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This is quite sad, but thankfully it is still fairly easy to just download an APK and install it. This is the primary driver keeping me away from Apple devices.

This is quite sad, but thankfully it is still fairly easy to just download an APK and install it. This is the primary driver keeping me away from Apple devices. I'll be very sad if Android stops supporting not-from-the-app-store APK files.

thefounder 2y ago
Well chances are that Apple will start accepting out of AppStore installs as well. At least in the EU so you don’t have to worry much about Google stopping apps being installed outside of google playstore
wruza 2y ago
Few days ago I bought a modern ceiling lamp with bluetooth control. Connected it to my iphone and that was it. My relative had an android though. No playstore option. Downloaded the apk from their site, launched it. Access to your location? Photos? File system? Wifi networks? Etc? ETC? E.T.C.? The thing is, it asks it every time you tap “connect” or “on” despite everything being disabled in settings. And of course it doesn’t work without permissions (bluetooth was on). Idk which are critical because none of them are acceptable. That’s basically my average experience with apks. When you guys celebrate wins over apple, I wonder what future will look like and something tells me I’ve already seen it.
- chii 2y ago
  > Connected it to my iphone and that was it. either the iphone app already asked for perms and you granted it all, or they didn't try to invade your privacy in iphone land at all (since an app review might scrutinize it). But an apk might want to extract from you maximally, and there's nothing stopping them. That's why the android version is the way it is. The problem isn't android itself, but that an open system is more vulnerable to being abused. However, i still prefer that over the closed garden.
  - wruza 2y ago
    they didn't try to invade your privacy in iphone land at all (since an app review might scrutinize it). Exactly. I prefer my lights to not know my location and photos, and to not even ask for it. With the fall of apple scrutiny, almost everything will work as described above. Cause it demonstrably does when allowed. The problem isn't android itself Android could (1) disallow repeating permissions popups, (2) feed empty or arbitrary data to apks because of the nature of their “habitat”. F-droid and other non-standard firmware is incompatible with banks, other apps and hardware, so this is out of question. an open system is more vulnerable to being abused. However, i still prefer that over the closed garden. I respect your preference. In my case I should explain the situation to my relative and suggest to choose between the two approaches. But I don’t see mutual respect when reading happy celebrations about destroying the protective garden. Not a thing in our conversation, but I hear it often and dread the results, where there will be nothing to choose from.
    - johnnyanmac 2y ago
      >I prefer my lights to not know my location and photos, and to not even ask for it. deny it then. They want location to help with voice commands. Photos are to label your light profile. If you did either on IOS, you already gave permission. If not, you miss those features. I prefer the explicit choice. better yet, Andoid can let you grant the permission for a short time then disable it on demand. >F-droid and other non-standard firmware is incompatible with banks, other apps and hardware Then make those exceptions or don't use them on your phone. This isn't rocket science. Just because there's choice doesn't mean some apps won't choose to stay stuck on google. > I don’t see mutual respect when reading happy celebrations about destroying the protective garden. because that perspecive isn't respectful in and of itself. Your garden isn't damaged, other peple are tilling new land. No one's making you go out of your garden, and if suddenly some killer app isn't in there you have a choice. You're not forever tainted from downloading another store and downloading one more app while 99% are from the App store. Put it another way: jailbreaking has been a thing since IOS was a thing, there are already homebrew and unofficial apps (e.g. emulators) that you cannot access on IOS because you are in the garden. Nothing will change from then to later except Fortnite will not be in the App store. But if you were fine without Fortnite on IOS for 7 years, you aren't suffering now.
- oniony 2y ago
  Quite why anyone wants ceiling lights that don't just switch on and off with a switch on the wall is beyond me.
  - wruza 2y ago
    It is a LED light with dynamic color temperature, brightness, quick predefined modes (i.e. dim night light mode, evening mode, etc) and a timer.
    - NoGravitas 2y ago
      I have an LED light with those things, but it uses a simple IR remote control. No need to sign away my firstborn to use it.
      - johnnyanmac 2y ago
        that remote conrol will be like all others. disappear until I need it least. I just needed to link a google account and permissions are minimal. nearby devices for the bluetooth/NFCand nothing else. other 5 permissions disabled. worth the convinience since I have control over what it can/'t do.
      - wruza 2y ago
        My buddy has a similar story with a boiler control app. First thing the app did was sending an sms to a chinese number.
  - ssl-3 2y ago
    Remote control and automation. Remote control: While climbing into bed, I notice through the window that the lights in the garage are still on. Not a problem: I can turn them off from where I am. Automation: I get up, get around, and leave for work. Did I remember to turn the coffee machine off? The light in the kitchen? Did I remember to dial the thermostat back? I don't have to go back home and check because it doesn't matter: Those things were done for me, automatically, by virtue of leaving. Later, I get home from wherever I went for work today. It's been a long drive, and it's dark outside, and it's dark inside, and my bladder senses the proximity of a familiar toilet and starts screaming at me before I even start to open the door. By the time I set foot inside of my home, the pathway from the back door to the bathroom has become illuminated so I can get there in a hurry without tripping over a cat.
- resonious 2y ago
  I'm not trying to comment on the average quality of apps available for Android or iPhone. I'll even agree that Apple products tend to be better than their competition for average use. It's more just a personal thing where I feel uncomfortable when I buy a general purpose computer that limits my ability to install and distribute software.

thefounder 2y ago

Well chances are that Apple will start accepting out of AppStore installs as well. At least in the EU so you don’t have to worry much about Google stopping apps being installed outside of google playstore

wruza 2y ago

Few days ago I bought a modern ceiling lamp with bluetooth control. Connected it to my iphone and that was it. My relative had an android though. No playstore option. Downloaded the apk from their site, launched it. Access to your location? Photos? File system? Wifi networks? Etc? ETC? E.T.C.? The thing is, it asks it every time you tap “connect” or “on” despite everything being disabled in settings. And of course it doesn’t work without permissions (bluetooth was on). Idk which are critical because none of them are acceptable. That’s basically my average experience with apks. When you guys celebrate wins over apple, I wonder what future will look like and something tells me I’ve already seen it.

chii 2y ago
> Connected it to my iphone and that was it. either the iphone app already asked for perms and you granted it all, or they didn't try to invade your privacy in iphone land at all (since an app review might scrutinize it). But an apk might want to extract from you maximally, and there's nothing stopping them. That's why the android version is the way it is. The problem isn't android itself, but that an open system is more vulnerable to being abused. However, i still prefer that over the closed garden.
- wruza 2y ago
  they didn't try to invade your privacy in iphone land at all (since an app review might scrutinize it). Exactly. I prefer my lights to not know my location and photos, and to not even ask for it. With the fall of apple scrutiny, almost everything will work as described above. Cause it demonstrably does when allowed. The problem isn't android itself Android could (1) disallow repeating permissions popups, (2) feed empty or arbitrary data to apks because of the nature of their “habitat”. F-droid and other non-standard firmware is incompatible with banks, other apps and hardware, so this is out of question. an open system is more vulnerable to being abused. However, i still prefer that over the closed garden. I respect your preference. In my case I should explain the situation to my relative and suggest to choose between the two approaches. But I don’t see mutual respect when reading happy celebrations about destroying the protective garden. Not a thing in our conversation, but I hear it often and dread the results, where there will be nothing to choose from.
  - johnnyanmac 2y ago
    >I prefer my lights to not know my location and photos, and to not even ask for it. deny it then. They want location to help with voice commands. Photos are to label your light profile. If you did either on IOS, you already gave permission. If not, you miss those features. I prefer the explicit choice. better yet, Andoid can let you grant the permission for a short time then disable it on demand. >F-droid and other non-standard firmware is incompatible with banks, other apps and hardware Then make those exceptions or don't use them on your phone. This isn't rocket science. Just because there's choice doesn't mean some apps won't choose to stay stuck on google. > I don’t see mutual respect when reading happy celebrations about destroying the protective garden. because that perspecive isn't respectful in and of itself. Your garden isn't damaged, other peple are tilling new land. No one's making you go out of your garden, and if suddenly some killer app isn't in there you have a choice. You're not forever tainted from downloading another store and downloading one more app while 99% are from the App store. Put it another way: jailbreaking has been a thing since IOS was a thing, there are already homebrew and unofficial apps (e.g. emulators) that you cannot access on IOS because you are in the garden. Nothing will change from then to later except Fortnite will not be in the App store. But if you were fine without Fortnite on IOS for 7 years, you aren't suffering now.
oniony 2y ago
Quite why anyone wants ceiling lights that don't just switch on and off with a switch on the wall is beyond me.
- wruza 2y ago
  It is a LED light with dynamic color temperature, brightness, quick predefined modes (i.e. dim night light mode, evening mode, etc) and a timer.
  - NoGravitas 2y ago
    I have an LED light with those things, but it uses a simple IR remote control. No need to sign away my firstborn to use it.
    - johnnyanmac 2y ago
      that remote conrol will be like all others. disappear until I need it least. I just needed to link a google account and permissions are minimal. nearby devices for the bluetooth/NFCand nothing else. other 5 permissions disabled. worth the convinience since I have control over what it can/'t do.
    - wruza 2y ago
      My buddy has a similar story with a boiler control app. First thing the app did was sending an sms to a chinese number.
- ssl-3 2y ago
  Remote control and automation. Remote control: While climbing into bed, I notice through the window that the lights in the garage are still on. Not a problem: I can turn them off from where I am. Automation: I get up, get around, and leave for work. Did I remember to turn the coffee machine off? The light in the kitchen? Did I remember to dial the thermostat back? I don't have to go back home and check because it doesn't matter: Those things were done for me, automatically, by virtue of leaving. Later, I get home from wherever I went for work today. It's been a long drive, and it's dark outside, and it's dark inside, and my bladder senses the proximity of a familiar toilet and starts screaming at me before I even start to open the door. By the time I set foot inside of my home, the pathway from the back door to the bathroom has become illuminated so I can get there in a hurry without tripping over a cat.
resonious 2y ago
I'm not trying to comment on the average quality of apps available for Android or iPhone. I'll even agree that Apple products tend to be better than their competition for average use. It's more just a personal thing where I feel uncomfortable when I buy a general purpose computer that limits my ability to install and distribute software.