2w ago

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store

techcrunch.com

Google will require developer verification for Android apps outside the Play Store | TechCrunch

Google will ask all Android developers to verify their identity starting next year.

24 comments

Sounds to me like this is a workaround so that Google can maintain control over who gets to release apps now that they can't do it by locking the apps behind Google Play. I wouldn't be surprised if being verified also includes some kind of fee.
- I doubt its about a few dollars from developers. They'll say it's about contacting devepers. But I think it's really about control over who can publish apps, force them to agree to weird T&Cs and allow Google to exclude people.
  
  ravanced, magisk, newpipe etc
  
  This. And obviously to ban all the things like adblockers, NewPipe, custom browsers, etc that give people any kind of relief from Google's digital slavery.
  
  so basically APPle.
This is actually horrible
I will be purchasing a phone that runs free open source Linux. This whole Android thing sucks ass.
Time to switch to /e/OS
- WDYM?
The fascist US obviously won't do shit, but Europe ought to outlaw this blatant anti-trust violation.
Will just F-Droid have to do this or any app developer? If it's the latter, I guess might as well go with an unofficial OS...
- If the phone ships with Play Store, Play Services, and other Google Mobile Services (GMS) apps the requirement will be enforced, it doesn't matter which source you use to get your apps. They claim to provide an exception for "student projects", but per their post, it's yet to be created.
  
  Welp I guess Android and iOS are becoming more alike. Just not in the direction I'd have liked.
If this goes through, I'll move from my S23 Ultra to a flipphone the moment it gets outdated, and also build some portable computing device from a Raspberry Pi CM.
Let Google know what you think about this: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfN3UQeNspQsZCO2ITkdzMxv81rJDEGGjO-UIDDY28Rz_GEVA/viewform

24 comments