Play Store vs. direct APK download on GitHub

[MicaelJarniac]

Hi!

First of all, thanks a lot for the awesome app, it's bringing new life to my old headunit.

Now, I do not have a Google account set up on my headunit, mostly because I find it unsafe (this specific headunit doesn't even have a proper factory reset option).

What I wanted to ask is, do you plan to switch release method to Play Store entirely, or keep releasing both to Play Store and to GitHub Releases?

I rely solely on GitHub Releases to be able to install apps on my headunit, so keeping it as an option would certainly help me, and I believe many others too.

Otherwise, I'd need to try other workarounds, like Aurora Store, to be able to install from Play Store without an account set up.

Edit: Just noticed the Play Store version is paid. That makes it slightly trickier IMO.

I agree you deserve to be paid for your work, and I have donated in the past, but it being paid means Aurora Store won't help me.

And that also means I'd need to set up a Google account with payment information on my insecure headunit.

But I'd imagine that, since the Play Store version is paid for, you might be planning on stopping the free distribution of the APK here on GitHub Releases.

What are your thoughts?

Edit 2: I've just purchased it on the Play Store to test on other devices, but as I said, to test on my actual headunit will be a lot trickier.

HUR, the "other" app, has an email delivery method of sorts for a paid APK file, which is what I was using before. They have a website set up where you can pay, and have an exclusive download link sent to you via email, or something like that.

If you do decide to stop the free distribution of the APK here, that could be an option, as it'd allow users like me to simply install an APK file, without needing to set up a Google account, while still allowing you to charge for your app.

[andreknieriem]

Hey. The free apk's will be here. And open source code can be compiled by others or automatic via Github too. I don't plan to cancel this to put the apks here.

I just wanted to make the app to the store and I think it is fair, that if you want the automatic updates and so on, just pay the little amount. Or, just like you, pay for the app to honour my work and use the apk's from here. Thank you for that.

But why did you need to pay for the app in the testings. The Play Console is so freaking horrible. I don't want the app cost money just for testing... Thanks for telling me. I need to look why it is so.

[MicaelJarniac]

I do completely agree on it being paid for. My only concern was that it'd make it harder to install in cases like mine.

But since you're keeping the free releases here, I believe this is the best possible scenario. People who want to support you can donate and/or buy the app, and people who can't use the Play Store properly can download from GitHub.

[MicaelJarniac]

And as for the beta/testing version being paid on Play Store, I don't think that's an issue. I'm happy to pay for your app, and I believe most others will be too. And if someone wants to test it without purchasing, they can download directly from GitHub.

[JanRi3D]

That would be possible:

https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium

[tsabaia]

I also don't trust connecting my Google account to the Chinese multimedia system.

Here's how I do it: I have a secondary Google account, exclusively for the car, TV box, tests, etc. It's added as a family member to my main account, so it has access to the apps I purchased on my main account.

Since you've already purchased the app, all you have to do now is create another Google account and add it as a family member to access the app you paid for.

https://myaccount.google.com/family/details

[skorpionwap]

I purchased through Google Play but I notice that there is only version 2.0.2 while here the application has evolved...
I really appreciate this app and the fact that I can use android auto in my car again. How can I always have the latest versions?

[tsabaia]

Google may take a while to release updates on the Play Store; after all, they can't release an update that would break the app's functionality, for example. So it always goes through an analysis that can take some time.

The way to quickly access the latest versions is here on Github.

HURev https://github.com/andreknieriem/headunit-revived/releases
Wireless Helper https://github.com/andreknieriem/wireless-helper/releases

These links give you access to all available versions, both new and old. It will always be released there first.

[andreknieriem]

Yeah exactly. Google refused ine Update because of fake vpn for offline selfmode. And now they are checking the release. May take some time.