Android will block users from sideloading apps made by unverified developers next year, but we may have found a workaround.
Google dropped a bombshell: The company plans to verify the identity of all developers who distribute apps for Android, even those outside the Play Store. Starting next year, if a developer chooses not to verify their identity, Android will prevent their apps from being installed on certified devices (ie. devices with Google Mobile Services). This news sent shockwaves through the enthusiast community, with many criticizing Google for transforming Android into an iOS-like walled garden.
Google claims its goal is to prevent bad actors from distributing malicious software under a cloak of anonymity. However, many believe the company has an ulterior motive, such as killing emulation on Android or hindering Android-based e-readers. In response, Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem at Google, said, “Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it’s not going anywhere.” He added that the company’s new requirements aren’t designed to limit choice but rather to “make sure that if you download an app from a developer, regardless of where you get it, it’s actually from them.”
However, Samat’s statement did little to assuage people’s fears, as it didn’t explain a key part of the equation: the how. We know what Google wants to do (block Android apps from unverified developers), when it wants to do it (starting September 2026 and rolling out through 2027), and why (to reduce malware), but not how it’s going to enforce this policy on devices.

The most obvious method would be through Google Play Protect, the on-device security service available on all certified Android devices. As the system’s Package Verifier, Play Protect already has all the privileges needed to enforce Google’s new developer verification requirements, so it would make a lot of sense for it to take on these new responsibilities, especially since it already comes bundled with Google Mobile Services. But we’ve recently learned that Google is going another route — one that raises more questions than it answers. On the bright side, we’ve also learned that Google may leave some existing mechanisms to sideload apps intact, provided you’re comfortable using developer tools.
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Rather than enforce its new developer verification requirements through Play Protect, Google is apparently creating an entirely new system service called Android Developer Verifier. This new app will be responsible for validating whether an application package is associated with a verified Android developer, i.e., a developer who has registered with Google through the new Android Developer Console.
The Android Developer Verifier app can’t be found on current devices, unlike Play Protect (which is part of the Play Store). Instead, it will be distributed in the future, with Google mandating that its OEM partners preload the app on new devices launching with Android 16 QPR2 or later.
Why does it matter that Google is creating a new app instead of using Play Protect? This simple difference could have major ramifications.
First, it means the enforcement of the new developer verification requirements will likely be decoupled from the system’s package verification mechanism, which is handled by Play Protect. Therefore, disabling Play Protect probably won’t disable the Android Developer Verifier, assuming the latter lacks its own opt-out mechanism (which we doubt Google will offer).
I say “likely” because it’s possible the Android Developer Verifier app will communicate with Play Protect in some way, but in that case, why make it a separate app? After speaking with independent security researchers and platform developers, here are a few other potential reasons for this approach:
In my view, these are weak reasons. Google has never really cared for the minuscule number of custom ROM users, so the third point was unlikely a factor in their decision. The first two points make sense from a security and architectural perspective, but the trade-offs are enormous.
Using Play Protect would make it much easier for Google to enforce its new developer requirements, as the service is already on every certified Android device. In contrast, OEMs will have to push updates to include the Android Developer Verifier app. So far, Google has only announced plans to require the app on new devices, with no mention of a mandate for existing ones.
Since Google’s goal is to improve security, it would make sense to require the app on all devices, presumably by pushing OEMs to include it in updates. In that case, though, why leave it up to OEMs, who are known for slow rollouts — or no updates at all — for older devices? And if Google were planning to deploy the Android Developer Verifier app over-the-air (i.e., with no OS update required, similar to Android System SafetyCore), then why require OEMs to integrate it into their builds in the first place?
The decision to make Android Developer Verifier, as I said before, raises more questions than it answers. While it’s nice that custom ROM users could benefit, I’m not sure they have a lot to be excited about given Google’s recent decisions affecting AOSP. If Google is making Android Developer Verifier a separate app so it won’t be turned off when you turn off Play Protect, then that means regular users won’t have an easy time installing apps from outside the Google Play Store using the device’s built-in package installer anymore.
(We reached out to our contact at Google two days ago for a statement regarding the Android Developer Verifier app but didn’t hear back prior to publication.)
Fortunately, there might be a silver lining. On a FAQ page, Google says that you’ll be “free to install apps without verification with ADB.” ADB, or Android Debug Bridge, is a command-line tool used by developers to control their device from a PC. Installing apps via ADB is as simple as downloading the binary onto a PC, downloading the APK file for an Android app, and then executing a command to push and install the app onto a device. There are even open source tools for running ADB commands on-device, which should hopefully make it possible to install unverified apps without the need for a PC.
Allowing installation through ADB would reduce the headache for developers, who frequently need to install apps during early development. It would also allow power users comfortable with command-line tools to continue sideloading, while deterring most casual users — the most common target for scammers and hackers.
We hope that Google keeps its word and preserves ADB installation. The changes don’t go into effect for at least another year, leaving plenty of time for the company to change its mind. While we hope Google will at least allow ADB sideloading, we also realize it may ultimately decide to restrict this method to prevent scammers from exploiting it.
Special thanks to security researcher linuxct for helping review this article!
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Google will need more than just a Gemini for Home patch to revive its Nest smart speakers and compete with Amazon Echo’s better hardware.
Google Nest speakers are neat little utility tools that let you holler at Google Assistant anywhere in the house — add something to your shopping list before it slips your mind or run the Roomba in a certain room. They’re so handy that a lot of us just grab Nest Minis by the dozen and place them across our homes so that we can call Assistant from literally anywhere.
However, Google’s home efforts have been stagnant for a few years, to the point where they’ve clearly fallen behind their main rival: Amazon’s Alexa. Now, Google is trying to give the lineup a new lease of life with its latest AI avatar, Gemini. But the question is: after so many years of neglect, is this enough? Can Gemini patch the wrongs Google has done to its Nest speakers?Assistant out, Gemini in
For the past few months, Google has been pushing Assistant into the back seat. Taking its place is the flashy new Gemini, with all its pizzazz and flair — more humane (heh!) and no longer requiring you to phrase queries like a robot (heh heh!). Google has been replacing Assistant with Gemini pretty much everywhere: our phones, our cars, our smartwatches, and now, our smart home devices.
Google hasn’t gone into detail about what to expect from Gemini for Home, but the stress on ‘Home’ in the name suggests it’s tuned to handle smart home requirements and commands — unlike the current Gemini on Android phones, which either falls flat or leans on Assistant’s old-age wisdom to get tasks done.Gemini could indeed spruce things up
Let me be clear: I’m genuinely excited about smart home speakers finally getting AI chatbots in a modern avatar. It’ll be so much easier to just tell Gemini what to do in whatever broken, mixed-language jumble comes to mind, and it’ll interpret it correctly. My mum won’t have to memorize set phrases in a language she doesn’t fully understand just to set the room temperature.
Thanks to years of neglect, Assistant on Google Home and Nest speakers has taken a nosedive in listening capability and quality of responses. It often misheard me or replied to things I never even asked. With Gemini coming to smart speakers, it finally feels like Google is paying attention again, and just maybe these issues will be a thing of the past.
But this software upcycling alone isn’t enough to revive a product category that’s already gasping for air.Nest speakers seem out of breath
A lot of the problems with Nest speakers go beyond software. The last Nest device we saw was the second-gen Nest Hub back in 2021. The cheapest Nest Mini hasn’t been updated since 2019! Sure, smart speakers aren’t as hot as new Pixels, but they still deserve new iterations — at least one in six years, right?
The counterargument is that since AI models run in the cloud, hardware doesn’t matter as much. Fair point — that’s exactly why Google is even able to bring Gemini to older models. But there’s only so much $50 hardware can handle after half a decade, especially in the fast-moving tech world. Compare the Nest Mini with the latest Echo Dot and you’ll immediately see the difference; I’d even suggest the Echo Dot over the Nest Mini if you’re not already locked into Google’s ecosystem.Amazon Echo is the tortoise
Google’s the rabbit that keeps getting distracted along the way, while Amazon has been the steady tortoise, marching ahead at a slow but consistent pace. And right now, it looks like the tortoise is winning — unless Gemini really proves to be a trump card.
Put the Google Nest Mini against the latest Echo Dot, and Amazon’s lead becomes obvious. The Echo Dot has a built-in temperature sensor you can use for routines like lowering the thermostat when the room reaches a certain temperature. It even has spatial awareness to take actions depending on people’s presence in the room. Some Echo models even have a digital clock on the face, doubling up as a handy nightstand device.
None of that exists on Google’s side. The Nest Mini is still stuck with two aging microphones that no longer do a great job of picking up your voice, no matter how much computational correction Google deploys. I’m not sure Gemini can fix that hardware deficiency. Worse still is that Google has stopped selling Nest speakers in major markets (they’re no longer available here in India, for instance), while Amazon’s entire Echo lineup remains readily available.We’re hopeful still
Google has confirmed that Gemini for Home is arriving on October 1, and you can sign up to get an update as soon as it’s available for you. Since Google earlier said that the October release would be an early access phase, Gemini will roll out to existing hardware first during the test phase and likely to a limited set of users. Still, it makes me hopeful that once Gemini’s full Home experience is ready (read: when Google finally starts forcing Gemini and retires Assistant on Nest speakers), new hardware will arrive too.
I want a new Nest Mini with stronger hardware, not just software tweaks, and spatial awareness. A full-sized Nest Audio for room-filling sound. And a Nest smart display — now that the Pixel Tablet hybrid dream seems in the lurch — to sit on my desk.
I’ve been waiting for this moment for years, and maybe, just maybe, it’ll finally happen. Tech gods, that’s your cue to utter Amen.
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Here is everything to know about the new SBS crime thriller drama Queen Mantis, including the air date, preview, spoilers, and streaming details.
Queen Mantis, the new SBS crime thriller drama starring Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon has opened to rave reviews. The mini-series will return with a new episode on SBS on Saturday (September 6) at 9:50 PM KST. The chapter will feature Jung Yi Shin helping the detectives in their investigation of a copycat murder.
According to the production team, the famous serial killer will play a vital role in the investigation of the copycat murder. The producers praised the cast member and spoke about her performance as Jung Yi Shin in the crime thriller drama.
„In Episode 2, Jung Yi Shin will have a decisive impact on the investigation of the copycat murder. During this process, Jung Yi Shin will play the situation like a fiddle with behavior that no one could have imagined. Actress Go Hyun Jung unleashed tremendous energy in the blink of an eye, taking command of the screen and the story with her overpowering presence. Even the staff on set held their breath while watching and were amazed [by her acting] in this scene, so please look forward to it“, the production team teased.
Here is everything to know about the new SBS crime thriller drama Queen Mantis, including the air date, preview, spoilers, and streaming details.
How to Watch?
People in Korea can watch the second episode of this SBS crime thriller drama on TV or stream it online. K-drama fans from other countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, Mexico, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, China, Japan, New Zealand, UAE, Singapore, Turkey, and South Africa, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on online streaming platforms, like Netflix.
Here are the International Air Timings of Queen Mantis Episode 2:
US – 7:50 AM
Canada – 7:50 AM
Australia – 11:20 PM
New Zealand – 1:50 AM
Japan – 9:50 PM
Mexico – 6:50 AM
Brazil – 9:50 AM
Saudi Arabia – 3:50 PM
India – 6:20 PM
Indonesia – 7:50 PM
Singapore – 8:50 PM
China – 8:50 PM
Europe – 1:50 PM
France – 1:50 PM
Spain – 1:50 PM
UK – 12:50 PM
South Africa – 2:50 PM
Philippines – 8:50 PM
Queen Mantis is a new crime thriller drama that premiered on SBS on Friday (September 6) at 9:50 PM KST. It is based on the 2017 TF1 series La Mante. Screenwriter Lee Young Jong wrote the script for this mini-series, and Byun Young Joo directed it. This K-drama revolves around the life of a famous serial killer named Jung Yi Shin, portrayed by Go Hyun Jung.
Jang Dong Yoon portrays Cha Soo Yeol, Jung Yi Shin’s estranged son. The mini-series will focus on the complicated relationship between the mother-son duo as they begin working together to solve mysterious murder cases.
First Impressions
Queen Mantis is the only Kdrama I’ve watched since HY’s latest series. This series reminds me of Silence of the lambs but this time the mastermind is a female serial killer and a mother too. The acting is so good that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
wow the pilot episode was very promising, i like the way his mom described in detail how she killed her victims. excited for next episode! #QueenMantis
#QueenMantis is checking all the boxes. Creepy opening credits sequence, creepy serial killer, and an interesting detective and killer dynamic. I love that it’s only 8 episodes so no time is wasted.
Good start for #QueenMantis for me. I like the mother – son psychological element of the story. This is a prideful woman, and I suspect this is her „proud mother“ smile when he quickly figures out what she declined to explain. I’m going to enjoy, while being freaked out by, #GoHyunJung’s performance.
The sheer majesty of #GoHyunJung’s screen presence never fails to amaze me. It is incomparable and she’s downright hypnotizing. Add to that #JangDongYoon’s deeply affecting, layered performance & #QueenMantis is already on another level. I’m afraid they ate.