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Keep Android Open (keepandroidopen.org)
submitted 8 months ago by to c/android@lemmy.world
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People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:

  • pay Google
  • give government ID to Google
  • agree to Google terms and conditions

People should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.

e.g. via F-Droid.

We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.

https://keepandroidopen.org/

https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/@neil/116087210269757672

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[+] -11 points 8 months ago (15 children)

From the FAQ page

Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it's not going anywhere.

What's the concern here?

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  • [–] 15 points 8 months ago (14 children)

    The problem is that "not going anywhere" doesn't mean it won't get severely restricted, and that they're still gonna force devs to verify before being able to distribute an app.

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  • [+] -8 points 8 months ago (13 children)

    It doesn't mean that it will be severely restricted either.

    What's wrong with making devs verify? How does that hurt the end user if side loading still works?

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  • [–] 10 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Because it exposes devs of projects that may not want to be exposed such as ICE trackers. Furthermore it gives Google veto power over whst you can sideload

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  • [–] 6 points 8 months ago (3 children)

    These questions are always asked in the opposite direction. What's right with making devs verify? What does it gain an end user?

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  • [–] -2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    You think AI app slop is good? Cause that's all you'll have if literally anyone can just put an app into whatever store they want.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

    This isn't about the play store: it's about installing anything at all. I couldn't care less if AI slop is on the play store though to answer your question

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago (4 children)

    If someone makes an app and I want to install it, that's between me and the developer.

    What's wrong with making devs verify?

    It's just okay to you if an unwanted third wheel wants the power to choose which developers apps I can install? They also conveniently collect a fee for it.

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago (3 children)

    It's a curated app store. App devs are still free to just not put it on that store and host it themselves. You can definitely keep it between you and the dev.

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  • [–] 5 points 8 months ago

    But this has nothing to do with a curated app store? Nobody is complaining about play store verification. Google is planning to block "unverified" developers' apps from being installed at all, from any source.

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