Topic: third-party stores
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Epic and Google Settle Lawsuit, Reshaping Android's Future
Google and Epic Games have reached a settlement that will globally reduce Google's service fees to 20% or 9% and establish a "Registered App Store" program, allowing alternative app stores to integrate more easily on Android. The agreement mandates that alternative payment options be displayed al...
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Epic Games: Apple Scared Users Away From Rival App Stores
The Epic Games Store saw a significant increase in iOS downloads after Apple simplified the third-party app installation process, reducing user drop-off rates from 65% to 25% following iOS 18.6. Apple's updated user experience removed misleading warnings and streamlined the installation from 15 s...
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Google Mandates Identity Verification for All Android Developers
Google will require all Android developers to verify their identity, regardless of where they distribute apps, to enhance security and reduce fraud. This policy aims to combat malware, as sideloaded apps are 50 times more likely to contain malicious software compared to those from the Pla...
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Tim Sweeney Reveals Fortnite's Future After Apple Win
Epic Games won a major legal victory against Apple, with a U.S. court upholding a ruling that Apple must allow developers to link to external payment methods, ending what Epic's CEO calls arbitrary "junk fees." The court affirmed Apple cannot take its standard commission on these external purchas...
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Beware: Spyware Poses as Signal and ToTok Messaging Apps
Cybersecurity experts discovered two spyware operations, ProSpy and ToSpy, which impersonate updates for Signal and ToTok to target Android users, particularly in the UAE, through fake websites. These malicious apps steal sensitive data like contacts, messages, and files by tricking users into gr...
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Google Reverses New Android Developer Registration Rules
Google has reversed its planned identity verification mandate for Android developers after significant community criticism, introducing specialized account types for limited app distribution and a method for advanced users to sideload unverified apps. The original policy, requiring government ID ...
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Google to Allow Sideloading for Experienced Android Users
Google is modifying its Android developer verification policy to create a special process for experienced users, allowing them to install apps from unverified sources while maintaining security through advanced warnings and safeguards. The company is introducing a new category of developer accoun...
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