this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2023
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[–] TheGiantKorean 42 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Google: oh ok, is cash good? gets out wallet

[–] w2tpmf 16 points 11 months ago

No need to get the wallet out when loose pocket change will cover it

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (4 children)

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 36 points 11 months ago (2 children)

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..

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Let me introduce you to [email protected]

Also Amazon has an app store for android as well.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Nima 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The one I use is called Aurora Store.

[–] RGB3x3 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

It shows what I know!

[–] Nima 2 points 11 months ago

thank you! I will check it out.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] dantheclamman 4 points 11 months ago

F-droid is awesome, but I don't think it will ever be mass market

[–] [email protected] 1 points 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 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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 4 points 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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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!

[–] MilitantAtheist 2 points 11 months ago (2 children)

So what is that? What they earn in a day running the app store?

[–] MilitantAtheist 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Did some searching.

In 2021, the Apple App Store reportedly reached around 85 billion U.S. dollars in revenues from global consumers worldwide.

[–] Synthead 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] MilitantAtheist 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My bad, Google are only at 47 billion.

[–] Evilcoleslaw 1 points 11 months ago

So averaged out, this settlement would be about 5-6 days of revenue.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

They made about $42 billion last year. Supposedly they keep about 30% of that (assuming that's the full figure and not already their cut), so it's about 20 days worth of Google's cut.

Cost of doing business.