Originally published at: Google's Sideloading Crackdown Moves Closer to Enforcement
If you own a certified Android TV or Google TV streaming device, a Google policy announced last year is moving closer to enforcement. The mandate could change side-loading as we know it. We recently covered how F-Droid and the open-source community are pushing back against this policy, and the situation continues to develop. On February…
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will this possibly affect the Onn streaming devices?
Yes as they are certified google tv devices.
So would the new policy prevent installing APK apps via jump drives?
Sorry if this is a dumb question.
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Sounds like Google is trying a monopolizing scheme to make more money, by forcing certifications. Lets out a lot of developers.
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Ok. A while back there were posts rolling back this policy by google. Instead of outright blocking 3rd party apps you will now have to go through a multi screen process ending in a popup basically saying “install it anyway” once you accept the popup telling you that you are solely responsible for any negative impacts from doing so. We really need to not worry intil such time as it happens and then the knowledgeable ppl we rely on daily will post a tutorial on precisely what to do to install 3rd part apps.
Google’s latest verification update explains that the company has received a lot of feedback from users and developers who want to be able to sideload without worrying about verification status. For those with “higher risk tolerance,” Google is exploring ways to make that happen. This is a partial victory for power users, but the nature of Google’s “advanced flow” for sideloading is murky.Under this system, users who accept the risks of sideloading will still be able to install the software of their choice. However, Google says it’s designing the flow to ensure that users cannot be tricked by clever scammers to bypass Android’s new restrictions. There will also be clear warnings of the risks of installing unverified apps.
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In case Google does go down this road, what AOSP boxes are out there that don’t cost $300 (BuzzTV PS6)?
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For a dumb dumb (asking for a friend 
) please clarify…our Ugoos boxes are immune from this but our Onn boxes might FUBAR?
So our HACKED FIRE TV CUBES (I have 2 sitting in my closet unplugged) should still work fine and not be Amazon blocked, all correct?
Thanks.
Amazon is already blocking apps on their firetv devices (or worse, blocking side loading altogether on their newest devices. If Google continues down this road all Google tv and android tv devices will be trash, too. So, to my question above, what good cheap AOSP boxes are available out there?
Yes, you are correct in everything you say. AOSP boxes aren’t certified so they won’t be affected. Your Fire TV device isn’t getting updates to block the apps.
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I would suggest BuzzTV, Ugoos, and Formuler. I still don’t think these crackdowns are going to be as bad as people think and would suggest waiting to see what happens. Remember, Google has already backpedaled and said they would still allow side-loading for the experienced crowd. Probably just more warning prompts to go through and accept to do it.
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I’m not gonna lose sleep on this because even IF Google chooses to go the Amazon route and our ONN boxes are useless there are plenty of low cost cheap china AOSP boxes out there that work great. Before my ONN’s I used the T95Z Plus boxes (about $50 or so) for about 6 years. Great boxes. Never shut em off, never cleaned them. Lots of talk about these boxes having Malware but I think it’s all Hogwash to be honest as I’ve never heard of an end user having problems from said Malware. I’d move back to new versions again in a heartbeat if needed. They still work I’ve just moved ONN 
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Will the Nvidia Shield be affected by this? In the UK we only really have access to Fire devices & Nvidia shields so with Fire cut off already it’s worrying if they do the same to the Nvidia shield.
My Ugoos AM9 pro is a beast. 4gb of LPddr5 is all you will ever need. I have aptoid, uptodown store and aurora all set up and ready to take over if google pulls any sh!t.
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They move; we move!!
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A lotta things confuse me, but doesn’t Google own Android? And they also own AOSP, right?
And another thing that confuses me is, the Nvidia Shield is not running on standard Android, right?
I do have more stuff that confuses me but it’s not germane to the topic at hand. 
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AOSP= android open source project. Google builds their product on top of aosp and “brands” it as their own. Basicaly aosp is “the core”. The shield is full blown Google certified product.
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Correct but they have already said that the only devices that will be possibly affected are the certified systems and AOSP wouldn’t fall into that category.
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So why is troypoint recommending to buy the Onn streaming devices from previous discussions. Does one suggest that i return my un-opened Onn 4K device?
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