Essentially the apps have same package name but different signatures and the app store that installed it should be the only one to recognize and update it.
But Google is likely trying this dark pattern to sway people away from F-Droid or alt stores by making users uninstall these apps and install it from the Google Play Store.
It’s been going on for a while and is annoying af.
Since I found out about F-Droid and Aurora Store, I’m actively dodging the Play Store. No one will ever make me use it. Ads, promos, junk everywhere! And their shitty way of updating.
How do I get F Droid?
either download the official APK from f-droid.org or use the NeoStore app which is a better client imho. from there its some simple setup and basically works like the play store.
https://f-droid.org/
https://f-droid.org/en/docs/
Droid-ify is my personal favorite client. You can opt in to many other repos like IzzyOnDroid (pic below) It’s also material design, which I like aha.
Has Aurora been improved since last year?
I tried to love it, but it was such a pita to actually update things. Like, it hardly actually updated without errors or issues. When it did “update” an app, I wouldn’t be able to actually open it. After it broke some important apps I was using, I uninstalled it.
It’s because they are using like 10 disposable Google accounts shared between all the users in the world, so access is throttled
Aurora has been fine for me so far.
My experience might be better as I logged into the account of someone else to access some paid apps. Haven’t had much trouble with the disposable accounts either, may also because I haven’t used it that often.
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