Technology

I fucking hate that word. It's not 'sideloading' to install on my own device what I want to install, to use the apps I want to use; to not use the apps I don't want to use. I am not 'sideloading' anything when I install programs on my PC. No different on my phone.

Fuck off with all these new bullshit terms that are only used to imply that what we're doing (with our own devices) is somehow outside the norm, to justify the constant enshittifcation and the growing stranglehold these corporations want on our lives. It's infuriating.

remember when people were actually excited about new android releases because they were weird and consumer friendly?

This framing still sucks. Google is blocking apps THEY don't approve on YOUR phone.

Perfect time for the Chinese to setup a shell company in Mexico that sells smartphones & devices with AOSP-android-based OS to the US. It'll sell like hot cakes.

They won't kill side loading (the fact we even call it side loading instead of simply installing software is a problem). They'll just shoot it in the knees a little. No big deal.

The company says it is now developing an “advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified.” This installation flow will include safeguards to protect people who are being coerced into installing a dangerous app, or tricked by a scammer, along with “clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved.”

IIRC we already had to enable a setting and confirm a warning popup. What are they gonna do? Add more popups? A captcha-"puzzle"? Less easy to accept dialogs?

Weird that they want to do all the verification themselves and not just allow certificate signing using verified CAs. Oh well it's not weird because we all know Google does this to fight back against third party stores and to get developers back to their shitty one and of course to better track them.

Meanwhile the Play Store is full of scams. This isn't about safety, it making sure they get a cut from the scam apps.

edit: this is an article from November, its not something new...

bullshit! if this is actually what the "new" rule is, the exact same thing was already part of their unacceptable original plans.

To accommodate educational and noncommercial development, Google will introduce a new limited developer account type aimed at students and hobbyists. These accounts will not undergo full identity verification but will instead allow app installations on a restricted number of registered devices.

no to any kind of accounts, to any kind of developer registration, and any kind of install limits! its none of google's business what apps people install outside their store, and so they shouldn't be able to enforce a global installation limit for any apps!

So about those linux phones....

I use GrapheneOS (Lineage OS and CyanogenMod before that) and I'm perfectly happy witn alternative software installation sources.

A "concession" to use your phone, and you need to give your address, phone number, and ID. Fuck off.

I'm not worried about sideloading because I use GrapheneOS, but I'm worried that development for various apps might stop...

"side" loading is just normal loading for me. I have one single app from the google app store. (It's cookie clicker 😂)

Cool story, goog.

I'm just going to keep waiting for a linux/foss phone so that its features and capabilities are actually predictable year to year.

But maybe I'm just too picky about what features and capabilities I want. I admit I've gotten used to some pretty outlandish stuff like... lemme check my notes here... "the device does the things I tell it to do." Real galaxy-brain shit!

Billionaires doing what a billionaire does: feign a reason to kneecap a service, force complaints about its ineffectiveness, then use that as an excuse to dismantle it entirely. I am so tired of this.

They're not killing sideloading, they're just building the gallows and sharpening the axe.

The outrage doesn't stop anything, it just makes them slow their plans and wait out the public outrage.

The company has confirmed that it is developing an "advanced flow" to let experienced users install apps from unverified developers

How about don't change it at all, Google

Boiling the frog

Can anyone verify if this is the "new" update to the process? The article takes 75% of the way to get to this paragraph and isn't even clear if this is Google's proposed concession or an existing separate process:

To accommodate educational and noncommercial development, Google will introduce a new limited developer account type aimed at students and hobbyists. These accounts will not undergo full identity verification but will instead allow app installations on a restricted number of registered devices.

If that is the workaround, it sounds like it's still awful since it requires a Google developer account and really only would work for limited development deployment.

They must really hate ReVanced.

Fuck all of this tech bros enshittification surveillance bullshit. I'm going to Radio Shack and buy a Heath Kit! /s

Great, more hoops to jump thr... I mean... an "advanced flow", for gaining the privilege of installing apps of your choosing