Google is cracking down on what users will be able to side load on their Android phones, going forward. New plans laid out by Android developers have announced that by 2027, Google will require app developers to register with Google and verify their developer identity, for side loading APKs, even outside of the Google Play Store. Currently, users can freely install any app they find online, even to their own detriment. As a measure to improve security for the bulk of its customer base, Google is getting rid of that, which could notably impact how a lot of gamers use their phones as emulation devices.
Starting next year, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed by users on certified Android devices. This creates crucial accountability, making it much harder for malicious actors to quickly distribute another harmful app after we take the first one down. Think of it like an ID check at the airport, which confirms a traveler's identity but is separate from the security screening of their bags; we will be confirming who the developer is, not reviewing the content of their app or where it came from. This change will start in a few select countries specifically impacted by these forms of fraudulent app scams, often from repeat perpetrators.
Registering with a developer on Google would require app-makers to give their personal information to Google in order to release an app, including in some cases, official government identification. The initial changes will roll out to Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, and Thailand, in September 2026, with other countries switching over in "2027 and beyond".
I had to get a new phone and this decision pretty much convinced me not to get a Pixel phone.
What's the point of 7 years of major updates if I'm probably going to have to root it and install a CFW anyway because of their dumb decision anyway ?
What's the point of Android if it's locked as much as iOS ? I really don't know much about Apple's ecosystem, but if I'm forced to use a locked OS, I've heard many good stuff about the usability of iOS and I'd rather try that than dealing with Google locking down their os for everyone.
I do trust that no matter if this goes through or not, there will be ways to hack your device however you want and keep installing apps just like we're used to.
But according to my experience rooting phones, it makes it harder to do for less known brands and models. So that might make it easier to root stuff like Samsung Galaxies, Pixels, and the more popular Xiaomi releases. But it leaves so much space for trouble, support is already flimsy, it's open-bar for anyone malicious releasing a new "updated firmware with sideloading enabled"... I hope I'm wrong tho
I hate the term "sideloading" too lol, it's just installing stuff you want.
All phones support wireless charging now, so there's really nothing stopping phone makers from ditching the data port entirely. It's only a matter of time when they do, and then we'll have considerably less attack vectors and the phones will be nearly impenetrable data fortresses.
I just bought a Nothing Phone 3a and it doesn't have wireless charging. Below a specific price range, it's not guaranteed to have that.
But even then, if we were to say that at some point it'll be available everywhere, even on 100€ phones, I do believe that a lot of people would still prefer fast charge over wireless.
Not saying that they don't want to remove the data port, I don't think it's far-fetched to think they do. But the obstacles are much bigger than what they've met with the jack port. Unless they somehow make wireless charging as fast as wired, but I'm not sure that's even physically possible lol
Can still access banks via good old browser. Majority of phone apps have historically been GUIs for browsers with some hardware optimization, but if we gotta go back to that, then so be it for the "major" things like banking. Otherwise, say hello to older phones appreciating in price like consoles or some 3rd party stuff coming in to the rescue.
GBATemp has a feature that allows for specific posts to be labeled as imporatnt, and for something like this to be mentioned, it really makes me happy to know that you can still install apps without verification through ADB. Thank you for the notice.
Re: ADB workaround: I don't understand their stupid system. Isn't the point of "certified" devices that they only have "verified" applications installed on them? Wouldn't using workarounds like ADB make them "not certified"? What a baffling system.
In any case, only providing ADB as a workaround already makes the niche community who manually install applications even smaller, effectively wiping out most development that happens outside of Google Play-distributed applications.
I already stopped using Android a while ago, clinging on the buggy, unfinished, but usable mobile Linux experience. I'd even rather use a feature phone than Android, at least if I can verify it hasn't got malware pre-installed as many of them were found to be...
I get the feeling this is less about Google listening to user feedback and more about their lawyers telling them it could lead to more antitrust lawsuits. Still good news, though.
I get the feeling this is less about Google listening to user feedback and more about their lawyers telling them it could lead to more antitrust lawsuits. Still good news, though.
i remembered it about a year ago, it's a shame they've never been ported like the first game and gamevil (now known as com2us) has always been quite annoying with how much they like to remove games from google play as i was shocked to find out it wasn't just Zenonia
i remembered it about a year ago, it's a shame they've never been ported like the first game and gamevil (now known as com2us) has always been quite annoying with how much they like to remove games from google play as i was shocked to find out it wasn't just Zenonia
there are and you can play on modern android devices via the modded APK's people have made, however anyone who doesn't do this now before the side loading APK block goes through will likely be out of luck, but as for the one's that are untouched? also yes, though you may have to scower IA for them, there was a bounty made for a port the PS Vita (specifically for Zenonia 2 and 3) on github but that never went anywhere
there are and you can play on modern android devices via the modded APK's people have made, however anyone who doesn't do this now before the side loading APK block goes through will likely be out of luck, but as for the one's that are untouched? also yes, though you may have to scower IA for them, there was a bounty made for a port the PS Vita (specifically for Zenonia 2 and 3) on github but that never went anywhere
A new petition has been made to prevent Google from blocking outside APK installation. If you want to support the Android operating system, then feel free to sign it.
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