Reading the comments from that article is a prime example of how a cult functions.
In reality this will have a 0,002% impact. Most phone users are tech-illiterate and have no idea how to use their devices. You expect these people to go to a different store? On Android you can have other app stores, why don’t you have? Because Play Store is default and all app developers want to be where most users are, not on a 3-4% user share store.
It will most likely be background noise in the first months and everyone will go back to the App Store. The only people that will use an alternate store will most likely be the same ones that use F-droid, so 0,002% of the users.
But hey, it’s better to scream how this whole thing is making their devices less secure, because Apple told them so.
On Android you can have other app stores, why don’t you have?
I do I have a Samsung store. Beyond that, the ability to sideload apps is a huge reason I use Android and IOS sucks. I also have apps I’ve loaded off of web sites and my own LAN.
Some apps can’t be posted on store fronts for one or more reasons.
- Private Internet Access: Due to Play store policy, this version lacks the Mace feature. You have to download the full featured app from PIA’s website. https://helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com/guides/android/install-3/android-installing-the-pia-apk-file
- PornHub: Obvious. But the app is genuinely a better experience than the website.
Side loading definitely has its place and is a welcome change to iOS.
Why is pornhub obvious? Americans are so prude, it hurts my brain. God forbid there are nipples somewhere! But murder is fine.
School Shootings on the news during the day, where every kid can see it. No wonder there are that many gun nuts, they have to be terrified.