4 ms·

Google's app store is not exclusive.

manuelabeledo 3y ago
It is not exclusive if you are tech literate. But then again, Google paid billions to manufacturers so their store was the only option preinstalled in their devices, which meant that the vast majority of users would just stick with it.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- jsnell 3y ago
  The majority of Android phones sold in the US have multiple app stores on them.
  - manuelabeledo 3y ago
    If you mean the Galaxy Store, it requires a Samsung account to be used. Google positioned itself so it is the de facto default for pretty much every Android phone.
    - jsnell 3y ago
      I don't really understand your point. Doesn't basically every app store in the world on any platform require an account? It seems like a fairly basic requirement for a functioning system (people need to be able to reinstall the apps they bought on a new device). And if having an app store that doesn't require an account is actually somehow desireable, is your suggestion that Google somehow strong-armed Samsung into requiring an account rather than going with the ostensibly superior option of not requiring accounts? Or is the suggestion that the store should be using some other account than a Samsung account, but they weren't allowed to do that.
      - manuelabeledo 3y ago
        To use most major standard Android features in a Samsung phone, a Google account is needed, but a Samsung account is accessory. My point here is that it does not matter that a device comes with one, two, or multiple app stores, if the whole start up flow steers users towards a specific one.
charcircuit 3y ago
Nor is Apple's as AltStore and browser PWA app stores exist.
- layer8 3y ago
  AltStore exploits a loophole that exists for app developers, and you have to “refresh” the app from a computer each week. It’s quite inconvenient and not practical for the average user.
apapapa 3y ago
They make it seem like it is to the vast majority of people with their dark patterns

It is not exclusive if you are tech literate. But then again, Google paid billions to manufacturers so their store was the only option preinstalled in their devices, which meant that the vast majority of users would just stick with it.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
jsnell 3y ago
The majority of Android phones sold in the US have multiple app stores on them.
- manuelabeledo 3y ago
  If you mean the Galaxy Store, it requires a Samsung account to be used. Google positioned itself so it is the de facto default for pretty much every Android phone.
  - jsnell 3y ago
    I don't really understand your point. Doesn't basically every app store in the world on any platform require an account? It seems like a fairly basic requirement for a functioning system (people need to be able to reinstall the apps they bought on a new device). And if having an app store that doesn't require an account is actually somehow desireable, is your suggestion that Google somehow strong-armed Samsung into requiring an account rather than going with the ostensibly superior option of not requiring accounts? Or is the suggestion that the store should be using some other account than a Samsung account, but they weren't allowed to do that.
    - manuelabeledo 3y ago
      To use most major standard Android features in a Samsung phone, a Google account is needed, but a Samsung account is accessory. My point here is that it does not matter that a device comes with one, two, or multiple app stores, if the whole start up flow steers users towards a specific one.

charcircuit 3y ago

Nor is Apple's as AltStore and browser PWA app stores exist.

layer8 3y ago
AltStore exploits a loophole that exists for app developers, and you have to “refresh” the app from a computer each week. It’s quite inconvenient and not practical for the average user.

apapapa 3y ago

They make it seem like it is to the vast majority of people with their dark patterns