Through an updated Google API, Android app developers can now effectively block sideloading and force downloads from the Play Store.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19650358

Through an updated Google API, Android app developers can now effectively block sideloading and force downloads from the Play Store.

    • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
      36·
      1 年前

      Sounds more like DRM, since it’s for developers to choose whether or not to disable side loading their apps

        • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          1 年前

          Apps on F-Droid are not using proprietary Google APIs and won’t be affected.

          • stardust@lemmy.caEnglish
            1·
            1 年前

            Okay good. That was my main concern since I opt to download the same app from F-droid over Google play if it is an option.

            • ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
              2·
              1 年前

              It’s a problem if you need a fucking banking app for example, and the bank won’t let you sideload it and you’re running a deGoogled OS. Then you suddenly need a backup phone with the full surveillance Android just to do banking.

      • TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.worldEnglish
        53·
        1 年前

        But the picture I saw said “get this app from play” not, “get this app from a trusted store”. That to me does not read DRM.

        • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          1 年前

          Because the developers want to check whether you got the app from the Play Store.

          If the developers don’t care where you get the app from, then they won’t check.

        • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
          31·
          1 年前

          So you’re saying it should allow for developers to allow exclusive installation from third party stores as well? Like amazon? Fair.

            • FlowVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              1 年前

              They can. IIRC, Amazon apps would check to make sure the Amazon App Store was still installed. And I’m pretty sure Netflix games stop working when you unsubscribe from Netflix

  • NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.comEnglish
    25·
    1 年前

    I guess the next step in piracy is to change the apk enough that it doesn’t get recognized correctly, if that’s possible? Though then everyone will have to worry about malware-ridden apps.

    I think this is horrible, aside from piracy, because you may want or need to stay on an older version of an app. I have had to for devices at work that require a specific version or just an easy way to manage the device and ensure devices only got updates we approved through our MDM.

  • essteeyou@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    1 年前

    Google made this available so they can encourage developers to use it and say “we’re not a monopoly, the developers are adding the check” and see how long they can get away with it.

  • ohellidk@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    14·
    1 年前

    I wonder if the latest “play integrity fix” module could solve that problem. Its already allowing me to use bank apps on my rooted phone, so I assume it would let me sideload too if the integrity was “fixed”. Google is making more problems with paid solutions.

  • spiderman@ani.socialEnglish
    10·
    1 年前

    This is going to be a pain in the ass for sometime. Almost all the apps that has sell something through google play will use that API now.