.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

621–630 of 694 posts

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#621

Post by neuralRiot »

Gunax wrote: post #607
Workaccount2 wrote: post #545

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really its probably the dumbass judge that told Google "The apple app store isn't anti-competitive because they don't allow any competitors on their platform" when google asked why the play store was ruled a monopoly and the app store wasn't. I cannot think of a more detached and idiotic ruling than that.

Hmm, having read that, I am starting to sympathize with Google if they are going to be punished for being open. No one seems to care that Apple has never allowed freedom on their devices. Even the comments here don't seem to mention it. Google was at least open for a while. Or maybe no one mentions it just because the closed iPhone is a fait accompli at this point.

Perhaps because Apple never “promised” to be open, Google instead built itself by playing the good guy and started to switch when money called so those who chose them for that reason feel betrayed.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#622

Post by hooverd »

tjwebbnorfolk wrote: post #198
tomrod wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bought the hardware, therefore I have the right to modify and repair. Natural right, full stop. That right ends are your nose, as the saying goes.

Oh, so you're good with everyone having the "natural right" to turn handguns into automatic weapons simply because they find themselves in possession of the correct atoms? How about adding a 3rd story on the top of your house without needing a permit or structural evaluation? Note that adding "full stop" pointlessly to the end of sentences does not strengthen your argument.

Now that's just some stupid hyperbole.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#623

Post by hooverd »

wmf wrote: post #51
svat wrote: post #7

From the very first announcement of this, Google has hinted that they were doing this under pressure from the governments in a few countries. (I don't remember the URL of the first announcement, but https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-... is from 2025-August-25 and mentions “These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand”.) The “Why verification is important” s…

Or maybe Google just has empathy for people losing millions to scams?

Tell that to their advertising arm.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#624

Post by hooverd »

nirui wrote: post #499

Excuse me, what exactly is "sideloading"? If I wanted to run third-party code on a system through the means that's supported by the system, then it should be called "running", it's a part of normal operation. The word "sideload" made it sound like you're smuggle something you shouldn't onto the system. Subtle word tricks like this could sneak poisons into your mind, be watchful.

I'm using sideloaded Firefox right now!

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#626

Post by 1970-01-01 »

nirui wrote: post #499

Excuse me, what exactly is "sideloading"? If I wanted to run third-party code on a system through the means that's supported by the system, then it should be called "running", it's a part of normal operation. The word "sideload" made it sound like you're smuggle something you shouldn't onto the system. Subtle word tricks like this could sneak poisons into your mind, be watchful.

The old Indian word for setting up software was in-sta-lin-it. It was so common, anyone with basic tribal knowledge could gather next to their "Pee See" and execute the code.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#627

Post by rstuart4133 »

nandomrumber wrote: post #617
rstuart4133 wrote: post #616

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Who is F-Droid? Why should I trust them? For the same reason you trust many things. They have a long track record of doing the right thing. As gaining reputation for doing the wrong thing would more or less destroy them, it's a fair incentive to continue doing the right thing. It's a much better incentive that many random developers of small apps in Google's play store have. However, that's not the only reason to t…

> They also follow a set of processes, starting with a long list of criteria saying what app's they will accept How is this an argument in favour of being able to run whatever software you want on hardware you own?

You can run any software you like on Android, if it's open source. You just compile it yourself, and sign it with the limited distribution signature the blog post mentions. Hell, I've never done it, but re-signing any APK with your own signature sounds like it should be feasible. If it is, you can run any APK you want on your own hardware.

Get a grip. Yes it might be possible the world is out to get you. But it's also possible Google is trying to do exactly what they say on the tin - make the world a safer place for people who don't know shit from clay. In this particular case, if they are trying to restrict what an person with a modicum of skillz can do on their own phone it's a piss poor effort, so I'm inclined to think it's the latter. They aren't even removing the adb app upload hole.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#628

Post by xxpor »

tenuousemphasis wrote: post #555
ferguess_k wrote: post #547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess they are going to say whatever to prove the case. The legislation system is highly...closed and shun of laymen.

It's the JUDGE that came up with that reasoning.

Because that's the law, like it or not. Apple doesn't have a problem because the rules were the rules from day 1. Google did a bait and switch, legally.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#629

Post by neop1x »

nirui wrote: post #499

Excuse me, what exactly is "sideloading"? If I wanted to run third-party code on a system through the means that's supported by the system, then it should be called "running", it's a part of normal operation. The word "sideload" made it sound like you're smuggle something you shouldn't onto the system. Subtle word tricks like this could sneak poisons into your mind, be watchful.

I am not sideloading anything, I am installing apps from f-droid on my device.

Re: Android developer verification: Early access starts

#630

Post by sylos »

ferguess_k wrote: post #531
rom1v wrote: post #342

I want to be able to install apps from alternative app stores like F-Droid and receive automatic updates, without requiring Google's authorization for app publication. Manually installing an app via adb must, of course, be permitted. But that is not sufficient. > Keeping users safe on Android is our top priority. Google's mandatory verification is not about security, but about control (they want to forbid apps like R…

Yes, it's all about control. Control the platform. Control the access to the platform, and the world is your oyster. And the political and legislation system are their friends. It is the establishment. The only way to fight is to indoctrinate the next generation, at home, and in school, to use FOSS. People tend to stick to whatever they used in childhood. We the software engineers should volunteer in giving speeches…

So basically you're saying we're fucked. People don't care about FOSS in general, let alone when their phone says it's dangerous.
Post reply on HN