> it looks very much like the path towards where Apple is, where maybe I have to install a custom Cyanogenmod build on my Android phone just to have the option

> it looks very much like the path towards where Apple is, where maybe I have to install a custom Cyanogenmod build on my Android phone just to have the option to install non-'Play' APKs I find it very difficult to believe that Google will remove sideloading. Things have actually moved in the opposite direction. For example, after preventing sideloading for years, AT&T made the decision to enable it last May[0]. Apparently that was thanks to Amazon. So since there are already 2 dominant markets, I don't think it'll happen going forward. Also, keep in mind that Google has a dominant position in the smartphone market, so such restrictions could draw interest from antitrust regulators. 0: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/att-sideload-android-amazon/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/05/att-sideload-android-...