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Comment by freehorse | Hacker News Reader

Can you install anything from the windows store without a Microsoft account, or from google play without a google one? I assume this is already the state of affairs since ever, but except iOS all the rest allow you to install stuff outside their stores.

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You can install things from Windows/Microsoft Store without an account.

I’m sure it has forced me to login. I suppose I could have fallen for some dark pattern in the UI though.

God I hate what this industry has become.

I am also pretty sure that I thought I had to log in years ago I had windows. Probably also fell victim of the UI.

The point is you are not going to be allowed to even install windows without an account to make use of the great privilege of using a walled garden app store.

And no one on this forum really needs app store when homebrew exists

Yes, you can install shit off the play store without a google account. I use the Aurora Store to do so.

(Aurora store might log in to a google account behind the scenes, but I don't have to have a google account to use it.)

Just a matter of time. Look at where their interest are. Apple will probably be second on this, but if it happens it will be for both and the argument of security will be cried out loud at whoever complains.

It is not all a bad outcome, then anybody who wants to do any serious work on a computer will be forced to use linux.

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