Comment by millstone
5 years ago
> I use a Chrome app that lets me install APKs over USB thanks to this API
What the fuck.
> Most of the people responding on HackerNews seem to think Web apps can use these APIs without requesting user permission.
Nobody will have malware sideloaded because it requires clicking an OK button?
Most of the web is scams. Search for anything and most links will be scams. From that perspective, these APIs are profoundly reckless.
You can’t side load something by clicking an OK button, you have to put your phone into developer mode and click a “trust this computer” dialog on your computer AND also click ok in the browser.
And yes, if you have a continuous integration system building your binaries in the cloud it is helpful to be able to install them without going through a damn store process. You are installing your OWN apks that you compiled with this extension I’m talking about.
>most of the we is scans
Talk about hyperbole. The only time I’ve ever encountered harmful scams is when I searched for pirated content.
The web is the most useful human invention since the PC era. Most of peoples time in apps is spent in social media consumption. I’ll take web content over TikTok and Instagram any day.