this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2024
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[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io 10 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Because it isn't real. You aren't "sideloading". You're simply installing apps. You're not doing anything different, other than using a source that the big company does not like.

[–] Takumidesh@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago (3 children)

It needs a definition because it is a thing that happens though.

You need to differentiate between installing from the app store and installing from other sources, you might not like the choice of word, but we need a word to define it.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yes but sideloading makes it sound like something dangerous to people that don't know any better. This is by design.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

sideloading makes it sound like something dangerous

...according to whom? Who came up with this? If they called it "dangerloading" I'd be all on your side.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

For tech illiterate people, it sounds bad.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Again I ask, how? There's absolutely nothing in the name to suggest it is "dangerous" or "bad".

Tech illiterate people will not understand it at all.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Go ask your mom who had to deal with your limewire phase in high-school if you can "sideload" apps on her phone.

You want sources or something, what are you expecting dude?

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

My Mom is far too old to know anything about Limewire.

what are you expecting dude?

Literally any sort of explanation why you think "sideload" = "dangerous"? Other than just repeating that it is over and over.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Side loading makes it seems like it's not going through the proper channels. You are loading it from the side while the play store is the right way.

It implies the play store is the center.

Sideload Sideroad Sidekick Sidecar

Using side infront of something means it's lesser for the most part.

[–] Zeoic@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Since when are any of those examples considered dangerous lmao

Sideloading is exactly the same as a side road. It's a less polished and a less intended road for people to take.

[–] Hammerheart@programming.dev 1 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Because it's not downloading, which is the thing every one thinks is normal. It's different, and potentially dangerous, which your phone will remind you any time you try to do it.

[–] Zeoic@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

Because it’s not downloading, which is the thing every one thinks is normal.

Not sure I get what you mean by this

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

You guys are kind of missing my point and hyper focusing on the word here.

There is nothing inherently dangerous about the word sidealley but if you're at night with someone that is already fearful of the city and you tell them you are taking a sidealley, they might not be so willing.

Someone that doesn't know how to drive well will probably avoid the bumpy and confusing sideroads.

The word has negative connotation and it's use is benefiting Google. That's my main point, maybe I should of used less safe instead of dangerous.

[–] Zeoic@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I think we more just disagree with your points rather than miss them. We have never seen this term be scary for the non technically involved people in our lives, nor has the examples you provided to prove your point been considered scary to people we know.

Many times, people in this chain have effectively asked for proof of what you claim, but you just keep reiterating your feeling/opinion.

Now, it's possible that everyone here just associates with people who aren't afraid of technology enough to run across it, but that's all we have to work with until provided evidence.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Okay so you're just sticking with repeating the same non-sense over and over.

[–] Grimy@lemmy.world -2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Between hero and Sidekick, which do you think is better. Stop nitpicking and find someone else to fight with, you lout.

[–] Takumidesh@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I think any unknown phrase and method to install an app will be scary to a person who is that unknowledgeable about it. At that point there isn't any phrase that you could use that wouldn't sound sketchy to them, it isn't the phrase that is the problem, it's the fact that it's unknown and the process is scary.

The people you are describing would still be skeptical even if you explained it to them (and they should be, since they likely don't have the knowledge or resources to properly vet an application from an unknown source)

[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I guess we were all sideloading apps on Win 7 and other prev gens

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Now that there's a Microsoft/Windows app store, any app not sourced there is sideloaded.

[–] xavier666@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

When Microsoft bans installation of legacy Win32 apps, it will be the death on Windows.

[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It has a definition already, which is the same it always has been. And no, you don't need to differentiate this. We've always installed applications from outside sources. Hell, until recently there weren't even official app stores and shit. Locked down operating systems where you only get what the tech giant wants you to get is a very recent development in order to take control away from the user.

[–] Takumidesh@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

The reality is that there is a difference now, and it needs to be clarified. How would you, talking to another regular human being communicate to install an app that isn't in the official app store succinctly? If you just tell someone to 'install the app' then you are doing a bad job communicating. Economy of language means that new words are going to form to distill common concepts.

Package managers have existed for a long time, so the concept of app stores isn't new and is actually generally the accepted solution by the open source community. It's typically regarded as the safest way to install software as it comes with auditing and active management.

Side loading does a great job at communicating what is being done, and it helps consolidate the various ways you actually install applications into a nice generic term.

A store being locked down doesn't really have much to do with the concept of side loading anyway, since a locked down device doesn't support it in the first place.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

That didn't answer my question.

Sideloading just means you're installing apps from outside the first party app store. Im not sure where youre getting the shame and discrediting from.

[–] DarkThoughts@fedia.io -5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

It did, you just did not accept the answer. Installing apps is just installing apps, regardless of its source. That's it. Sideloading, just like jaywalking, makes it sound like you are doing something dangerous, something forbidden, something you should not do. The whole locking down of operating systems is to take control away from the user.

[–] Takumidesh@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Sideloading is a term that's been around for decades, it's not some made up word by tech giants to make people scared of installing apps.

The term originates from a designation for transferring data between physical devices and was slowly adopted (because language is fluid) to its current definition (by people on forums like xda).

This isn't some conspiracy and Google and apple don't need to use coded language to prevent you from side loading, apple for example just outwardly and bluntly forbids it.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It did, you just did not accept the answer.

No. It didn't. You just repeated the same statement with no explanation or justification.

Installing apps is just installing apps, regardless of its source.

You're mad that a term exists that specifies their source?

Sideloading, just like jaywalking, makes it sound like you are doing something dangerous, something forbidden, something you should not do.

...how? Honestly this sounds like something you made up in your head. I don't understand why you refuse to answer the question.

The whole locking down of operating systems is to take control away from the user.

I don't understand what that has to do with this conversation.

[–] zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 2 points 2 days ago

For Apple it is side loading though, they actively prevent non app store installation