this post was submitted on 25 Aug 2025
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Starting next year, Google will begin to verify the identities of developers distributing their apps on Android devices, not just those who distribute via the Play Store.

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[–] Mihies@programming.dev 7 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Sideloading still works, just the apps have to be signed. Still awfull.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 18 points 1 week ago (2 children)

How many great apps will we lose because of this, though?

[–] nekusoul@lemmy.nekusoul.de 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

What's extra funny is that I already did all of this, and yet, I've been informed that my developer account is subject to deletion because I'm not active enough. Since my game does not get regular updates I said F this, let them delete my account. It's still available for sideload on itch.io anyway. Jokes on me for believing that.

So yeah, it seems like Google is actively hostile towards building a library of software/games that just work and intentionally only wants live service garbage apps on their platform because those make more revenue.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 days ago

That's wild, I made a developer account in like 2010 and released an app and forgot about it. I still get developer emails about my account lol. I never touched it.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago

I'd say a big ton of them :(

[–] Integrate777@discuss.online 15 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Can Nintendo request Google revoke authorization for emulator developers? Or publishers requesting revoking any of the hugely popular manga aggregator apps. Or maybe they'll just outright refuse them from the start, like they will with revanced.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 9 points 1 week ago

I'm on your side and you are correct, besides Google amassing a ton of money (each registration costs $25) they will have total control and we know that Google is far beyond "not evil".

[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

none of those apps would receive authorization in this scenario. you would not be able to use them

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I highly doubt they'll sign Torrent clients.

(Yes I torrent on my phone, cuz why not lol :P)

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago

Torrent client is just an application, author shouldn't be responsible - naive thinking I suppose

[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Torrent clients are not illegal in any way. So why not?

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Idk, apple doesn't allow them on their app store.

[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Right sorry. I thought you meant developers won't sign them. Obviously you mean Google.

I hope Google at least will only sign identities, e.g. you really are DeathByBigSad and this is your key which you can sign apps with. Not look at the apps themselves. That may be too much to hope for. :(

[–] themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We just need to find a way to fake it, I guess anyone that wants to sideload has to root.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 4 points 1 week ago

The only way to fake it would be to use a "public" signature, but then again, I'm sure google will revoke them eventually. I guess rooting won't be enough, one would have to change some internal binaries. Perhaps it's time for a ungooglified android OS 🤷‍♂️