• blunderworld@lemmy.ca
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    11 months ago

    Just try getting a popular app anywhere else. There are options of course, but they require a working knowledge of APKs and other technical concepts which many casual users may not be familiar with. Even once you get them installed, these apps often don’t work without play services, and – depending on the source – can be less secure.

    • LDerJim@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Uhm. This is not true. They don’t require working knowledge of apks and Android walks you through the process of installing via Unknown Sources.

      Try installing packages from outside iOS…

      • blunderworld@lemmy.ca
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        11 months ago

        I don’t use iOS and have only been able to install many popular apps through APKs sourced from other sites like github and apkpure.

        Ill admit I don’t know much about side loading but I think that only supports my original point that the average user isnt aware of less intuitive alternatives to the play store.

          • blunderworld@lemmy.ca
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            11 months ago

            I’m vaguely familiar with fdroid, but thanks for linking. My understanding is that fdroid doesnt support automatic updates, though I might be wrong. I use obtainium instead.

            Amazon store is indeed another option. Personally my issue with the Google play store is the sketchiness of the company though, so Amazon isn’t a good alternative for people like myself.

            • KISSmyOS@lemmy.world
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              11 months ago

              F-Droid searches for updated app versions automatically, downloads them when you’re connected to WiFi, and notifies you.
              You then have to install them one by one manually, which is a bit annoying, yes.

      • Nima@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I’m sure this isn’t the right place to ask this, but does anyone have a website they use for apks that is pretty solid?

        I’m trying to de-google my life and the play store is the last holdover for me. I already use F-droid but that is more for open source software.

        apologies if this was the wrong place to ask.

        • Devdogg
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          11 months ago

          The one I use is called Aurora Store.

          • RGB3x3@lemmy.world
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            11 months ago

            That just connects back to Play Store. It’s essentially just a front-end for it.

            F-droid is actually unconnected to Google. They both have their place, but it’s best to clarify that.

    • Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      11 months ago

      My phone can install APKs out of the box. XAPKs need a separate installer though, but that is a one time problem. Many APKs even get recognised by the playstore which made it easier to update it.

      My device either isn’t verified or in some way geolocked for some apps so I had to get APKs of them to use those apps and I never had a problem with that.

  • Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    On the consumer side another article I read said that the settlement should provide $2 each, and then a pro rata payment based on the amount of app store purchases between 2016 and the settlement date.

    • cm0002@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      based on the amount of app store purchases between 2016 and the settlement date.

      Oh I wonder if all play store purchases are included or just app app store stuff, if books are included I might be able to get a whole 5$ lmao

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    11 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Google has agreed to pay $700 million and will make changes to its app store it has resisted for years in order to resolve a an antitrust lawsuit brought by state attorneys general, the company announced on Monday.

    “We’re pleased to resolve our case with the states and move forward on a settlement,” Wilson White, Google vice president of government affairs and public policy, said in a company blog post.

    While states announced a settlement with Google back in September, the details were unknown until the company publicly revealed the terms of the agreement on Monday.

    A federal judge will hold hearings in January about what changes Google must make in order to remedy the anti-trust issues raised in court at the trial.

    On iPhones, Apple operates an app store under terms similar to Google, and it, too, has been the target of scrutiny in lawsuits and by policymakers.

    Among them, a case brought by the Justice Department centered on Google allegedly breaking the law in maintaining its dominance of online search and advertising.


    The original article contains 568 words, the summary contains 174 words. Saved 69%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!