Russia now requires all smartphones and devices in the country to be pre-installed with the country's software https://web.archive.org/web/20210401121406/https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-requires-phones-devices-have-russian-software-pre-installed-2021-4
@Decentralize_today This isn't very clear. The headline says that iPhones will come preinstalled with Russian apps. The article says that users will have the choice of which to install during setup. So, which is it? And what exactly are the Russian apps? Is it a choice b/t Vkontakte and Twitter? Yandex vs Google? Or what? I'm surprised that Business Insider let this get posted.
@Bradley_JF @Decentralize_today
Yes, the headline is misleading.
Manufacturers are given a choice between preinstalling, or putting icons on a desktop to easily install, or opening up a dialog on first run.
Apple chose a dialog, Samsung preinstalled several apps already (with an update to already sold phones, and included Belorussia in this update), some of those apps reportedly can't be deleted. Several Chinese manufacturers made a statements that they won't make these apps mandatory.
@Bradley_JF @Decentralize_today
@lvpha@mastodon.online
The apps are from govt approved list, they are from Yandex (Browser, Disk, Maps), Mail.ru Group (ICQ, VK.com, OK.ru), Sberbank (2GIS maps) and many more. It looks like the manufacturers choose the apps from the list themselves.
The most interesting question for me is how this will affect the sales of laptops with no OS (which are still popular here, piracy of Windows is still big). Me, I just use Linux.
@m_svo @Decentralize_today @lvpha thank you for the detailed explanation. I can understand Russia's stance given how corrupt and abusive most American big tech companies are. The only thing that really bothers me is the idea of apps that I can't uninstall. I hate that. But more user choice is always a bonus.
@Bradley_JF @Decentralize_today @lvpha@mastodon.online
I too understand that decision, Russia is trying to protect local IT sector from unfair competition (preinstalled apps from Google, etc). But keeping in mind the absurd level of corruption here, I bet no small independent app without spyware included will ever make it to the list.
So what does the user get? Twice the spyware, less battery life, popular apps that everyone knows about preinstalled. Can't say it's a good thing.
