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Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

arstechnica.com

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Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#581

Post by al_borland »

vachina wrote: post #550
lelandfe wrote: post #497

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An actual example of this lives in the Gmail iOS app. Click a link in an email and every x days, a sheet appears: https://imgur.com/a/nlGS4Yk 1. Chrome 2. Google 3. Default browser app (w/unfamiliar generic logo) They removed the option for Safari some time in the last two years; here's how it looked in 2024: https://imgur.com/1iBVFfc And the cherry on top of dark UX patterns: an unchecked toggle rests at the bottom.…

Why are you even using the Gmail as your mail app?

The switching cost on a 20+ year old email address is high. It’s basically impossible to totally migrate away from. On top of that, since Google does their own thing, it doesn’t fit well into standard IMAP that most clients use.

Sparrow made Gmail a great experience, but Google bought it and shut it down. I’m still rather bitter about that. It’s the only email client that actually made me enjoy email.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#582

Post by Nursie »

grishka wrote: post #87

At this point I'm convinced that there's something deeply wrong with how our society treats technology. Ruining Android for everyone to try to maybe help some rather technologically-hopeless groups of people is the wrong solution. It's unsustainable in the long run. Also, the last thing this world needs right now is even more centralization of power. Especially around yet another US company. People who are unwilling…

"We could make devices safe for everyone but this upsets freedom purists, so I've decided some people need to stay in the dark ages instead"

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#583

Post by asutekku »

al_borland wrote: post #581
vachina wrote: post #550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you even using the Gmail as your mail app?

The switching cost on a 20+ year old email address is high. It’s basically impossible to totally migrate away from. On top of that, since Google does their own thing, it doesn’t fit well into standard IMAP that most clients use. Sparrow made Gmail a great experience, but Google bought it and shut it down. I’m still rather bitter about that. It’s the only email client that actually made me enjoy email.

Spark is a good replacement for Sparrow.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#584

Post by tadfisher »

tredre3 wrote: post #461
supern0va wrote: post #439

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you support Microsoft doing the same thing to Windows? These are general purpose computing devices. It's sure taking a long time, but Cory Doctorow's talk on the war on general purpose computing is sure starting to become a depressing reality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUEvRyemKSg

Microsoft is doing the same thing, they call it S-mode. A surprisingly large amount of computers are sold with Windows S. Thankfully S-Mode can usually be disabled even if your computer shipped with it enabled. Windows S mode is a streamlined version of Windows designed for enhanced security and performance, allowing only apps from the Microsoft Store and requiring Microsoft Edge for safe browsing.

Which is frankly hilarious because the Microsoft Store is the worst offender when it comes to hosting straight-up scams.

I'm not the only one who has noticed: https://www.reddit.com/r/windows/s/6y39VNaLUh

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#586

Post by b00ty4breakfast »

pie_flavor wrote: post #420
parrellel wrote: post #403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose the question is, who is actually willing to believe Google is going to deal in Good Faith. Why would anyone ever even begin to think that?

[flagged]

I see a bull charging full-sprint at me, I'm not going to sit here and consider whether he's merely reacting to a loud noise or if he's actively trying to gore me to death. Incidentally limiting user freedom is indistinguishable from purposefully limiting user freedom.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#587

Post by staticassertion »

ravenstine wrote: post #190
grishka wrote: post #87

At this point I'm convinced that there's something deeply wrong with how our society treats technology. Ruining Android for everyone to try to maybe help some rather technologically-hopeless groups of people is the wrong solution. It's unsustainable in the long run. Also, the last thing this world needs right now is even more centralization of power. Especially around yet another US company. People who are unwilling…

This has nothing to do with keeping people safe. If it did then power users could continue to install their own software by being given that ability as a developer setting. The fact that some people are gullible enough to go into a hidden setting on their phone and enable that in order to install an app from a random Chinese website is not a good reason to take away everyone's freedom. Consolidation of power is all t…

It absolutely has to do with keeping people safe. You not caring isn't relevant.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#588

Post by stavros »

armadyl wrote: post #575
stavros wrote: post #542

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they manage to expand their lineup a bit, that'll be my next phone. Or, if a company makes a phone with GrapheneOS preinstalled, I'm giving them my money. Fuck Google for doing this, and Play Integrity making me unable to use banks is even worse.

They're actually partnering with Motorola and have phones coming out next year! It sounds like they'll be the Motorola Signature, Razr and Fold (iirc).

That's great news, thanks! I can keep my phone for another year.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#589

Post by Nursie »

daemin wrote: post #408
VladVladikoff wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Ruining Android for everyone Are they really though? does the average person really care about side loading? I think we are in an echo chamber. I can't picture any of the people in my life installing things from outside of an app store on their phone. However I realize that's purely anecdotal, it would be nice to see actual statistics on this to have a more informed decision.

If you phrase it as "sideloading" then probably not, since it doesn't sound like something they might want to do, it also sounds difficult and technical. If you phrase it as installing your own software then it might garner some interest from the general populace, as who wouldn't want the option to install their desired software.

A lot of people won't even understand the question, because they can install their apps from the app store, because that's where the apps come from, the app store has what phones crave.

Some of them will even be frightened by the question because they consider their devices scary and dangerous enough already.

Re: Google details new 24-hour process to sideload unverified Android apps

#590

Post by ninjagoo »

al_borland wrote: post #581
vachina wrote: post #550

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you even using the Gmail as your mail app?

The switching cost on a 20+ year old email address is high. It’s basically impossible to totally migrate away from. On top of that, since Google does their own thing, it doesn’t fit well into standard IMAP that most clients use. Sparrow made Gmail a great experience, but Google bought it and shut it down. I’m still rather bitter about that. It’s the only email client that actually made me enjoy email.

> The switching cost on a 20+ year old email address is high. It’s basically impossible to totally migrate away from.

Not that hard. Get new email, autoforward old email to new. In old email, set reply-to as new email.

After suitable time has elapsed, disable old email.

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