Misread this and thought they were deleting the Play store app itself, not apps in the store lol
The worst part is that it would be pretty on-brand for Google to do something like that.
Google: We are closing the Google Play Store and rebranding it as Android Market, we believe this better represents what our customer base requires.
Android Market is being discontinued as a standalone app, it will now be rolled into YouTube and you must enable Gemini to use it.
I unironically miss when it was still Android Market. It was a clear name. What is a Play Store, really?
Edit: I searched it up and the reason is acceptable, you don’t need an Android device to purchase and utilize some of the content. I still think Play Store is a bad name tho
The days of Google encouraging third-party stores and users to sideload apps regardless of origin are long gone. We are fast approaching Play becoming as near a simile to Apple’s App Store as we could ever see.
I think it’s a stretch to say that Google ever encouraged side loading. But if their plan is to eliminate it all together, that’s a pretty scary thing. I don’t think it’ll go over well in Europe either.
I’ll go to iOS again if google takes away sideloading. Android already gave in to lose the expandable storage and headphone jack. What’s left???
Manufacturers gave in, had nothing to do with Android.
Android still supports expandable storage and headphone jacks just fine. I recently bought a Sony Xperia 5 V and it has both.
No shit? Well that’s assuring a bit. So it’s just Samsung that’s the c**nt about it
There are lots of features that used to be common that just didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. I still have old phones with a radio tuner and programmable IR remote. Some features just took up too much space, some complicated the manufacturing process.
Some of them still have enough of a market to justify for some manufacturers.
For those who dont know these already:
Aurora Store - Install Google Play Store apps without a Google account - I recommend to switch all non-paid apps to be installed with this, and use an anonymous login if possible.
F-Droid: Install apps from centralized repositories (like a package manager) - I recommend to gradually switch all FOSS apps to be installed with this (not all Google Play apps can be installed with F-Droid of course). Other repositories can be added.
Obtainium: Install apps from the ‘releases’ page of the app’s Github/Gitlab - I prefer this to F-Droid if possible, but there is little difference and it is slightly harder to set up, so I don’t recommend this initially.
And last of all, installing an APK manually from the internet (works similar to an EXE installer).
Each of these options should work on all Android distributions or ROMs.
P.S. Please consider using a FOSS android ROM, such as GrapheneOS, LineageOS, /e/, CalyxOS, etc.
What’s your opinion on APKMirror? I have a fire tablet for which I’ve been trying to get apps that aren’t available throug the Amazon appstore. I just want to make sure that I’m not loading malware.
I think it is relatively trustworthy, and I have used it to install Youtube to be patched with ReVanced. I would still be a little cautious downloading a apk from any website, but apkmirror might be the safest option due to it’s popularity. but still use F-Droid or similar if you have the option.
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.”
Pretty sure useful apps will be deleted too. What does even “engaging” mean?
I hope someone will try to make an archive, e.g. the ArchiveTeam.
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]…
So any apps that follow the Unix philosophy (even without subscribing to it intentionally) are getting axed. Do something well and don’t try to bake in a million other things into your program.
Great! They totally don’t want only apps that spy on you, are filled with bloatware and junk, and serve ads upon ads.
Start with the YouTube app, it’s unusable now and may actually convince me to cancel.
