If arbitrary app stores are allowed without restrictions, isn't that equivalent to allowing installation of any apps?
replyThat's the idea! "Allow" the user to install any apps they choose. (I put "allow" in quotes, to emphasize how bizarre it is that a few platform vendors get to decide what all of humanity is "allowed" to do with their computing.)
replyGP here. I agree in spirit but there’s a technical difference between ”approved to distribute” and ”approved in an App Store”. Specifically, you can distribute software for Windows and Mac outside of their stores, but you still need to have a code cert which means you’re under their mercy. This is the model Google wanted to transition Android to recently: keeping the APK path (no App Store) but gatekeep developers through signature enforcement etc.
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