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

721–730 of 1001 posts

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

#721

Post by nexawave-ai »

I don’t have data to support this, but I believe the smartphone is the most widely used device globally on a daily basis. Wouldn’t it make sense to have an Open Hardware Phone and Mobile OS built on an open specification to rival Google’s Android?

What’s stopping us from making this a reality? We have passionate FOSS developers and visionary leaders capable of championing this cause and building a strong community around it.

I had high hopes for Marc Shuttleworth’s Ubuntu Phone. Unfortunately, after the Kickstarter campaign fell through, development stalled. I still believe consumers missed out on a remarkable piece of technology.

That said, I see Ubuntu Touch[1] is still active, though I’m unclear on its current impact or progress. Meanwhile, Smart TVs and smartphones continue to be dominated by Google’s Android OS.

1. https://www.ubuntu-touch.io/

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

#722

Post by afroboy »

For example Telegram they have two app versions one in playstore where google can dictate what channels are allowed and one on their website where google can't force them to take down channels, so now Google will need to approve Telegram second app to be installed on Android?

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

#724

Post by phendrenad2 »

Here's my prediction: Sideloading will become slightly more popular. Google will not disable sideloading or make it significantly more difficult. Alternative APK stores will flourish. Banks and streaming sites will try to block people from connecting from devices with sideloading enabled, but they are slow and people will find workarounds faster. ISPs will not block devices with sideloading enabled. Governments will not ban sideloading.

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

#725

Post by Ciantic »

nexawave-ai wrote: post #721

I don’t have data to support this, but I believe the smartphone is the most widely used device globally on a daily basis. Wouldn’t it make sense to have an Open Hardware Phone and Mobile OS built on an open specification to rival Google’s Android? What’s stopping us from making this a reality? We have passionate FOSS developers and visionary leaders capable of championing this cause and building a strong community ar…

There is also https://sailfishos.org/ and they've got hardware too.

FOSS/Linux has had many attempts at phones, but they need one good leader to do it, which is very hard unless someone with name recognition gets everyone to work on one project.

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

#726

Post by afroboy »

ThePowerOfFuet wrote: post #687
zmmmmm wrote: post #183

The worst part is the Orwellian opening sentence they start with in their blog post [0]: > You shouldn’t have to choose between open and secure 2+2=5 Truly the end of an era. I've spent nearly two decades buying Android phones because of a single checkbox in settings that let me have the freedom I consider essential to any computing device that I own. In a way, it's liberating, I've missed out on a lot from the Apple…

GrapheneOS will put it back into your hands.

GrapheneOS are living on the mercy of Google by the way.

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

#727

Post by larodi »

Now and then I remember this Hyperion book by Dan Simmons where everyone had a cross-like gadget glued to their chests, controlled by a TechnoCore - a civilization of AIs, which enabled people to cast themselves through space portals. As the story unfolds, this cross-like (very nice choice) gadget is revealed to essentially enslaving them.

The story unfolds in 28th century, but it all seems have started in the 21st one.

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

#730

Post by renegat0x0 »

Few my ideas about how things will be going

- platforms are going to be forced to collect more data about you

- The amount of places without you showing IDs will decrease

- There will be more "moderation". You will not be able to provide nsfw contents, then you will not be able to host controversial topics. I suspect games will be more "kid friendly". No more real doom, gta, or Mortal Kombat for you. I remember how they provided more clothes on women for mortal Kombat

- The rules will always be vague, and used sporadically. Just like YouTube rules, where companies often abuse DMCA just to shut you off, or ban you, if you are not playing nice. Like Schlep.

- Corporations will create pressures on validated users, or ban you for life, but often they will just use "fear" to police people by themselves. Just like people will use "unalive" words, because they know they can get into trouble for saying a different word

- Google will be able to police extensions by banning people

- It is all a boiling frog scenario, where it creeps one law after another until everything is moderated, controlled by corporations

- The safety increases, but freedom decreases

- Free software people will often be mixed in article texts with terrorists, bad actors, predators, pedophiles

- It can happen because people do not understand these mechanisms, and they want "safer" world, in which nobody can get hurt, but it is also a place without you being free

Post reply on HN