Google has announced that they will be requiring all Android Apps — including “sideloaded” apps installed outside of the Google Play Store — to undergo developer identity verification.

Android Developer ID Check

“Starting next year, Android will require all apps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed by users on certified Android devices,” says Google. “Think of it like an ID check at the airport, which confirms a traveler's identity but is separate from the security screening of their bags; we will be confirming who the developer is, not reviewing the content of their app or where it came from.”

 

These requirements will go into full effect in September of 2026 (one year from now), but only for developers in four countries: Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Countries which, according to Google, suffer from “fraudulent app scams, often from repeat perpetrators”.

The idea seems simple enough: If a developer is known to make Android malware, Google will have the ability to block their software from being installed. Thus preventing the spread of Malware.

We will see how well this system works, in practice, next year.

 

It also remains to be seen when this “Google App Developer Identity Verification” requirement will be enforced in other countries (such as the USA). For the moment, Google is simply saying “2027 and beyond”… so there’s still time left for this policy to be modified.

As part of the process, Google is launching a new “Android Developer Console”, specifically for developers to verify their identity and register their applications.

The Practical Impact

What does this new “ID verification” for Android Devs mean… in the real world?

Once this change is worldwide:

• A developer must be “verified” before their software can be installed via any mechanism — including Sideloaded Apps, and alternative App Stores (such as F-Droid).

• Developing and publishing Android software, in an anonymous fashion, will no longer be supported.

Google is also, it appears, committing to continuing to allow “sideloading” and third party App Stores for the foreseeable future.

In other words: If a user wants to sideload software, or use F-Droid, Google will allow that. But Google is going to know the real-world identity of the developer / publisher of any software that gets installed.

The War on Sideloading, Revised

Google and Apple have been at war with the concept of “sideloading” (aka “Installing software the normal way”) for several years now. With both companies adding new features to their systems which allow them to block the ability of users to install “non-approved” software.

 

In that context, this particular announcement from Google is a bit of a double edged sword.

From Google’s announcement:

“To be clear, developers will have the same freedom to distribute their apps directly to users through sideloading or to use any app store they prefer. We believe this is how an open system should work—by preserving choice while enhancing security for everyone.”

On the one hand, requiring ID verification for developers is clearly a big step towards increased control over what software is installable on the systems we own.

On the other hand, Google is making it clear they intend to support sideloading & third party App Stores into the future.

Something they have been hesitant about in the past.

The Short-Short Version: Articles, Podcasts, and Videos — from The Lunduke Journal — are now, once again, free for absolutely everyone. Subscribers and non-Subscribers alike. On all publishing platforms.

The Slightly Less Short Version

A little over two weeks ago, The Lunduke Journal implemented a change. All of the Articles & Audio Podcasts would remain free for everyone… but the Videos would now be published as subscriber exclusives. Non-subscribers would no longer have access to videos.

This was what is known as a “Huge Mistake Made by a Total Bonehead”.

 

While the motivation for that change was well intentioned (to provide some perks for all of the amazing subscribers who make The Lunduke Journal possible, and maybe encourage some new subscribers in the process)… in practice it was an absolute disaster.

The key problem with making all of the videos “Subscriber Exclusives” was, in hindsight, incredibly obvious:

Many people will subscribe to The Lunduke Journal on one platform… but prefer to watch (or read… or listen) to The Lunduke Journal on a completely different platform.

For example: Someone who subscribes on Locals may watch the videos on YouTube. Another person who subscribes on Substack may watch on Rumble. And so on.

And, by making those videos “Subscriber Only”, it made watching The Lunduke Journal’s videos significantly more difficult for… Subscribers. The very people it was supposed to be a perk for.

Whoopsie Daisy

Well. Shoot. I’m man enough to admit when I’ve made a mistake. And, boy howdy, was that a mistake!

 

Effective immediately, Videos are now officially free for everyone (just like the Articles & Podcasts). On all platforms which The Lunduke Journal publishes to. Because making sure reading, listening to, and watching The Lunduke Journal is convenient for all of you is a top priority.

Over the next day, all of the “Subscriber Exclusive” videos (published over the last 2 weeks) will become free for everyone.

Running The Lunduke Journal is Not Easy

Just as an aside: What we’re doing with The Lunduke Journal is… unique.

Pretty much every Tech Journalist is funded by Big Tech. Money for advertisements. Money for sponsorships. Money for “paid articles” that look like real journalism but are, in fact, just repackaged ads and press releases.

Take away that Big Tech money and 9 out of 10 Tech News outlets would go out of business tomorrow. Which means they all need to keep Big Tech happy. And that shows in their coverage (and their refusal to touch many important news stories).

By choosing to not take a single penny from Big Tech, The Lunduke Journal has the freedom to tell the truth. To follow the Tech News stories wherever they lead (no matter who it makes grumpy).

But it also means that keeping The Lunduke Journal in business is even trickier than it is for all of those Brand X Tech News Outlets (which already have a hard time staying afloat, even with the Big Tech moolah).

What’s amazing… is that we, against all odds, have pulled it off. For several years now, The Lunduke Journal has stayed in business without taking a dime from Big Tech. And that’s all thanks to all of you. Thank you for making this possible.

If you haven’t grabbed a subscription, just a reminder that now is a great time to do that. 50% off through the end of August (which is a few days from now).

Want to support The Lunduke Journal having all videos (and everything else) for free for the world? That would be a great way to do it.

Once again. Seriously.

Thank you.

-Lunduke

Omarchy, an Arch-based Linux distribution which self-describes as “An opinionated Arch + Hyprland Setup”, has just published their 2.0 release.

 

Omarchy was started by David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH), the creator of Ruby on Rails, as a command-line and developer focused (and unabashedly nerdy) configuration of Arch Linux.

In the short time since it began (back in June), Omarchy has captured a massive amount of interest and has grown to become a full-fledged distribution in its own right.

Omarchy 2.0 boasts a new ISO installation method, AUR-free installation, a Chrome micro-fork with live theme switching, a Starship prompt, a new icon, and 400 other changes (from 45 contributors).

 

According to DHH, the Omarchy Discord now has over 6,000 members with the website having received over 100,000 unique visitors in the last month.

Not too shabby for a Linux distribution that is only 2 months old.

Speaking of Discord, if the Omarchy installation fails, it displays a QR code with an invite link to the Omarchy support channel. I thought that was a rather nice touch.

 

Worth noting that Omarchy — and the Hyprland window manager, which Omarchy uses by default — both were added to “Lunduke’s Non-Woke Software List” this month.

 

Omarchy is yet another Open Source project which has steered clear of Woke & DEI politics… and has seen tremendous success and adoption. We have seen that same scenario play out repeatedly now, with projects like OpenMandriva, XLibre, Hyprland, & Brave.

Avoid DEI. Experience a flood of users, contributors, and excitement.

A pattern is emerging. Hopefully more projects learn this important lesson.

The Lunduke Journal is the last bastion of truly independent Tech Journalism. Ad Free, Big Tech Free, Non-Woke, & Audience Supported.