Antitrust curbs to require tech giants to allow third-party app platforms and billing

Japan to crack down on Apple and Google app store monopolies::TOKYO – Japan is preparing regulations that would require tech giants like Apple and Google to allow outside app stores and payments on their mobile

  • QueueEnglish
    32•11 months ago

    I think it’s more about the defaults included, plus Google hides sideloading more with each new version of android. They have a semi-reasonable worry of “If we show off how easy sideloading is or can be, that enables bad faith actors.” Like Microsoft and IE/Edge.

    But on a fresh install of Android, if you download f-droid from Chrome or Firefox, you need to:

    • Allow the browser to install apk files
    • Install the apk
    • Then enable f-droid to install apk files

    Meanwhile Play Store doesn’t have any of that, it’s enabled and allowed to download and update anything without user prompt, it’s an opt-out.

    Plus with how anything that conflicts with a default app like a Clock app, there’s a decent shot it might not work due to the default battery optimizations, the internal syscalls for “Google’s Clock” instead of “Default Clock” it just kinda makes using anything that’s not the one included with your phone more of a headache.

    It’s easier with SMS, Dialer, browser, and Home launchers, but if you wanted to change any other important apps like your calendar or email it’s kind of a headache.

    • @StovetopEnglish
      19•11 months ago

      There’s also the recent fallout from the Epic v. Google case which determined that Google was also leveraging their market dominance to manipulate the market and negotiate more favorable deals behind closed doors to reduce competition.

    • @zournEnglish
      7•11 months ago

      Honestly, I feel like they’ve made side loading easier and easier as times go on. Used to be that you’d just get a pop up that installs weren’t authorized for that app, then you had to dig through the settings to enable it. Nowadays the pop up has a shortcut to the correct settings page and even visually flashes the right toggle for you to make it easier to find.

      • @CynicRavenEnglish
        5•11 months ago

        I could be wrong but I think at one point the outside sources toggle was just a one time thing and affected all applications.

        • LupecEnglish
          3•11 months ago

          You’re right, it did use to be that way and I’m pretty sure it also automatically took you to that particular setting when you needed it