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Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

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Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#671

This is why Apple will always be a second-class citizen to Android. If I have a good reason, I can toggle a setting and install APKs built by anyone. If I have a good reason, I can wipe my phone and unlock the bootloader to literally replace and de-Google the entire OS. When I buy a phone, it's a hardware product I'm buying. Just like when you buy a PC/laptop, what you run on it is your business, not the manufacturer…

So you can of course side load apps more easily on Android, but it isn’t super easy. I guess that matters less when people are motivated.

But... if this statement were true in spirit as well then why don’t we see google seizing this PR opportunity and making statements about the superiority of their App Store’s more liberal model? Why do we instead see Google quietly removing HK-protest related apps too?

I guess the moral is that both Apple and Google will kowtow to the desires of the Chinese government in these cases and it’s mostly circumstantial that Google cannot so thoroughly lock down their systems

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#672
post #501

Lesson learned: don't use apple phones. Android lets you install APKs from any source.

China forces the Uighurs and anyone who visits their region (Xinjiang) to install malware on their Android: https://www.extremetech.com/mobile/294389-china-is-installin... Banning sideloading forced China to use iOS exploits, which are ephemeral and not consistently effective. Installing apps outside a repository (like on most Linux distros) is a dual edged sword, Apple and Google are poor stewards of their software…

It seems like this app is also ephemeral? you just uninstall it after they've ripped all your data. So as usual you should cross borders with an empty phone, no?

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#673
post #444

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am sympathetic to the Dancing Bunnies Problem [1]. However, when I weigh the societal harm of (A) preventing people who are very dedicated to shooting themselves in the foot from shooting themselves in the foot, versus (B) protesters being unable to share and access important safety information, the choice is clear. [1] https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-dancing-bunnies-problem/

Personally I think the real problem is that the OS is fundamentally broken. All current OSes are fundamentally broken from a security point of view because they all pre-date the era when security was such a concern and are designed to run only de-facto trusted code. All the security we have including all iOS's security is a bolt-on afterthought. A modern security and privacy conscious OS would be "principle of least…

This is what happens when you try to do that - you pop up so many prompts that everyone just clicks "Allow" out of frustration anyways, which defeats the purpose.

https://tyler.io/macos-10-15-vista/

https://tyler.io/broken/

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#674

Honestly, I think we as in the United States have to think harder whether it is worth sacrificing our beliefs in freedom to gain a few $$$ (edit: A lot of $$$$$) from countries that don't provide their citizens with basic rights.

It's an interesting conundrum. Many values held by the US founding fathers were flawed (IMO due to the period's sentiment). But how would they feel about a globalized economy that is manipulated by a tyrannical force to infringe on liberties in the US?

Is 'flawed' the correct way to describe it though? Generally held beliefs of morality and ethics can differ wildly between societies and time.

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#675
post #668

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> “just don’t spend money there” is a bit reductionist and trivializes the problem of corporations with more power than nation-states. You're totally mistaken if you believe that boycotts and the like aren't taken seriously by big companies, especially companies like Apple where the brand is more important than the product. Of course, it all depends on the size of the boycott, but it doesn't have to cost them million…

Nobody is gonna boycott something they use daily and depend on

It is certainly conceivable that people could make a different choice next time they decide to buy a phone. Others that feel more strongly could switch right away.

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#676

This is why Apple will always be a second-class citizen to Android. If I have a good reason, I can toggle a setting and install APKs built by anyone. If I have a good reason, I can wipe my phone and unlock the bootloader to literally replace and de-Google the entire OS. When I buy a phone, it's a hardware product I'm buying. Just like when you buy a PC/laptop, what you run on it is your business, not the manufacturer…

So you can of course side load apps more easily on Android, but it isn’t super easy. I guess that matters less when people are motivated. But... if this statement were true in spirit as well then why don’t we see google seizing this PR opportunity and making statements about the superiority of their App Store’s more liberal model? Why do we instead see Google quietly removing HK-protest related apps too? I guess the…

>it isn’t super easy

In settings, enable "allow installation of apps from unknown sources". Then download the .apk file from your web browser / dropbox / whatever, and tap to install. It's literally a single-setting toggle to let you install any apk from anywhere.

>Google quietly removing HK-protest related apps

Like what? The app that Apple removed is alive and well in the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=live.hkmap.app...

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#677

This is why Apple will always be a second-class citizen to Android. If I have a good reason, I can toggle a setting and install APKs built by anyone. If I have a good reason, I can wipe my phone and unlock the bootloader to literally replace and de-Google the entire OS. When I buy a phone, it's a hardware product I'm buying. Just like when you buy a PC/laptop, what you run on it is your business, not the manufacturer…

So you can of course side load apps more easily on Android, but it isn’t super easy. I guess that matters less when people are motivated. But... if this statement were true in spirit as well then why don’t we see google seizing this PR opportunity and making statements about the superiority of their App Store’s more liberal model? Why do we instead see Google quietly removing HK-protest related apps too? I guess the…

>but it isn’t super easy

It's pretty easy, in fact when I got a new phone and tried to install the f-droid apk, android took me directly to the setting to toggle side loading apps. The permissions seemed even a little more fine grained than before with a seperate one to allow f-droid to install apps also, but still only one tap away once I actually tried to do it.

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#678
post #621

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been using Android since the beginning, and I think Google is making it worse and worse with each passing day. I was thinking of switching to Apple. I really like where they're going with this privacy stuff. But, no, not a chance. Fuck Apple forever over this decision. I will never buy an Apple product in my life unless they make this right.

> ...I think Google is making it worse and worse with each passing day. I was thinking of switching to Apple... As you have noticed, neither one really have consumer and citizen interests at heart. I'm planning on taking the step of opting out completely. I plan to build my own "phone". I recently purchased a low-cost Mini-PCIe 4G module, antennas, and a USB adapter. I should be able to tether it to a RasPi. My "phon…

Serious question. This seems like a lot of work. Why not just get like a burner phone and be done with it?

I'd like to do that, honestly, but I need navigation or I'm completely helpless in the city.

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#679
post #145

As someone who has appreciated the privacy stance Apple has had and the privacy assisting steps it has taken for a long time (long before iPhone), I believe Apple is coming out to be completely hypocritical and anti-privacy/anti-freedom on this app. I cannot believe that Tim Cook and other senior executives haven't examined this deeper and taken a bold stance to let the app stay! Shame on you, Apple! Even John Gruber…

Apple only cares about privacy because it's a threat to Google and Facebook's business model. They don't care about privacy, they only care about "caring about privacy" when it is good for their business.

Privacy is cheap to engineer because it involves not doing things or hiring more people. They won't allow actions, won't sync data, won't pursue advanced ML, etc etc. It's a clever way to say, "Keeping up with Chrome/Android is hard".

Re: Apple Removes HKmap.live from the App Store

#680

It would be good to remember this moment next time some of their marketing bullshit about privacy will surface again. Their word extends no further than the next paycheck. And people still fall for it.

Forget the recent interest in "privacy" (competition).

Who remembers the 1984 Apple Ad? It looks pretty ironic in hindsight now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axSnW-ygU5g

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