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Comment by shaan7 | Hacker News Reader

> No, they don't need "freedom" to be tricked into installing crapware on their devices same way as I don't need "freedom" to cut my face with an open razor

But guess what, in the real world you do have the freedom to cut your face with an open razor. Still, you don't see everyone using one (unless they know what they're doing), they rather use a safe razor - they have the sensibility.

I find it demeaning that we "hackers" assume that a certain set of people will never learn about safety when it comes to computing. They can (they did with the razor), but they certainly won't when we give up on them.

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You conveniently skipped part of my comment where I suggested that people who want to install software from outside of corporate app stores are free to vote with their money and buy a phone that allows that? I just want to be free to continue buying safe razors and locked devices for use-cases I deem beneficial.

Yeah, just buy a phone that doesn't allow you to run the messaging services you need to communicate with your family and business contacts. Just buy a phone you can't run your banking app on because they only support locked down platforms. The freedom of choice is astounding.

I'm pretty sure my Android phone allows me to communicate with my family and local business contacts. Banking apps also work fine on it. And I even installed bunch of coolhaxxor software like WiFi scanner or a browser with real ad blocker from third-party app store!

Huh? Give it some time then. My banking app refuses to run if I so much as enable developer mode. WhatsApp will permanently ban your number if you use an alternative client. I have access to neither if I choose to run postmarketOS.

How will any of these issues be solved by forcing Apple to allow side-loading?

It's a necessary step. We cannot solve those issues and allow Apple to own the machine. First we must acquire the keys. Then we fight them when they discriminate against us for using them.

Um, you're making the wrong comparison. Apple can just offer a "locked" version of iPhone if you want that. You could buy a unlocked one for you, and a locked one for $whoever. iOS vs Android should not a safe vs unsafe argument, it should be a Gillette razor vs Philips razor argument.

Also, I don't think the only merit that iPhone brings is this so-called safety, it is also a very well engineered device. I'd like to buy one but the only thing that has held me back is how closed the ecosystem is. If the EU is able to force Apple to fix that, I might finally buy an iPhone for the first time :)

> Um, you're making the wrong comparison. Apple can just offer a "locked" version of iPhone if you want that. You could buy a unlocked one for you, and a locked one for $whoever. iOS vs Android should not a safe vs unsafe argument, it should be a Gillette razor vs Philips razor argument.

Yes, that would be great, but I don't see how it could happen with current EU laws.

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