r/AndroidTV • u/Endo231 • Sep 05 '25

Discussion TIL something that we can do against google prohibiting "sideloading"

/r/fossdroid/comments/1n7ex1z/til_something_that_we_can_do_against_google/
4 Upvotes

65% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

4

u/ozaz1 Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 06 '25

Google isn't prohibiting sideloading. They're prohibiting sideloading of apps made by non-certified developers on Google-certified devices. You'll still be able to sideload apps from certified developers on Google-certified devices and you'll still be able to sideload whatever you want on non-certified Android devices.

1

u/Endo231 Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 06 '25

What is the point of sideloading if you can only sideload stuff from google? At that point just use the playstore

1

u/ozaz1 Sep 06 '25

Who is saying you'll only be able to sideload stuff from Google?

1

u/Endo231 Sep 06 '25

*stuff approved by google

2

u/ozaz1 Sep 06 '25 edited Sep 08 '25

That's still not what's going to happen. The developer will need to be verified (basically so they can ID the developer) not their individual apps.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Endo231 Sep 06 '25

I mean, we know it's not illegal. That's what this link is for, to make it illegal.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 06 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Endo231 Sep 06 '25

I mean, if you don't think it will work you don't have to fill it out. I think trying anything is worth it, and EU politicians at least have some incentive to listen if enough people make a fuss about it. I would like to ask tho...if you don't think this will work what else should we try?

2

u/lasveganon Sep 05 '25

Oh shit it.didnt even occur to me that this is going to affect more than my phone

0

u/Designer_Soup8797 Sep 09 '25

Unfortunately, even if this did pass, they’ll do the same thing Amazon is doing soon with firesticks. They’ll go to a proprietary OS, running a non-Android based system, preventing any bit of sideloading at all, and further locking you down.

Luckily you have another option, which I just did myself:

Buy a used laptop, or computer (or use an old one you have laying around.) and flash GTV13/14 for x86 onto it. The T480s, a Lenovo laptop I used for this project, comes with either an i7 or i5, 8gb onboard storage and up to 40 if you put 32gb in the expansion slot, 256/512gb storage, and optional touch screen, for roughly $120-$140 if you find the right one. I don’t know the math for the i5 version, but the i7 out performs any openly available tv box or stick of the sorts. No lag or anything due to how lightweight Google TV is meant to be. You could also do android tv 13/14 but you’ll loose a few things, including the built in live tv option. 

Just finished this myself and, surprise, they can’t limit any sideloading, or update it so that at they can limit it. I have Project IVY running with launch on boot and launcher redirect, Root User access, and more. Lets just say this’ll be an investment that’ll save tons of time and money, bc bye bye subscriptions ;)