Google's easing on Sideloading Restrictions?!

nandohyphen1

Looks like Google must be toning down their restrictions for sideloading apps.

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-power-users-install-unverified-apps-3615310/

lars

While I think this is good news in general, I've always assumed that alternative Android installations wouldn't be affected by changes to Google's policies.

Or am I wrong about that? Frankly, it doesn't bother me to install apps using adb, but it's convenient not to have to.

Lars.

Lucario1829

lars it doesnt affect graphene directly, no, but its still good news. its also a concern that developers who dont want to verify themselves will be less motivated to develop for android if their apps cant be used by 90% of people, so it could affect graphene indirectly

lars

Lucario1829

Fair point. But I wonder what motivates developers to make their apps available FOC outside the app stores in the first place? I really have no experience apart from my own to go on, but my gut feeling is that many of these apps are developed for personal use, and then made available out of generosity.

I maintain a couple of apps that I originally wrote for my own use, there being nothing available elsewhere at the time. One is on F-Droid but, frankly, I found it such a PITA to get the source into the form that F-Droid system liked, that I didn't put up any more. Very few people use my apps, but I didn't write them for other people, but for me.

My point is that I'm not sure how big a motivator a potential wide audience is for developers of free open-source apps.

But I don't deny that you make a good point.

Lars.

Eirikr70

Just as @Lucario1829 says. Sideloading by itself scares probably more than 90% of the users. So a further decline of the potential users'share would reduce the market for alternative apps to enough people to populate the Vatican State.

secrec

lars But I wonder what motivates developers to make their apps available FOC outside the app stores in the first place?

Its not really about "outside of app stores", its about "outside of GOOGLE's app store". There's a few BIG reasons not to publish on gplay, or reasons to publish also outside of gplay;

1) gplay is overly restrictive and can ban you for using certain permissions that they just don't want you to use.
2) who I am is none of gooble's business. Screw them.
3) there are plenty of users who want nothing to do with gplay.
4) its a pain in the butt to deal with them.

andrej567

lars as above, mainly 4) for us/me - you have to apply, they have to approve build, it takes extra time. if you are a hobbyist, making some utility app for your or community usage it just extra time you spend with it. Or they may reject you completely.

of course they sent you infos all year long, how not to implement things, what will be deprecated. which is of course useful but... depends on your situation and time you would like to spend on it.

lars

I don't disagree with any of this but, all the same, I'm a little sceptical of claims that restricting 'sideload' will discourage developers. Sure, it will discourage some developers, to some extent. I'm just not sure it will have all that huge an impact.

Is there some centralized place, other than Google Play, where you can distribute paid apps? I'm guessing there aren't many such places, and the developers who will potentially be most affected are those who are distributing apps FOC. It's nice to have a big uptake of your software, but I really don't know whether it's the primary motivating factor.

On the other hand, if there is a big market for paid/subscription apps outside the Google Play store, I could be quite wrong.

Lars.

andrej567

lars

other than Google Play, where you can distribute paid apps

I would like to know too.
I know that amazon store is closed,
there is the huawei store.

some thoughts..
I am not sure how many people actually pay for the apps.
Apps like DAVx, aves, I downloaded from google store because there is an easy way to donate.
Of course there are other ways, but the one who receives has to handle it properly, according to local law.