Also the bank should not require apps (instead they can offer hardware key support or desktop apps) and in fact some - at least in Germany - offer a different authentication possibility. Also the app for the German ID is published on fdroid and does not rely on Google services.
It's not perfect, but far from useless. Some use it as a daily driver.
Depending on your country, it can be super doable. There are also lots of indie native apps.
Ride hail app? Transit fare app? Government ID app? Airline app? Maybe you don't need them yet, but the best way to model this future is to consider what you'd do if you didn't have a phone at all, and the amount of friction this will generate as the expectations are only entrenched and expanded.
I'm glad people are saying no. It's good to do it as long as we can. But the final outcome seems inevitable now and to me it feels very close.
But as a Plan B, why aren’t we emulating Android on these devices (or is it the Secure Enclave that’s the spicy bit that these apps need)?
This makes emulation basically impossible.
I do not have any bank apps on my phone (it is not even connected to the Internet) and I have no problem.
Many banks gate features like mobile check deposit behind the native app. The nearest ATM is 20 minutes away from my house, so unfortunately I consider this feature essential.
I blame it on the fact that the US doesn't have a free electronic bank transfer system like the rest of the developed world.
These might not be very common, but they're still not really rare in society either.
Perhaps the antiquity of the US banking system is finally coming in handy. I’ve still got my checkbook ready to go!
Many services won't work at all.
They likely wont specify 100k people or 10% of population or whatever email/petition but it at least records the requirement that other OSes exist and requires a process to support
HN commenters will not let it go
Most HN readers have multiple computers, including multiple phones
There is no requirement that one has to run a closed-source banking or government ID app on the same phone as open-source apps, e.g., apps from F-Droid
And it ignores countless people who do not and will never use banking or government ID apps
I tested a banking app for depositing a paper cheque and it was incredibly convenient. At the same time, the app tried to make a plain, unencrypted HTTP connection to www.google.com
I blocked these connection attempts and the app still worked, with plenty of phoney error warnings. I would not be comfortable leaving one of these apps installed on a phone that's charged, powered on and has a cinnection to the internet
Every user is different but it makes no sense to argue on HN of all places that these closed-source banking apps are essential for everyone. Many HN users are never going to use these apps, and rightfully so
But banking apps are a problem.
It's not even about the main online banking (you can use a web portal) or storing a EC digitally in you phone (convenient but really unneeded).
The problem is dump, misguided 2FA apps. E.g. credit card 2FA which already mostly required Android/iOS to work or even online banking login 2FA, transaction 2FA etc. with same requirement.
Currently for the later I can still use other methods but for a huge amount of Banks where I live you can't use a credit card (reliably) without Android or iOS as "carrier" for an 2FA app.