this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2026
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[–] HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You could go with something in between? Side loading is a loaded term created to insinuate we are doing something we shouldn't be doing.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

No it's not. Someone just made that up.

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Yes, Apple did. Before that, it was called downloading

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

Once again, no they didn't. Literally just look it up. You have the knowledge of the world at your fingertips.

The term "sideload" was coined in the late 1990s by online storage service i-drive as an alternative means of transferring and storing computer files virtually instead of physically

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideloading

Had I said "downloading" it wouldn't have made much sense, would it?

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

listen, I've been in technology since before i-drive existed and I've never heard of i-drive nor do I care about the vocabulary they used.

The first time I ever heard the term sideloading was when these mobile stores started using it to make other options sound illegitimate.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

Oh well if that was the first time you heard it, that must have been when it came into existence...?

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yep, and that definition was definitely what you meant lmfao.

You’re obviously within spitting distance of the point, you basically spelled it out in your last sentence, just, I don’t know, reread your words slowly?

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yep, and that definition was definitely what you meant lmfao.

What difference does it make? Thats the origin of the word. I've provided evidence that it was not invented by Apple. Where's your evidence?

You’re obviously within spitting distance of the point

The point is, we have words for a reason. And there's no reason to use 12 when I can use 1. Sorry you're having trouble understanding that.

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

we have words for a reason

what difference does what I meant make?

”Downloading” is 12 words

Ok bud, whatever you say 🙄

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

As I said earlier, if I had said "downloading", that wouldn't have made any sense. Please read my comments before replying to them "bud".

[–] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works -2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

you’re almost there! Keep trying

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org -1 points 3 weeks ago
[–] lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Can I ask you why Google has deliberately chosen to ALWAYS use the term sideloading? Doesn’t that seem weird for an internet company - who should know better - to not just say “install?”

How do you think this came to be?

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Can I ask you why Google has deliberately chosen to ALWAYS use the term

For the same reason I ALWAYS use it: Because it's shorter than "installing apps from outside the Google Play Store".

How do you think this came to be?

I literally just told you that in the comment you replied to.

[–] lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world -1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I do not agree with your reasoning, tempting as it may be to believe that Google is neutral

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Google is not neutral, that doesn't mean they invented the word or that the word itself is somehow inexplicably malicious.

[–] lIlIlIlIlIlIl@lemmy.world -1 points 3 weeks ago

I don’t think they invented the word

It’s naive to think Google doesn’t have a reason behind the popularization of a term that indicates to the user they’re not the one in ultimate control of their own personal device

Keep getting upset over it though if that makes you happy

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 0 points 3 weeks ago

Yes, Apple notoriously invented it for the Android Debug Bridge too.