Comment on Google Confirms Non-ADB APK Installs Will Require Developer Registration

• yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨12⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  I don’t disagree but android was already clunky, with less integration across devices (for better or worse), and now you can’t even sideload. What advantages does it have left?

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  • BassTurd@lemmy.world ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    I’m not sure where the thought that it’s clunky comes from, but the advantage to me is that I like the Android OS way more the the Apple OS. I don’t care about integration across devices because I don’t have more than one android device. Anytime I switch phones I login and everything loads in from my latest back up and it just works. I can connect to my computer with KDE connect or plug in with USB C if needed.

    I’m not claiming it’s a better functioning product, I’m just saying the Android UX > Apple UX. The pixel has the advantage of flashing something like grapheneOS which no iPhones can do. Even with locking down side loading apps, there is still more freedom on Android devices than there are on iOS.

    Also, I don’t like the feel of iPhones. I’m sure it’s something I would get used to, but it’s not my first choice.

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    • yeahiknow3@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨11⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      I’ve used Android since launch, and I occasionally switched back and forth with iOS. One of my main complaints was in virtue of Android’s incredible flexibility. Because it was versatile, it was also less reliable and straightforward — no integrated password manager, no easy connection to other devices, etc. It’s less smooth and pleasant (and easy) to use.

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      • markko@lemmy.world ⁨10⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        I’m the complete opposite with respect to wanting all of those apps and features built into the OS, but I understand that’s what most people seem to want, which is largely why iPhones are so popular.

        To me, all of that built-in stuff is bloatware that I have to remove just so I can use whichever software I want.

        I’ll take a bit of jank if it means I have the freedom to do what I want on my device (and choose a device with the specs that matter to me within my budget). That’s why so many people are upset at this news.

        The Apple ecosystem is perfectly suitable for the needs you described, and it’s not something Google will be able to match due to their lack of a real competitor in the desktop OS market. Microsoft had their chance with the Windows Phone but, knowing Windows, I doubt it would ever have had the same level of polish as iOS.

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      • JustARaccoon@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

        You can achieve most of that via third party apps, which is where the beauty of android comes. Instead of being forced to use Google if you want the best integration or be treated as a second class citizen if you try to use a third party service, most android features can have app defaults to set, so you can use bitwarden or proton if those work better for you (and imo that makes it more versatile, not less). In terms of integrating and syncing notifications with your desktop either KDE Connect, Microsoft’s companion app or Google’s companion app should work, though it’s not going to be automatic or as in depth as Apple’s. I’m not gonna touch the smooth and easy argument as that’s something you get used to over time really with these. I find iOS super clunky to use, you find android super clunky, it’s about which one you got used to first.

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