The D-U-N-S requirement is the real killer here. It's a business identifier that costs money and requires a registered business entity. Even with the promised 'student/hobbyist' path, this fundamentally changes Android from a platform where anyone can distribute software to one where Google decides who's allowed to code. They're further normalizing the idea that installing software requires permission.
Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
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Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#742They are following apple
Its good and bad at the same time imho.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#743The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software. On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallma…
I read your comment and assumed he ate some food that fell on his foot. And I thought that was gross. But omg it’s so much worse
is it really worse than losing your freedoms?
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#744The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software. On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallma…
one can both see far into the future and fit one's foot into one's own mouth. it is possible to do two things.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#745Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access
Tell that to all those assholes that are making malware and scamming society on billions. Most of users are not able to keep themselves safe in the internet - they want to install all kind of crap without thinking too much. All of this is companies making it possible that average Joe could just click links, install any kind of crap and still be somewhat secure.
You don't have to prevent root access. You just have to inform user of the risks, void warranties if you want but let users do whatever they want with the hardware that they own.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#746Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access
Tell that to all those assholes that are making malware and scamming society on billions. Most of users are not able to keep themselves safe in the internet - they want to install all kind of crap without thinking too much. All of this is companies making it possible that average Joe could just click links, install any kind of crap and still be somewhat secure.
I know literally 0, 0 people who have installed malwares or had their smartphones hacked in their life times.
The very few I know that have had this happen where all computer users, and virtually all victims of social hacking such as "hey, I'm from IT department, sending you an email, could you please...". A friend of mine exposed sensible data of thousands of customers of her bank like this.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#747The funny thing is Stallman started his fight like half a century ago and on regular days Hacker News shits on him eating something off of his foot and not being polished and diplomatic, and loves practical aspects of Corporate Open Source and gratis goodies and doesn't particularly care about Free Software. On this day suddenly folks come out of the woodwork advocating for half baked measures to achieve what Stallma…
> not being polished and diplomatic
That is severe understatement. Plenty of people and political activists are not polished and not diplomatic ... while still not reaching Stallmans levels. Majority of them, actually.
> eating something off of his foot
Yeah, that episode is unforgettable.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#748How did we let this happen? Oh, yes... Actually I remember: it was a long slow series of accepting small artificial restrictions. I remember people laughing at me at the time. They said it won't matter, they didn't care, that I was paranoid... Now... Here we are.
look at all those HNers happily cheering at Apple's walled garden. Not surprising that there would be many pushing for a similar garden in Google too.
Mobile phones have never been free, we may just need to acknowledge this. From the 90s where telecom companies controlled everything, to now, where only 2 companies control everything. The only way to push back is through vendor-independent standards, especially for all security related stuff (because at the end of the day, security is the problem they are trying to "solve"). If standards exist, alternatives can be built.
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#749You can just disable Play Protect though, can't you?
Re: Google will allow only apps from verified developers to be installed on Android
#750Every day we stray farther from the premise that we should be allowed to install / modify software on the computers we own. Will once again re-up the concept of a “right to root access”, to prevent big corps from pulling this bs over and over again: https://medhir.com/blog/right-to-root-access
Also add "the right to maintain". Too many Android devices have drivers hidden behind kernel forks that will never be updated.
I'd love to install OpenWRT on my portable 5g modem currently running Android - . but I can't and likely never will. Same for my IoT automated blinds