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
They "sideload" apps on desktop, which we usually call "installing software". They would probably do it on a phone, too.

>>fsflov+ci
This!

It's crazy how we act like phones are dramatically different than other computers. An average computer user can go to a website, click "download" and then we think the average phone user can't do the exact same thing? It's the same people! They might be used to downloading from one location but it would be laughable to think they couldn't do the normal thing too

(To clarify, I mean apps. Things like GrapheneOS you're going to run into the same issues as expecting my grandma to install Linux. Might be doable but it isn't quite there yet)

>>godels+xo
GrapheneOS can be purchased preinstalled on devices and https://grapheneos.org/install/web is far easier than installing a desktop OS.

>>strcat+jp4
I appreciate you sharing, but right now this is a bit too much for the average person.

I don't think it is too much for a motivated average person, but right now people give up pretty easily and people are a bit scared of it. Maybe it is a self-fulfilling prophecy though.