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I can take the point with Google on transferring already installed apps from the Play Store to a 3rd Party store. That is a real issue which warrants further sc
by no_wizard 2y ago
I can take the point with Google on transferring already installed apps from the Play Store to a 3rd Party store. That is a real issue which warrants further scrutiny, because the vectors for potential abuse.
I think the free ride of the Play Store having back links automatically in 3rd party app stores to “fill the gaps” is also problematic for representation reasons and is actually bad for users, as origin becomes obfuscated and so does support. If you want apps as a 3rd party store you need to recruit developers to publish to it. This is a clear and transparent attempt by Epic to undercut the Play Store while simultaneously benefiting from it at the same time. It’s not a pro consumer move.
I have trouble siding with them on the claims of distribution.
Distributing 3rd party app stores via Google Play Store isn’t hard, it’s just another app, effectively. It would actually allow them to police for exploitation and malware more transparently I would think, since the store itself would have to get approved like any other app.
- mminer237 2y agoI feel like any security issues could be solved by just letting app developers sign their own app bundles again. Then you could ensure an app is legitimate whether from the Play Store, F-Droid, or Shady Free App Store. Currently, Google makes it so painful to try to use independently-distributed software because apps signed by Google can't be upgraded by independently built versions and vice-versa. (Plus Play Protect pops up and disguisedly asks if I want to delete all F-Droid apps like every month.)
- pohuing 2y agoI'm not sure where play protect is supposed to come in. I haven't had a single play protect pop up ever and have been using fdroid and my own apps for years. This was on a pixel and now an Asus. I am in the EU tho, so maybe there's difference policies?
- jonhohle 2y ago> I can take the point with Google on transferring already installed apps from the Play Store to a 3rd Party store. Imagine if your bank said that. Or a storage unit business. I’m not sure why we accept it for digital “goods”.
- dialup_sounds 2y agoWhat Epic is asking for goes beyond just moving your stuff though. They're simultaneously asking for complete transparent access to every app published on Play Store and for Google to be forbidden from doing anything to encourage or promote publishing on Play Store. This does not work the other way. Google will not be able to show Epic's apps in Play Store, Epic is free to do whatever they want to secure exclusives like they do already, and Epic doesn't have to allow transferring apps to Play Store or any other store.