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Why the f do any companies get to decide what code I can or cannot run on my device? I didn't rent the device from anyone, I bought it. Does anyone really thin

by sub7 2y ago

Why the f do any companies get to decide what code I can or cannot run on my device? I didn't rent the device from anyone, I bought it. Does anyone really think giving 20-30% of ecosystem revenue to some gatekeeper makes better ecosystems? We need new open computing laws.

epistasis 2y ago
For the average user, ensuring that unwanted code does not run is the biggest possible feature for any device. If you don't want that feature, don't buy the device! Or jailbreak it. Or compile your own code and load it. It is not the 20%-30% of revenue that makes a better ecosystem, it's the vetting process for the software that makes it better. Every vetting process has errors, just as all software has bugs. The end goals of the process and the error rate of the process, and correction procedures of the process, are what makes a better software ecosystem.
- temp2033 2y ago
  Why should i compile or jailbreak. Its my own device, why not have a toggle to allow sideloading like android. Your average user won't know or even bother to change since as you mentioned they don't want to run unwanted code. Rest of us can run anything on our devices.
  - Terretta 2y ago
    > why not have a toggle to allow sideloading like android Because then your grandmother will turn on that toggle as instructed by the fraud-center in South Asia, install a keylogger watching her banking activity when she sends you that $5 for your birthday, so they can drain that inheritance you were counting on. See the article right here on HN about Python devs applying for jobs and being prompted to self-pown. TL;DR: There are more people susceptible to fraudulent instructions by bad actors than there are people qualified to evaluate consequences of running unvetted code.
  - epistasis 2y ago
    Easy solution: don't buy into the ecosystem if you don't want the primary feature of the ecosystem. For example, I'm not going to buy Sonos speakers ever. It doesn't mean they should be outlawed for their practices.
- sub7 2y ago
  A much more robust and free market approach to this would be a great review system and an actually open app store - this vetting process you describe is not at all "better" it incentivizes platforms to 1) kill competition (or any company who refuses to sell out to them during BD negotiations) and 2) encourage/turn a blind eye to the 1000s of currently available scam apps that try to lock people into subscriptions that cannot get cancelled etc. Examples of both 1) and 2) are plenty, so I guess I just disagree that this vetting process helps anyone but the incumbent gatekeeper-taxers.
  - epistasis 2y ago
    Have such stores popped up on the Android system? I'm assuming such a system would be possible there but do not know.

by sub7 2y ago

epistasis 2y ago

For the average user, ensuring that unwanted code does not run is the biggest possible feature for any device. If you don't want that feature, don't buy the device! Or jailbreak it. Or compile your own code and load it. It is not the 20%-30% of revenue that makes a better ecosystem, it's the vetting process for the software that makes it better. Every vetting process has errors, just as all software has bugs. The end goals of the process and the error rate of the process, and correction procedures of the process, are what makes a better software ecosystem.

temp2033 2y ago
Why should i compile or jailbreak. Its my own device, why not have a toggle to allow sideloading like android. Your average user won't know or even bother to change since as you mentioned they don't want to run unwanted code. Rest of us can run anything on our devices.
- Terretta 2y ago
  > why not have a toggle to allow sideloading like android Because then your grandmother will turn on that toggle as instructed by the fraud-center in South Asia, install a keylogger watching her banking activity when she sends you that $5 for your birthday, so they can drain that inheritance you were counting on. See the article right here on HN about Python devs applying for jobs and being prompted to self-pown. TL;DR: There are more people susceptible to fraudulent instructions by bad actors than there are people qualified to evaluate consequences of running unvetted code.
- epistasis 2y ago
  Easy solution: don't buy into the ecosystem if you don't want the primary feature of the ecosystem. For example, I'm not going to buy Sonos speakers ever. It doesn't mean they should be outlawed for their practices.
sub7 2y ago
A much more robust and free market approach to this would be a great review system and an actually open app store - this vetting process you describe is not at all "better" it incentivizes platforms to 1) kill competition (or any company who refuses to sell out to them during BD negotiations) and 2) encourage/turn a blind eye to the 1000s of currently available scam apps that try to lock people into subscriptions that cannot get cancelled etc. Examples of both 1) and 2) are plenty, so I guess I just disagree that this vetting process helps anyone but the incumbent gatekeeper-taxers.
- epistasis 2y ago
  Have such stores popped up on the Android system? I'm assuming such a system would be possible there but do not know.