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> they do not actually give the user access to general purpose computing in the sense that the users can control exactly what computations the device is going to execute

What prevents the creation of an App that allows one to do exactly that?

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Google approval policy may prevent that now or retroactively.

The official store won't accept it and you can't sideload it.

You can in fact side load it. There are no restrictions on apps loaded via adb. The 24H restriction period on side loading only applies to apps retrieved by other means.

Oh wow, you can sideload it? Amazing. All grandma has to do is install Android Studio, enable developer mode, tap the build number seven times, flip on USB debugging, plug into a laptop, accept an RSA key fingerprint, and pop open a terminal. You know, the way normal people install apps.

>> they do not actually give the user access to general purpose computing in the sense that the users can control exactly what computations the device is going to execute

i don't think we were talking about grandma use case

Its hyperbolic but hits the point.

I've helped multiple coworkers (in a non-computer related field) sideload F-Droid for a few spyware/ad free apps they liked the look of.

Id sideload my own phone using adb but I'd tell them theyre out of luck.

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