And this is why having 3rd party app stores is important. It’s why it matters that Google is killing side loading, if two fucking companies get to decide what you can do on your phone, we’re in a bad spot technology wise
Apple has REMOVED the ICEBlock app from the App Store due to “objectionable content.”
Submitted 22 hours ago by RandAlThor@lemmy.ca to technology@lemmy.world
https://bsky.app/profile/muellershewrote.com/post/3m2am5hhvxk2w
Comments
Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 22 hours ago
We’re in a bad spot technology wise
Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
No doubt. I’ve gotten to the point where I have like 6 apps on my phone and it’s in lockdown mode on iOS. And I’d be on grapheneOS if I wasn’t required to use iOS for work.
jonne@infosec.pub 21 hours ago
And the open source movement is such a blind spot to the ‘left’ as well, even though technology freedom is critical if you want to be able to organise any type of resistance in the digital space.
Lemmy users largely get it, obviously, but centre left people will happily let themselves get locked into the Apple/Google walled gardens even though you’re just giving that company a ridiculous amount of power over you.
ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 20 hours ago
We rapidly need to switch Linux Mobile. PostmarketOS and Mobian are the two most promising projects, and I would highly recommend anyone reading this to donate to them if you have the means.
Both projects directly use your donations to hire developers to build and polish the critical essentials to get this alternative viable as a daily driver.
FauxLiving@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
Yeah, people should have listened to the people warning of privacy concerns with online services. Now that your data is valuable, companies will do anything to extract it from you.
Stop using those products, de-Google, install Linux, use self-hosted solutions.
It will take some effort to switch. You get to decide how much effort you’re willing to expend in order to not sacrifice all of your privacy and control of your digital lives.
quitethekiwi@lemmy.nz 20 hours ago
Just technology wise? I think it’s a little deeper than just technology unfortunately
theunknownmuncher@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
“Sideloading” is their term, invented to make it sound like something it is not. We should not use this word. The correct word is “installing”.
You don’t “sideload” on Windows when you install software outside of the Microsoft Store™️. There is no real difference or distinction with software on phones, so there is no need for a special word.
jonne@infosec.pub 21 hours ago
I can see Microsoft moving to the same sort of thinking as well. Apple already made Mac OS users jump through hoops when you want to install something from the internet or even through a third party package manager like homebrew.
blargh513@sh.itjust.works 20 hours ago
Not to defend it, but the first time I encountered the term was when BlackBerry released their Playbook tablet. It ran their bbos10 and they created an android emulator so you could run some android apps. The process of installing the apk into the emulator was called sideloading.
I miss BlackBerry is all I really wanted to say.
b_tr3e@feddit.org 18 hours ago
“Install” includes installing from an app store no matter how closed down and exlusive. The correct term would be “install from other sources than an app store” which is just clunky. Calling it “sideloading” won’t change that nor will calling it “your mom”. Considering how many corporate-speak terms are in use and how many braindead abbreviations and terms shortened to a word’s last syllable -completely distorting the original meaning- generally are in use, the term “sideloading” is pretty irrelevant. Either lose your mind listening to the bullshit people permanently are emitting or just live with it…
Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip 21 hours ago
Not yet.
Tiger666@lemmy.ca 19 hours ago
Your phone is fucking you no matter what you do.
Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
If people were more aware of how to make and install mobile web apps it would be less of a problem.
At least on the iPhone you can still add a site to your screen that can behave a lot like an app, including camera access, location services, and even gyro. And it’s just a website like most “apps” are.
shrugs@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
Most people don’t care about any of that. Firefox with AdBlock to surfe YouTube without ads? Nah, they want the app, which is basically the same, but at least they can’t block ads. I stopped trying to understand
sem@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 hours ago
There is a great app called ‘hermit’ on android that gives you a better wepapp experience. Basically a browser tuned to make we apps act native.
batterystapled@lemmy.ml 12 hours ago
Mm
batterystapled@lemmy.ml 12 hours ago
Mm
kender242@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
“Hurd OS? Isn’t that obsolete?” “Not obsolete. Just… illegal.” ~Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
simplejack@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
Honestly, this thing should just been a PWA. Making this naive app was dumb.
artyom@piefed.social 20 hours ago
Google is not killing sideloading. If the dev is willing to submit to Apple for verification, they’d probably not object to submitting it to Google.
0x0@lemmy.zip 12 hours ago
Google is not killing sideloading. If the dev is willing to submit
I see…
dev_null@lemmy.ml 20 hours ago
Yes, and then they ban that developer and their apps. It doesn’t matter you can install apps outside of the Play Store, if Google still controls which apps you are allowed to install.
letsgo2themall@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
remember when Tim Apple gifted tRump a golden statue? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
__hetz@sh.itjust.works 1 hour ago
I remember him being gifted a golden pager and I’m still holding out hope that he gets the call.
freddydunningkruger@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Yeah, but are Apple users going to punish Apple for glazing Trump’s tiny manhood by not buying Apple products?
Tim Apple certainly doesn’t think so.
AA5B@lemmy.world 57 minutes ago
It’s really not that bad a compromise, as far as bribes go. Some cheap gaudy bauble as payment for not interfering with billions of dollars in business?
It’s still a bribe and it’s still encouraging mango mussolini, but very efficient tradeoff
Luffy879@lemmy.ml 13 hours ago
Does anyone remember how the Devs from there didnt want to release for Android because ApPlE iS sOoOo mUcH mOoOrE sEcUrE
Get rekt.
DupaCycki@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
In terms of security alone, iPhones easily beat most Android phones. Which may be a fair argument in favor of iPhones. However, to ignore Apple’s policies and long history of delisting similar apps is delusional.
squaresinger@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
In regards to security, Apple does have three upsides, and only those:
- No sideloading and no unlocked bootloader means you can’t sideload malware or install malware-preloaded ROMs. No root also means you can’t just install malware that uses root access.
- Long OS support means fewer people run around with iPhones that are 5 OS versions behind.
- There’s no tiny boutique iPhone manufacturers who sell phones that come pre-loaded with malware.
The solution for the first one is “don’t sideload untrusted stuff” and the solution to the second and third one is “buy an Android phone from a trusted manufacturer that has long term OS support”.
sadfitzy@ttrpg.network 8 hours ago
Always funny watching apple users think they know something.
Taldan@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
In terms of security alone, iPhones easily beat most Android phones
That’s not how security works in the modern tech landscape. No major OS is going to meet a high security standard out of the box. All of them have to be configured to the desired security level, then be added to ongoing security efforts. Every major OS can be secured to the highest security standards
The primary difference is how much effort each takes, but even then there isn’t much of a difference. You’ll find tooling and in-house expertise makes a much larger difference than the OS
The myth that some OS are inherently secure really needs to die off
teolan@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
This is cowardice from Apple, but ICEBlock was not a good app:
HalfSalesman@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
This kind of thing is coming for Android as well once Google has converted it to it’s own walled garden bullshit.
dreadbeef@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 hours ago
This is why the web is way better than any app store. Any future phones should have a first class web experience imo.
Katana314@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
It’s how I browse Lemmy - I sometimes forget that my home-pinned app, Voyager, isn’t actually from the app store.
AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml 9 hours ago
What the fuck is a DIDs?
maximumbird@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
I had to look it up too
Apparently it stands for “decentralized identifiers”
From what I’m gathering it’s a client based web protocol That works in conjunction with DNS
wabasso@lemmy.ca 9 hours ago
I’m only just learning about this, but don’t the encrypted DNS protocols solve the privacy problem?
Or do you mean more like not being able to trust a registrar or public DNS server?
Taldan@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Usually when people complain about DNS, they’re talking about stability issues. In this case I think he’s pointing out how centralized it is, and how a bad actor could cause significant issues
At a local level, the most common issue I know of is ISPs blocking sites at the DNS level by feeding in fake information that redirects you to one of the ISP’s blocked/parked domains. Usually implemented to prevent customers going to piracy sites. It’s not much of an issue to subvert currently, as you can simply use any public DNS provider
That being said, much of that has been consolidated into a dozen or so tech companies. In the current political climate, I could see a coordinated effort happening between those tech companies to block sites deemed non gratis. Obviously there’s still ways to subvert it, but the vast majority of user’s won’t be able to
RandomlyGeneratedName@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
This shouldn’t be on the app store. It gives the US government too much access to pull data from it, or order it pulled down. This should be a web app that can be accessed by any device and can be obscured by VPN access so the regime can’t persecute participants. Apps pull way too much data from phones that ICE can subpoena.
Taldan@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
Disclaimer: The app is closed source, so all we can go off is the developer’s word, although the fact the government removed it is a strong indicator they don’t have access to data from the app
The developer stated they do not even retain any identifying data, so the only data the government could get is public anyway. Through Apple they’d be able to see who downloaded it, and likely when it was used. Your defense would be easy enough though: “I just wanted to make sure the libs weren’t harassing our
fascistpatriotic ICE agents near me”
jontree255@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
I’m surprised it stayed up as long as it did. I thought Apple would have taken it down within days.
Anyways I’ve seen this as a non app alternative: www.stopice.net
Mynameisallen@lemmy.zip 22 hours ago
I mean yeah honestly probably the best, but I’ll take any chance to rant against the idea of walled garden tech
ohellidk@sh.itjust.works 21 hours ago
Would I be paranoid to use a VPN while visiting this site? (And others like it) god only knows if IP’s visiting the site could be uncovered…
Yeah, I’m probably being paranoid…
jontree255@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
Not a bad idea. Just make sure your VPN doesn’t cooperate with law enforcement or sell your data otherwise.
0x0@lemmy.zip 11 hours ago
Would I be paranoid to use a VPN
Or tor.
fluxion@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
Back to the WWW just like the good ol days
sudoer777@lemmy.ml 18 hours ago
“Good thing I got revenge though on Google’s sideloading ban by buying a phone that never allowed it to begin with”
webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 17 hours ago
We should make webapps for everythink. When done properly they are as fast as native apps, can work on any device and do not require a dev license or account.
Lemminary@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
They’re now supported on Firefox on Android, so good news!
donalonzo@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Completely agreed. Nowadays we even have WASM that can run more advanced things, and may even give w3bapps sandboxed capabilities, and can be run natively on any device with a WASM runtime.
darklamer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 hours ago
Funny thing: before the App Store, the original plan for the iPhone was that all third-party apps should be webapps.
ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Sweet solution
baguettefish@discuss.tchncs.de [bot] 8 hours ago
there are technically alternative marketplaces on iOS in the EU, but they do the exact thing google is now copying off apple: apple still has to give the green light
Reygle@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Oh no
Was likely a honeypot the whole time…
Mwa@thelemmy.club 11 hours ago
the USA Goverment probably forced them to remove it
cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 9 hours ago
not probably; the doj forced apple to remove it and apple caved: https://www.404media.co/iceblock-owner-after-apple-removes-app-we-are-determined-to-fight-this/
Mwa@thelemmy.club 6 hours ago
ofc
bigfondue@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
They probably just hinted. These companies are eager to please Trump. Remember the trophy Tim Apple gave Trump? Capitalists love fascism.
Mwa@thelemmy.club 8 hours ago
oh yeah,makes sense tho
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 hours ago
No, they don’t have to. The corporations are the ones who want to control everyone. The U.S government is just a tool for them. The politicians are basically just actors at this point.
abbiistabbii@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 hours ago
no shit
wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 hours ago
What’s objectionable about it Apple? Hmm?
ceenote@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
They can only buy a politician so many gold statues.
TheLastOfHisName@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
I miss my Blackberry Curve. ☹️
finitebanjo@lemmy.world 18 hours ago
Who could have seen this coming from the company whose CEO gifted Trump a literal gold plaque in celebration of his reelection?
100_kg_90_de_belin@feddit.it 16 hours ago
Hey, you know nothing about the absurd pressure billionaire CEO’s are unde/sr
Aljernon@lemmy.today 15 hours ago
Fuck Apple but honestly this app is like trying to stay warm with matches in Antarctica.
ivanafterall@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Fuck Apple and I’d prefer matches in Antarctica to no matches in Antarctica.
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
It’s about as useful as a canary in a coal mine.
null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 hours ago
It’s really sickening that every corporation has thrown in with the new fascist regime.
At least these assholes used to pretend to be “not absolutely awful”. Now they’re just mask-off oppressors.
CosmicTurtle0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 hours ago
It’s no accident that capital is aligned with fascist. Line must go up.
b_tr3e@feddit.org 18 hours ago
It’s not that it’s not profitable for them.
ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com 21 hours ago
The corporate sector will always back a fascist government.
frunch@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
For instance: Volkswagen and Coco Chanel’s ties to Nazi Germany
the_q@lemmy.zip 18 hours ago
Keep on buying, y’all. Show 'em we mean business when we’re appalled at their actions. Giving them more money will surely let them know how much we want change!
MetalMachine@feddit.nl 17 hours ago
You see why Google attempting to lock down installing whatever apps you want is a bad idea? This is an example of what will happen.
Ilixtze@lemmy.ml 22 hours ago
Tech companies have never been our friends.
plz1@lemmy.world 21 hours ago
Why not just make it a website? We’re not doing censoring yet, right?
bitwolf@sh.itjust.works 18 hours ago
Something sensitive like this really should be a PWA (and web app for iOS users)
sundray@lemmus.org 21 hours ago
objectionable contentSheer fucking cowardice
herseycokguzelolacak@lemmy.ml 14 hours ago
This is why Android is far far better than Apple, despite its faults.
can@sh.itjust.works 22 hours ago
cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 20 hours ago
apple and the us government and ice can all suck a dick
lowleekun@ani.social 21 hours ago
Walled garden = poop town
sircac@lemmy.world 12 hours ago
ICE is objectionable… did they got “confused”?
PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works 20 hours ago
I wish we could use a “regular” app like Waze and start reporting “icy weather” as code for ICE. I mean we can, but idk how to make it a thing. Kinda how they were using “winter boots” as code on TikTok for ICE to get around the censors.
DarkFuture@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
When I had an iPhone 3GS I got in a hot tub with it in my pocket and it died. I let it dry out. Then I very carefully took it apart and found all the little white stickers inside that turn from white to pink when in contact with water. I used a razor blade to remove those stickers without damaging them. I then placed a drop of bleach on each which turned them back to white and let them dry out. I used very tiny amounts of super glue to re-apply them to the exact same positions within the phone and then very carefully reassembled the phone.
Took the phone into an Apple store. Guy disappeared into the back for about 10 minutes with it. Came back out and said it must have just up and died but he doesn’t know how and gave me a new iPhone.
Only Apple product I’ve ever owned.
Fuck you Apple.