zlacker

>>fsflov+(OP)
I've got to say, some of the comments here are pretty funny.

> "The sideloading restriction is easily solved by installing GrapheneOS"

> "Unless they block ADB, I wouldn't say it's accurate to claim they're "blocking sideloading"".

Not to pick on these folks but it's like we on HN have forgotten that ordinary people use phones too. For some of us, it's not a limitation as long as we can solder a JTAG debugger to some test pads on the PCB and flash our own firmware, but for most users that's just about as possible as replacing the OS.

>>tdeck+o9
Do ordinary people side load at all? Assuming most people use the phone to do something else, and not for the sake of using the phone, after you get the apps you want/need, ordinary people are likely to just do the same thing/consume the same apps over and over.

>>onepla+Wf
Yes, my health relies on it.

I sideload a glucose monitor app that's not available through Playstore (it's FOSS and health is a tricky area with liability).

It's a fantastic app and the ability to sideload it is a major reason I use Android over iOS.

I also sideload a patched app of the Dexcom glucose reader OEM's shitty app to allow the data to be read by the better (sideload) FOSS app.

https://github.com/NightscoutFoundation/xDrip

https://www.patreon.com/byod/about?

Ok I'm not an ordinary person, I guess, but if I was I'd still use those apps and I know people who are ordinary and do so.