Re: Are Playstore app updates tested before release?

On 13/07/2024 19:17, Andrew wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote on Sat, 13 Jul 2024 16:17:24 +0100 :
 

Thanks for all the interesting and informative comments. I think I'll
wait a bit longer before installing updates in future and read some very
recent reviews before I do!

 While the Google Play Store app can be set up to update apps automatically,
and, while there are plenty of good app updaters that do a much better job
  <https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium>
  <https://github.com/rumboalla/apkupdater>
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pratham.bkm.appupdatechecker>
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inspirezone.updatesoftwarechecker>
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pnixo.softwareupdater.appcheckert>
 I prefer to update apps manually, and only when I already know there is a
reason I'd want the update (e.g., the recent NewPipe update two days ago).
 Note that Google autoupdates each month every Android 10+ phone on the
Internet forever (i.e., no EOL date set) for over two dozen core modules.
 This automatic core update for billions of Android phones, most of which
are no longer fully supported by their OEMs, happens perfectly seamlessly.
 It's such a seamless update, the vast majority of Android owners don't even
know it's happening every month that their phone core packages are updated.
  <https://www.androidheadlines.com/2022/01/google-monthly-changelog-play-system-updates.html>

That's an interesting page.
Firstly, I assume the phone user "pays" for the update in terms of MB or GB downloaded. If the user is on a very limited contract (5GB/month or perhaps even less for a very low-usage contract), then the update might amount to a large fraction of the allowance. I wonder what happens if the allowance runs out halfway through an update? The user might also find something critical they want to use is denied (eg deactivate a stolen credit card via a bank app) because all the allowance has been used the previous day without their knowledge!
I see that the update goes unnoticed, but the installation is only completed when the user reboots the device. I wonder how many actually do that, or is the phone effectively deactivated until the user reboots it? Is there some sort of message displayed to that effect? I ask because with my Xiaomi, automatic system updates are turned off. I get a notice that a system update is available (or I used to as I'm now out of the MIUI update period. The OS is MIUI 14.0.5 based on Android 13, and from what I've read MIUI is now defunct as it's been superseded by Xiaomi's HyperOS). From what I remember these updates could be in the 1GB+ range.
Does the update come through the Play Store? Although it's an update to the Google Play System, it doesn't state explicitly that it comes via the Play Store. Or does it come through the OEM?
Like you, I have all automatic updates turned off, whether system or otherwise. In fact, a lot of the bloatware crap which came with the phone has never been updated. Other than with adb, most of the junk is uninstallable anyway, but I just ignore it.
I see that this is where the latest update info is provided:
<https://support.google.com/product-documentation/answer/14343500>
--
Jeff