Is Sideloading a misleading and pejorative term that is of advantage to Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft?
See
https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/...open_movement/
Quote:
"It bears reminding that 'sideload' is a made-up term. Putting software on your computer is simply called 'installing,' regardless of whether that computer is in your pocket or on your desk."
Both Google and Apple [PDF] use the term "sideloading" as a pejorative, possibly because they have a commercial interest in running app store toll booths.
Prud'hommeaux proposes the term "direct installing," in case you need to make a distinction between obtaining software the old-fashioned way versus going through a rent-seeking intermediary marketplace like the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
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He's talking about apps, but it applies to content too. Apple makes it difficult to copy your own content directly to iOS and if you do copy directly the content only works with third party apps, not with the stock apps, so a reset iPhone or iPad too old to get apps from the store can only load mp3s via iTunes app on Windows 7 or later etc. Not on Linux even though the files can be copied on Linux.
Google's proposal brings Android closer to totally walled garden concept of iOS.