App delist

Unfortunately, the Android app is going to be delisted from the Google Play store.

Over the last few years Google have restricted how apps can interact with each other to tighten how personal & sensitive data is handled, and this involves the option to be able to access any installed app on the device

When the original Icon Pusher app was created, we could freely query any installed apps on a device to get the details needed & send them over to the website. When Google started tightening permissions, they stated that the permission could be used if it was “permitted core functionality“ of the app (which is is). Now however, the policy has been changed again so not even core functionality is a valid reason:

“Permitted uses involve apps that must discover any and all installed apps on the device, for awareness or interoperability purposes may have eligibility for the permission. Permitted uses include device search, antivirus apps, file managers, and browsers.“

So this means sher app doesn't qualify, and won't be approved by Google. I shall send an appeal to the rejected app, but I won't expect it to be approved

When will this happen?

The deadline I've been given is the 10th of November.

Going forward

The only option we have going forward is to host the app releases elsewhere. It's not as convenient as the Google Play store, but we're out of options. The app is now open source, and on Github, so I'll start putting releases there. Another option could be getting it on F-Droid for a Google Play store like experience.