• Automatic android OS updates

    From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 1 09:47:27 2024
    Just over two weeks ago in the thread "Are Playstore apps tested before release?" I said that I was not going to update my phone (Xiaomi Redmi
    Note 10 5G) for a couple of weeks and see if it updated automatically
    despite it being set to /not/ update automatically.

    At that time (16/07), <https://support.google.com/product-documentation/answer/14343500>
    stated that the current versions were:
    Google Play Store v41.9
    Google Play Services v24.27

    According to the Muntashirakon App Manager (MAM) I installed the current versions were:
    Google Play Store 41.8.14-31
    Google Play Services 24.26.32
    (my phone's Settings stated the same)

    Today, according to the support.google.com link the versions are:
    Google Play Store v42.1 (2024-07-29)
    Google Play Services v24.29 (2024-07-24)

    Checking my phone today, MAM states:
    Google Play Store 41.9.17-31 (26/07/2024)
    Google Play Services 24.26.32 (12/07/2024)
    (these remained unchanged after a reboot)

    So it looks like my phone automatically updated Google Play Store
    41.8.14-31 to 41.9.17-31, but hasn't updated Google Play Services
    24.26.32 to 24.29. This seems strange, as the Play Services haven't been updated since 12/07/2024, yet the Play Store was updated on 26/07
    according to MAM. However, even that isn't the latest version according
    to support.google.com.

    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated
    automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store update
    was a security one and that overrode a "do not update automatically"
    setting.

    Oh well, I've now got quite a few app updates to do as I've been
    avoiding them for over two weeks!

    --
    Jeff

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  • From Newyana2@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Thu Aug 1 08:11:45 2024
    On 8/1/2024 4:47 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:


    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store update
    was a security one and that overrode a "do not update automatically"
    setting.


    Google Play Store a system app? Why? Because it's Google?
    I keep it disabled, along with any other Google crap that I
    can disable. System updates will nag every time I start up
    the phone. I have to be careful not to let them run. Awhile back
    I accidentally let one run. I paid for it by now being pestered
    with endless popups: "You should enable this!" "You should
    enable that!"

    I think it's sort of like Windows system DLLs vs Microsoft
    Office or Copilot. The first is in a system update. The
    second is only MS programs that they're trying to push.
    Same with Google. They've thoroughly infested Android,
    but Android is not a Google app and Google apps are not
    Android.

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  • From Andy Burns@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 1 13:27:10 2024
    Newyana2 wrote:

      Google Play Store a system app? Why?

    "Google Play Services" is not the same as "Google Play Store".

    I would agree the name of the former isn't helpful, it really ought to
    be called "Google Mobile Services" to correspond to its package name "com.google.android.gms"

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  • From Jeff Layman@21:1/5 to All on Thu Aug 1 15:21:01 2024
    On 01/08/2024 13:11, Newyana2 wrote:
    On 8/1/2024 4:47 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:


    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated
    automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store update
    was a security one and that overrode a "do not update automatically"
    setting.


    Google Play Store a system app? Why? Because it's Google?
    I keep it disabled, along with any other Google crap that I
    can disable. System updates will nag every time I start up
    the phone. I have to be careful not to let them run. Awhile back
    I accidentally let one run. I paid for it by now being pestered
    with endless popups: "You should enable this!" "You should
    enable that!"

    I think it's sort of like Windows system DLLs vs Microsoft
    Office or Copilot. The first is in a system update. The
    second is only MS programs that they're trying to push.
    Same with Google. They've thoroughly infested Android,
    but Android is not a Google app and Google apps are not
    Android.

    Is there a definition for "System app"? FWIW, my Xiaomi has an option in "Settings" called "System app settings". Those listed are Recorder,
    Music, Call settings, Notes, Camera, Gallery, Security, System apps
    updater, and Xiaomi cloud. To me, only Security and Call settings should
    really be referred to as system apps. What have Music and Gallery got to
    with the the way that Android works? I was going on the
    support.google.com webpage being titled "Google System Release Notes".
    Also, MAM refers to both Google Play Store and Google Play Services as
    "System app". In contrast, for example, it refers to Brave and iPlayer
    as "User app".

    --
    Jeff

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  • From AJL@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Thu Aug 1 15:14:40 2024
    On 8/1/24 7:21 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 01/08/2024 13:11, Newyana2 wrote:
    On 8/1/2024 4:47 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:


    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated
    automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store update
    was a security one and that overrode a "do not update automatically"
    setting.


    Google Play Store a system app? Why? Because it's Google?
    I keep it disabled, along with any other Google crap that I
    can disable. System updates will nag every time I start up
    the phone. I have to be careful not to let them run. Awhile back
    I accidentally let one run. I paid for it by now being pestered
    with endless popups: "You should enable this!" "You should
    enable that!"

    I think it's sort of like Windows system DLLs vs Microsoft
    Office or Copilot. The first is in a system update. The
    second is only MS programs that they're trying to push.
    Same with Google. They've thoroughly infested Android,
    but Android is not a Google app and Google apps are not
    Android.

    Is there a definition for "System app"? FWIW, my Xiaomi has an option in >"Settings" called "System app settings". Those listed are Recorder,
    Music, Call settings, Notes, Camera, Gallery, Security, System apps
    updater, and Xiaomi cloud. To me, only Security and Call settings should >really be referred to as system apps. What have Music and Gallery got to
    with the the way that Android works? I was going on the
    support.google.com webpage being titled "Google System Release Notes".
    Also, MAM refers to both Google Play Store and Google Play Services as >"System app". In contrast, for example, it refers to Brave and iPlayer
    as "User app".


    I'm posting this using an Amazon HD10 Fire Tablet which uses the Fire OS, an
    Android fork. It's my favorite tablet because it's light and comfortable to
    hold. But I was stuck with the Amazon Appstore which is limited. So I
    installed Google Play Services and the Play Store on it and now have the
    capability of a standard Android tablet. This newsreader came from the Play
    Store for example. So are my newly installed Google Play Store and Play
    Services apps on this Fire tablet now Fire OS system apps?

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  • From David Oseas@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Thu Aug 1 09:19:07 2024
    On 8/1/2024 7:21 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:


    Is there a definition for "System app"?


    It may be up to the vendor.

    On my Samsung tablet, anything that comes pre-installed is considered a
    "System app". For example, Hancom Office Suite and Flipboard both come pre-installed and appear/disappear from app settings when "Show system
    apps" is toggled on/off.

    Myself, I wouldn't consider them so, since they aren't a critical part
    of the OS. In fact, I have both of those apps disabled.

    -David

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  • From Newyana2@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Thu Aug 1 12:22:39 2024
    On 8/1/2024 10:21 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 01/08/2024 13:11, Newyana2 wrote:
    On 8/1/2024 4:47 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:


    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated
    automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store update
    was a security one and that overrode a "do not update automatically"
    setting.


    ��� Google Play Store a system app? Why? Because it's Google?
    I keep it disabled, along with any other Google crap that I
    can disable. System updates will nag every time I start up
    the phone. I have to be careful not to let them run. Awhile back
    I accidentally let one run. I paid for it by now being pestered
    with endless popups: "You should enable this!" "You should
    enable that!"

    ���� I think it's sort of like Windows system DLLs vs Microsoft
    Office or Copilot. The first is in a system update. The
    second is only MS programs that they're trying to push.
    Same with Google. They've thoroughly infested Android,
    but Android is not a Google app and Google apps are not
    Android.

    Is there a definition for "System app"? FWIW, my Xiaomi has an option in "Settings" called "System app settings". Those listed are Recorder,
    Music, Call settings, Notes, Camera, Gallery, Security, System apps
    updater, and Xiaomi cloud. To me, only Security and Call settings should really be referred to as system apps. What have Music and Gallery got to
    with the the way that Android works? I was going on the
    support.google.com webpage being titled "Google System Release Notes".
    Also, MAM refers to both Google Play Store and Google Play Services as "System app". In contrast, for example, it refers to Brave and iPlayer
    as "User app".


    I see what you mean. In that sense Notepad is also a system
    app, coming with the system. But you were talking about system
    updates. I have the Google apps mostly disabled. The Google
    Play Store app, as I understand it, is involved with using their
    store. A system update is an update to system files.

    In the same way, a Windows update wouldn't update Microsoft
    software like MSO. That would be separate. But I don't know
    whether Google Play Store updates on its own or as part of
    a system update. I only know that it's not necessary for my
    cellphone's operation... and that system updates don't
    install unless I allow it. Though they're very pushy. It's not
    a yes-no choice. It's a now-later choice. It reminds me of the
    old AOL login: "Would you like a new credit card?" The choices
    were yes or ask me later. :)

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  • From Eric Pozharski@21:1/5 to Jeff Layman on Fri Aug 2 11:33:31 2024
    with <v8g5kd$222tb$[email protected]> Jeff Layman wrote:
    On 01/08/2024 13:11, Newyana2 wrote:
    On 8/1/2024 4:47 AM, Jeff Layman wrote:

    I'm not sure where this leaves us. Why was one system app updated
    automatically and the other one wasn't? Perhaps the Play Store
    update was a security one and that overrode a "do not update
    automatically" setting.
    Google Play Store a system app? Why? Because it's Google?
    *SKIP* [ 10 lines 2 levels deep]
    Is there a definition for "System app"? FWIW, my Xiaomi has an option
    in "Settings" called "System app settings".

    [disclaimer: still nugat] I'm not in position to define what 'system
    app' is or isn't (because, I'm just a quite limited source of data for
    google), but I think where .apk is stored somehow hints. For me it's </system/app>, </system/vendor/app> and </data/app>. All databases,
    caches, and whatever goes in </data/data/app>. Also UID and GID have
    some value as encoding.

    Those listed are Recorder, Music, Call settings, Notes, Camera,
    Gallery, Security, System apps updater, and Xiaomi cloud. To me, only Security and Call settings should really be referred to as system
    apps. What have Music and Gallery got to with the the way that Android
    works? I was going on the support.google.com webpage being titled
    "Google System Release Notes". Also, MAM refers to both Google Play
    Store and Google Play Services as "System app". In contrast, for
    example, it refers to Brave and iPlayer as "User app".

    Can you disable "FM Radio"? I can't. Android is full of mistery and
    misery.

    --
    Torvalds' goal for Linux is very simple: World Domination
    Stallman's goal for GNU is even simpler: Freedom

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