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The key thing to understand is that there's a big fucking difference between a "repository" and an "app store." One is designed for the convenience of users; the other is designed to exploit them.
Exactly right. The message of the post is that "side-loading" is only used in reference to exploitation services. We could just as easily refer to side loading in Linux and it would be accurate in every way, except that there is no exploitation.
It's literally the exception that proves the rule.
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Exactly. Locking basic services behind apps should be illegal. Services must be accessible to everyone.
same goes for the weather app ...
(context: some years ago they locked the publicly-funded german weather service's API, so common people can't access it anymore. you need to use a spam-ridden app to access it now.)
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wrote last edited by [email protected]
my take on it is that it was a mistake to push end-to-end encryption on every chat. now the government wants to remove privacy for everyone, because some people are going to abuse it.
it would have been a better approach to make privacy through encryption possible, but somewhat technical so non-techy people aren't going to use it much.
context: EU tries to implement "chat control" (again) which is basically removing user's privacy on private chat messages by letting the government spy on it.
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By your logic, 30 years ago you shouldn't have been trusted to have free reign over your system because you didn't know what you were doing yet.
But you did have free reign, you learned, and now you want to pull the ladder up behind you.
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wrote last edited by [email protected]
I don't know where you think you wrote that, but it wasn't in this comment chain. Are you expecting me to go hunting through your user page or something? You are not fucking entitled to call me "illiterate" for responding to what you actually wrote here and not being clairvoyant!
If anything, you're the one who's [concern] trolling here, playing devil's advocate for Google.
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I don't know where you think you wrote that, but it wasn't in this comment chain. Are you expecting me to go hunting through your user page or something? You are not fucking entitled to call me "illiterate" for responding to what you actually wrote here and not being clairvoyant!
If anything, you're the one who's [concern] trolling here, playing devil's advocate for Google.
Nope, right here in this thread, chief. Nearly an hour before you even chimed in. Not my fault you didn't read the comments before getting on your soapbox. Begone, clown.
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By your logic, 30 years ago you shouldn't have been trusted to have free reign over your system because you didn't know what you were doing yet.
But you did have free reign, you learned, and now you want to pull the ladder up behind you.
By your logic, 30 years ago you shouldn't have been trusted to have free reign over your system because you didn't know what you were doing yet.
30 years ago I would've been a child. So... yeah. Not exactly somebody who should have the ability to give root access to any scuzzy app prompting for it.
But you did have free reign, you learned, and now you want to pull the ladder up behind you.
You assume a lot here.
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same goes for the weather app ...
(context: some years ago they locked the publicly-funded german weather service's API, so common people can't access it anymore. you need to use a spam-ridden app to access it now.)
At the very least you can still pay a small one-time fee for the DWD WarnWetter app (or enter a code for firefighters).
Best 3€ I've ever spent purely out of spite, even if the reason behind it is complete BS.
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I think that, with the current state of OSes like Windows and Android, there should be some minimal amount of friction to enabling installation of non-vetted apps. Maybe some switch that can't be enabled accidentally, or without understanding that there's risk involved (or at least a switch that can be disabled and password protected) for the sake of children or the elderly.
On the other hand, though, an OS should be built with enough security and sandboxing that no single application can brick your entire device without at least tapping through and giving it a ton of permissions; which means that the only remaining risk to the end user would be access to disinformation or other harmful content, or the risk of personal information exfiltration (i.e. phishing). At that point, a simple block list (or even just an allow list) maintained by a trusted guardian or third party would be sufficient to keep children or the elderly from harmful content, and whoops we've just invented the internet again.
I am once again begging for Boot2Gecko to become a thing.
Yeah I can accept some kind of "hey we can't verify this, you are on your own if you want to install" warning message, but if it prevents me then I don't want it.
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Only in the US, I guess. In my country and in Europe this will not fly...
Aren’t they claiming this move is specifically to comply with the EU’s Digital Services act?
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Not my fault you don't understand the difference between "thread" and "comment chain." Who's illiterate now?
Moreover, who the fuck do you think you are? You're not entitled to expect people to read anything but direct replies. You're just not that important.
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my take on it is that it was a mistake to push end-to-end encryption on every chat. now the government wants to remove privacy for everyone, because some people are going to abuse it.
it would have been a better approach to make privacy through encryption possible, but somewhat technical so non-techy people aren't going to use it much.
context: EU tries to implement "chat control" (again) which is basically removing user's privacy on private chat messages by letting the government spy on it.
my take on it is that it was a mistake to push end-to-end encryption on every chat. now the government wants to remove privacy for everyone, because some people are going to abuse it.
I'm inclined to agree with this, even though I dislike it. I think encryption should be accessible to everybody, for any purpose, no questions asked. But, making it mainstream allowed certain powers to control the narrative. It's much easier to shift public opinions on something that most people know about, as opposed to something that's more niche. While everybody should have access to encryption, there is benefit to obscurity, as well.
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No difference from checking IDs at the airport? So Google wants a government body to handle their platform on their behalf and to ensure a common playing field where at the airport I can choose whatever vendor I’d like?
No difference from checking IDs at the airport?
An airplane is a glorified autobus. You don't need an ID to get on one of those.
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Some of these comments are wild.
The OS should not at all stop me from doing what I want to do. Ever. Not even if that means I can fuck it up.
They can warn me when I attempt to do things that could fuck shit up. They can make it a bit harder to navigate to certain things so I'm less likely to fuck shit up. But it's my god damn hardware. I should be able to run and configure the software on it as I see fit.
“Why isn’t x working! I set x on my [insert device here] and now it won’t turn on!”
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I think that, with the current state of OSes like Windows and Android, there should be some minimal amount of friction to enabling installation of non-vetted apps. Maybe some switch that can't be enabled accidentally, or without understanding that there's risk involved (or at least a switch that can be disabled and password protected) for the sake of children or the elderly.
On the other hand, though, an OS should be built with enough security and sandboxing that no single application can brick your entire device without at least tapping through and giving it a ton of permissions; which means that the only remaining risk to the end user would be access to disinformation or other harmful content, or the risk of personal information exfiltration (i.e. phishing). At that point, a simple block list (or even just an allow list) maintained by a trusted guardian or third party would be sufficient to keep children or the elderly from harmful content, and whoops we've just invented the internet again.
I am once again begging for Boot2Gecko to become a thing.
wrote last edited by [email protected]Boot2Gecko is a thing: it's called KaiOS. It targets lower tech devices though and is just as locked down as Android, potentially even more actually.
I'm interested: why do you want it? I'm not a big fan of the idea of web development being the standard
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Only in the US, I guess. In my country and in Europe this will not fly...
Nope
These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. At this point, any app installed on a certified Android device in these regions must be registered by a verified developer.
2027 and beyond: We will continue to roll out these requirements globally.
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/elevating-android-security.html?m=1
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I had to 'sideload' the secret of mana port because play store would refuse to validate the license offline after purchase. If I can't play offline a single player game that i bought, than what should i do.
I also have an apk of wayward souls, because it was removed from the store and i like that game. Also a premium game.
So yes. Running software as i see fit. -
Yeah I can accept some kind of "hey we can't verify this, you are on your own if you want to install" warning message, but if it prevents me then I don't want it.
I don't know about you, but my Pixel 6a already does this. When I go to install an APK not from the app store directly it warms me, requires me to acknowledge that the APK was downloaded through Firefox, and acknowledge what permissions it is requesting.
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This does feel like a bit of a double-standard to me. I’ve hated how Microsoft and Apple have introduced app stores on Windows and macOS and try to push people to only install from there instead of directly from the developer. And yet on Linux the advice seems to be never ever download directly from the developer; you should only download from the package repository provided by your OS (which sure feels like an App Store). And that package probably wasn’t even provided by the developer or the OS but some random volunteer that you just assume has good intentions.
wrote last edited by [email protected]And yet on Linux the advice seems to be never ever download directly from the developer
Are people really giving this advice that often and that strongly? I find myself building more and more things from source these days. Especially with modern languages that OS maintainers are actually having a difficult time packaging in the way they're used to.
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Some of these comments are wild.
The OS should not at all stop me from doing what I want to do. Ever. Not even if that means I can fuck it up.
They can warn me when I attempt to do things that could fuck shit up. They can make it a bit harder to navigate to certain things so I'm less likely to fuck shit up. But it's my god damn hardware. I should be able to run and configure the software on it as I see fit.
Have you people never worked in IT support? Like its all fair and good that you, a power user, dont want the OS to restrict you at all. But for your averrage person to be treated the same is just asking for disaster.
