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Comment by heavyset_go | Hacker News Reader

Android is hobbled, as well. The only way to implement automatic upgrading, background installation or batch upgrading/installation of apps is via the Play Store. Not only that, but most people have no idea how to side load apps, and Android doesn't make it easy.

Both Google and Apple have kept a stranglehold on the mobile app distribution market for over a decade now.

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> Not only that, but most people have no idea how to side load apps, and Android doesn't make it easy.

I completely disagree. I'm not sure how they could make it much easier without defaulting to allowing it. Download the APK, open it, click install (or if the setting disallows it, follow the prompt to change the setting).

The tour via settings isn't that easy for "Joe Average" and updating isn't easy as well.

This is a good thing! It shouldn't be too easy, just easily possible for someone who knows what they're doing (What we used to call "power users", what happened to those?)

The point in this sun thread is "phone creators make it hard to use other app stores, that's anti-competitiom", the GP claimed "it's easy on android, come on" I refused that notion. I didn't make a statement about the value as I'm conflicted. I see the issues of the Windows desktop, where users install whatever they find as administrator without second thought, but I also see the issue of gatekeepers apple and Google ...

Does it still nag you repeatedly about your device settings being insecure as well after you enable it to load from non-Play sources? It's been a while since I was on Android, but remember that being immensely unfriendly to the whole idea.

Only the first time you enable it and the first time you install an app from a particular source. I don't remember ever getting repeated nags.

Joe average doesn’t want to sideload apps. That’s what people don’t understand on here.

No, he definitely does when he can't get what he wants on the app store (e.g. Fortnite).

I agree with you, it just click -> (prompt setting) -> install. Android would ask me to only allow once, which is super convenient since I would like to disable it after finish installation. I don't understand how can it be easier while remaining security. Beside, third party app store is allowed.

> Beside, third party app store is allowed.

Third party app stores on Android are not allowed to compete with the Play Store on feature parity because of limitations put in place by Google.

Again, the only way to implement automatic upgrading, background installation or batch upgrading/installation of apps is via the Play Store.

There are third party app stores in China, like taptap. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/09/listening-...

Automatic updating is technically possible for any system app, including Samsung's app store on Samsung's devices.

It is still far better than iOS, and it might get better: I have seen Google employees comment on here that the next release of Android could allow the install apps permission to non-system apps.

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