4 ms·

I'd like EU court to look into Apple iOS and now MS Windows, Google Chromebooks lock the user into a single source of "apps". It's like you were limited to fill

I'd like EU court to look into Apple iOS and now MS Windows, Google Chromebooks lock the user into a single source of "apps". It's like you were limited to fill / charge your car at stations owned by the manufacturer.

headmelted 9y ago
To be fair, Chromebooks require a Google account, which I agree should be completely optional for the user. Beyond that though, there's very little dependence on Google for apps. The web store opens in a browser window and (if someone were to create one) could easily go to a different store. Likewise, Android-compatible Chromebooks can use Aptoide same as any other compatible Android device (although Android should be looked at too IMHO - I should at least have the option to say "I trust X app store in addition to Google Play" without removing un-named sources protection altogether. Likewise iPhone.).
- pgeorgi 9y ago
  > "I trust X app store in addition to Google Play" That's in Android 8.0: http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/03/21/android-o-feature-spotlight-model-installing-apps-unknown-sources-changed/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/03/21/android-o-feature-sp...
  - headmelted 9y ago
    I hadn't known about this, thanks for the link!
amelius 9y ago
> It's like you were limited to fill / charge your car at stations owned by the manufacturer. Sounds like the Nespresso business model too.
- Fnoord 9y ago
  It is, but in world of the OS walled garden its Apple and Google (via Google Play) who made it popular. With the important notion that you can sideload with Android. Symbian and Windows Mobile back in the days didn't use a centralized repository with a GUI (aka an "app store").
lucozade 9y ago
> It's like you were limited to fill / charge your car at stations owned by the manufacturer Only if you're looking to find fault. The analogy to cars works fine but only if you compare like for like. There's a direct analogy to fueling and that's charging, which can be done from any electric source as long as you have the right connector (like cars). Apps are more like car modifications. For most modern cars this is very hard to do without using the manufacturers own fitters or preferred suppliers. Some modifications are possible without their consent but they'd definitely void any warranty and they're not exactly encouraged. BTW I'm not arguing that this is fine. Just that cars are as much, if not more, walled gardens than phones. To be honest, given the economics of most consumer goods, it's hard to find anything that encourages non-manufacturer modification or repair. If courts were to really start fighting this, they need to fight pretty much everyone.
PhasmaFelis 9y ago
I'm sure MS would like everyone to get their software from the Windows Store, but I've been using Windows 10 for a year and a half and I've never used the Store. Regular installers still work fine. Android is actually more restrictive, since you can distribute software outside the Google Play Store but hardly anyone does.

headmelted 9y ago

To be fair, Chromebooks require a Google account, which I agree should be completely optional for the user. Beyond that though, there's very little dependence on Google for apps. The web store opens in a browser window and (if someone were to create one) could easily go to a different store. Likewise, Android-compatible Chromebooks can use Aptoide same as any other compatible Android device (although Android should be looked at too IMHO - I should at least have the option to say "I trust X app store in addition to Google Play" without removing un-named sources protection altogether. Likewise iPhone.).

pgeorgi 9y ago
> "I trust X app store in addition to Google Play" That's in Android 8.0: http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/03/21/android-o-feature-spotlight-model-installing-apps-unknown-sources-changed/ http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/03/21/android-o-feature-sp...
- headmelted 9y ago
  I hadn't known about this, thanks for the link!

amelius 9y ago

> It's like you were limited to fill / charge your car at stations owned by the manufacturer. Sounds like the Nespresso business model too.

Fnoord 9y ago
It is, but in world of the OS walled garden its Apple and Google (via Google Play) who made it popular. With the important notion that you can sideload with Android. Symbian and Windows Mobile back in the days didn't use a centralized repository with a GUI (aka an "app store").

lucozade 9y ago

> It's like you were limited to fill / charge your car at stations owned by the manufacturer Only if you're looking to find fault. The analogy to cars works fine but only if you compare like for like. There's a direct analogy to fueling and that's charging, which can be done from any electric source as long as you have the right connector (like cars). Apps are more like car modifications. For most modern cars this is very hard to do without using the manufacturers own fitters or preferred suppliers. Some modifications are possible without their consent but they'd definitely void any warranty and they're not exactly encouraged. BTW I'm not arguing that this is fine. Just that cars are as much, if not more, walled gardens than phones. To be honest, given the economics of most consumer goods, it's hard to find anything that encourages non-manufacturer modification or repair. If courts were to really start fighting this, they need to fight pretty much everyone.

PhasmaFelis 9y ago

I'm sure MS would like everyone to get their software from the Windows Store, but I've been using Windows 10 for a year and a half and I've never used the Store. Regular installers still work fine. Android is actually more restrictive, since you can distribute software outside the Google Play Store but hardly anyone does.