Google says “power users” can “still install” unverified apps. Here’s what that actually looks like:
Delve into System Settings, find About Phone
Tap the build number seven times to enable Developer Mode
Dismiss scare screens about coercion
Enter your PIN
Restart the device
Wait 24 hours
Come back, dismiss more scare screens
Pick “allow temporarily” (7 days) or “allow indefinitely”
Confirm, again, that you understand “the risks”
Nine steps. A mandatory 24-hour cooling-off period. For installing software on a device you own.
Worse: this flow runs entirely through Google Play Services, not the Android OS. Google can change it, tighten it, or kill it at any time, with no OS update required and no consent needed.
It won’t be a problem on a de-googled phone. Get it running LineageOS or GrapheneOS. Then install F-Droid (and probably Aurora store too). Some Google junk won’t work, but you’ll soon be more limited by having Google services on your phone than not having it.
Nice. There’s just a FOSS alternative for almost everything these days. I get 80% of my apps from F-Droid.
Been using it since the alpha came out, absolutely love what they’ve done with the app. The installation flow is much smoother with the instant prompt for confirmation, the more granular categories and improved search make browsing so much better. I tried other stores before, but I couldn’t get myself to like any of the actively maintained ones, v2.0 is good for me.
But does it allow you to backup your app list to move to a new device? This is why I moved to obtainium from Fdroid. In reading the article, I don’t see a mention of a backup feature.
I have been using droidify for some time now since the updates and install part has always been a bit weird and the notifications too. Hope it is better now. Not super happy with my current option either.
What I really want is a way to use it properly on the TV, because all the current store apps are so, but so so bad and horrible in a screen controlled with a remote control that is almost a joke.
When you find an app, F-Droid 2.0 will make the installation process easier. Google has long put up roadblocks for sideloaded apps, citing the security implications. This is also the rationale behind its upcoming developer verification system. For now at least, apps will be easier to install from F-Droid thanks to the use of Google’s pre-approval API.
That answers my question if those smoother installs already account for Google’s insistence in making “sideloading” way more annoying. They do not.
Now that’s a name I have not heard in a long time…
You haven’t? I always check F-Droid first if I want a new app.
Can’t speak for the person you’re replying to, but I always check the F-Droid repository first, too… but not using the F-Droid app because it’s been a sub-par choice for years.
Droid-ify is what I use, but there are others. Many include/allow other FOSS repos and have additional useful features.
The repo, yes. The fdroid app was pretty shit for a long time. You had to update apps individually, for instance (I think that’s fixed now?)
My F-Droid app has been able to bulk-update for two years now. Sometimes you have to trigger the update process manually, but the apps all get updated.
Ah, that makes sense. I’m on droidify now, maybe I’ll check out fdroid again.
