5 ms·

The claim was: > app stores cannot compete with the Play Store on feature parity The response was: > that is not true at all There are plenty of follow up r

The claim was: > app stores cannot compete with the Play Store on feature parity The response was: > that is not true at all There are plenty of follow up remarks that then clarify that it is infact true in some cases (e.g. F-Droid today) and not true in others (e.g. Samsung store today). One of the claims made is that it's a security issue to allow alternative stores to silently replace software on your phone (also known as auto updates), and also that this feature is coming in Android 12. It sounds like Android 11 does not allow a fair level playing field (for what may be justifiable security concerns), and Android 12 throws those security concerns out of the window. Can someone with knowledge on the subject help clarify?

dessant 6y ago
Google has used security as a red herring repeatedly to restrict user rights and suppress the competition, and now they will offer better integration for third-party app stores in Android 12, because governments around the world are breathing down on Google's neck.
- cute_boi 6y ago
  True they are just trying to avoid due to government intervention but they will do slowly anyway. But I know andriod 12 third party will definitely comes with many hiccups so user are forced to use playstore anyway.
- lern_too_spel 6y ago
  As a user, I don't care why they're implementing it, only that it's available. I've been complaining about this exact problem for years, so I'm happy that it is finally getting resolved (if it is getting resolved — Google's statements about what Android 12 will allow have been pretty vague). Also, as far as I know, Google hasn't used the security excuse for not implementing it. I just assumed that this wasn't going to get prioritized over OS features that enable Google to make more money.
izacus 6y ago
> Can someone with knowledge on the subject help clarify? Installing apps silently (as an app store) requires so-called "Privileged" Android premissions currently. Privileged permissions are only attainable by apps that are preinstalled on Android distribution - which means that Samsung/Huawei/other stores can get it, but it's not available for apps that aren't part of original OS distribution. So the playing field isn't level for ALL the potential Stores - Google gives these privileges to the OEMs that built the devices and them only. Android 12 will add a mechanism to get these capabilities but it's currently not clear how (whether it's a permission on first run, or whether it's going to be available to a single app like the SMS related permissions).
- extropy 6y ago
  Almost. Just that it's the OEMs that choose to implement AOSP default privilege scheme to please Google so it gives them access to Play Store and all the other Google apps. IMHO the leverage is all on the OEM side, they just choose to focus on hardware and allow Google to manage the software. Independent stores is something that was not really a thing before Android so we are figuring out as we go. Debian third party repos probably come close, but that is for tech savvy folk that know that they are doing. Now design that for your grandma.

dessant 6y ago

Google has used security as a red herring repeatedly to restrict user rights and suppress the competition, and now they will offer better integration for third-party app stores in Android 12, because governments around the world are breathing down on Google's neck.

cute_boi 6y ago
True they are just trying to avoid due to government intervention but they will do slowly anyway. But I know andriod 12 third party will definitely comes with many hiccups so user are forced to use playstore anyway.
lern_too_spel 6y ago
As a user, I don't care why they're implementing it, only that it's available. I've been complaining about this exact problem for years, so I'm happy that it is finally getting resolved (if it is getting resolved — Google's statements about what Android 12 will allow have been pretty vague). Also, as far as I know, Google hasn't used the security excuse for not implementing it. I just assumed that this wasn't going to get prioritized over OS features that enable Google to make more money.

izacus 6y ago

> Can someone with knowledge on the subject help clarify? Installing apps silently (as an app store) requires so-called "Privileged" Android premissions currently. Privileged permissions are only attainable by apps that are preinstalled on Android distribution - which means that Samsung/Huawei/other stores can get it, but it's not available for apps that aren't part of original OS distribution. So the playing field isn't level for ALL the potential Stores - Google gives these privileges to the OEMs that built the devices and them only. Android 12 will add a mechanism to get these capabilities but it's currently not clear how (whether it's a permission on first run, or whether it's going to be available to a single app like the SMS related permissions).

extropy 6y ago
Almost. Just that it's the OEMs that choose to implement AOSP default privilege scheme to please Google so it gives them access to Play Store and all the other Google apps. IMHO the leverage is all on the OEM side, they just choose to focus on hardware and allow Google to manage the software. Independent stores is something that was not really a thing before Android so we are figuring out as we go. Debian third party repos probably come close, but that is for tech savvy folk that know that they are doing. Now design that for your grandma.