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103

Google Confirms Play Store App Deletion—Now Just 6 Weeks Away (www.forbes.com)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 months ago (6 children)

Cue the imminent Play Store mass app deletion which Google has just previewed and confirmed is now just six weeks away: “We’re updating the Spam and Minimum Functionality policy to ensure apps meet uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality and content user experiences.”

From August 31, the type of apps in Google’s crosshairs will include those “that are static without app-specific functionalities, for example, text only or PDF file apps, apps with very little content and that do not provide an engaging user experience, for example, single wallpaper apps, and apps that are designed to do nothing or have no function.” Of which there are literally millions—some no doubt on your own phone.

For developers, Google warns apps must “provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience… Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play.”

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago

basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play.”

They couldn't define it any broader couldn't they?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Pretty sure useful apps will be deleted too. What does even "engaging" mean?

I hope someone will try to make an archive, e.g. the ArchiveTeam.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago

It's a generic term they can use to justify removal of any app they don't like, which I'm sure is what this is really about

I guess the log of "apps we want to kill but can't justify it in a way that courts would find more acceptable" got too large.

[–] possiblylinux127 1 points 4 months ago

Those apps would be free software anyway. F-droid is the way

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

some no doubt on your own phone

Yes doubt

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

For developers, Google warns apps must “provide a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience… Apps that crash, do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps, lack engaging content, or exhibit other behavior that is not consistent with a functional and engaging user experience are not allowed on Google Play.”

They kind of just described nearly all of their own apps [as unfit for the Play Store]...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

meet uplifted standards

Lol, Play doesn't have standards.
That's why it's disabled.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

So any apps that follow the Unix philosophy (even without subscribing to it intentionally) are getting axed. Do something well and don't try to bake in a million other things into your program.

Great! They totally don't want only apps that spy on you, are filled with bloatware and junk, and serve ads upon ads.