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Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

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Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#191

Post by walrus01 »

nickysielicki wrote: post #179

A lot of people seem to believe that there’s much more to this than there really is. Google has hired a bunch of 28 year old kids in HR and PR, that never used Usenet, that never used IRC, that barely remember AIM, that had a smartphone before they had their own laptop, that don’t understand the internet or technology . And they’re the ones making these decisions. There aren’t rooms full of Google PMs and programmers…

If you want to get away from those sort of 28 year olds - go work in core engineering for an ISP. The sort of persons who are entrusted with admin access on the big, expensive, vitally critical Cisco and Juniper boxes that run a medium to large sized ISP are pretty much the opposite of the raised-on-shiny-GUI persons you describe.

However I think it's unfair to say that people under age 40 are 'social justice warriors'. They've been raised in a bubble of superficial user interfaces and have never been forced to encounter the fundamental underpinnings of the software and Internet.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#192

Post by victorhooi »

illustriousbear wrote: post #59
cortesoft wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's sad that your quality of life depends on Google or Facebook services. Quality of life is not a binary, where you either 'have' it or not, so I don't think it makes sense to say "your quality of life DEPENDS on google or Facebook" Many things make your quality of life a bit better, and some things make it a bit worse, but no one says they can't have a quality life without Facebook or google. The person is sayin…

I understand that. I still maintain it's sad that removing Facebook/Google can have any significant drop in your quality of life. And by significant, I mean one where you're willing to debate about it. I like to keep my happiness as far as possible from the services that some soulless multinational provides.

You say you don't want your life to depend on a soulless multinational corporation.... but I suspect you might not be aware of how much it does.

Do you see a doctor, or use any healthcare services? Or use any pharmaceutical products or cosmetics that are mass produced? Shampoo? Soap? Hand sanitizer?

Do you wear clothing that you didn't make yourself from raw cotton you made? Or shop at a store like Gap, Cotton On, Target, Zara etc?

Do you drive a car? Or take Uber? Or use something like a bus or car, or other vehicle made by a large multinational engineering company?

Do you eat any fast foods? Or eat at restaurants that use any produce or mass produced raw ingredients? Or use any kitchen utensils or kitchenware? Do you shop at say IKEA?

Or do you use electronics like a laptop, phone or desktop computer?

Or do you keep any of your money at a bank? Or use things like car insurance?

It slightly irks me when people claim they want to stick it to the man, and don't like "those corporations".

We have a Green party politician in Australia who lives off the grid, and grows his own produce. Whilst I don't agree with all his policies - I respect that he lives consistently with his beliefs.

If you're on HN - I'd posit that your life (like mine, and billions of others) is dependent on multinational corporations for our current quality of life.

If you don't agree with one of them, that fine, but often it's less to do with principles and more "their customer service is terrible" or "they didn't fix this one issue that is very important to me", or "I read on Reddit/FB/Techcrunch this terrible fact about them"

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#193

Post by [deleted] »

nickysielicki wrote: post #179

A lot of people seem to believe that there’s much more to this than there really is. Google has hired a bunch of 28 year old kids in HR and PR, that never used Usenet, that never used IRC, that barely remember AIM, that had a smartphone before they had their own laptop, that don’t understand the internet or technology . And they’re the ones making these decisions. There aren’t rooms full of Google PMs and programmers…

[deleted]

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#195

Post by sudosysgen »

makeworld wrote: post #148
throwaway888abc wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not funny. Do you think the riots are leading to better society/life ?

That is often what riots aim to do, yes.

According to Durkheim , riots and really crime in general have the purpose of pointing out (perceived or real) deficiencies in society.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#196

Post by [deleted] »

2pEXgD0fZ5cF wrote: post #13

Is this google starting to test the waters when it comes to arbitrarily kicking out software they personally don't like? (open source, decentralized, privacy oriented etc.) I might of course be exaggerating a bit here, keep that in mind. - Element and Matrix are growing but still not equipped to fight back at large against this, so it is unlikely to create too much negative press - If Google starts to catch too much…

[deleted]

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#197

Post by colechristensen »

onethought wrote: post #175
colechristensen wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Legislation equating these walled gardens as a new kind of monopoly. Legislation making “terms and conditions” less like laws, and less enforceable.

But wouldn’t that bring down most software companies... terms and conditions have some pretty important legitimate uses...

No, software isn’t special, you should be able to buy it just like you buy other things.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#198

Post by NeutronStar »

colllectorof wrote: post #188
darig wrote: post #151

How can I install Matrix on an android phone without using the Google Play store?

F-Droid is the best way for open source apps, but also most APKs are available outside of Play Store via websites like https://www.apkmirror.com/ . It's a bit of a risk to load apps like that, though.

It's a different risk than having your app removed because google doesn't like it indeed.

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#199

Post by young_unixer »

onethought wrote: post #171
young_unixer wrote: post #160

I hope more apps start allowing to directly download an .apk file from their website. I don't have Google Play Services or the Play store installed on my phone nor do I want to install them. Yes, it's my responsibility to update the app, whatever, just give me the file.

Is there a standard that could verify an apk against a certificate? ... or an I just describing building an alternative play store?

Signal, for instance, does this: https://signal.org/android/apk/

Re: Element (Matrix chat app) suspended from the Google Play Store

#200

Post by ttt0 »

wsc981 wrote: post #176
young_unixer wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. This is Google just being enormous assholes. Nothing to do with fascism.

Mussolini had a somewhat different view, quote: >”Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power." See: https://roanoke.com/news/local/quote-of-the-day-benito-musso...

> ”Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power."

Not to be confused with corporate capitalism.

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