Cue the imminent Play Store mass app deletion which Google has just previewed and confirmed is now just six weeks away: “We’re updating the Spam and Minimum Functionality policy to ensure apps meet uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality and content user experiences.”
From August 31, the type of apps in Google’s crosshairs will include those “that are static without app-specific functionalities, for example, text only or PDF file apps, apps with very little content and that do not provide an engaging user experience, for example, single wallpaper apps, and apps that are designed to do nothing or have no function.” Of which there are literally millions—some no doubt on your own phone.
For developers, Google warns apps must “provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience… Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play.”
meet uplifted standards
Lol, Play doesn't have standards.
That's why it's disabled.For developers, Google warns apps must “provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience… Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play.”
They kind of just described nearly all of their own apps [as unfit for the Play Store]...
I mean, I know lemmy has an open source hardon and hates anything walled, but is this really such a bad thing? Google is getting rid of a bunch of shitty apps and risky apps. Nothing is stopping you from still sideloading them if you really need them.
I really fail to see the actual issue aside from "google bad"
Google's not been very open source for a long time.
Android continues to remove open source from their OS over the years for proprietary binaries. They are also continuing to abstract away openness. Stock file managers can't see inside the /sdcard/Android folder anymore. Only via USB on a computer. USB on a computer won't copy some kinds of files into that part of the filesystem. ADB still allows you, for now.
If you try to go to the Android File Transfer app page, it now redirects to Quick Share.
Low level stuff continues to be taken away from the OS. Samsung Android phones in the US aren't even allowed to turn off 5G on some carriers. All Android phones are having carrier select and network mode menus neutered in the US. Apple has more flexibility there, hilariously.
Fun fact: Back when it all kicked off, iPhone had a pretty big open source component in the underlying Mach microkernel and supporting software and there was a whole slew of OSS on their platform.
They've already been actively doing it. The paid live wallpapers from KittehFace software from yeeeears back just disappeared from my purchased software history 2 months ago, and the APKs will no longer install. Not even malicious software. Just. Old and outdated, but it worked.
... if an update suddenly enables Play on my phone I'm calling EU. Will I still be able to uninstall stuff via adb?
Until I can reasonably have a Linux phone again (my beloved N900, oh how I miss you), I need to find out which of the Lineage/Calyx/e(/Graphene) supported phones has the best cam system.
great android getting ruined what am i gonna use Roms? My phone does not support them
