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This sounds great until you read the FAQ: Is it possible to install the Google Play Store? Yes, this is generally possible. However Google doesn't allow anyon
by tambourine_man 6y ago
This sounds great until you read the FAQ:
Is it possible to install the Google Play Store?
Yes, this is generally possible. However Google doesn't allow anyone to ship its applications as long as the device is not certified and the vendor didn't sign an agreement with Google.
The Anbox project does not have any interest in shipping the Google Play store and we're not allowed to do so. We may add an easy way for our users at a later point which allows easy distribution of Android applications suited for the Anbox runtime environment.
- tssva 6y agoThere are several sources for easily installing the Google apps including the play store on non certified Android distributions.
- partingshots 6y agoWhat does the security/reliability look like when using some of these methods though?
- Anon1096 6y agoIt's very easy and very well tested so it's probably secure. Installing GApps is a really common step when loading a custom ROM onto phones. It shouldn't be any different here.
- mappu 6y agoThe codesigning system for APKs is considered secure, and in fact the Google Apps public key signatures are embedded into Android itself instead of just being the normal TOFU (this is why MicroG requires a whole separate ROM instead of just a flashable zip).
- saghm 6y agoFWIW it's pretty straightforward to copy an app from a phone to an .apk file on a Linux machine using adb, so if you have an Android device, you can always install from the Play Store on your phone
- kevinyew 6y agoYeah, or you could also use a trusted APK repository like APKMirror, no phone required.
- blendergeek 6y ago> Is it possible to install the Google Play Store? There are many apps from great free software repositories such as https://f-droid.org https://f-droid.org that many people may want to use. Further, many apps from Google Play can be installed without the Google Play store.
- solarkraft 6y agoWhat's the issue? It's the same deal as with any phone you install custom software on.
- est31 6y agoBtw, if alternative stores like F-Droid are not going to do it for you, you can always get your own phone whitelisted: https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/ https://www.google.com/android/uncertified/ Google is mainly concerned about uncertified phones being distributed at a large scale. For individual tinkerers, this feature is offered to get individual phones permitted.
- squarefoot 6y ago> This sounds great until you read the FAQ: This is great exactly for that reason. Although it may seem strange, many of us would use Android just because they're forced to use that one or two apps, not because they need the whole system. In my case, I have absolute zero needs for Android, except for opening Whatsapp like 3 times a week for a few minutes. Since Whatsapp web is a joke that would force me to even keep a smartphone around, I'm currently keeping home an Android tablet just for that app I use a few minutes per week, which is also less than optimal. Hopefully one day the Pinephone (I'm seriously considering to purchase one) will allow Android virtualization, so I'll be able to move a minimum virtualized Android system dedicated to Whatsapp onto that phone and ditch the poor tablet for good.
- tambourine_man 6y agoI stand corrected, I have little experience Android. Good to know.