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

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

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

What color do you like? I like Gray.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

I like the red one with a pipe

[–] [email protected] 150 points 1 year 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 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] LUHG_HANI 10 points 1 year 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.

[–] pirat 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] ConditionOverload 97 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] ladicius 59 points 1 year ago (7 children)
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[–] EvilBit 83 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

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

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[–] interceder270 63 points 1 year 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 1 year ago (3 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.

[–] interceder270 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Fun fact: You can sideload an adblocker that will legit block any ads in apps.

It's called Blokada 5, and you have to download it from their website and sideload it because Google banned apps that use its functionality from the Play store.

So satisfying never seeing ads in apps.

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[–] zepheriths 54 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

Now I'm going to do it even harder!

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year 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.

[–] LemmyNameMyself 41 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] interceder270 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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] 33 points 1 year ago

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

[–] theherk 32 points 1 year 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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[–] alphacyberranger 30 points 1 year ago

stfu pichai

[–] atrielienz 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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

[–] interceder270 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] Ignisnex 7 points 1 year 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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[–] Greggo 22 points 1 year 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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[–] MeanEYE 21 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year 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 1 year 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.

[–] Mr_Blott 9 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year 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 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

AOSP is open source. Better STFU, Sundar.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

sundar shut the fuck up

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year 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 1 year 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 1 year ago

Fuck up Pichai

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

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