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Two words: Application permissions. Any application I install on the desktop can potentially steal my data and ruin my life. And no, big names like Spotify or

Two words: Application permissions. Any application I install on the desktop can potentially steal my data and ruin my life. And no, big names like Spotify or Valve don’t offer complete protection either due to supply chain attacks.

yobbo 5y ago
Yes, but normies don't really understand or care. The big difference is the "inviting" experience of installing apps on smartphones. Yes search the name and tap "install app".
- Silhouette 5y ago
  I believe this is probably the most important difference. Desktop platforms, and particularly Windows, have not historically offered a convenient experience for installing, updating and removing software. Web apps just work. Mobile apps and app stores offer a simpler and much slicker experience than desktops, so there is less need for the easy access that web apps offer.
- apozem 5y ago
  I think normal users do have a fear of installing software on desktop. There's this fear of "viruses." They know they exist, they don't know how they work, but they know you shouldn't install anything or you'll let them in. They view third-party software like vampires - intruders trying to trick them into opening the door. Which, given the history of adware toolbars and registry bloat on Windows, is maybe warranted. https://www.pcworld.com/article/149951/registry-cleaner.html https://www.pcworld.com/article/149951/registry-cleaner.html
  - dTal 5y ago
    That's the correct default view of software. Where we've gone astray is that people don't treat "apps" the same way.
- LeonB 5y ago
  We do the same in Windows App Store too. … except it’s unlikely to be the easiest way to get the apps you love and not effective as a means of discovering new apps, plus and because of that they haven’t succeeded at attracting developers to their concept. Why would a developer spend however long making their app available in Windows store unless they were already a big name? And how easy is it if you’re on any one of the now disjointed and incompatible litany of display technologies (forms, wpf, silverlight, uwp, dos, powershell) and pay big platform costs for the privilege. I am in reality hoping to do it ASAP.
cblconfederate 5y ago
Your desktop does not have much private data (other than your files, which reputable programs don't scan without reason). Your phone has your location, your activity status, your phonebook, which 99.9% of people cannot spoof
- Nextgrid 5y ago
  > Your desktop does not have much private data (other than your files, which reputable programs don't scan without reason) Disagreed. It's not just about files; once you run an untrusted binary on a desktop it will typically be able to capture your screen, keyboard input, etc. It doesn't need to be in a file for malicious software to be able to pick it up. In contrast, mobile applications typically run within a sandbox where short of an OS/kernel exploit there is no way for the app to access anything else but its own data (besides a very limited subset like photos, etc that you still have to authorize explicitly).
- judge2020 5y ago
  'Files' includes %appdata%, which is often a bunch of secrets like browser cookies or authentication keys.

yobbo 5y ago

Yes, but normies don't really understand or care. The big difference is the "inviting" experience of installing apps on smartphones. Yes search the name and tap "install app".

Silhouette 5y ago
I believe this is probably the most important difference. Desktop platforms, and particularly Windows, have not historically offered a convenient experience for installing, updating and removing software. Web apps just work. Mobile apps and app stores offer a simpler and much slicker experience than desktops, so there is less need for the easy access that web apps offer.
apozem 5y ago
I think normal users do have a fear of installing software on desktop. There's this fear of "viruses." They know they exist, they don't know how they work, but they know you shouldn't install anything or you'll let them in. They view third-party software like vampires - intruders trying to trick them into opening the door. Which, given the history of adware toolbars and registry bloat on Windows, is maybe warranted. https://www.pcworld.com/article/149951/registry-cleaner.html https://www.pcworld.com/article/149951/registry-cleaner.html
- dTal 5y ago
  That's the correct default view of software. Where we've gone astray is that people don't treat "apps" the same way.
LeonB 5y ago
We do the same in Windows App Store too. … except it’s unlikely to be the easiest way to get the apps you love and not effective as a means of discovering new apps, plus and because of that they haven’t succeeded at attracting developers to their concept. Why would a developer spend however long making their app available in Windows store unless they were already a big name? And how easy is it if you’re on any one of the now disjointed and incompatible litany of display technologies (forms, wpf, silverlight, uwp, dos, powershell) and pay big platform costs for the privilege. I am in reality hoping to do it ASAP.

cblconfederate 5y ago

Your desktop does not have much private data (other than your files, which reputable programs don't scan without reason). Your phone has your location, your activity status, your phonebook, which 99.9% of people cannot spoof

Nextgrid 5y ago
> Your desktop does not have much private data (other than your files, which reputable programs don't scan without reason) Disagreed. It's not just about files; once you run an untrusted binary on a desktop it will typically be able to capture your screen, keyboard input, etc. It doesn't need to be in a file for malicious software to be able to pick it up. In contrast, mobile applications typically run within a sandbox where short of an OS/kernel exploit there is no way for the app to access anything else but its own data (besides a very limited subset like photos, etc that you still have to authorize explicitly).
judge2020 5y ago
'Files' includes %appdata%, which is often a bunch of secrets like browser cookies or authentication keys.