From a cursory glance, their apps seem to be of the kind that don't need continuous updates and can be considered complete. Self-contained, offline software that serves a specific purpose: https://search.f-droid.org/?q=SECUSO&lang=en
Unfortunately, Google no longer recognizes this as a valid development strategy. If you want to publish on Google Play, you need to continuously release updates targeting an SDK released within the past year[0]. If you don't, they will send you constant warnings about how your app is violating their policies, they might derank your app, and eventually they'll stop making your app available to new users.
Updating the SDK is not that simple and it often introduces new bugs if you don't read through the full changelog and test thoroughly. I have 3 apps and it already feels like I spend too much time each year updating SDK, I can't imagine updating 30.
They talk about how this somehow improves security and enhances user experience, meanwhile this policy worsens user experience by pushing people towards ad-filled apps that have the resources and courage to release needless updates, and they still publish spyware on their store.
I find this kind of posting deeply ironic, since HN and ArsTechnica has been ripping Android a new one before this policy came into effect for allowing apps to exploit old APIs for stealing data, triggering popups, spamming notifications and many more changes that have been done from there. Many praises were sung to superiority of iOS and their demand to keep up to date with new policies and even new design.
And now we hear complaining again over things like... (a few posts lower)... having to implement permission dialog to show notifiactions? Right :D
The reality of the situation is that without required SDK changes, every single app - from your banking app to every game - would STILL demand access to all your files, all your documents, all your photos (and their locations) before they run. And then proceeded to spam you with notifications from background trying to sell you crypto.
Fixing those things unfortunately means that also the opensource developers need to move their behinds and implement APIs in a way that respect users more.
Also, those new SDKs make slightly older Android versions not work anymore with the updated applications, in some cases. My main Android tablet can't get updates for several apps, and some apps are updated but won't work with e.g. Chromecast anymore (and were updated _only_ because of the nag-system of Google, there are no changes in the apps themselves).
And going to the latest Android version isn't an option, that would imply buying a (at these times Really Expensive) new tablet, and what's offered now aren't even covering what I want from a tablet. Of course, if the vendors continued to provide updates to tablets and phones.. but they don't.
Totally agree - I have a platform with an app which hardly changes but I constantly need to do maintenance which doesn't help my platform or is a gain for my users.
These apps are great. They do exactly what it says on the tin. Pity to hear this, now people will have an even harder time getting nonshit bloatware from the Play store.
SECUSO is a shining beacon in the Android app space! Thank you for all your work.
One wishes smartphones was less of a moving target so that the maintenance burden was reasonable. Recompiling all your Windows software every year would seem beyond silly, but here we are.
They have more than 30 apps, not just a flashlight. It's mentioned right there in the post.
Do you really thing these people are complete idiots who can't increment a number? Obviously it's more than that. And the "wHy CaN I TrUSt yOu wITh mY prIvACy" shade throwing is just outright bizarre.
Same thing happened to all my apps. 10 years of games removed due to policy updates that I just couldnt rebuild quickly. Ended up hosting the APKs on my site. Self contained, no third party services but still failed checks.
At this point, I've also basically abandoned my Google Play apps. I simply cannot afford the time to keep them up to date for no good purpose.
And it's absurd. They were a perfectly sustainable “business” with a single unobtrusive banner ad (no tracking, no permissions aside from internet), that was more than enough to cover server costs indefinitely, for around a million monthly active users. The ad free versions costed $2 but was actually less financially attractive to me (I only created it to give the 1% of users that said they wanted it the option).
They are replaced by apps with full screen ads, trackers and subscriptions.
Google has become more structured and strict in their mobile dev program but still much easier go cope with than Apple when exception handling is required. Apple fails in many fronts in these matters.
Good. Developers should follow suit. Each day I blame myself for having got into what the industry has become: a digital sisyphean nightmare. Either update or die.
not a developer here, but doesn't somebody make a service that can just "update" the app every day by moving functions around in the make file or something? Pointless rules deserve pointless solutions.
I don't particularly agree with Epic's victory in the Google/Epic case, but the one thing I hope it accomplishes is to convince those in charge of the Play Store that it's finally time to have developer-friendly policies (otherwise someone else will). Play Store policies constantly virtue signal about security and privacy while continually making it harder for developers to release high quality apps.
On a somewhat related note, I am the founder of a company that relies on integrations with 3rd-party systems. Good luck building for Google, Shopify, Slack, etc without going though absurd number of requirements and sacrificing hard earned revenue just so that your own customers, the one you have managed to acquire yourself (not acquired through the market places of the said channels) can use your product on these platforms.
As a result, we've opted not to list our product on marketplaces in general. Instead, we support custom integrations directly with our customers.
I've also been burned in the past by Apple, Chrome, and Mozilla.
I understand that all of these companies run business and I understand that there are legitimate security and privacy concerns (I used to lead security teams, so this issue is close to my heart), but even so, these platforms often fall short of being truly developer-friendly, especially toward legitimate builders trying to create value - especially when this value is created outside of the said marketplaces.
I am in a similar situation and my solution was to switch to PWAs.
I translated the apps from Java to Dart and rolled my own UI with straight forward HTML.
My apps do not use notifications which seems to be an issue with PWAs.
A real downside for me is the lack of a simple i18n story and
I will likely roll my own.
On the plus side:
* PWAs can be easily packaged into an APK using:
https://www.pwabuilder.com/
* my apps can now be used on IOs and regular web browsers
26 comments
[ 2.2 ms ] story [ 63.1 ms ] threadUnfortunately, Google no longer recognizes this as a valid development strategy. If you want to publish on Google Play, you need to continuously release updates targeting an SDK released within the past year[0]. If you don't, they will send you constant warnings about how your app is violating their policies, they might derank your app, and eventually they'll stop making your app available to new users.
Updating the SDK is not that simple and it often introduces new bugs if you don't read through the full changelog and test thoroughly. I have 3 apps and it already feels like I spend too much time each year updating SDK, I can't imagine updating 30.
They talk about how this somehow improves security and enhances user experience, meanwhile this policy worsens user experience by pushing people towards ad-filled apps that have the resources and courage to release needless updates, and they still publish spyware on their store.
[0] https://developer.android.com/google/play/requirements/targe...
And now we hear complaining again over things like... (a few posts lower)... having to implement permission dialog to show notifiactions? Right :D
The reality of the situation is that without required SDK changes, every single app - from your banking app to every game - would STILL demand access to all your files, all your documents, all your photos (and their locations) before they run. And then proceeded to spam you with notifications from background trying to sell you crypto.
Fixing those things unfortunately means that also the opensource developers need to move their behinds and implement APIs in a way that respect users more.
Android has matured past a point of diminishing return, you can stay on an Android version 6 versions behind and not miss anything.
And going to the latest Android version isn't an option, that would imply buying a (at these times Really Expensive) new tablet, and what's offered now aren't even covering what I want from a tablet. Of course, if the vendors continued to provide updates to tablets and phones.. but they don't.
One wishes smartphones was less of a moving target so that the maintenance burden was reasonable. Recompiling all your Windows software every year would seem beyond silly, but here we are.
Do you really thing these people are complete idiots who can't increment a number? Obviously it's more than that. And the "wHy CaN I TrUSt yOu wITh mY prIvACy" shade throwing is just outright bizarre.
And it's absurd. They were a perfectly sustainable “business” with a single unobtrusive banner ad (no tracking, no permissions aside from internet), that was more than enough to cover server costs indefinitely, for around a million monthly active users. The ad free versions costed $2 but was actually less financially attractive to me (I only created it to give the 1% of users that said they wanted it the option).
They are replaced by apps with full screen ads, trackers and subscriptions.
"Malware detected" yeah I know where, too.
As a result, we've opted not to list our product on marketplaces in general. Instead, we support custom integrations directly with our customers.
I've also been burned in the past by Apple, Chrome, and Mozilla.
I understand that all of these companies run business and I understand that there are legitimate security and privacy concerns (I used to lead security teams, so this issue is close to my heart), but even so, these platforms often fall short of being truly developer-friendly, especially toward legitimate builders trying to create value - especially when this value is created outside of the said marketplaces.
My apps do not use notifications which seems to be an issue with PWAs. A real downside for me is the lack of a simple i18n story and I will likely roll my own.
On the plus side: * PWAs can be easily packaged into an APK using: https://www.pwabuilder.com/ * my apps can now be used on IOs and regular web browsers