Thread

1. Gareth321 · 1789560773 · focus · HN ↗

   MAYBE operating systems shouldn't have gatekeepers which can deny access to billions of customers for any and no reason at all. Apple and Google are WELL past due for regulation in this space. The fact that we cannot download and install software from the internet onto our phones JUST like we can do with our computers is a symbol of our inept and ineffective politicians.

   And before someone says "well akshully you can technically do it on Android," Google has been working tirelessly to make it as onerous as possible for both developers and customers. For example, users need to separately authorise each app (browser, files manager, alternative store, etc) to install an APK from outside the Play Store. Google also does background scans using "Play Protect" which will periodically delete apps Google doesn't approve of. This happened to me with SmartTubeNext. I have a dozen other ways Google ensures users are discouraged from stepping outside the Play Store.

   1. nchmy · 1789564754 · focus · HN ↗

      [dead]

      1. cyanydeez · 1789564994 · focus · HN ↗

         we have an open web. no ones pays for it.

         Anyone can put up a PWA. The only org that hates this is Apple.

         The complaint is about a shared resource, which would require governments to adopt open source policies and _pay_ for it just like they do the post office.

         But ya'll hate government, so here we are.

         1. nchmy · 1789567631 · focus · HN ↗

            why invest in developing a PWA if a significant portion of (particularly wealthy) users cant use it?

            1. nozzlegear · 1789576861 · focus · HN ↗

               How are iOS users not able to use a PWA? Because it takes a few taps to add it to the homescreen? I have several PWAs on my iPhone and I can use them quite well.

               1. nchmy · 1789578320 · focus · HN ↗

                  it is significantly more complicated - especially for the average user - to install them than on other browsers. other browsers also let developers ask the browser to prompt the user to install the app.

                  This is all documented in great detail in the links i shared

      2. ocdtrekkie · 1789565049 · focus · HN ↗

         Open Web Advocacy's goal is Chrome on all platforms, which just means the Play Store problem gets even worse. The moment OWA wins, the open web dies. These are people with a truly bad astroturfy goal, clothed in charitable nonprofit status.

         Paradoxically, as long as WebKit is mandatory on iOS, the open web is safe: Websites have to build for a lowest common denominator standard instead of building for Chrome proprietary APIs.

         1. nchmy · 1789567595 · focus · HN ↗

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      3. tavavex · 1789565763 · focus · HN ↗

         Web apps can't fully replace native apps. This would be a bandaid fix, we need a fully open ecosystem for apps, like what is available on PCs. Native apps can run offline, they can be much more deeply integrated into the OS (you can't have a web app Android launcher, for instance), and they have a performance overhead due to having more layers between them and the hardware, which is important for games or anything complex.

         1. johnecheck · 1789566299 · focus · HN ↗

            Web apps can run offline. Google could figure out web app android launchers if they wanted to. The performance overhead exists but is slight. It doesn't matter to 90+% of applications, including many games.
         2. nicoburns · 1789566824 · focus · HN ↗

            I have high hopes for the Rust UI ecosystem in this regard. It's implementing pretty much everything from scratch, which means that it should be able to support a standalone GUI ecosystem that doesn't depend on a system GUI toolkit being available (while also being able to target existing OS's).
      4. azuanrb · 1789566450 · focus · HN ↗

         [dead]

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