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?
There are differences between play store and other store. For instance, on fdroid you have a pop up asking each and every time if you want to install or update the app after pressing install button. Play store you just click install and let it do its work in the background.
I don’t think fdroid can update app by itself in the background. Play store can.
I mean third party store doesn’t have access to some of the api play store have, things you don’t care but that is important to normies and that would induce reduced profit from epic store.
You don’t have that popup on NeoStore and other alternatives, because they use Android’s new APIs. F-Droid (the app) somehow gets nowhere. Still can’t export/import package sources either.
I used droid-ify recently, which is well maintained and still got these pop up. Are you sure we’re talking about the same thing ? I mean pop up that says « would you like to install x app ». Yes no. And you got to give permission to the store first to even show this pop up.
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.
Any idea how this demand is different from the current state of Android?
Last time I used it, I downloaded all my apps through F-Droid, and I didn’t think they were paying Google anything?
There are differences between play store and other store. For instance, on fdroid you have a pop up asking each and every time if you want to install or update the app after pressing install button. Play store you just click install and let it do its work in the background.
I don’t think fdroid can update app by itself in the background. Play store can.
I mean third party store doesn’t have access to some of the api play store have, things you don’t care but that is important to normies and that would induce reduced profit from epic store.
You don’t have that popup on NeoStore and other alternatives, because they use Android’s new APIs. F-Droid (the app) somehow gets nowhere. Still can’t export/import package sources either.
I used droid-ify recently, which is well maintained and still got these pop up. Are you sure we’re talking about the same thing ? I mean pop up that says « would you like to install x app ». Yes no. And you got to give permission to the store first to even show this pop up.
Updates specifically, initial install still gives the pop-up.
From my recent experience both the main F-droid app and Droid-ify can do silent updates. Not sure how automatic they are though.
F-Droid has allegedly had automatic/silent installs for a while now, although only on newer versions of Android (12+).
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.
I must have had an extension at the time, but it sounds like F-Droid does automatic updates for anything Android 12+ now?
https://f-droid.org/de/2024/02/01/twif.html
I guess the nag screen can be scary, though. Good point
The nag screen is important for a bunch of less technically literate people who would otherwise install malware without thinking twice.
Or even once.