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Unless you're installing AOSP android on your phone, you're in the same boat with Google. You're increasingly limited to what Google will allow on the play stor

by bbatha 9y ago

Unless you're installing AOSP android on your phone, you're in the same boat with Google. You're increasingly limited to what Google will allow on the play store. You may have some more flexibility, but to continue your analogy: android is a like a low-security prison run by gangs you may have more freedom but at the end of the day you're still on the inside and now you run the risk of getting shanked.

mikegerwitz 9y ago
!Apple !== AOSP/Google With that said, the FSF endorses Replicant (which actually just had a new release and added more device support[0]). I use Replicant. Given the free software philosophy, a free program is always superior to a non-free program, no matter how bad that free program is. But Replicant isn't bad; the most recent version is a fork of "the latest changes from LineageOS 13.0 ".[0] What this emphasizes is the need for a fully free/libre mobile device, which has been the topic of other HN discussions. [0]: https://blog.replicant.us/2017/09/a-new-replicant-6-0-release/ https://blog.replicant.us/2017/09/a-new-replicant-6-0-releas...
- mac01021 9y ago
  > Given the free software philosophy, a free program is always superior to a non-free program, no matter how bad that free program is. I never understood this opinion. If I need to navigate to drive to my grandmother's house, and none of the free nav software knows how to get there, but I have access to some proprietary software that will do the job, then why not use it? I can stop using it at any time I want, no strings attached. I can also reason about its ability to perform actions that serve its creator's interests rather than mine (capture my data and send it to the mothership, mine bitcoins on their behalf, ...) and I can make rational decisions about whether the ability to find my way to grandma's house is worth the risk. Often, the math works out that I am better off occasionally using the proprietary software.
  - mrguyorama 9y ago
    Your average user will be unable to make those "rational decisions" as they are often not made aware of the downsides. This is intentional
tonyztan 9y ago
(Almost) All Android phones allow you to sideload apps without having to root, AFAIK. So you aren't really limited by the Play Store.
- skiman10 9y ago
  I'm curious, are there actually any Android phones at all that don't let you sideload?
- skinnymuch 9y ago
  I have little idea about how the android market is. But when I had a rooted phone, the rooted market of apps/tweaks wasn't too impressive. I personally felt like iOS's jailbreak market was doing better even though it had dramatically shruken too. This is about 2 years ago. So if the rooted tweaks and apps market isn't that strong for Android, how big would the side loading market be? I'm obviously thinking there's not much there. At least not for people where Google services and apps are included normally with Android like the US.
SCdF 9y ago
> Unless you're installing AOSP android on your phone, you're in the same boat with Google. You're increasingly limited to what Google will allow on the play store. I'm not aware of any android phone where you can't install whatever apk you like.
computerex 9y ago
Could not disagree with you more. Google's own Pixel line is more controlled for the benefit of the user, in that the user ends up with a more unified and cohesive experience. OEM's readily make modifications to Android, and you can install a completely custom ROM as well. Finally, you can install applications by consuming third party APK's directly and bypassing the Play store entirely. So no, your comparison of iOS to Android does not apply 1:1.

by bbatha 9y ago

mikegerwitz 9y ago

!Apple !== AOSP/Google With that said, the FSF endorses Replicant (which actually just had a new release and added more device support[0]). I use Replicant. Given the free software philosophy, a free program is always superior to a non-free program, no matter how bad that free program is. But Replicant isn't bad; the most recent version is a fork of "the latest changes from LineageOS 13.0 ".[0] What this emphasizes is the need for a fully free/libre mobile device, which has been the topic of other HN discussions. [0]: https://blog.replicant.us/2017/09/a-new-replicant-6-0-release/ https://blog.replicant.us/2017/09/a-new-replicant-6-0-releas...

mac01021 9y ago
> Given the free software philosophy, a free program is always superior to a non-free program, no matter how bad that free program is. I never understood this opinion. If I need to navigate to drive to my grandmother's house, and none of the free nav software knows how to get there, but I have access to some proprietary software that will do the job, then why not use it? I can stop using it at any time I want, no strings attached. I can also reason about its ability to perform actions that serve its creator's interests rather than mine (capture my data and send it to the mothership, mine bitcoins on their behalf, ...) and I can make rational decisions about whether the ability to find my way to grandma's house is worth the risk. Often, the math works out that I am better off occasionally using the proprietary software.
- mrguyorama 9y ago
  Your average user will be unable to make those "rational decisions" as they are often not made aware of the downsides. This is intentional

tonyztan 9y ago

(Almost) All Android phones allow you to sideload apps without having to root, AFAIK. So you aren't really limited by the Play Store.

skiman10 9y ago
I'm curious, are there actually any Android phones at all that don't let you sideload?
skinnymuch 9y ago
I have little idea about how the android market is. But when I had a rooted phone, the rooted market of apps/tweaks wasn't too impressive. I personally felt like iOS's jailbreak market was doing better even though it had dramatically shruken too. This is about 2 years ago. So if the rooted tweaks and apps market isn't that strong for Android, how big would the side loading market be? I'm obviously thinking there's not much there. At least not for people where Google services and apps are included normally with Android like the US.

SCdF 9y ago

> Unless you're installing AOSP android on your phone, you're in the same boat with Google. You're increasingly limited to what Google will allow on the play store. I'm not aware of any android phone where you can't install whatever apk you like.

computerex 9y ago

Could not disagree with you more. Google's own Pixel line is more controlled for the benefit of the user, in that the user ends up with a more unified and cohesive experience. OEM's readily make modifications to Android, and you can install a completely custom ROM as well. Finally, you can install applications by consuming third party APK's directly and bypassing the Play store entirely. So no, your comparison of iOS to Android does not apply 1:1.