Google makes outdated apps less accessible on Play Store
- Reference: 1649319306
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/04/07/google_makes_outdated_apps_less/
- Source link:
Google will hide apps and block installation to users running Android OS versions higher than the apps' target API level, or within two years of it.
"Today, as part of Google Play's latest policy updates, we are taking additional steps to protect users from installing apps that may not have the latest privacy and security features by expanding our target level API requirements," [1]explained Google on its Android Developers Blog.
[2]
Google said its rationale is simple: Android OS is fully caught up on updates, therefore has the latest and greatest privacy and security protections. By blocking apps that don't do the same, it is merely making sure all programs running on the device are held to the same standards.
[3]
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But don't worry, said Google, the vast majority of apps on Google Play already abide by the standards. The Chocolate Factory is doing everyone a favor and notifying developers who don't in advance.
[5]Apple emits macOS, iOS, iPadOS patches for 'exploited' security bugs
[6]Xiaomi adds earthquake alert system to some smartphones
[7]Epic Games' court dates with Apple and Google pushed into 2024
[8]Google snubs South Korea's app store payments law
While not a problem for most, the change will affect abandoned apps or those slow to update – but only for new users. The company promises that current users of older apps will continue to be able to discover and reinstall them on any device running any OS version supported by the app.
Google offered a [9]technical guide to help developers migrate their apps and is also offering a six-month extension to those who need more time.
The company has also issued a revised [10]Families policy that will remove apps from the Play Store in some nations if they are deemed not to be appropriate for child users.
[11]
Additionally, amid the myriad of updates, the company made [12]updates to its Hate Speech policy to prohibit caste and immigration related hate speech, and also expanded the scope of what can be considered news. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2022/04/expanding-plays-target-level-api-requirements-to-strengthen-user-security.html
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2Yk62U9q7A9HOkoxz1K9XpgAAAMk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk62U9q7A9HOkoxz1K9XpgAAAMk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33Yk62U9q7A9HOkoxz1K9XpgAAAMk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/31/apple_emergency_patches/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/05/xiaomi_indonesia_smartphone_earthquake_warnings/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/05/epic_vs_apple_vs_google_australia_delays/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/06/google_south_korea_app_payments_illegal/
[9] https://developer.android.com/google/play/requirements/target-sdk
[10] https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/11899428#families_preview
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44Yk62U9q7A9HOkoxz1K9XpgAAAMk&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/9934569?hl=en&ref_topic=9877065
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Google's own hardware gets Android updates much more frequently and quickly than 3rd party phones (I really notice the difference between my Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy).
Perhaps the need for an up-to-date version of Android might be seen as an added incentive to buy Google hardware rather than other manufacturers'?
...to protect users from installing apps that may not have the latest privacy and security features...
That is a ever so cynical and hollow statement. Google already slurps all your data and doesn't inform the user. Therefore, google is probably doing this to prevent others from competing in the data slurp.
sigh
Necessary abandonware
Unfortunately a solid 50% of everything on my Android phone is probably abandonware at this point, despite my best efforts to find acceptable replacements over the years.
That includes the launcher itself (in my case the original, now abandoned version of Apex, before the new owners destroyed it).
I guess this is the inevitable consequence of making software development too accessible, by dumbing it down to the level that opportunistic kiddies dump their one-hit-wonders into the app store, before losing interest and running away.
So what will smartphone users do once the only apps they actually want to use have been essentially blocked by Google?
Go back to using PCs, I guess.
Is this going to improve the various Telecom provider's incentive to update their customers' equipment ?
Because you're not using Android on your phone, you're using your provider's version of Android on your phone.
So, if this means that your provider is going to improve on getting Android updates out to its customers, I'm all for it.