3 6 Ke·2026-01-23 13:17Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing convergence between Android and iOS in the mobile operating system space, highlighting Google's tightening control over sideloading applications on Android devices [1]. Group 1: Sideloading Changes - Google is set to introduce a "high-resistance" installation process for sideloading, which aims to ensure users understand the risks associated with sideloading applications [3]. - Although users can still sideload apps, they will face a more complex process to prove their capability to handle unknown risks, indicating a shift towards a more controlled environment [3][5]. - This new approach is seen as a compromise by Google in response to pressure from the Android developer community, moving away from a previously proposed developer identity verification plan [5]. Group 2: Developer Control and User Impact - The proposed developer identity verification plan would have shifted the app distribution model from a "registration system" to an "approval system," significantly increasing Google's control over Android app distribution [5][7]. - If implemented, this plan would restrict developers' ability to publish apps without Google's approval, potentially limiting user access to a wider range of applications [7]. - The article argues that Google's strategy effectively compresses user rights, as all applications would be pre-screened by Google, creating a more restrictive environment compared to iOS [7][9]. Group 3: User Experience and Engagement - Google's strategy to complicate the sideloading process is seen as a way to discourage users from sideloading, which could lead to a decrease in user engagement with sideloaded applications [9][11]. - The article critiques this approach, suggesting that making the installation process cumbersome contradicts the principles of user-friendly product design, which typically aims to minimize unnecessary complexity [9][11]. - Ultimately, Google's method of increasing user friction in the sideloading process is viewed as a tactical move in its ongoing conflict with the developer community [11].