[jerojero]

I've been thinking of trying out the iphone for a while now.

The reason I wasn't switching is that I install a lot of open source apps on my android device, for all kinds of things.

This change seems like it might greatly affect the current developer landscape. I've been looking for alternatives on the iphone to the apps I use and in most cases they do exist. I imagine the same will happen with android. Lots of devs are going to register and so on.

However, at that point, what difference will there be between ios and android systems that will meaningfully make me stay in android? I'll try out the iphone and see how I like it. Maybe theres something thats so commonplace right now for me that will become a deal breaker. Sort of doubt it.

Big L, as always google just doing what they do best.

[tsycho]

On iPhones, you need to pay Apple $99/yr+taxes to do even personal development. Yes, technically they have a free tier, but it supports a max of 3 devices, which you can't change, ever. It's so painful that it might not as well exist.

Is Android doing the same? Do you have to pay them money to install your own, or open source apps?

[Neywiny]

That's what it looks like. You pay $25 and give your ID (yay more exposure from data breaches wooooo) and then you become verified. That lets your apps get installed. But if you're just installing on your own devices (with ADB), such as for development, you're fine. I see no upside to this

[gdulli]

You'd be rewarding Apple for having originated and normalized this loss of rights. And whichever ones they go after next.

[12345hn6789]

No. We are rewarding Apple for having well designed hardware and software integration. Something Android (Google) has failed at, but the community has carried in Googles place. Now that Google is turning their backs and slamming the door in the communities face, Android has no real competitive edge over an Apple device.

[gdulli]

Those things don't meaningfully differentiate the flagship Apple versus Android phones once you strip away Apple's decayingly deserved darling status. I have zero problems with Android. (This new change aside.) Though it's fair for anyone to have a strong subjective preference for either one.

What differentiates them to me is that Android is still marginally freer, but it's only grudgingly at this point that I choose either.

[jerojero]

Yes.

But I need a phone, and I'd rather try the original at this point.

I expect the European Union to keep working towards keeping devices more open with time.

[Jotalea]

similar situation, except the apps I use simply don't have alternatives on iOS. I guess I'll have to find a workaround.