Is there a way to get Google Play Services on Anbox?

AppLee

That's the kind of question that makes me uncomfortable.

The easy and fast answer is: no.
The easy for me and fast answer is: you can try to make it work
What I want to answer : why on earth do you want google services ???
What some might want to shout : If you want google you should keep android

But my answer is:
What do you want ?
What are your requirements for a mobile phone what do you consider mandatory, important and nice-to-have ?
You have to ask yourself these questions because you'll have choices to make and those choices have to be weighted using some scale.
Knowing your goal will help you choose.

BTW Google play is not separated from other google services IIRC, so wanting this is "go back to prison and do not take your income"...

I don't know "ITV Hub" or "All 4" but my suggestion is try to find alternatives.

Best of luck

[Edit] : Well thanks Ingo for the constructive answer

Lakotaubp

@hammerhead As mention briefly in q&a72 the current version if anbox is a proof of concept rather than fully fledged finished article. The idea was to attract futher development. This has not happened.
As for ITVhub and more4 these are also in the istore so it can't be a matter if Google play. Probably more to do with other video play back dependences. Will it not work in a web browser.

dobey

Another option, depending on how much of the actual play services are required by the apps you need, may be to install the microG APKs in anbox. This doesn't require messing with the android image itself, at least.

stanwood

@hammerhead This gets a lot of talks currently. A Linux phone OS such as UT offers us to keep away from Google / Apple servers.
Btw, it’s understood that more and more our smartphones are becoming a way to control connected devices. Indeed, almost every electronic device you’re buying is provided with an app that enable you to remote control it. (Even if they’re mostly gadgets).
For a few of them, this functionality is essential (weather station for example).
So this is basically called « internet of things ». So Anbox is / or could be a way to access to those apps... On the other hand, you allow all your manufacturers & « Google » to know everything of you: what clothes you did wash in your washing machine, at what time, how many times per week, how dirt is your house according the use of your vacuum cleaner , the fact you like your Sirloin medium rare on your gril, etc...
On the other hand, I know that some banks do force you to use their own app to pay your bills...
The question is: Do we really want to expose such a way our lives to theses companies? What do they do with those datas?, etc...
I don’t know so far if an Anbox workaround may be possible for those needs. Maybe asking ourselves what kind of essential use with our mobile phones before choosing the OS.

hammerhead

@Lakotaubp I just get a heap of DRM problems when using them in the browser.

ImmyChan

Apparently there is a script on Github that's supposed to get Google Play services working in Anbox, but when I tried it it didn't seem to work but perhaps YMMV

https://github.com/geeks-r-us/anbox-playstore-installer

tigerpro

I would first like to say, thank you for the script, secondly if you wanna run this you will have to modify how you do it as UT is not a standard linux distro, and therefore doesnt use snaps, I may look into this if time permits, however I encourage any who want to try and get this working to go ahead and do so

flohack

@AppLee I am not fully with you: For example my bank account is being switched to a 2FA authorization for transactions, they dont give me a choice other than using the Android App. So, I have 2 ooptions, either keep a second device around with Android installed (what I do now) or trying to get it running in Anbox. And the problem with Google Play is that it is being used by a lot if not the majority of Apps. So if you cannot install that in Anbox, the Apps wont work.

All my choices are limited here: I need banking to work otherwise I cannot exist literally

AppLee

@Flohack
I know some situations are not easy.

If a bank won't give me the choice then I'll go see another one explaining my issue even proposing to work with them to fix the situation.
People have the power to decide and I can live without accessing my bank account online, but that's me and my personal choice.

That's why I wrote that we need to get clear of what we want.
In my case I want nothing more from google than being able to watch some videos from youtube.

My point was more to understand the motivation behind the request to see if an alternative is possible.
No judgement from me.

Keneda

@Flohack said in Is there a way to get Google Play Services on Anbox?:

@AppLee I am not fully with you: For example my bank account is being switched to a 2FA authorization for transactions, they dont give me a choice other than using the Android App. So, I have 2 ooptions, either keep a second device around with Android installed (what I do now) or trying to get it running in Anbox. And the problem with Google Play is that it is being used by a lot if not the majority of Apps. So if you cannot install that in Anbox, the Apps wont work.

All my choices are limited here: I need banking to work otherwise I cannot exist literally

You can't access your bank account 2FA with web browser?
2FA auth works on lot of sites with web browsers, that's a big lack from your bank if they do not permit that.
Anyway i understand your problem.

domubpkm

@Flohack said in Is there a way to get Google Play Services on Anbox?:

they dont give me a choice other than using the Android App.

If I didn't have the choice to be forced to use some Android applications that can't run smoothly on UT with Anbox, as well as a fingerprint sensor, it would be on a fully operational Sailfish phone and not such an Android! .

flohack

@Keneda I can access my bank account and view my balance, but for transactions I need to type in a code from an App on a mobile phone. And that App is only available for Android and iOS of course.

Keneda

@Flohack
That's what i hate most with the new "app politic" that is coming to us. They make it mandatory although that would be possible otherwise.

We started with "there is an app for that" and now it's "you can only do that with app".

Luckily my bank still make it possible to use simple browser and the unique verify code to secure transaction is sent by SMS...

Besides i have to thank you because canonical OTA 15 browser was not able to access my bank account (login issue), now with morph browser i can.

wgarcia

@Flohack I also need this 2FA access with an Android/IOS app to access the VPN of a major US university, which I need for my work. On the other hand, the app to pay for parking in my municipality is also only Android/IOS of course, and the app depends on Google services for location, so Anbox will not help. And we can go on and on. Unless a strong civil movement stops governments (and other institutions like universities) on relying on Google services, it is really hard to get rid of Google dependence.

AppLee

@wgarcia
Yes fighting for our right is challenging that's for sure.
And most people just let it go.

Politics is politics, you have to understand them to turn the odds in your favor.
For your parking issue, I'll create a manifest for more transparency regarding the app so people can use alternative OS and ask for an alternative for people without a smartphone.
If your mayor is deaf to these arguments then step 2 is to come to their political opponents and spread the word that the mayor is denying freedom to its citizen...

About the university that's the same thing, it's just politics. See how lobbies can influence a university policy...

Against Whatsapp we cannot fight it's just a matter of personal choices.
Against what is forced to us we have a legitimate claim and leverage if we find that it's worth the trouble.

Ok, I'll stop the plea here ; enough off topic from me

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

L-00701

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