It’s not forced, though? I have never had an issue opening Google Play and installing Firefox (and then uBlock Origin). If users are too stupid/lazy to change defaults that’s on them. Hell, it couod be worse - it could be like Microsoft where they shove Edge and “news & interests” which are chock full of editorialized ragebait headlines, each one that includes it’s own special comments injection that all just help trick stupid people into voting right-wing.
If users are too stupid/lazy to change defaults that’s on them.
Nothing of what’s written about in the article is “on the user”.
Japan’s antitrust watchdog has ordered Google to stop pressuring smartphone makers to promote its apps like Google Search and Chrome. (…)
The recent order issued on Tuesday follows an investigation that began in October 2023. The JFTC found that Google required at least six Android phone makers to preinstall its search engine and Chrome browser, and show them on the home screen. These conditions were tied to licensing the Google Play Store, which is essential for selling Android phones in Japan. According to Nikkei Asia, around 80% of Android phones sold in Japan were affected.
Japan also said Google offered ad revenue-sharing deals to some manufacturers and telecom operators. In return, these companies agreed not to preinstall rival apps or search services. This, the watchdog said, reduced competition and limited user choice.
I still don’t see the big deal, takes seconds to drag them into the bin and move on. There are far bigger problems that they should be going after - irreplaceable batteries, locked bootloader, lack of root access on a device you own would be three of the biggest ones.
I still don’t see the big deal, takes seconds to drag them into the bin and move on.
When you recall that, as a person who knows what a browser is, you’ll likely be in the global minority, you’ll realize it’s a tremendous deal.
And don’t even pretend that running an Android phone without a GooglePlay store is easy :P
There are far bigger problems that they should be going after - irreplaceable batteries, locked bootloader, lack of root access on a device you own would be three of the biggest ones.
You will find that all those issues, in the end, come down to the same anti-trust problem - single companies being allowed too much control and too much vertical integration. Regulating small issues away piecemeal is pointless when the question “Why should a single entity even be allowed to, at the same time, control OS development, browser development, package management gatekeeping and thousands of other different things?” looms in the background.
When you recall that, as a person who knows what a browser is, you’ll likely be in the global minority, you’ll realize it’s a tremendous deal.
And don’t even pretend that running an Android phone without a GooglePlay store is easy
A big part of the problem is this constant catering to the dumbest users. I really wish companies would fucking stop that bullshit. Force people to get smart instead of dumbing down software to the point that it doesn’t do much if anything.
It’s intentional enshitification under the guise of “UsEr FrIeNdLiNeSs” and it’s been a trend for at least 25 years now.
Have you ever watched all the stupid crapware Google pushes on setup? They force-install 12-20 garbage apps that you then have to go delete. Even then, a user can’t delete Chrome, they can only “disable” it - which Google can reactivate whenever they choose. (Although, one could also argue since they can arbitrarily push apps onto phones, does it matter? Like when they pushed “Android System SafetyCore” without consent.)
Google is malware at this point. Not that Apple is any better. Smartphones have all just become this terrible thing at this point, where you’re just renting a pile of software that you get to use in exchange for the company harvesting everything you do, and they change the terms whenever they want, without your consent.
I would certainly argue that there is a problem with non-critical apps being labeled as “system apps” and being undeleteable. This was only made worse by dropping SD support.
That said, I am still mostly able to use my pocket computer as a pocket computer, which is far more than I can say about the state of iOS, and just whining about Chrome and Google being packed in is such a non-issue when they are replaceable.
I would much rather see a fight that pushes to force unlocked bootloaders, the ability to delete any apps, a way to get end users root access, etc. There’s no reason why a phone shouldn’t be seen the same as a computer.
It’s not forced, though? I have never had an issue opening Google Play and installing Firefox (and then uBlock Origin). If users are too stupid/lazy to change defaults that’s on them. Hell, it couod be worse - it could be like Microsoft where they shove Edge and “news & interests” which are chock full of editorialized ragebait headlines, each one that includes it’s own special comments injection that all just help trick stupid people into voting right-wing.
Nothing of what’s written about in the article is “on the user”.
I still don’t see the big deal, takes seconds to drag them into the bin and move on. There are far bigger problems that they should be going after - irreplaceable batteries, locked bootloader, lack of root access on a device you own would be three of the biggest ones.
When you recall that, as a person who knows what a browser is, you’ll likely be in the global minority, you’ll realize it’s a tremendous deal.
And don’t even pretend that running an Android phone without a GooglePlay store is easy :P
You will find that all those issues, in the end, come down to the same anti-trust problem - single companies being allowed too much control and too much vertical integration. Regulating small issues away piecemeal is pointless when the question “Why should a single entity even be allowed to, at the same time, control OS development, browser development, package management gatekeeping and thousands of other different things?” looms in the background.
A big part of the problem is this constant catering to the dumbest users. I really wish companies would fucking stop that bullshit. Force people to get smart instead of dumbing down software to the point that it doesn’t do much if anything.
It’s intentional enshitification under the guise of “UsEr FrIeNdLiNeSs” and it’s been a trend for at least 25 years now.
Have you ever watched all the stupid crapware Google pushes on setup? They force-install 12-20 garbage apps that you then have to go delete. Even then, a user can’t delete Chrome, they can only “disable” it - which Google can reactivate whenever they choose. (Although, one could also argue since they can arbitrarily push apps onto phones, does it matter? Like when they pushed “Android System SafetyCore” without consent.)
Google is malware at this point. Not that Apple is any better. Smartphones have all just become this terrible thing at this point, where you’re just renting a pile of software that you get to use in exchange for the company harvesting everything you do, and they change the terms whenever they want, without your consent.
I would certainly argue that there is a problem with non-critical apps being labeled as “system apps” and being undeleteable. This was only made worse by dropping SD support.
That said, I am still mostly able to use my pocket computer as a pocket computer, which is far more than I can say about the state of iOS, and just whining about Chrome and Google being packed in is such a non-issue when they are replaceable.
I would much rather see a fight that pushes to force unlocked bootloaders, the ability to delete any apps, a way to get end users root access, etc. There’s no reason why a phone shouldn’t be seen the same as a computer.
You actually can’t force feed people. It’s very simple to throw up and eat something else.