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We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

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Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#761

Post by cactacea »

dzikimarian wrote: post #737
christina97 wrote: post #720

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My apartment, smack bang in the middle of Manhattan, has a single coax cable opened by Spectrum, and is the only option for me to get reliable internet connection. I have no choice but to (1) sign whatever their ToS are, (2) pay whatever they want to charge, and (3) have them do what they want with my metadata. I’ve decided it’s not the hill I want to die on, but no, I don’t have many ISPs to choose from.

You have at very least: * Mobile connection, a few carriers * Starlink/Eutelsat It's not perfect, but nowhere near Google/Apple duopoly. Also this is very local US issue, solvable on city level regulation, while smartphones are everywhere.

Starlink in an apartment in the middle of Manhattan? Suggesting Eutelsat is just funny frankly.

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#762

Post by webdoodle »

kristov wrote: post #641

I think the conversation needs to change from "can't run software of our choice" to "can't participate in society without an apple or google account". I have been living with a de-googled android phone for a number of years, and it is getting harder and harder, while at the same time operating without certain "apps" is becoming more difficult. For example, by bank (abn amro) still allows online banking on desktop via…

I've been phoneless for 5 years, and I've experienced this too. I do have a google account, but I get occasionally locked out of it because I don't participate in 2FA. I fought my bank for nearly 5 months before they provided a code generating dongle to 2fa into there web portal. I had to stop using Amazon and EvilBay for exactly the same reasons.

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#763

Post by sokoloff »

xandrius wrote: post #665
sokoloff wrote: post #655

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I called their support line for a lost card, and had to go through to second level support because I didn't have the app. What’s the alternative? The bank sending out a debit card to anyone who calls up and says “I’m @kristov, trust me…” You were not able to served by the standard path, because you couldn’t authenticate yourself via the standard mechanism. You still got service by an alternate path. No different fr…

Not sure if you're genuinely asking because there are a dozen proven ways to verify identity or residency either digitally and physically without being locked down to 2 mobile OSes owned and controlled by 2 American companies.

Exactly, as was demonstrated by GGP's "had to go through to second level support". That seems perfectly reasonable to me, yet seems somehow objectionable to GGP.

"Can you believe that I had to prove my identity to the support group in charge of requesting replacement cards in order to get a replacement card?!"

"Uh, yeah, that makes total sense; what part of this tale of woe is surprising or interesting?"

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#764

Post by const_cast »

nuker wrote: post #281
quaintdev wrote: post #279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not give people the freedom to choose what they want

It will be exploited. Key word above - not tech savvy. The only reason we have convenient banking, gov and streaming apps today is because of guaranteed and enforced mobile security by big boys Apple and Google. (Google being Ad company is another matter, not relevant here).

If we have to always appeal to the lowest of the low, the stupidest of the stupidest, then society sucks ass.

What's even the point of me being alive is I can't do anything that isn't completely idiot-proof and made for goo goo ga ga users?

Look, I get it. Think of the children! Think of the granny!

But I'm not a child, I'm an adult. I would like to be treated as such. Otherwise what the fuck are we even doing here? Why can't I just live in daycare forever? Why am I paying bills?

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#765

Post by lvspiff »

W3zzy wrote: post #741
mothballed wrote: post #710

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't own a phone, but the most shocking revelation came when my child's school required us to use an app to specify how our children will be picked up or ride the bus. So far I've been able to avoid using apps for pretty much anything, but when the school says "use an app or you won't get your kids" and then also say they will call CPS and have your kids seized if you don't get them in time, that puts you in a rea…

I work for some local governments in Belgium and with every system they put in place I keep insisting on a analogous version. Online forms? Great but if anyone chooses the should be able to send in a paper form or get assisted by someone who fills in the online form for them.

As the spouse of someone blind it's becoming increasingly difficult to get accomodations from doctors and govt things. Surprisingly so much so that even making ada complaints goes nowhere. Very few offices are willing to sit and fill out paperwork nor willing to provide an accessible version.

The only saving grace has been be my eyes and other apps that allow for some level of access without needing another human available. It really sucks though as back in the early 2000s strides were being made for the blind community but now it feels like things have regressed because of technology and basic human dignity and kindness has lost out.

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#766

Post by fauigerzigerk »

rhines wrote: post #743
mothballed wrote: post #710

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't own a phone, but the most shocking revelation came when my child's school required us to use an app to specify how our children will be picked up or ride the bus. So far I've been able to avoid using apps for pretty much anything, but when the school says "use an app or you won't get your kids" and then also say they will call CPS and have your kids seized if you don't get them in time, that puts you in a rea…

We've reached the point where people without devices or common online services are so rare that society no longer accommodates them. It's similar to how we need legislation to ensure that disabled people have accessible infrastructure, except I doubt there will ever be legislation mandating offline/off-app accessibility.

Yes, but to me there is a very big difference between being forced to adopt a class of technologies (online services in general) along with the rest of society and being forced to contract with a handful of specific companies that impose extremely one-sided contractual terms on everybody, touching almost every aspect of life.

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#768

Post by daft_pink »

Aachen wrote: post #426
daft_pink wrote: post #52

There’s something weird about it. My phone needs to be hyper secure, and a lot of companies went to monetize that and introduce insecurities with their software. That’s why I love my iPhone, but I’m not super happy about what happens with my Mac. There’s something in the reality that it’s the app developers not the user that are being restricted by Apple. Apple keeps the app developers from doing things I don’t like…

> There’s something in the reality that it’s the app developers not the user that are being restricted by Apple. Reading this comment as a user and developer in one person, it's so weird to see this disjointed picture of developers and users. You should have rights and feel unrestricted as a user but I shouldn't? Have you considered that being a developer is about the same as being a writer instead of a reader? We're…

The fact that I go to McDonald’s and they play a recording every time asking me for an app code. Or I go to Petsmart and they give me all kinds of discounts for installing their app. Or Reddit barely works unless you install their stupid app. There is clearly some invasive behavior happening with apps on phones that doesn’t seem to happen on computers the companies are so insanely motivated to get you to install their freaking app

The difference is I bought the device so I don’t care if you feel restricted as a developer. I’m just saying as a user I feel protected by having someone review the apps that are going on my phone and denying ones they feel suck.

I’m also a developer however I don’t write phone apps

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#769

Post by Zambyte »

trelane wrote: post #752
Luker88 wrote: post #667

So many people paraphrasing Stallman and GPL, and so few realizing that without legal enforcement these problems will keep happening over and over again. Yet there is more BSD and MIT code than ever. Android is full of open source stuff. GPL3 would have prevented this. We've all been bamboozled and we are starting to realize it. I wonder if any project will start switching license. Unlikely, but one can dream.

Switching licenses on a FOSS project without copyright assignment is almost impossible, unless the license already allows for it. See Linux kernel GPLv3 relicensing discussions of the latter aughts.

All software distributed under permissive licenses can be sublicensed under GPLv3 overnight. And all future contributions can only be accepted under GPLv3. Software licensed as exactly GPLv2 (rather than GPLv2 or later) is harder to do this upgrade for because of the reasons you mention, but lots of software can have their license fixed.

Re: We should have the ability to run any code we want on hardware we own

#770

Post by shawabawa3 »

mothballed wrote: post #734
tomaskafka wrote: post #733

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is a great analogy. There are countries where a police can throw you into a lifetime jail with zero option for justice unless you are a famous person from a well known western country. Those countries are North Korea, Iran, Russia, Google and Apple.

Well the US can do it with CBP/ICE, but not for life. I was placed in a jail without being arrested or being accused of a crime and they were very clear at all times I was not even arrested, nor did a federal criminal history search show any record of arrest. No access to lawyer either. US Citizen. Contacted lawyers, all informed me they'd given up trying to sue for these things because it's hopeless.

how long were you in jail? How did you get out?
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