Comment on Google's plan to restrict sideloading on Android has a potential escape hatch for users

• Wrrzag@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  “installing” as in “installing software”

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  • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Okay but it’s specifically software from outside the Play Store?

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    • grue@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The point is, there shouldn’t be a distinction. To make one is to support prejudice against installing software from elsewhere.

      If you use “installing” for stuff from the Google store but any other word for stuff from other sources, you are aiding and abetting Google’s anti-property-rights propaganda.

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        there shouldn’t be a distinction.

        There has to be. When 99% of installs come from one location, there needs to be a way to describe that other than “Installing apps from outside the default app store”.

        To make one is to support prejudice against installing software from elsewhere.

        No? It isn’t.

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    • BootLoop@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The same word that I use to when I get software that’s not on the Microsoft Store, the Mac App Store, or whatever distro’s Software GUI when I am using my desktop…

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        If the MS Store and Mac App store made up 99% of installs, that might make sense.

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    • Cethin@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      When I install software from the Arch User Repository I still just call it installing, even though it isn’t through the standard path. Everywhere else, you don’t make the distinction. For some reason on phones we’ve come to call it sideloading, even though the software is just software —it doesn’t care where it came from.

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Because 99% of people are getting it from the same place…

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    • jjlinux@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      When you install a ‘.exe’ file in Windows, you don’t call it ‘sideloading’, you call it ‘downloading and installing’.

      This is the exact same thing. I download from sites, F-Droid, Obtainium, etc., and install the software that is the file I downloaded. I’m effectively NOT side-anything.

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        You might call it that if 99% of software was installed from MS store.

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    • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      The issue people have with making the distinction is that Google is trying to spin the narrative and make side loading seem like a dangerous and bad thing to the average user base who don’t know any better.

      They’re taking umbrage with you agreeing that quantitative usage of a storefront makes something simply installing vs side loading a program. Because it helps Google’s narrative in a way.

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        I understand exactly what people think the issue is. I don’t understand or agree with any of the logic. Google did not invent the term. Apple did not invent the term. There’s nothing in the term itself to imply anything nefarious. It’s nothing but a word used to describe apps installed from outside the default store. When 99-100% of users are all installing exclusively from the default store, it makes sense to have a term that describes that.

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    • track_stick_baboon@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Installing software from outside the play store should be called installing software. It’s installing software from the play store what should have a special name, like “gatedloading” for example.

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Installing software from outside the play store should be called installing software

        Good news. It is!

        It’s installing software from the play store what should have a special name, like “gatedloading” for example.

        Make it hap’n Cap’n. You’re still not invalidating the term of “sideloading”.

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    • Grazed@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      In what way is installing from the play store fundamentally different? Just because it was preloaded on your phone? What if F droid was preloaded on your phone instead? Is it still sideloading? Google’s logic breaks down pretty quickly when you think about it

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    • Wrrzag@lemmy.ml ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      If you need to be that specific, “installing” as in “installing software from outside the play store”

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        We have words for things for a reason.

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    • blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      [deleted]

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      • Ulrich@feddit.org ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Yes, so what do you call it when referring specifically to those apps?

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