Google should be barred from “treating Epic differently,” Epic Games says.
  • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
    451·
    7 months ago

    Any idea how this demand is different from the current state of Android?

    Under Epic’s terms, any app downloaded from anywhere would operate identically to apps downloaded from Google Play, without Google imposing any unnecessary distribution fees.

    Last time I used it, I downloaded all my apps through F-Droid, and I didn’t think they were paying Google anything?

    • atocci@lemmy.worldEnglish
      16·
      7 months ago

      They probably mean, for example, not having to prompt the user to allow installs from “unknown sources”, allowing alternative app stores to update apps and themselves automatically in the background like Google Play does, allow installations from alternative stores with one tap without extra user interaction, etc.

        • huginn@feddit.itEnglish
          14·
          7 months ago

          The nag screen is important for a bunch of less technically literate people who would otherwise install malware without thinking twice.

          Or even once.

          • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            7 months ago

            I really don’t know how to feel about it

            The people it’s intended to protect will just click “yes” to anything in my experience

            I don’t have a statistical analysis of results over a normal distribution of the world population, though

            • huginn@feddit.itEnglish
              1·
              7 months ago

              I feel like Epic wouldn’t be so strident about it without proof that it negatively affecting install rate.

              But maybe the perception that it affects the rate is sufficient.

              • SMillerNL@lemmy.worldEnglish
                2·
                7 months ago

                I think it affects install rate by design, which is bad for Epic in this case but good for security in most

        • AeroLemming@lemm.eeEnglish
          2·
          7 months ago

          I just tested it by updating something and it didn’t work, so I would say no, we don’t have background updates on F-Droid.

    • RobotToaster@mander.xyzEnglish
      81·
      7 months ago

      In addition to what atocci said, apps not downloaded from an app store by default have limitations on their access to accessibility services.

      • ozymandias117@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        7 months ago

        Huh. That’s a weird restriction that definitely gives credence to their case

        Are accessibility services only part of Google Play and not AOSP…?

        Edit: FalseMyrmidon pointed out an article about the restriction below

        https://www.androidpolice.com/android-13-blocks-accessibility-services-sideloaded-apps/

        Which states it’s only for side loaded applications, not for applications downloaded through a separate app store, so this wouldn’t affect Epic

        It’s also important to note that Google is only restricting sideloaded apps. If you use an alternative app distribution platform like F-Droid or the Amazon app store, you won’t run into the accessibility services restrictions