There is something about Android apps and games that bothers me. When I buy certain apps/games off Google Play, an installer file is run to setup the app/game.
I don't get the option to save this installer incase I need it later. Then, some apps/games then proceed to download additional resources/assets, I assume from Google Play or the developer's servers.
That worries me, what if those server's go offline or are shutdown? I've seen backup apps, which I assume will not backup those resources/assets without rooting my device, something I'm NOT sure I'd want to try or if it's even possible on my device without complications.
This seems like a weakness in Android's app model, if someone in a number of years from now want's to run his/her favourite old app/game and that server is long gone, then the app is utterly useless? Is that correct? I have an extensive library of software and games from different OS's dating back to the late 70's, most require emulation to run but I can still do it! It seems to me that preserving legacy Android apps simply will not be possible.
This was all brought into focus for me recently when we moved to a new area, mobile internet simply didn't work in the area (and the phone companies have no intention of ever improving the situation) and we were not able to get internet installed for almost two months. Even though we have internet now, it's not reliable at all. In that time, I encountered some of the above issues when reinstalling apks only to find they needed inaccessible servers to install resources/assets. I also was running a Chrome OS machine which needed a complete reset, needless to say, that device was completely useless with no way to setup and reinstall offline. The experience made me worry about the extent to which we rely on internet servers just being there forever and always accessible.
I would like to be able to download and save my apps/games to my own machines and install them at my leisure without depending on a third party... ...just like I've been doing for decades now.
I'd appreciate hearing what others think and if anyone has any workarounds or solutions. Thanks.
I don't get the option to save this installer incase I need it later. Then, some apps/games then proceed to download additional resources/assets, I assume from Google Play or the developer's servers.
That worries me, what if those server's go offline or are shutdown? I've seen backup apps, which I assume will not backup those resources/assets without rooting my device, something I'm NOT sure I'd want to try or if it's even possible on my device without complications.
This seems like a weakness in Android's app model, if someone in a number of years from now want's to run his/her favourite old app/game and that server is long gone, then the app is utterly useless? Is that correct? I have an extensive library of software and games from different OS's dating back to the late 70's, most require emulation to run but I can still do it! It seems to me that preserving legacy Android apps simply will not be possible.
This was all brought into focus for me recently when we moved to a new area, mobile internet simply didn't work in the area (and the phone companies have no intention of ever improving the situation) and we were not able to get internet installed for almost two months. Even though we have internet now, it's not reliable at all. In that time, I encountered some of the above issues when reinstalling apks only to find they needed inaccessible servers to install resources/assets. I also was running a Chrome OS machine which needed a complete reset, needless to say, that device was completely useless with no way to setup and reinstall offline. The experience made me worry about the extent to which we rely on internet servers just being there forever and always accessible.
I would like to be able to download and save my apps/games to my own machines and install them at my leisure without depending on a third party... ...just like I've been doing for decades now.
I'd appreciate hearing what others think and if anyone has any workarounds or solutions. Thanks.