alt Hacker NewsJust to make sure: Google software has the same exact permission structure across the board? e.g. No Google product uses the same permissions NextCloud is seeking, and instead, they are using SAF? Especially for things that do what NextCloud is doing here.
I just want to be sure that Google is playing by the same rules they they put out for NextCloud and other app developers.
Replies
Google is smart enough to not make things that obvious, but let's not get fooled.. the point is that if API changes would negatively impact Google products financially, they'd not go through. But if they impact a competitor, it's not an issue.
Locked down API means Google can innovate (because they can change the API), but you can't.
They definitely aren't playing by the same rules. If Google Drive needs an API or permission it gets it no questions asked.
Open the Drive app, tap the "New" button, and select "Upload". You get a file picker UI. This UI is provided by the Storage Access Framework that Nextcloud says they cannot use.