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The problem with the app store is that it is a great control point. We may appreciate the safety it provides but it is a tempting target for regulators. More di

The problem with the app store is that it is a great control point. We may appreciate the safety it provides but it is a tempting target for regulators. More diversity in the ecosystem would help here.

api 8y ago
People are only now realizing this?
- drdaeman 8y ago
  They've realized this many times, only to forget the next day.
- walrus01 8y ago
  People have been saying this for years. For the 98% of non technical users, the App Store is suitable for them because its GUI is incredibly easy to use and understand. For the 2% of people who want to be able to sideload apps and to truly do things with root privilege on their android or ios phones, enforced app stores are a terrible thing.
  - saagarjha 8y ago
    > For the 2% of people who want to be able to sideload apps and to truly do things with root privilege on their android or ios phones, enforced app stores are a terrible thing Not even that: for the 2% who want to install software that hasn't annoyed {Apple, the local government}.
  - overcast 8y ago
    2% is being incredibly generous. If I asked my entire office of 200 people what rooting their phone meant, I'd be flabbergasted if 4 of them knew what I was even saying. HN and forums like it really live in a tiny, tiny bubble of vocal minorities. I've been in this industry for twenty years, and I have absolutely no interest in monkeying around with my phone. I just want it to work.
    - craftyguy 8y ago
      200 people is a very small sample size, and since you all work in the same office, it's likely you all have similar backgrounds and experiences. In short, probably not representative enough of the total population (on top of being a small sample size).
      - overcast 8y ago
        A sample size of 200 is a 93% confidence level. The company is international, and so is the diversity. I guarantee we don't all have the same experiences and backgrounds.
        craftyguy 8y ago
        Here's a counter anecdote to yours: the organization I work in has around 1000 people, I'd say about 30% easily know what 'rooting your phone' means, and at least 5% (probably closer to 10%) do it. Also an international organization here. Your sample group, like mine, is not good enough to come to any conclusions.
        overcast 8y ago
        Sounds like your organization is not diverse, but more of a technical one.
  - jsjohnst 8y ago
    In addition to what others said, side loading apps is definitively possible on both platforms without a lot of effort (and doesn’t require JBs either).

api 8y ago

People are only now realizing this?

drdaeman 8y ago
They've realized this many times, only to forget the next day.
walrus01 8y ago
People have been saying this for years. For the 98% of non technical users, the App Store is suitable for them because its GUI is incredibly easy to use and understand. For the 2% of people who want to be able to sideload apps and to truly do things with root privilege on their android or ios phones, enforced app stores are a terrible thing.
- saagarjha 8y ago
  > For the 2% of people who want to be able to sideload apps and to truly do things with root privilege on their android or ios phones, enforced app stores are a terrible thing Not even that: for the 2% who want to install software that hasn't annoyed {Apple, the local government}.
- overcast 8y ago
  2% is being incredibly generous. If I asked my entire office of 200 people what rooting their phone meant, I'd be flabbergasted if 4 of them knew what I was even saying. HN and forums like it really live in a tiny, tiny bubble of vocal minorities. I've been in this industry for twenty years, and I have absolutely no interest in monkeying around with my phone. I just want it to work.
  - craftyguy 8y ago
    200 people is a very small sample size, and since you all work in the same office, it's likely you all have similar backgrounds and experiences. In short, probably not representative enough of the total population (on top of being a small sample size).
    - overcast 8y ago
      A sample size of 200 is a 93% confidence level. The company is international, and so is the diversity. I guarantee we don't all have the same experiences and backgrounds.
      - craftyguy 8y ago
        Here's a counter anecdote to yours: the organization I work in has around 1000 people, I'd say about 30% easily know what 'rooting your phone' means, and at least 5% (probably closer to 10%) do it. Also an international organization here. Your sample group, like mine, is not good enough to come to any conclusions.
        overcast 8y ago
        Sounds like your organization is not diverse, but more of a technical one.
- jsjohnst 8y ago
  In addition to what others said, side loading apps is definitively possible on both platforms without a lot of effort (and doesn’t require JBs either).