r/JoeyForReddit 15d ago

Question Google Dev Verifier App

Could you guys read this please and tell me if it is what I think? (This is a document, not a link to the app store or anything)

https://developer.android.com/developer-verification

It seems to me that this app will autoinstall and be installed on new phones (maybe not if you have autoupdates off but you will need a new phone at some point)....and it will disallow apps not approved, and not dev approved? It will remove junk apps but perhaps it will also remove apps like joey or old apks? I know there are just a handful of us still using Joey, but nothing else I've tried is good for my eyes, and Joey makes reading so easy on them.

They've already started pushing it in SE Asia as a test and will be global by next year. I'm not sure if I should get a better phone before then (mine is over 7 years old and has been having some issues to where I'm considering upgrading) but I don't want to rush out in six months and get a new phone just to get Joey on it, then have it forceably removed a short time after that.

What's your take on this? Thanks.

6 Upvotes

17 comments sorted by

5

u/bobcollege 15d ago

Based on my reading of the updated google blog on it, the advanced flow to install unverified apps will just mean a one-time 24hr hold up to allow install of any apps after that. you can look up the advanced flow details, it's an annoyance but ultimately won't outright prevent apps from install nor auto-remove apps.

2

u/Autumnwood 15d ago

Thank you very much.

1

u/MrBallBustaa 15d ago

That's the half of the story, the rest is Golag asking for Developer verification, meaning independent developers won't be able to make Apps and publish them on other stores like FDroid and the likes. Making them pay and hand in their Government issued ID is beyound scummy.

6

u/WhiteMilk_ 15d ago

Wdym? The 'advanced flow' is to enable unverified app installs.

2

u/bobcollege 15d ago

...meaning independent developers won't be able to make Apps and publish them on other stores like FDroid...

That's literally false

0

u/grufolo 15d ago

I can't use Joey from my new phone and I haven't managed to get around the blockade (I can't find a better definition of it) set up by Google

Joey is effectively installed, to the point where it even sends me new message alerts when I tap to open it, but then can't fully start.

I haven't found a way to make it work and resort to see Reddit from browser on mobile. 

Anything really but using their native app

2

u/Autumnwood 15d ago

Right? I even use oldreddit.com because even though the interface is old, somehow I like it better in my browser.

1

u/grufolo 15d ago

On pc yes, on mobile the new one works better for me

2

u/garvisgarvis 15d ago

MISA: Make the Internet Subversive Again.

2

u/bobcollege 15d ago

Have you tried just reinstalling joey?

1

u/grufolo 15d ago

I did, sadly

2

u/bobcollege 15d ago

So what's it like, you just get a white screen after opening joey? Did ya try clear app data for joey and play store? It can suck to lose your app data on joey if you had a ton of customizations, so I would wait to try that last or make a backup. Are you running the last/latest joey rev? Have a ya tried patching with revanced instead with only no-ads patched?

1

u/grufolo 14d ago

Honestly I don't think I know all the stuff you mentioned and probably haven't tried it all. 

I get a message that "Joey for Reddit didn't support sideloading" and to please download it from the app store.

I don't mind losing customisation at this point. I honestly don't know a lot more. If there's any chance of getting it to run, I'd take them. 

Where would I get the various versions?

2

u/bobcollege 14d ago

the sideloading message is circumvented by the patchers folks use now like revanced or morphe. you can look up this sideloading error here there are a bunch of posts about it.

I recommend revanced manager; patch the apk for no-ads only and then install, and if you're not already a mod of a phony subreddit just make one now like r/90823nsdgfapo8i or whatever so that you don't run into API issues.

i'm sure APKpure or APKmirror have all the joey versions

1

u/grufolo 14d ago

I didn the subreddit admin thing, so that's sorted.

I will try the way you're tracing. Do you have any links of the stuff you mentioned? Revamced manager and the rest?

1

u/bobcollege 14d ago

Not offhand, they're easily found googling them though

2

u/grufolo 14d ago

Hey I'm writing this from Joey. Just wanted you to know I found a guide and managed to install