this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2025
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Android

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  • Google is putting together its framework for Android developer verification, connecting dev names to even sideloaded apps.
  • Recent additions to the Android SDK offer a little insight into how the system may ultimately operate.
  • One variable suggests that users may not be able to sideload even verified apps without an active network connection.
top 34 comments
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[–] biotin7@sopuli.xyz 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Has anyone here tried OpenHarmony ? An opensource implementation of Huawei's HarmonyOS which is based on LiteOS ??

We also need a unified effort to turn android devices into linux devices.

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

why should we use openharmony if there's AOSP? we need more hands, but that's better put on the existing project

[–] biotin7@sopuli.xyz 4 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

OpenHarmony exists too you know & it's being actively maintained. That or We maintain AOSP ourselves.

Reminder OpenHarmony is the AOSP equivalent to HarmonyOS & is maintained by the OpenAtom foundation

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (1 children)

ok. but isn't HarmonyOS as a whole a lot younger? why is it a better choice?

[–] biotin7@sopuli.xyz 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Because it's not being railroaded by it's owner unlike Android

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

we have platforms like that already. several mobile linux distributions, sailfish, whatever. what is the advantage of harmony os? android (as in AOSP) is much more mature all around, the bad parts need to be patched out but then its pretty good. why choose harmony os and leave behind android instead?

[–] biotin7@sopuli.xyz 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Oh my god this person. If google completely closed up Android, then you'd need a mobile friendly OS alternative. I'm fine with linux, but it's gonna take a while to catch up. So meanwhile....... get it ?

[–] ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org 0 points 7 hours ago

Oh my god this person

oh my god! calm down, maybe look at who other people agree with more in this thread.

If google completely closed up Android

that's not possible, because the source code is already publicly available. they can not delete it from the hard drives of custom rom developers.

However if google finished closing up AOSP, what that would mean is no more future development coming from google. that's the same with other projects, including harmony: google does not submit patches there either.

you still did not answer how is harmony os a better option than AOSP

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 53 points 2 days ago

"Sideloading" is such a silly term

It is called installing apps

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 76 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They are modeling this after Apple's technical response to being forced to allow other app stores.

Would it shock you to learn that Apple revoked the certificates of developers who published apps they didn't like on other app stores e.g. torrent client?

Google will do the same exact thing with apps that impact the profitability of their native services e.g. Newpipe.

[–] brax@sh.itjust.works 29 points 2 days ago

My next phone is very likely to be tbe most basic phone I can buy. If I can't use my pc-priced, pc-spec device as the PC it is, I have no use for it.

[–] veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com 36 points 2 days ago (4 children)

So... Linux phone when, then?

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

There are Linux phones now, if you're willing to spend more time tinkering than acturally using it. Oh yeah also you have to use the terminal for practically everything (even audio control in calls).

Oh yeah also you have to use the terminal for practically everything (even audio control in calls).

pfff easy, M-a C-x C-volumedown. Good ol' Emacs.

[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I can't imagine not having the rich ecosystem of apps.

[–] Canuck@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] Infernal_pizza@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Isn't Waydroid still based on Android 11 and has compatibility issues with apps that need Google play services?

[–] Canuck@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Default is indeed 11, you can get 13. I haven't run into many compatibility issues on a phone with 9. A lot of Android TVs are on 11, so I suppose it will be supported for a long time to come. There is also the option to download latest compatible versions from APK mirroring sites, and using PWAs within Linux or Android.

[–] Infernal_pizza@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What about Google play services? Does it have any support for that or an alternative like MicroG?

[–] Kroko@feddit.online 3 points 1 day ago

Waydroid support MicroG

[–] veniasilente@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh that one is easy: most stuff is in the browser nowadays.

[–] Sivilian@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This is were I would like to move. But not really a good option. I have a Linux tablet, desktop, and server but no phone hardware yet that is good for daily use.

[–] Kroko@feddit.online 14 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)
[–] petrescatraian@libranet.de 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm surprised the 3.5mm and repairability didn't make it to the top place. Looks like Apple has won once again in imposing their will in the phone market.

On a side note, how is Sailfish OS on the community version (or anyway, the one version that allows you to download Google Play apps)? Is it usable in the day-to-day life?

[–] Kroko@feddit.online 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)
[–] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 2 days ago

SailfishOS and Ubports looks pretty mature, postmarketOS/Maemo Leste etc also look interesting.

[–] a_fancy_kiwi@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I’m currently using an iPhone and I had planned to go back to Android the next time I upgraded because I missed F-Droid, Obtainium, and the choice of different browser engines more than I expected. This kind of throws a wrench into that plan. If my choice is between walled garden and walled garden, why switch?

I’m currently looking into LineageOS to see if the cons of it are something I can tolerate. GrapheneOS seems cool but every pixel I’ve had has been unusable in the summer due to how it heats up and slows down to compensate. This sucks

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

If i sideload apps, Play framework is frozen (since you can't remove them without bootloop).

[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Any way around this? As much as I get that it will protect noobs from installing random stuff from the internet and getting scammed, I think having a setting hidden somewhere deep in settings would help not alienate power users.

I guess the real reason is reVanced. Hopefully there will be a way to install it somehow. I would even pay for Premium, but the lack of swipe controls would really hurt my watching habits.

[–] Kroko@feddit.online 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You can install app from Android Debug Bridge (adb). It will bypass all new restriction.

[–] fuzzzerd@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

How arduous is that for non developers? Is this something a regular non-technical person can do?

Glad there is a workaround, I'm mostly curious how likely it is to be used.

[–] Kroko@feddit.online 2 points 12 hours ago

Adb command line interface is a major barrier for most users. Even with GUI tools built on top of ADB that still a barrier for many users.