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.

    • FlaxEnglish
      36·
      2 months ago

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

        • Zak@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          2 months ago

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

          • stardust@lemmy.caEnglish
            1·
            2 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.

            • ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
              2·
              2 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@lemmy.worldEnglish
        53·
        2 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@lemmy.worldEnglish
          8·
          2 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.

        • FlaxEnglish
          31·
          2 months ago

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

          • lud@lemm.eeEnglish
            2·
            2 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@lemmy.worldEnglish
              3·
              2 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

  • NutinButNet@hilariouschaos.comEnglish
    25·
    2 months ago

    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.

    • lud@lemm.eeEnglish
      4·
      2 months ago

      The app checks if the current user is licenced so you would have to crack the DRM to bypass it. It’s not like the DRM is simply a filehash and all you have to do to avoid it is to change a byte or two.

  • essteeyou@lemmy.worldEnglish
    16·
    2 months ago

    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·
    2 months ago

    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·
    2 months ago

    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.