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 6 points 11 hours ago (4 children)

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

[–] themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 hours 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 3 points 2 hours 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 🤷‍♂️

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 10 points 8 hours 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 6 hours ago

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

[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 5 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

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

[–] DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours 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. :(

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 15 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

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

[–] nekusoul@lemmy.nekusoul.de 23 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

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.

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 1 points 8 hours ago

I'd say a big ton of them :(

[–] Integrate777@discuss.online 12 points 10 hours 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.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

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

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 8 points 8 hours 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".