- Does this mean sideloading is going away on Android?
Absolutely not. Sideloading is fundamental to Android and it is not going away. Our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice. We want to make sure that if you download an app, it’s truly from the developer it claims to be published from, regardless of where you get the app. Verified developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or through any app store they prefer.
- Making APKs available to your test team
If your team’s current test process relies on distributing APKs to testers for installation using methods other than adb, you will need to verify your identity and register the package. This also applies if you make APKs available to your test teams through Google Play Internal Testing, Firebase App Distribution, or similar solutions through other distribution partners.
- Do I still need to register my apps if I’m only distributing to a limited number of users?
We recommend you register. It’s a simple, one-time process that will allow anyone to download and install your app. However, if you prefer not to, we are also introducing a free developer account type that will allow teachers, students, and hobbyists to distribute apps to a limited number of devices without needing to provide a government ID.
- What can I do to prepare for developer verification?
The best way to get ready and stay updated is to sign up for early access. We’ll start sending invitations in October.
We recommend you participate in developer verification because, even though verification is not required to develop apps with Android Studio, you will need it to distribute apps to certified Android devices. Apps installed through enterprise management tools on managed devices will also be installable without being registered.
You could do what I did and let them know via feedback that you’ll be leaving for Apple since its the same thing now.
I won’t actually be going to apple, but to a linuxphone, but saying Apple is probably going to have more impact so I went with that.
Edit: This is feedback to them linked in that page.
If you have a dev account, I recommend using it to give them feedback.
How are Apple and Google remotely the same
If we’re talking about loading apps - as in the subject of this post - pretty much exactly the same. Registered developer account, a walled garden ecosystem, etc.
Not at all
Android still has way more flexibility that iOS will ever have. App verification is very much a step in the wrong direction but it isn’t nearly as locked down as iOS.
Its more that from the position of optics stating you are going to leave for Apple is a bigger deal to Google than saying you are upset. Average person isn’t going to use adb or install a custom rom to get non play store apps working.
So just approaching it like a regular person who happens to use Android who isn’t super tech savvy saying might as well go to Apple if sideloading isn’t easy is more effective than ranting about sideloading from the position of an Android nerd. Those people are truly niche and less than 1% and would be dismissed with a laugh.
Please read the first comment in this chain again.
can i a(i)db on iphone to permanently install applications?
Is it relevant to complaining to google about their stupid decision they are trying to brush off as if it were nothing?
Because I assume you (and others) are missing the entire point of my comment.
There is a feedback form linked directly in the blog post. Use it. Let them know this would impact their income.
it would have to get much worse in order for an android enthusiast to move to a worse platform for developers.
they would rather go full linux than ios
Sounds familiar… oh, right, from my comment this entire chain is from.
I’m responding to
they’re not the same at all. even after this registration change fully rolls out it will still be much easier to sideload apks on android than ipa on ios.
you cannot distribute updates at all on ios without their review and there’s no ability to sideload with random apps. you can now and still can easily do this on android especially for registered businesses that do sideloading.
i work professionally releasing on both platforms and it’s so much easier releasing to production vs apple who suddenly rejected future updates until i changed the screenshots to fit their aesthetic.
they’re not “pretty much exactly the same” for developers nor consumers.
Please read the first comment.