[OT] Draconian computer company policies, was: Mobile LC Apps Downloading Stacks After installation

[J. Landman Gay]

On 8/11/17 10:51 AM, Dr. Hawkins via use-livecode wrote:
> I'd be tempted to switch to an android (I actually had the original
> gphone), but the privacy, hacks, and whathaveyou stop me.

At the risk of starting a platform war...

<proselytize>

I love my Mac but I don't like iOS. It's too dumbed down to be useful. 
Android has many advantages over iOS, the main one being that it has an 
accessible file system like the Mac Finder (which I see iOS is about to 
implement finally.) Not to mention launcher widgets, which I can't live 
without, dozens of different launcher app options, and the ability to 
customize almost anything the phone can do. It has menus and tooltips so 
you don't have to memorize obscure gestures. Android Assistant is more 
intelligent than Siri. Google provides unlimited photo storage without 
data caps and uses intelligent algorithms to find photos without the 
need for content tagging.

There are multiple apps for any purpose so you aren't required to use a 
single authorized browser, email client, or anything else. I have three 
browsers on my phone and four keyboards for different purposes. I had to 
laugh when Apple finally allowed third-party keyboards. It's a start. 
(Try SwiftKey, its prediction algorithms are the smartest anywhere and 
it is now available for iOS.)

While Android malware is somewhat more prevalent than iOS, the actual 
risks are exaggerated. Google has taken aggressive steps to reduce 
occurances, which is only a tiny fraction of one percent anyway. There 
are nine layers of security checks for every app you install. If you 
stick to the authorized app stores you won't have trouble since almost 
all malware comes from third-party downloads. Android also scans your 
apps in the background even if you didn't download from their store, and 
recently added a manual scan so you can check on demand. I've had 8 
Android devices over the years and never had any malware.

Privacy: Google gives you more control than Apple. You can delete all or 
part of the data it stores at any time. You can control what it 
collects. The trade-off, in my view, is worth the data collection. (One 
advantage of multiple browsers is when I don't want Google to track my 
searches I just don't use Chrome.) Android Now is close to psychic, 
volunteering information I want without my asking. I walked out of a 
theater one night and Android offered a map showing me where I'd parked. 
I didn't have to ask, it was just there. You can turn off these things 
but I find them useful. If you don't want Google to know where you are, 
turn off location services.

I see Google as the pioneer that Apple used to be, and in fact, Apple 
has started adopting popular Android features and claiming them as their 
own (Windows 1.0 anyone?) Most of the upcoming iOS 11 features Apple is 
bragging about incorporate Android features, most of which have been 
around for years:

Notification system, document scanning, Finder-like file system, drag 
and drop files to local storage or cloud services, language 
translations, System UI Tuner ("customizable control center",) advanced 
camera control apps, Android Beam ("AirDrop"), app drawer, customizable 
Do Not Disturb, peer-to-peer Android Pay/Wallet ("Apple Pay",) Swapps 
("persistent Dock".) Apple says Siri now learns from you and syncs 
across devices. Android has always done that.

Etc.

</proselytize>

-- 
Jacqueline Landman Gay         |     jacque at hyperactivesw.com
HyperActive Software           |     http://www.hyperactivesw.com