Russian devs plan alternative Android app store after Google Play bans paid apps

A group of Russian developers are planning a Google Play alternative for Android users that will give those based in the country access to paid apps and services lost due to sanctions.  Google suspended users' ability to purchase apps and games, make subscription payments and make "any in-app purchases" of digital goods using …

[An_Old_Dog]

Dirty Apps in NashStore

1. Google Play cutoff in Russia: a meaningless, feel-good action which which will inconvenience Aleksander Average, but will not change Putin's mind about invading Ukraine.

2. How quickly will malware show up in NashStore? Will Russian malware authors "shit in their own nest"? And will anti-Russian activists slip malware or spyware into NashStore?

[Dinanziame]

Re: Dirty Apps in NashStore

Google Play cutoff in Russia: a meaningless, feel-good action

Note that this only blocks paid apps, not free apps, and for a good reason: without Visa or Mastercard, they cannot process payments.

[An_Old_Dog]

Re: Dirty Apps in NashStore

@Dianziame: blocking paid apps or free apps, how do you think the inconvenience to Aleksander and Alexis Average in Russia will change Putin's mind? It's not like Putin is using a cellphone app to order up 10,000 liters of Diesel, 2,000 pallets of artillery shells, or other war materiel.

As Sandtitz (below) pointed out, simply stirring up the common people is not enough to cause effective revolution or leadership change.

[Anonymous Coward]

The proletariat

The actions of Google and others "which inconvenience Aleksander Average" are not useless.

As Trump found out when he floated banning TikTok, upsetting the proletariat could lead to unrest.

While Trump was worried about voter unrest, Putin is already facing general unrest due to his invasion of Ukraine. Contributing to this unrest is a good thing.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: The proletariat

"Contributing to this unrest is a good thing."

Maybe what you're not seeing is that if this app store deviation happened within the USA, would an American worry? Google has and will continue fighting against such store deviations within the USA for a very good reason: monopolistic control. Shoot, they don't even like not controlling how you pay, not just where. So if this "unrest is a good thing", bring some to the USA.

[bombastic bob]

Re: The proletariat

your use of the communist manifesto term 'proletariat' is disturbing...

[unimaginative]

Re: The proletariat

Is that a joke?

The modern use of the term proletariat predates the communist manifesto quite comfortable, and its origins are older still.

[T. F. M. Reader]

Re: The proletariat

I didn't know the Communist Manifesto dated back to the ancient Rome... Your assumption that the Manifesto devised original terms is disturbing...

Pulling tongue out of left cheek... However, even the parallel between the Roman census term (basically, proletarii were citizens without significant property to their name) and the working class under 19th century capitalism predates Marx by some margin.

[Dinanziame]

Re: The proletariat

Your use of the communist manifesto term 'the' is disturbing

[Sandtitz]

Re: The proletariat

Putin is already facing general unrest due to his invasion of Ukraine. Contributing to this unrest is a good thing.

The unrest has been mitigated by throwing people into jail by the thousands. Because all (credible) opposition leaders were either jailed or murdered, there is no orchestrated effort for mass protests, and a small group or a single protester is easy pickings for the National Guard.

Majority of Russians support Putin in the latest polls. The actual numbers are of course not as high as reported because people are wary of saying wrong words.

I wouldn't hold my breath for any sort of unrest in Russia that would change the government. More likely an internal power struggle could cause a coup. Putin and his cadre's standard of living is unlikely to change but the oligarchs, officers and others can't just pop for a 5-star skiing holiday in Switzerland anymore.