[randomdev3]

It's just nonsensical to use a device that dictates what you can install on it. Well, Androids don't come with root permissions either ( you should be able to get it easily if you want imo ) but at least you can install any app, even just create your own.

[opan]

You do not need root on android to install a .apk file. I see too many people thinking iOS and Android are on equal starting ground.

Android out of the box is fairly close to jailbroken iOS. Very few things require root.

[theferalrobot]

If we're getting technical you don't need to jailbreak to sideload on iOS either. AltStore automates the tedium but you can side load just fine on iOS too (for now).

[Karellen]

For me, the issue is, who do I distrust less - Google or Apple?

Yes, they're both shitty in a number of ways. And while is is easier to root Android devices than it is to root iOS ones, last I checked you were still dependent on the vendor kernel and parts of the vendor display server on Android because not all of the necessary drivers and related config are upstreamed (and the lack of TIVO clauses in GPLv2 makes this possible) - meaning replacing 95% of userspace doesn't actually get you very far if your issue is not being able to trust the vendor.

I choose Apple because:

1. Apple is primarily a hardware company. When I buy their hardware, I am their customer. When they make noises about protecting my privacy, I am reasonably confident that very few parts of the business are working to undermine that. OTOH, Google is an advertising company. When I buy their hardware, my eyeballs become their product, which they rent out to their real customers, the advertisers. When they make noises about protecting my privacy, I see that as mostly marketing BS (or, "puffery") which large parts of their business are working to undermine.

2. My phone is not my primary computing device. I have a laptop running GNU/Linux that I use for most of my computing needs, including web browsing, email, and software development. I am fine with my mobile phone being an "appliance" that I use mostly for instant messaging, and occasionally checking the news and weather, taking photos, or making short temporary notes that I will (manually) transfer to my laptop later. And sometimes, even, making phone calls. But I generally stay away from "apps". No, I don't want to install your fucking app, no matter which device it would be on. Just make sure your website works.

Given those factors, I have an Apple phone.

That's not to say Apple is for everyone. My priorities are not everyone else's, and that's fine. Different people have different tradeoffs. If an Android device works better for you, that's great.

[the_gipsy]

Apple's no longer a hardware company, they're a platform rent extraction company. They are directly misleading and harming their users with this move, and also with the existing dark patterns around iCloud storage.

[Terretta]

nonsensical to use a device that dictates what you can install on it

Xbox, PS, iPad are consoles. Not everyone wants to DIY the OS and app config and maintenance. Using (digital) cartridges gets all those non value added activities out of the way of just playing the game or using the app.

[boxed]

Creating your own app is actually pretty easy on iOS. I run an app on my phone right now that I built myself and that is not on the app store.

[the_gipsy]

It's not easy, you need a multithousand dollar apple machine, and you can't share this app with anybody else.

[Timwi]

> Creating your own app is actually pretty easy on iOS.

I don't believe you. I believe that you probably left out some crucial detail, such as having to own a Mac first.

[ThatMedicIsASpy]

Is the $100 developer fee not required for own - non app store - apps?

[dvngnt_]

installing it without Apple's blessing is the real problem

[shrx]

It's not that easy on Android either. Rooting usually requires a factory reset and several apps (e.g. banking) will not work if they detect the system is rooted.

edit: Also, in some cases you lose warranty.

[xorcist]

Installing F-Droid is not hard. No need for root. In fact, the usual criticism is that it's too easy.

There are a number of scary warnings to click through but that's it. Not great for security but the official distribution is good enough that it's not a problem outside a few select countries where doing business is hard.

[pooper]

The fact that you can't install apps from your own xcode and run locally (used to be at all now I guess seven day limit) is silly.

On Android, with Android 12, we can now have apps on neostore (fdroid frontend) auto update. There is no good reason to defend apple here. You as a user are always free to not install third party app stores.

[rezonant]

There is no need to root to install software on Android. Rooting is only required for permissions that no app (save pre installed apps), whether installed via Play store or not, can be given.

[kyriakos]

There's no need to root. Installing any app outside play store is a matter of clicking 2 buttons.

[charcircuit]

No, getting root permissions should not be possible. Having a concept of a super user which can do whatever they want is bad for security and doesn't follow the principle of least privilege. There are better ways for an OS to offer functionality than requiring such a dangerous concept to exist.

The fact that desktop and server Linux distros still have a root account, have sudo, or said binaries is evidence of how far behind they are in terms of security.

[themoonisachees]

The entire web runs linux successfully and securely. Suggesting that Linux is insecure is mad, especially given the attack surface.

[rezonant]

MacOS also has sudo.