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I mean, you could just open up your favorite web browser and go to any website you'd like. Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindr

I mean, you could just open up your favorite web browser and go to any website you'd like. Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindrance? Well, I know why it is, because most people have been conditioned to associate every service with an app. But really, it shouldn't be a major roadblock. Also, not totally related this this article, but I also don't understand why Parler didn't have a backup DR plan. All of the major cloud platforms have outages. What is stopping them from renting a few racks, or cages of racks, in a datacenter with multiple Tier1 peers? Sounds like they didn't plan very well honestly.

stickyricky 6y ago
> I mean, you could just open up your favorite web browser and go to any website you'd like. Only if you're willing to hit Russian servers...
- core-questions 6y ago
  More like "only while you're still allowed to hit Russian servers". With Carrier-Grade NAT leaving people without their own real public IPs, we're already past the point where people have true unfettered internet access and the freedom to hit / be hit by any IP they wish. I'm not scared of the Russians. The whole thing feels like a lukewarm, microwaved version of the Cold War, and frankly, it's more Hollywood than it is real. "Russian hackers!!!" could be anyone who has a $2/mo Russian proxy address; you can get yourself a /32 of Russian IPv6 space for peanuts; there's no way to know where anyone's really operating from. Unless you think the MaxMinds GeoIP database is somehow irrefutable evidence of state actions....
yosito 6y ago
There are plenty of apps that don't have a web version. Like the carsharing app I use, for example. Only exists for Android and iOS.
slowhand09 6y ago
When your DNS provider removes your record... When your cellular connection becomes an app... When your contact list is removed or hidden... When your text app is locked... When your ISP kills your account... When your webhost provider deletes your site and/or content... When they selectively track your location and post it to political groups they support... When your car GPS stops navigating. When your car won't start to support a suggested lockdown they support... When your cable channel drops all "opposing" news media... How much of Orwell's 1984 do you want?
- viggity 6y ago
  Hell. Even Twilio (a common carrier) banned Parler. AFAICT Parler wasn't using Twilio to forward harassing messages. It used it for 2FA. And I'm sure they'll get away with it. It's just nuts.
  - calciphus 6y ago
    For what it's worth, Twilio states they did not ban Parler. Some rando Twitter comment thread started that rumor. https://twitter.com/twilio/status/1348719143172927491?s=20 https://twitter.com/twilio/status/1348719143172927491?s=20 Twilio said the Parler platform was in violation of the acceptable use policy (not just the use of Twilio services), and was told by Parler that they had already disabled Twilio.
    - viggity 6y ago
      A common carrier can't ban you from using their services because they happen to not like aspects of your business. Parler was sending 2fa codes with twilio. They were not using twilio sms as an interface to parler's user generated content.
- jf22 6y ago
  I believe 1984 was about the government rewriting reality and not private industry.
  - 6y ago
simion314 6y ago
>Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindrance? Would an alarm clock on browser be more easy to use, ergonomic and more private in a web page ? I was reflecting on the issue with music steaming giants, so I had the idea to have the musicians form a cooperative and create their own service where all the money goes to the creators. The first issue I see is Apple and Google will not allow your app in the Store without paying them a big tax and using web page for music steaming would for sure use a lot more battery and it will not have access to the nice native APIs so good luck competing with the giants.
SheinhardtWigCo 6y ago
> Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindrance? Many of the things you can do in a native app are not possible with web APIs. That isn’t going to change because the companies writing web specs have a strategic interest in reserving access to coveted operating system features and APIs for their native app platforms, e.g. push notifications, fast graphics, media capture. Local storage is also being crippled under the guise of privacy - Safari now deletes local data after 7 days unless you add the website to your home screen.

stickyricky 6y ago

> I mean, you could just open up your favorite web browser and go to any website you'd like. Only if you're willing to hit Russian servers...

core-questions 6y ago
More like "only while you're still allowed to hit Russian servers". With Carrier-Grade NAT leaving people without their own real public IPs, we're already past the point where people have true unfettered internet access and the freedom to hit / be hit by any IP they wish. I'm not scared of the Russians. The whole thing feels like a lukewarm, microwaved version of the Cold War, and frankly, it's more Hollywood than it is real. "Russian hackers!!!" could be anyone who has a $2/mo Russian proxy address; you can get yourself a /32 of Russian IPv6 space for peanuts; there's no way to know where anyone's really operating from. Unless you think the MaxMinds GeoIP database is somehow irrefutable evidence of state actions....

yosito 6y ago

There are plenty of apps that don't have a web version. Like the carsharing app I use, for example. Only exists for Android and iOS.

slowhand09 6y ago

When your DNS provider removes your record... When your cellular connection becomes an app... When your contact list is removed or hidden... When your text app is locked... When your ISP kills your account... When your webhost provider deletes your site and/or content... When they selectively track your location and post it to political groups they support... When your car GPS stops navigating. When your car won't start to support a suggested lockdown they support... When your cable channel drops all "opposing" news media... How much of Orwell's 1984 do you want?

viggity 6y ago
Hell. Even Twilio (a common carrier) banned Parler. AFAICT Parler wasn't using Twilio to forward harassing messages. It used it for 2FA. And I'm sure they'll get away with it. It's just nuts.
- calciphus 6y ago
  For what it's worth, Twilio states they did not ban Parler. Some rando Twitter comment thread started that rumor. https://twitter.com/twilio/status/1348719143172927491?s=20 https://twitter.com/twilio/status/1348719143172927491?s=20 Twilio said the Parler platform was in violation of the acceptable use policy (not just the use of Twilio services), and was told by Parler that they had already disabled Twilio.
  - viggity 6y ago
    A common carrier can't ban you from using their services because they happen to not like aspects of your business. Parler was sending 2fa codes with twilio. They were not using twilio sms as an interface to parler's user generated content.
jf22 6y ago
I believe 1984 was about the government rewriting reality and not private industry.
- 6y ago

simion314 6y ago

>Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindrance? Would an alarm clock on browser be more easy to use, ergonomic and more private in a web page ? I was reflecting on the issue with music steaming giants, so I had the idea to have the musicians form a cooperative and create their own service where all the money goes to the creators. The first issue I see is Apple and Google will not allow your app in the Store without paying them a big tax and using web page for music steaming would for sure use a lot more battery and it will not have access to the nice native APIs so good luck competing with the giants.

SheinhardtWigCo 6y ago

> Why is the lack of an app on the App Store or Play such a major hindrance? Many of the things you can do in a native app are not possible with web APIs. That isn’t going to change because the companies writing web specs have a strategic interest in reserving access to coveted operating system features and APIs for their native app platforms, e.g. push notifications, fast graphics, media capture. Local storage is also being crippled under the guise of privacy - Safari now deletes local data after 7 days unless you add the website to your home screen.