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While I agree with you in principle, in practice Google makes side loading so convoluted and scary that I think they do need / deserve some censure here. The fa

by zmmmmm 2y ago

While I agree with you in principle, in practice Google makes side loading so convoluted and scary that I think they do need / deserve some censure here. The fact you have to go deep into settings, toggle weird settings that tell you how dangerous it is to side load and then it toggles the setting back after you put it on without asking you - this is not all that different to Apple letting you use an alternative payment provider but putting so many warnings in place that no user would ever do it. I want Google to make ability to side load an actively supported first class feature of the platform. There can be a warnings and additional security measures (scanning, permissions boxing etc if necessary) but nothing that in practice has the effect of preventing a commercial entity from shipping a functional app outside of their store.

jojobas 2y ago
I'll take convoluted over outright impossible any day. I'll also take convolutedly unlockable bootloader over the vendor having access to my device even when I don't.
NotPractical 2y ago
It's not quite as convoluted as you describe, and I don't think Android ever changes that setting on your behalf. The fact of the matter is that it is dangerous. IMO it's a good thing that they provide you with appropriate warnings.
- rpdillon 2y ago
  It's only dangerous if Google has better judgment than the end user. This may be the case for the majority of users, but there's a significant subset for whom it's not the case. It'd be nice if there were a way for the end user to nudge Google to step aside.
  - blangk 2y ago
    There is : the end user allows side loading from their preferred app, such as f-droid. Am I missing something?
    - rpdillon 2y ago
      Play Protect, mostly. It nags incessantly to be turned on all the time, even after I've made my intentions to sideline it clear.
Ferret7446 2y ago
Convoluted how? I have literally installed third party app stores on Android many years ago and continued to have done so in the same manner to this very day. You download the APK and when you install it, you have to click two buttons to confirm (one to go to settings, and one to turn on installed apps from untrusted sources).
sadeshmukh 2y ago
No clue what you're talking about. What device do you use? On a Pixel (Google's phone) you download it, then you open it (it warns you that it could have anything) and then it is installed.
noitpmeder 2y ago
This is an insane take. Android handles side loading amazingly.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
cobalt60 2y ago
Sideloading and ability to disable including system app (--user 0) have never been easier. Its the PlayProtect which being disabled still insists on scanning apps intrusively and constantly nagging you while installing apps either package installer or side loading.
riddley 2y ago
Does Apple make it easy?
Suppafly 2y ago
>While I agree with you in principle, in practice Google makes side loading so convoluted and scary that I think they do need Huh? You download an apk and click a security prompt to allow non-store installations and it installs them, it's not particularly hard or complicated.

by zmmmmm 2y ago

jojobas 2y ago

I'll take convoluted over outright impossible any day. I'll also take convolutedly unlockable bootloader over the vendor having access to my device even when I don't.

NotPractical 2y ago

It's not quite as convoluted as you describe, and I don't think Android ever changes that setting on your behalf. The fact of the matter is that it is dangerous. IMO it's a good thing that they provide you with appropriate warnings.

rpdillon 2y ago
It's only dangerous if Google has better judgment than the end user. This may be the case for the majority of users, but there's a significant subset for whom it's not the case. It'd be nice if there were a way for the end user to nudge Google to step aside.
- blangk 2y ago
  There is : the end user allows side loading from their preferred app, such as f-droid. Am I missing something?
  - rpdillon 2y ago
    Play Protect, mostly. It nags incessantly to be turned on all the time, even after I've made my intentions to sideline it clear.

Ferret7446 2y ago

Convoluted how? I have literally installed third party app stores on Android many years ago and continued to have done so in the same manner to this very day. You download the APK and when you install it, you have to click two buttons to confirm (one to go to settings, and one to turn on installed apps from untrusted sources).

sadeshmukh 2y ago

No clue what you're talking about. What device do you use? On a Pixel (Google's phone) you download it, then you open it (it warns you that it could have anything) and then it is installed.

noitpmeder 2y ago

This is an insane take. Android handles side loading amazingly.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

cobalt60 2y ago

Sideloading and ability to disable including system app (--user 0) have never been easier. Its the PlayProtect which being disabled still insists on scanning apps intrusively and constantly nagging you while installing apps either package installer or side loading.

riddley 2y ago

Does Apple make it easy?

Suppafly 2y ago

>While I agree with you in principle, in practice Google makes side loading so convoluted and scary that I think they do need Huh? You download an apk and click a security prompt to allow non-store installations and it installs them, it's not particularly hard or complicated.