Google Play is the most popular app store on Android, and some see this as an injustice – which is why Google has been under scrutiny from antitrust agencies around the world lately. As if aware of this onslaught, with the release of Android 12, developers have allowed third-party stores to update applications automatically, without any action from the user. However, Google Play still had advantages that would disappear with the release of Android 14. This was noticed by XDA Developers.
The new version of the “green robot” has a new API PackageInstaller.InstallConstraints, which allows third-party app stores to perform “soft updates”. This means installing an update at a time when it does not interfere with the user. For example, this API will pause an update if it detects that a person is interacting with the app being updated.
But “soft updates” are not the only change aimed at improving the work of third-party app stores. Android 14 will also introduce an “update ownership” mechanism that gives the right to update programs only to the store through which they were downloaded. This can be useful, for example, in the case of stores, where new versions of applications are checked by the fan community for stability. Now, nothing prevents Google Play from automatically updating an application installed by a third-party store.
Another API that deserves special attention is that it allows stores to send a notification to the user even before the update is automatically installed. Such functionality can be useful, for example, when an update extends the program’s privileges, which may not be acceptable to the user.
Source: Trash Box
I’m Meagan Diaz, a news writer and author at World Stock Market. My main focus is on technology and stock market trends, and I’m passionate about helping readers stay informed on the ever-changing landscape. I bring extensive knowledge of the industry to my work as well as a knack for storytelling that makes my articles both accessible and engaging.
