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CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

cyanogenmod.org

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Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#21

Post by shocks »

pwnna wrote: post #12
enraged_camel wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. They do not want the fact that a major weakness of Android as a platform (openness = the ability to fuck up your phone) is being highlighted.

Wait. I thought the ability to fuck up your phone (also known as replacing the shitty UI/crapware that your manufacture forced on you) is a major strength of Android phones?

I get it, you're both joking about how these 'flaws' allow us to do cool things with our phones - but the point being made (which you're both missing or ignoring) is that not everyone is tech-savvy like us and it's very possible for them to brick their devices.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#22

Post by dave809 »

VikingCoder wrote: post #14
interpol_p wrote: post #8

While I view this move as hypocritical of Google, it does feel like it's in their customers' best interest. Think about it from a less technical perspective: I can install an app from the official Google Play store that voids my warranty . They can't have that on their public facing store. Google wants users to install apps, they don't want them to be afraid of voiding their warranty. It's interesting to see how thin…

Always about the end user? Like when Apple said that all Apps needed to be originally written in their crappy language, and that you could not cross-compile to it? That had literally nothing to do with the end user, and everything to do with trying to enforce a monopoly.

I'm pretty sure the restriction to objective-c was due to performance concerns.

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#23

Post by ajross »

mirsadm wrote: post #17

I think this is completely reasonable. If people want to sideload the app then by all means go for it. The Play Store shouldn't allow apps that can potentially damage your device (or void your warranty).

It's reasonable and not. The installer is a tool for assisted rooting. Yes, that's dangerous and voids warranties. But just search for "root" on the Play Store and you'll find thousands of apps designed to exploit and utilize that status. These are great features, and Google clearly allows them...

That said, part of me is chuckling internally that CM got caught being unable to distribute their proprietary (windows-only!) "installer" solution through Google's proprietary distribution channel. There are open source paths to a solution here, and CM didn't even try...

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#25

Post by alxeder »

dave809 wrote: post #22
VikingCoder wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Always about the end user? Like when Apple said that all Apps needed to be originally written in their crappy language, and that you could not cross-compile to it? That had literally nothing to do with the end user, and everything to do with trying to enforce a monopoly.

I'm pretty sure the restriction to objective-c was due to performance concerns.

why? if the app performes badly they can just reject it, regardless of the programming language

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#26

Post by guelo »

g8oz wrote: post #15

It seems like no matter how blatantly Google carries out it's updated "Microsoft from the 1990's" act there will be a coterie of apologists on HN explaining away it's actions. The Cold War provided an appropriate label for this crowd: "useful idiots".

Microsoft didn't have an app store to censor in the 90s. You're thinking "Apple from the 2000s".

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#27

Post by zhuzhuor »

devindotcom wrote: post #20
g8oz wrote: post #15

It seems like no matter how blatantly Google carries out it's updated "Microsoft from the 1990's" act there will be a coterie of apologists on HN explaining away it's actions. The Cold War provided an appropriate label for this crowd: "useful idiots".

This was a TOS violation, nothing 90s-Microsoft about it.

quoted from the article:

After reaching out to the Play team, their feedback was that though application itself is harmless, and not actually in violation of their Terms of Service,...

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#28

Post by naner »

With the CM Installer in the play store many lay-people started using it, rendering their phones unusable[1] when any little issue cropped up.

Also the process wasn't foolproof even for people capable of dealing with technical issues[2].

It isn't polished enough to go in the play store IMO. I don't know WTF the cyanogenmod team was thinking, non-technical people messing with CM will just lead to negative press.

1: http://www.reddit.com/r/nexus4/comments/1qkfaw/cannot_uninst...

2: http://www.reddit.com/r/nexus4/comments/1qi5lw/official_cyan...

Re: CyanogenMod Installer Application Removed from Play Store

#30

Post by colechristensen »

devindotcom wrote: post #20
g8oz wrote: post #15

It seems like no matter how blatantly Google carries out it's updated "Microsoft from the 1990's" act there will be a coterie of apologists on HN explaining away it's actions. The Cold War provided an appropriate label for this crowd: "useful idiots".

This was a TOS violation, nothing 90s-Microsoft about it.

Having a rule in the TOS doesn't make it right.

And you are right, it's not 90s-Microsoft, it's worse. I'd say it's reasonable to believe that vast majority of average users _never_ acquire software outside of the walled gardens of Mirosoft, Google, and Apple's app stores. There sure are benefits to these walled gardens, but the loss of freedom to corporate whim should be a very serious concern to everyone here.

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