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Google has been sending out emails to developers whose apps use Android’s built-in accessibility API stating that any apps that achieve this in a fashion meant to do something in addition to assist customers with disabilities should change the offending habits, or danger being de-listed from the Play Retailer. The accessibility API constructed into Android permits for issues like onscreen overlays on different apps, intercepting button presses and faucets, and different deep system-level habits. Many apps having nothing to do with incapacity are powered by this API, together with apps that may assist customers to customise their units’ performance. Builders of those apps have one month to conform, or see their apps taken off of the Play Retailer. This leaves a mark towards a developer, which may end up in penalties as much as and together with closing the developer’s account and banning them from Google Play.
The e-mail appears direct sufficient, however it really appears to contradict Google’ current coverage surrounding the usage of accessibility providers, which states that the aim is to assist customers who could also be completely disabled, or quickly unable to work together with their system in a standard trend, corresponding to whereas driving. A observe popped up on the coverage web page considerably lately, nevertheless, that immediately contradicts that; the observe specifies that the accessibility API ought to solely be used to assist customers with disabilities to work together with a developer’s app. This technically signifies that serving to customers to work together extra simply with their system usually, whether or not they’re disabled or not, is now not a permissible means to make use of the accessibility API.
At present, lots of of well-liked and helpful apps within the Play Retailer use the accessibility API in methods past this descriptor. Nova Launcher, some of the well-liked apps within the Play Retailer, makes use of the accessibility API to hear for notifications, amongst different features. Battery saving apps, apps that mean you can customise button features in any means with out root, and apps that overlay one thing on the display screen, corresponding to Button Savior, all fall beneath the purview of the brand new ban, to call a couple of. Which means these apps should transition such behaviors to a root methodology, placing pressure on builders to transition, and taking these features away from the numerous Android system homeowners who don’t need to root, have units that may’t be rooted, or don’t know find out how to root.
The put up Google Email Bans Creative Use Of Accessibility API appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.
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