this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2023
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[–] [email protected] 158 points 11 months ago (1 children)

No definitely don't sideload a YouTube client that doesn't play ads!

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What color do you like? I like Gray.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

I like the red one with a pipe

[–] [email protected] 150 points 11 months ago (4 children)

That's rich when the Google Play store is full of malware while F-Droid is full of gems.

@technology

[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (5 children)

Is there a good guide on f-droid and sideloading you recommend?

If it is something that Google doesn't recommend then I should probably be doing it.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago

All you have to do is download the APK from the F-Droid website and enable installing from third-party/unknown sources in the Settings app (some versions of Android ask automatically when you try to open the APK). I also recommend disabling unknown sources for your browser once you're done as a security measure.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago

For F-Droid in specific, you'll need an F-Droid client. I use Droid-ify (GitHub) (F-Droid) (IzzyOnDroid), but you can use whichever you prefer. F-Droid is a good source for open source apps.

If you're sideloading from different sources, Obtanium (GitHub) (IzzyOnDroid) is useful to download apps, and keep them updated. You can even kinda use it as an F-Droid client.

Google is pretty lax on what it allows on Google play, so unless you're trying to avoid using Google services or you want to install apps that aren't on the play store, you don't need to do it.

If you want adbocking and extra features in some apps (especially YouTube), check out ReVanced.

Google isn't lying - there are risks to sideloading if you don't know what you're doing. Make sure what you're downloading is coming from legitimate sources you trust. For example, if you look up ReVanced, some unofficial websites show up which may have malware. Triple check everything is coming from an official source.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago

This is the real truth. Man, the gall of that guy.

Hi, we are a spyware company. Be aware. Don't load apps that don't meet our surveillance metrics. Only download our spyware. Thank you.

Screw that guy. How about only sideload. There's another world out there, and it doesn't equate to surveillance capitalism.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

Google's ADS as a whole are malicious. Try Google drivers or TeamViewer and the first sponsored links are malicious/adware. It's absolutely shocking.

I added ublock origin into my clients GPO to protect myself from viruses. Msoft just as bad if not worse since we are all using their products to be protected from.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 97 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Honestly been steadily becoming less happy with the way Google/Android has been going even since Pichai took over.

[–] [email protected] 59 points 11 months ago (7 children)
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[–] [email protected] 84 points 11 months ago (1 children)

In court: “Google isn’t a monopoly because we allow sideloading!”

Outside of court: “Don’t sideload. It’s dangerous and terrible!”

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They are still allowing it tho

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 11 months ago

Sideloading is one of the greatest things we have.

I'm so glad we have it. It almost feels like power and control from a bygone age.

Of course this guy whose net worth is >$100m will be telling us not to use it.

Fuck him.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 11 months ago (4 children)

I've tried downloading some of the games that are on the Play Store for my kids, and by God those apps are cancerous. An ad every 30 seconds and the games are made purely with getting the players to become addicted in mind. Get off your fucking high horse Pichai.

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[–] [email protected] 54 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I would say " well now I will", but I already do this

[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 months ago

Now I'm going to do it even harder!

[–] [email protected] 42 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

Recently Android added another scary "malicious" warning to the already numerous scary dialogs if one tries to install F-Droid. The "Install anyways" button also became hidden in the "More details" menu.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago

It's not just F-Droid, it's any app.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 11 months ago

This has been the final straw for me to fully de-google my life.

F you Google, Play, etc.

Currently setting up my next phone with no googlage.

[–] [email protected] 41 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Basically everything outside fdroid is riddled with trackers and ads so no, thanks

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Funny how search engine giant Google doesn't implement a filter for "no ads, no in-app purchases."

People might actually be able to find what they're looking for instead of what google wants them to find.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 11 months ago

aka "Please only ever buy things off the Google Play store"

[–] [email protected] 32 points 11 months ago (2 children)

If neither Google nor Apple took such a massive rake on the payments, fewer people would take issue with the main app distribution implementations. They have valid reasons for trying to keep you in their ecosystem, but those are severely undercut by taking such a huge percentage.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago

stfu pichai

[–] [email protected] 25 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I do what I want. I'm eating Mac and cheese and nobody can stop me!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Dude, just today I made 10 lbs of spicy bacon mac and cheese. This shit is so lit it gives the sun a run for it's money.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Ironically, I see articles every month telling android users to uninstall a slew of shit malware apps that were on the play store. Thanks Pichai, but I'll take my chances with more reputable sources.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Yes, don't sideload apps. It takes opportunity from us to spy on your usage patterns and enforce ads.

Edit: Oooh, also ignore this other report that we take 70% of your money

[–] [email protected] 29 points 11 months ago (1 children)

That doesn’t say they take 70% of our money. It means that Google spends only 30% of what they take in on the store on operating it, which is very different.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago

That guy's got Liz-Truss-level understanding of economics

[–] [email protected] 20 points 11 months ago

You know what I think I'm going to side load even harder

[–] [email protected] 19 points 11 months ago (2 children)

So they argue that they want to protect users... from epic games? Like they are going to make a virus filled app? I kinda agree people need to be protected from fortnite, but its kind if a silly disingenuous argument.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 11 months ago

I don't have the Play Store on my phone. F-Droid (Droidify), Aurora Store, Obtanium, and Accrescent.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago

AOSP is open source. Better STFU, Sundar.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

sundar shut the fuck up

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (6 children)

I really can't wait until we have a Linux-Mobile OS which supports android apps rather than having an entire fucking operating system running on java.

Running your OS on java is like building your house on quicksand.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

Java is only the languages some apps are programmed in. There is no JVM in android. And no, the OS does not run on Java.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

Fuck up Pichai

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

That article is... very confusingly written. Anybody got another source with a direct, full quote?

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