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
    link
    fedilink
    English
    362 months ago

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

      • @Zak
        link
        English
        112 months ago

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

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          12 months ago

          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.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            22 months ago

            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
      link
      English
      22 months ago

      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
        link
        English
        82 months ago

        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
        link
        fedilink
        English
        22 months ago

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

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          22 months ago

          But is there anything stopping them from implementing that?

          Afaik this is just a Google play API and the app checks using the API if the current user is licenced or not. Why couldn’t just any other store just do the same thing?

          • @FlowVoid
            link
            English
            32 months ago

            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