The very likely explanation is google is trying to do a cleanup - either removing the data from the mentioned apps from ads systems, or building transparency tools to give you more control.
I think this is a case of Google's security team saying "we should automatically warn apps that are two months out of date that they need to update," incorrectly assuming that their own apps would always update at least once every 60 days.
Can you imagine being an iOS developer working on Gmail right now, having shipped literally nothing this year? I'd be requesting an internal transfer (and/or polishing my resume).
I think there are two concerns here. The article starts off about the "outdated" warning, then goes on a tangent about Google not releasing iOS apps anymore because of privacy labels. tehlike is talking about why they think updates stopped; with Apple's improved privacy requirements, Google has to do some work to get their apps up to that standard.
For the thing that the article is about; i.e. the out of date warning, isn't that what Google is doing to all apps that embed a Google login now?
> Can you imagine being an iOS developer working on Gmail right now, having shipped literally nothing this year?
I'm sure they're shipping internal releases to 100,000 of their coworkers, so are probably getting feedback on new features while waiting for releases to the public to become unblocked. In the meantime, they're probably collecting more than $300,000 a year in total comp, so probably not super incentivized to quit. Google is kind of like other big companies now, I imagine -- don't rock the boat too much, do what your manager says -- with the upside that if you play your cards right you can accumulate a large chunk of savings that earns meaningful recurring income and a million dollar house you own outright before you're 40. Not for everyone, but I imagine the iOS Gmail team is not super incentivized to start burning down the corporate headquarters because they're restless about the release cycle.
Thing is, these labels were known publically for at least a month before they were enforced. Google also managed to get out four updates of gmail 2-3 months ago, according to the history listing on the app store. This feature didn't make the cut for any of those releases?
After seeing that, one can not help but to assume that 1.) the lack of updates are related to the privacy label deadline and 2.) that most of its apps are in need of bug fixes and aren’t receiving those updates.
Whilst interesting, that graph does need each app split out a bit more clearly-while it’s clear that none of them have updated since the cutoff, it would be best to be able to see each apps release cadence beforehand.
I agree. It is clear that Google has paused app releases due to this but this graphic obscures how abnormal this is for any individual app. There are 13 apps in that graph and it appears that there are usually a handful a week. So on average they are only updating monthly anyways.
So a 2 month break is just skipping a release (or two) for most apps which isn't a huge break in bugfixes.
Previous to this the Google apps got frequent updates. It’s documented out there. Nothing since Dec 8 is probably as notable for devs working on features (but not this effort) as it is to us wondering when the apps are going to be updated.
"Frequent updates" would still only be 1-2 releases by now for each app. The graph of updates stopping above overlays all the different apps which have offset releases
> Can you imagine being an iOS developer working on Gmail right now, having shipped literally nothing this year?
This is a bit funny because from the user's perspective it's fantastic! To put it mildly, we are not great fans of Gmail upgrades, especially big ones.
> Can you imagine being an iOS developer working on Gmail right now, having shipped literally nothing this year?
Having worked at Google, it's very common that your work takes more than 6 weeks to reach users even when you're on the full release cadence (which is maybe a release monthly for most apps, and sometimes a cherrypick bugfix release in addition). Projects taking more than 6 months from engineering complete to being live wasn't even that exceptional.
If you're referring to possible justifications for the delay on app update releases, I really like (and want to believe) this angle and will update the article to include the thought. If it is indeed the case - then it shows that Apple's privacy labels are having a powerful pro-consumer effect on major app developers
I would prefer if you don't quote me for obvious reasons - i am speculating. I have left google about 1 year ago, so don't have any magical knowledge besides general workings.
I really think google is trying to be more good than bad in these matters, knowing how the sausage is made. but again, that's my probably biased view.
Interesting thing is that the data they collect on iOS is probably not less on Android, because they are more likely to remove collection to hide bad practices.
This makes the iOS privacy labels the minimum data they collect on Android.
I couldn't write a better press release! Really, "we are building the transparency tools needed to give you more control"?
It's been 8 months, 2 since their homework was due. The choices are (1) they are incapable and incompetent or (2) this is a fake manufactured crisis. There isn't even any particular app change required - you literally just fill out a sheet and add another prompt.
The very likely explanation is google is trying to do a cleanup - either removing the data from the mentioned apps from ads systems, or building transparency tools to give them even more control, over your phone.
disclaimer: ex-googler in ads.