Do you consider installing games to you PC from Steam sideloading too? What about downloading Firefox installer? It is installing software on your computer, no matter if that computer happens to be in a cellphone form factor, and always has been. Sideloading is a made up term to make it sound somehow dangerous or complicated in order to justify even bigger walls on the ecosystem garden and control how people use their own devices.
This is not a PC though. Whether you or I like it or not, they are different. And no one wants to type out “installing apps from outside the Google Play Store” every time. It’s a useful term.
Sideloading is a made up term
All terms are made up.
to make it sound somehow dangerous or complicated in order to justify
[Citation needed]
People keep saying this but it makes absolutely no sense. The term predates both Apple and Google, and nothing about the term itself suggests it is “dangerous”.
“installing apps from outside the Google Play Store”
To me that implies it’s somehow different than just installing software. You could say ‘install from play store’ or ‘install from f-droid’ if you need to specify which app repository you should use, as that what it is. Sideloading might be an appropriate term if you need to upload apk to your device via USB-cable from your PC, which the term originally meant.
to make it sound somehow dangerous or complicated in order to justify
[Citation needed]
From the article:
This “advanced flow” is for power users and enthusiasts who “want to take educated risks to install software from unverified developers.” Google says it was “designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high pressure tactics to install malicious software.”
Sure, the term itself comes from 1990s, but lately specially Google tries to twist that to mean something only ‘power users’ do and it comes with a ‘educated risk’.
To me that implies it’s somehow different than just installing software.
That’s because it is, as I’ve just finished explaining. Again, see the “advanced flow” in OP? This does not apply to “installing software”. It only applies to sideloading. I’m not sure why this is so difficult to understand.
You could say ‘install from play store’ or ‘install from f-droid’ if you need to specify which app repository you should use
That’s true, if you were referring to a specific repository, but the term “sideloading” does not refer to any specific repository, as you know.
From the article:
None of this says “sideloading” or refers specifically to the term, it refers to the practice.
Google tries to twist that to mean something only ‘power users’ do and it comes with a ‘educated risk’.
You’re incredibly naive if you think anyone other than “power users” are sideloading.
And it does come with risk, because it might come from a reputable source like FDroid or it might be a random app from some unverified (by anyone) sketchy website, and the system has no technological means to tell the difference.
Installing software is installing software, no matter where you get that software from. That’s it. You can try to twist that with nuances on terminology or invent new ones, the end result is that an piece of software is installed on the system and nothing more. It doesn’t matter if the software came from play store, f-droid, steam, windows store, shady google drive link or the pirate bay. It doesn’t matter if you’re a power user or never seen a smartphone before in your life.
Sure, there might differences in potential security, compatibility, licensing and whatever, but it is still a piece of software being installed.
So it doesn’t apply when I click the big button which says ‘Install’ on F-Droid app on my phone?
Please note the use of quotes. I was using “installing software” the way you were, as in literally any software. Whereas this does not apply to apps in the Google Play Store. That’s why the distinction is important.
Just like installing software from the ‘secure’ Google Play store.
Yes, just like that, except a higher level of risk, because potentially no one is verifying the validity of said software. And as I already explained, there’s no technological way for the OS to differentiate a legitimate source like FDroid from a random sketchy website on the internet.
Installing software is installing software, no matter where you get that software from
Except it’s not, because sideloading is different, as you know, if you actually read the OP, and if you actually read my comments where I already explained how it’s different.
Now I’m done repeating myself over and over, so unless you have something new to contribute to the discussion, I’m out. Have a nice day!
Do you consider installing games to you PC from Steam sideloading too? What about downloading Firefox installer? It is installing software on your computer, no matter if that computer happens to be in a cellphone form factor, and always has been. Sideloading is a made up term to make it sound somehow dangerous or complicated in order to justify even bigger walls on the ecosystem garden and control how people use their own devices.
This is not a PC though. Whether you or I like it or not, they are different. And no one wants to type out “installing apps from outside the Google Play Store” every time. It’s a useful term.
All terms are made up.
[Citation needed]
People keep saying this but it makes absolutely no sense. The term predates both Apple and Google, and nothing about the term itself suggests it is “dangerous”.
To me that implies it’s somehow different than just installing software. You could say ‘install from play store’ or ‘install from f-droid’ if you need to specify which app repository you should use, as that what it is. Sideloading might be an appropriate term if you need to upload apk to your device via USB-cable from your PC, which the term originally meant.
From the article:
Sure, the term itself comes from 1990s, but lately specially Google tries to twist that to mean something only ‘power users’ do and it comes with a ‘educated risk’.
That’s because it is, as I’ve just finished explaining. Again, see the “advanced flow” in OP? This does not apply to “installing software”. It only applies to sideloading. I’m not sure why this is so difficult to understand.
That’s true, if you were referring to a specific repository, but the term “sideloading” does not refer to any specific repository, as you know.
None of this says “sideloading” or refers specifically to the term, it refers to the practice.
You’re incredibly naive if you think anyone other than “power users” are sideloading.
And it does come with risk, because it might come from a reputable source like FDroid or it might be a random app from some unverified (by anyone) sketchy website, and the system has no technological means to tell the difference.
So it doesn’t apply when I click the big button which says ‘Install’ on F-Droid app on my phone?
Just like installing software from the ‘secure’ Google Play store.
Installing software is installing software, no matter where you get that software from. That’s it. You can try to twist that with nuances on terminology or invent new ones, the end result is that an piece of software is installed on the system and nothing more. It doesn’t matter if the software came from play store, f-droid, steam, windows store, shady google drive link or the pirate bay. It doesn’t matter if you’re a power user or never seen a smartphone before in your life.
Sure, there might differences in potential security, compatibility, licensing and whatever, but it is still a piece of software being installed.
Please note the use of quotes. I was using “installing software” the way you were, as in literally any software. Whereas this does not apply to apps in the Google Play Store. That’s why the distinction is important.
Yes, just like that, except a higher level of risk, because potentially no one is verifying the validity of said software. And as I already explained, there’s no technological way for the OS to differentiate a legitimate source like FDroid from a random sketchy website on the internet.
Except it’s not, because sideloading is different, as you know, if you actually read the OP, and if you actually read my comments where I already explained how it’s different.
Now I’m done repeating myself over and over, so unless you have something new to contribute to the discussion, I’m out. Have a nice day!