←back to thread

Android's sideloading limits are its most anti-consumer move

(www.makeuseof.com)
589 points josephcsible | 3 comments | 13 Oct 25 15:24 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
itg ◴[13 Oct 25 16:13 UTC] No.45570037[source]▶
Installing any app I want outside the Play Store was the primary reason I decided to go with Android, despite most of the people I know using iPhones. If I can't do this anymore, I may as well switch and be able to use iMessage and FaceTime with them.
replies(20): >>45570221 #>>45570261 #>>45570265 #>>45570587 #>>45570668 #>>45572259 #>>45572346 #>>45573245 #>>45573688 #>>45573719 #>>45573848 #>>45573983 #>>45574065 #>>45574119 #>>45574318 #>>45574480 #>>45575073 #>>45575074 #>>45575317 #>>45575483 #
jamesnorden ◴[13 Oct 25 19:27 UTC] No.45572346[source]▶
>I may as well switch and be able to use iMessage and FaceTime with them

I, too, love vendor lockin.

replies(2): >>45572360 #>>45573378 #
1. estimator7292 ◴[13 Oct 25 21:11 UTC] No.45573378[source]▶
I mean, we have mandatory Play Store services, so the experience on android is not significantly less locked-in.
replies(1): >>45573388 #
2. opan ◴[13 Oct 25 21:13 UTC] No.45573388[source]▶
LineageOS without gapps (no microg even) works fine. Very few apps require play services. I think everything from F-Droid works.
replies(1): >>45574606 #
3. greekrich92 ◴[13 Oct 25 23:49 UTC] No.45574606[source]▶
The market for that is extremely niche and Google is going to make that less and less practical as it closes off AOSP source availability