Will Google still gatekeep all binaries running on Android?

> The parties have identified reasonable, neutral criteria that third-party stores would need to meet to qualify as “Registered App Stores,” and the parties have agreed on the streamlined installation flow that would apply to Registered App Stores and apps from such stores

So no distributing apps from a store without Google's stamp of approval. This doesn't sound like it is going to address Google's new requirement for all Android developers to register with them before being allowed to distribute apps.

> In addition, the Proposed Modified Injunction specifies certain maximum fees that Google would be allowed to charge—for what Google contends are the valuable services provided by the Google Play store—on transactions in Play-distributed apps that use alternative payment options (either 9% or 20%, depending on the type of transaction)

So you're still required to pay Google fees for in-app purchases if the app is downloaded from the Play Store, even if Google isn't processing the payments.

It'll be good to have third party stores available globally, and it's better than what Apple's doing for sure, but the developer registration requirements coming soon are still a step backwards, and those unjustified middleman fees are still going to suck.

I think but am not sure that part 13 actually does forbid Google's plan to forbid installing third party apps from the internet unless the developer pays a fee to google first, unless that App is an app store.

It requires that

> For a period beginning on the Effective Date through June 30, 2032, Google will [...] and will continue to permit the direct downloading of apps from developer websites and [...] without any fees being imposed for those downloads unless the downloads originate from linkouts from apps installed/updated by Google Play (excluding web browsers). [...]

It does provide an exception that

> Google may create reasonable requirements for certification as a Registered App Store, including but not limited to review of the app store by Google’s Android team and the payment of reasonable fees to cover the operational costs associated with the review and certification process. Such fees may not be revenue proportionate.

But that's a carve out that only allows imposing registration fees for app stores, not for other apps.

Of course this still threatens to kill, or at least inflict unjust fees upon, f-droid.

Epic Games for Android could've been a thing for years now. Android has native APIs for things like auto updates from trusted sources since what, Android 11? That used to be the big problem with stores like F-Droid.

These megacorps only care about themselves. The fact they're settling rather than waiting for an actual judgement that would apply to everyone else is a clear sign of that.