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enriqutoyesterday at 12:56 PM3 repliesview on HN

> the app my electricity utility provides for viewing and paying my account DISABLES ITSELF FOREVER if you so much as enable USB debugging on your phone (even after you've disabled it again).

These are self-inflicted problems by these apps. Nothing to do with the OS. These apps simply don't work. Complain to the companies that push these broken apps to you.

Would you buy a microwave oven that kills itself if you play the wrong kind of music in your kitchen?


Replies

abustamamyesterday at 1:17 PM

The problems may be inflicted by these apps but the reality is that in many cases you're stuck with them. Electric company freezes your account if you enable USB debugging? Well, you can't choose a new electric company. We can complain to these vendors all we want but they just ignore us.

So these problems become problems of the OS, not because the OS has a problem, but because it affects the reality of using the OS.

show 2 replies
Forgeties79yesterday at 2:46 PM

You’re implying we have more choice than we do and asking “the average joe” to change banks to accommodate their smartphone is not a serious suggestion.

My utility company, for instance, literally won’t let you navigate their site with a VPN running. These kinds of practices are commonplace and becoming standard.