With phones becoming our main computing platform, I wonder why do we look at it any different from our personal computers?

On my computer, I can choose to containerize applications I run with something like docker, flatpak or snaps; run them in a VM, under a separate user, in a chroot... or, not! I can get them from the Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/... archive or... not! Or I might compile it from source and run it directly or... not!

Based on source of the app I decide how much I trust it and thus decide on the encapsulation strategy for it (sometimes, none).

Yes, I understand having full control of your system has some minor downsides (you can mess things up more easily), but you can usually do that anyway (just fill up your phone storage with photos and see how your phone behaves).

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baranul a day ago | parent | next [-]

> With phones becoming our main computing platform, I wonder why do we look at it any different from our personal computers?

Especially after people paying so much money for the devices, it's ludicrous that they are not allowed to make their own decisions and install what they want. Ownership, user rights, and privacy have been kicked in the face. If you can not install whatever software that you want, then people should be signing only rental agreements.

It is also more the reason to push Linux smartphones[1]. Android is not doing anything special, that people could not get or create for Linux phones.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_open-source_mobile_pho...

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jama211 19 hours ago | parent [-]

I mean, personally I don’t feel like my user rights are being kicked in the face just because my smartphone is more locked down than I’d like. I’m all for more power to the user, but that seems a little strong.

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_factor 16 hours ago | parent [-]

Are you serious?

While not as powerful as root access, your user rights are almost completely gone.

You buy a $1,000 phone and $1,000 on a service plan which is not an insignificant amount of money for many, then take away every semblance of ownership.

Right to repair? Warranty void. Want to run language models Google doesn’t approve? Not anymore. Want to run your favorite VPN? Too secure, unavailable. Want to audit the security and scan the device you carry everywhere and stores your life’s data? Unapproved. Want to compete with anything that dents Google’s profits? Papers please developer.

Just because your nose is already caved in and you’re dazed from the repeated blows, doesn’t make it less of a face kick. It’s more of a curb stomp.

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jama211 7 hours ago | parent [-]

I’m 100% serious, and I believe most people are with me. It’s a minor inconvenience at most for 99.9% of users. I don’t actually think it’s a good thing, I just don’t personally feel as strongly or in the way you’re describing. I’m sorry if my lack of reaction to this offends you.

	▲	_factor 6 hours ago \| parent [-]
		A jail has 3 meals a day and a bed. Without knowing it, most people would be fine living out their days in jail until you show them the outside world. Its not a big deal until it expands and expands.

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a day ago | parent | prev | next [-]

[deleted]

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fsflover 11 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> With phones becoming our main computing platform, I wonder why do we look at it any different from our personal computers?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19328085