this post was submitted on 16 May 2025
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The reason I don't use Android phones in China is because every company uses its own, separate version of what's basically microG (notifications, location...) and update checking, and so my RAM is gone before I know it and everything's super laggy. And on my grandma's Android tablet these desktop-style notifications pop up overwhelmingly because of certain apps that bundle adware. This is what happens when sanctions took away a default option. Customization is no doubt something great for hobbyists and an option that should exist but there is a benefit to having a default monopoly (though, again, there should be an opt-out).
Sure, but Google is trying to take away that opt-out! So we'll be left with a monopoly and nothing else. That's strictly worse than not having a default monopoly.
I agree with you, but my point from the start here (which I should've said more clearly) was that this doesn't mean Apple must open up in response (and by default), which would leave us with no good centralized, minimalistic option either.
But you don't have Google available as an option due to sanctions, right? It doesn't have anything to do with other options being available. The same would go for Apple - they could be cut away with sanctions, and having other options wouldn't preclude the default option from existing.
I don't get what you mean.
How do other app stores on Android lead to Google stuff not being available? There's no connection, the reason is sanctions.
How would other app stores on iOS lead to Apple stuff not being available?
I'm not saying having other app stores on Android nor iOS lead/will lead to them being unavailable. I'm saying there needs to be an option with a single app store and set of services. Having multiple app stores on Apple and very easily installable would cause similar issues with RAM and usability for the less initiated, and everyone was uninitiated once.
Other app stores on Android don't necessarily lead to issues with RAM and usability. They don't have to re-implement the Google framework stuff.
The same would go for Apple, and people will simply have options. Sure, they'll have to learn about them, but they have to learn about many things in life! And it's not like Apple will suddenly allow others to re-implement their SDK.
But there's no reason to discuss hypotheticals here, as this is currently playing out in the EU. We should be seeing the issues you mention, but we don't.
Most of these apps don't in China either. But you do need to reimplement an update-checker. And that's enough to hog the RAM. And with the RAM already hogged, the window shattered, little optimization of the update-checker is done.
They won't learn about it if it becomes the norm to have RAM hogged.
No, you have to go through complicated bureaucracy and fees to become an independent app store for iOS. Anyone who goes through this is probably competent enough to optimize their update-checker.
I have three app stores installed on my Android, yet none hog my RAM. This is a non-issue (especially since an update checker doesn't run all the time, only on infrequent intervals which are triggered by the OS itself).
You are initiated enough to consciously avoid junk apps.