The Google Play Store has a Nearby Share-powered method for sending apps on your device to others, but this is now going away...

The Google Play Store has a Nearby Share-powered method for sending apps on your device to others, but this is now going away…

  • Otter@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    12 days ago

    Sounds like they want everyone to download directly from the Play store, and not in a way they can’t control?

    Same trend as the official OS only apps, overzealous ‘Play Protect’, etc.

    You can still use Files by Google to share Android applications in a similar manner. Under Categories, go to “Apps” and then the overflow menu for what you want to “Share.”

    A lot of other apps still support it, including FOSS ones, unless the play app did something extra?

    For example

    • SD Maid SE: App Control > Export App
    • Kvaesitso: long tap > 3 dot menu > Share app
    • F-Droid for all of their apps
    • unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      12 days ago

      This feels like preperation for enforcing backdoored chat apps to me. The EU has been pushing for this for years now and eventually it will happen. When the time comes it will most likely come with laws that force google to make sideloading impossible to prevent people from using backdoor free apps.

      All while other parts of the EU are actively supporting sideloading and FOSS. Its such a clown world we live in.