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I don't fully buy this idea, because I've never seen an app become successfully widespread through side loading. The technical friction is just too high for non

• banachtarski 6y ago
  This is somewhat circular reasoning though. Apple and Google have deliberately made it impossible or difficult to sideload to maximize profits.
  • shadowgovt 6y ago
    There's nothing particularly difficult about side loading on Google. It's off by default because it's an excellent vector for malicious actors to compromise a user's phone. Users, in the average case, haven't gotten smarter since the days of trojans and malware running rampant under the Windows architecture.
• paulgb 6y ago
  > I've never seen an app become successfully widespread through side loading Isn't Fortnite on Android an example of this? It was in the Play store for a pariod, but IIRC it was not when it was first released and isn't there again after their spat with Google.
• tripzilch 6y ago
  > I don't fully buy this idea Apple is currently literally being a threat to free expression in a situation where it really matters. You don't need to buy the idea, but they're doing it.
  • kace91 6y ago
    I don't fully buy the idea _that sideloading solves this potential abuse_, not that the abuse exists, I thought that was clear. I'd hate it if the big players got to take decisions against human rights under the excuse that an alternative technically exists.
• supportlocal4h 6y ago
  Why does a single app have to be widespread to matter? This is exactly the case where a small group would want a particular app because their life and freedom depend on it. They're not looking to put Facebook out of business or be the next big world fad.