NewPipe, other open-source apps are preparing users for Google's sideloading crackdown on Android

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-open-source-apps-sideloading-oppose-3674808/

235 points · 37 comments · view on lemmy.world

37 Comments

disevani@lemmy.world · 140 pts · 80d (1 reply)

TL;DR

  • Developers of open-source Android apps, including NewPipe, have begun warning users about Google’s upcoming sideloading restrictions.
  • NewPipe’s developers refuse to comply with Google’s proposed verification rules.
  • The app has started to inform users of ways to bypass hurdles, including the proposed 24-hour lockout period before installing “unverified” apps.

Also; fuck Google.

petrescatraian@mstdn.ro · 1 pts · 78d

@disevani

NewPipe’s developers refuse to comply

Hmmm, let's see how are they refusing to comply...

So they do not provide their IDs for Google to sue them for infringing its rights to shove ads down the yt viewers throats and for blocking their tracking? How dare they?!?

@throws_lemy

Zachariah@lemmy.world · 70 pts · 80d

sideloading (or: installing)

DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth · 32 pts · 80d (4 replies)

How the fuck are open source apps a "legally grey area"!?

NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip · 22 pts · 80d (3 replies)

Yeah I am pretty pissed off that this article is conflating issues by even suggesting this.

The legal grey area they are alluding to is ad blocking. I don't think it's grey but that has to be what they are saying.

But the article is about third party apps and Google being a fuckwit.

This waters down the discussion, and is a unnecessary diversion.

DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth · 23 pts · 80d (2 replies)

Ad blocking isn't even a legal grey area, it's legal (as it should be, ads are a major attack vector for malware and scams).

NewNewAugustEast@lemmy.zip · 9 pts · 80d (1 reply)

I agree with you, yet I am sure there are lawyers who will argue that it would be against their terms of service.

I am with the old school crowd: you put stuff on the internet however you like, and I will render it however I like.

DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth · 3 pts · 80d

Their TOS can get fucked and it's certainly not law: They're free to deny service or ban users if they like, but I'm sure that'd go over like a lead balloon.

lemmyng@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 80d (23 replies)

Laughs in GrapheneOS

gedaliyah@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 80d (4 replies)

Honestly, this still worries me. There is no telling how many apps I rely on will evaporate over the next year. Several devs have already announced sunsetting their projects.

There are a number of projects that rely on on user installs, either because they are small passion projects (it costs money to be on the Play Store), or because they provide a function that is not permitted by Google Play. Without a vibrant community outside of the play store supporting them, it's hard to see how they will all survive.

Mountainaire@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 80d (2 replies)

What if a proxy dev account offered to put up a bunch of devs' apps on the store? Could at least some of them be satisfied by pseudo-anonymity?

Lichtblitz@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 80d

This is a double edged sword. You risk hostile takeover if the Dev has bad intentions and you risk suddenly being off the store if the Dev account gets blocked for one of the other apps. For me it would not be worth the hassle.

gedaliyah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 80d

I suppose if somebody could organize a team of volunteers to pay for the Play Store fees, and take care of the logistics for small devs to get their apps approved, then it might be possible.

trolololol@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 80d

Play store charged a one time fee for lifetime. I didn't see it changing.

Cryxtalix@programming.dev · 10 pts · 80d (5 replies)

Graphene is insanely good. It's even better than classic custom roms, since you can actually easily install google play. I'm avoiding Google's stupid crackdowns, getting additional security, all while having most of my stuff still work.

Most apps just work. My games and paid apps still work. Google wallet doesn't work, but I just used my physical cards. McDonald's app doesn't work, but that might've been a benefit to my health.

Overall, couldn't believe a security focused product had such good usability.

Neuromancer49@midwest.social · 2 pts · 80d (4 replies)

I can't get any banking apps to work. I just use their web version in a pinch. Only loss I've experienced.

absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz · 4 pts · 80d

My banking app works without use issue.

I really haven't had any issues with graphene.

Hoping that the Motorola partnership will produce some great phones by the time I need to upgrade.

CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 79d (2 replies)

Have you tried enabling exploit compatibility mode for your bank app? I know that's what fixed it for mine.

Neuromancer49@midwest.social · 1 pts · 70d (1 reply)

Holy crap, you're right! Fixed it

CorrectAlias@piefed.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 70d

Nice!

cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 80d (2 replies)

I wish there were a way to easily back my shit up before flashing on my pixel 10 fold.

f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 79d (1 reply)

It used to be "get root, Titanium Backup, wipe & flash, selectively restore app backups". I even paid a whole dollar for TB Pro.

cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 79d

Me too. So easy. Because of that rooting was my first step when I got a new phone. Now I'm dealing with not being able to run bank apps or other things I need. So fun...

LedgeDrop@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 80d (8 replies)

I'm confused. Has Graphene said they're not going to comply with Google's policy for installing 3rd party apps?

Zak@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 80d

The policy is mandated for "certified" Android devices. Those have Google apps preloaded and pass Google's remote attestation.

GrapheneOS is not certified and has no plans to be.

Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe · 5 pts · 80d (6 replies)

This crap from Google requires Google Services (Play, etc) - OS's like Graphene and Lineage don't have those services pre-installed.

Nexus@infosec.pub · 5 pts · 80d (3 replies)

I'm not a GrapheneOS user (yet). However, as I understand it GrapheneOS does not obligate the installation of "Google Play Services" but does permit the installation of the service in a sandboxed environment (or separate profile).

zergtoshi@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 80d

You understand correctly.

gedaliyah@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 79d

Yep. GrapheneOS provides the Google apps that you wouldn't be able to easily get otherwise, but allows you to install them or not. And they come with additional privacy protections.

w3ird_sloth@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 80d

Join us...

LedgeDrop@lemmy.zip · 4 pts · 80d (1 reply)

I wonder how long it'll be before google services/play refuse to install on anything that is not "Google Certified".

muhyb@programming.dev · 1 pts · 80d

It's already like that on Xiaomi phones for a while. They don't let you install anything outside of Play Store. Even if you install them via unlocking developer options and using adb, they just won't run.

cheeseburger@lemmy.ca · 17 pts · 80d (1 reply)

Crackdown? Cracking down on installing applications? These articles perpetuate Google's bullshit framing.

Tiresia@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 80d

Your fault for assuming crackdowns are good or well-intentioned.

MoreZombies@quokk.au · 8 pts · 80d

side loading is a dumb word.

Fuck Sundar Pichai.

Kintarian@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 79d

I feel like if I paid a thousand bucks for a device I should be able to do whatever the fuck I want with it. Fuck Google.

petrescatraian@libranet.de · 1 pts · 78d

All hail @jolla and @ubports I guess...