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Open GApps releases flashable Google app packages for Android 10 custom ROMs
Months after the Android 10 source code was uploaded to AOSP, the Open GApps team has finally released official GApps packages for Android 10 ROMs.
If you want to use any app that requires Google Play Services on a custom ROM, you'll most likely need to flash a separate Google apps package or GApps after flashing the ROM. This step is something that most custom ROM developers require you to do in order to avoid legal challenges with them building Google apps into their third-party custom ROMs. Following the launch of each major Android update, the Open GApss team rolls out their latest flashable GApps packages for that version of Android. While the team has previously had a flawless track record of promptly releasing GApps packages for the latest Android build, things were a bit different this time around.
[Update: Moving to SourceForge] OpenGapps team explains the future of their Google apps hosting situation
After a tussle with GitHub over storage limitations, the OpenGApps has now decided to self-host its APK repositories via GitLab.
Although Android is open source, it's difficult for most users to stomach using an Android device without Google Play apps and services. Projects like OpenGApps make it possible for users to easily get their favorite Google apps on custom ROMs. OpenGApps even comes in bundles of various sizes with each bundle comprised of Google Play Services and the Google Play Store along with a number of other Google apps.
Open GApps ARM/ARM64 packages for Android Pie ROMs now available
Looking to install an AOSP-based Android 9 Pie custom ROM? You'll need the right GApps package for that. Luckily, Open GApps now supports Android Pie!
If you want to flash a custom ROM and use the Google Play Store or any other applications that require Google Play Services, then you'll most likely need to flash a separate Google apps package (commonly referred to as "GApps.") This is something that custom ROM developers require you to do to avoid any legal challenges with them bundling Google apps into their third-party custom ROMs. Since Android Pie was announced and its source code uploaded to AOSP, we've been looking forward to the Open GApps team's official release of their latest flashable GApps packages. Now, the team has released Android Pie-compatible GApps packages for the ARM and ARM64 architectures in all variants.
Unofficial Open GApps for Android Pie brings Google Play apps and services to custom ROMs
Android Pie was announced just last week, but XDA Senior Member Nezorflame has stepped up and provided the community with an Open Gapps solution.
The Open GApps Project is an open-source effort to bring up-to-date versions of Google application packages to devices that don't have them. We typically see these recommended after you flash a custom ROM since developers are not allowed to include these applications and services in their custom builds of Android. When a new version of Android comes out, it can take some time before the Open GApps team gets everything ready for the new update. Android Pie was announced just last week, but XDA Senior Member Nezorflame has stepped up and provided the community with a temporary solution.
PSA: Always Use the GApps Package Recommended by your ROM Developer
LineageOS continues to recommend MindTheGapps instead of OpenGApps. The reason is because OpenGApps currently breaks important functionality in LineageOS, and users should always use GApps packages that are recommended by their ROM developer.
GApps (short for Google Apps) packages are add-ons for custom ROMs that are necessary in order to get Google apps such as Google Play Services and the Play Store on your device. Developers do not bundle Google apps with their custom ROMs because the apps are proprietary. Instead, ROM developers often recommend third-party packages that can be flashed separately on top of their builds.
Open GApps Now Supports Android 8.1 Oreo (ARM+ARM64, x86+x86_64)
Open GApps now supports Android 8.1 Oreo. GApps packages based on Android 8.1 for the ARM and ARM64 platforms are now available.
GApps packages (short for Google Apps) are essential in the custom ROM development community. The reason why GApps are not bundled with custom ROMs such as LineageOS is that while LineageOS is an open-source Android distribution, Google apps are not open-source. Apps such as the Play Store, Gmail, Maps, etc, do not use the Apache or GPLv2 license. Therefore, custom ROM developers can't bundle them with their builds, as doing so presents legal challenges.
Open GApps Adds Option to Enable Google Assistant During Installation
Popular Google Apps package provider 'Open GApps' has added an option to enable Google Assistant during installation. Read on to know more!
Despite being available for several months, Google Assistant is still officially restricted to only a handful of devices. The supported devices include the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL, Google Home, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (2017) and partially through Google Allo.