4 ms·

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking

by wtracy 7y ago

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens.

BlueTemplar 7y ago
And what are you going to do about it? I'm researching Google-free LineageOS and checking out Librem's smartphone...
- wtracy 7y ago
  If you think there's ever going to be enough people flashing their phones with custom ROMs to support an industry of consumer software developers, I think you're going to be very disappointed. Now, if we could get some major carriers and/or retailers backing Librem, that could be interesting. I'm not holding my breath, though.
  - BlueTemplar 7y ago
    Yeah, mostly the second. Though it doesn't stand much of a chance until something (more serious) is done about the GAFAM...
scarface74 7y ago
Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....
- tomc1985 7y ago
  What's wrong with that? Much excellent software is still purchased in just this way Or is trust a forgotten skill nowadays?
  - scarface74 7y ago
    I don’t know - adware, viruses, etc.? With the tight security of iOS and to a lesser extent Android, I know a random app can’t do anything except what I give it permission to do. I’ll download and try any random crap on my iOS device, I’m very careful about what I install on my computer. Right now, my home computer has nothing more than the standard development tools. My other computer has Office, Vuze (for uhh downloading Linux distros), and a Plex server. When you can’t even trust the competence of companies like Google (https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/15235262?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/15235262?hl=en) not to screw up your computer or well known companies like Zoom not to install an auto reinstalling backdoor in your computer (https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-defends-use-of-local-web-server-on-macs-after-security-report/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-defends-use-of-local-web-...), I’m very wary of installing anything unnecessary on my computer.
  - DaiPlusPlus 7y ago
    It’s not us I’m worried about - I remember getting software for my PocketPC in *.cab form from PocketGear.com some 18-19 years ago (wow...) The problem is everyone else: the non-experts. People pay Apple and Google (indirectly) to curate and moderate their respective app-stores. Remember how about 10-7 years ago the web was covered in ads for various DVD/video/movie conversion software? A small number of companies selling thin wrappers around ffmpeg or DirectShow (often but not always bundled with spyware or other crapware even if you paid for it) that only did one specific conversion (e.g. “DivX to H.264 Converter Pro 2009” and “WMV to MPEG-4 Converter Ultimate 2010” etc). I’d really rather not go back to those days for apps for my phone - or anyone else’s phone because then I’ll be roped into fixing people’s phones (instead of their desktops) and Apple will be there laughing all the way to the bank after they get rich selling a phone platform that’s stress-free to consumers because they moderate and curate their App Store.
    - tomc1985 7y ago
      Yet another refrain of, "but think of the casuals!" And that's fine. But I'm sick and tired of watching power being taken away from the power users because of the masses I would happily concede mobile if we could roll back desktop/laptop computing to Windows 2000-level utility, feature-richness, and control (without having to give up Windows itself)
chii 7y ago
> I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens. And yet the developers made the app for those platforms anyway, even though an alternative exists - the free and open web.
- DesiLurker 7y ago
  so its app-developers fault that they have to stick to the only 2 choices that have captured almost all of market? not the regulators fault that they allowed such monopolies to arise?
mikekchar 7y ago
On Android there is, at least, Fdroid. All of the apps I use are from there. It's not a perfect solution, but it's definitely better than nothing.

by wtracy 7y ago

What's the alternative for native mobile apps today? Roll your own smartphone OS? And yes, I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens.

BlueTemplar 7y ago

And what are you going to do about it? I'm researching Google-free LineageOS and checking out Librem's smartphone...

wtracy 7y ago
If you think there's ever going to be enough people flashing their phones with custom ROMs to support an industry of consumer software developers, I think you're going to be very disappointed. Now, if we could get some major carriers and/or retailers backing Librem, that could be interesting. I'm not holding my breath, though.
- BlueTemplar 7y ago
  Yeah, mostly the second. Though it doesn't stand much of a chance until something (more serious) is done about the GAFAM...

scarface74 7y ago

Because I know if it weren’t for Apple I would be downloading Random software from the Internet from an unknown developer and giving them my payment information.....

tomc1985 7y ago
What's wrong with that? Much excellent software is still purchased in just this way Or is trust a forgotten skill nowadays?
- scarface74 7y ago
  I don’t know - adware, viruses, etc.? With the tight security of iOS and to a lesser extent Android, I know a random app can’t do anything except what I give it permission to do. I’ll download and try any random crap on my iOS device, I’m very careful about what I install on my computer. Right now, my home computer has nothing more than the standard development tools. My other computer has Office, Vuze (for uhh downloading Linux distros), and a Plex server. When you can’t even trust the competence of companies like Google (https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/15235262?hl=en https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/15235262?hl=en) not to screw up your computer or well known companies like Zoom not to install an auto reinstalling backdoor in your computer (https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-defends-use-of-local-web-server-on-macs-after-security-report/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/zoom-defends-use-of-local-web-...), I’m very wary of installing anything unnecessary on my computer.
- DaiPlusPlus 7y ago
  It’s not us I’m worried about - I remember getting software for my PocketPC in *.cab form from PocketGear.com some 18-19 years ago (wow...) The problem is everyone else: the non-experts. People pay Apple and Google (indirectly) to curate and moderate their respective app-stores. Remember how about 10-7 years ago the web was covered in ads for various DVD/video/movie conversion software? A small number of companies selling thin wrappers around ffmpeg or DirectShow (often but not always bundled with spyware or other crapware even if you paid for it) that only did one specific conversion (e.g. “DivX to H.264 Converter Pro 2009” and “WMV to MPEG-4 Converter Ultimate 2010” etc). I’d really rather not go back to those days for apps for my phone - or anyone else’s phone because then I’ll be roped into fixing people’s phones (instead of their desktops) and Apple will be there laughing all the way to the bank after they get rich selling a phone platform that’s stress-free to consumers because they moderate and curate their App Store.
  - tomc1985 7y ago
    Yet another refrain of, "but think of the casuals!" And that's fine. But I'm sick and tired of watching power being taken away from the power users because of the masses I would happily concede mobile if we could roll back desktop/laptop computing to Windows 2000-level utility, feature-richness, and control (without having to give up Windows itself)

chii 7y ago

> I'm deeply frustrated with Apple and Google for so forceably locking everyone into their walled gardens. And yet the developers made the app for those platforms anyway, even though an alternative exists - the free and open web.

DesiLurker 7y ago
so its app-developers fault that they have to stick to the only 2 choices that have captured almost all of market? not the regulators fault that they allowed such monopolies to arise?

mikekchar 7y ago

On Android there is, at least, Fdroid. All of the apps I use are from there. It's not a perfect solution, but it's definitely better than nothing.