Chatbox app is back on the US app store
github.com36 points by themez 4 hours ago
36 points by themez 4 hours ago
Cool that they did that, but they could also start behaving properly. The app labels itself at GPL licensed, but the most recent releases are not available on GitHub. It's been the situation for quite a while now and it's been raised with the author a few times in the issues. They don't seem to care.
Based on the marketing page and App Store page, I can't really tell what sets this apart from ChatGPT. It looks like essentially the same thing, with a slightly different UI. What features does it have that add value over ChatGPT?
Chatbox is basically a client for various LLM. It can even connect to locally hosted LLM on Ollama.
Well, you’re talking to a company that trademarked “Apple”.
You know what I just realized?
I couldn't tell you the last time I installed a new app on my phone.
Everything there is mostly out to exploit me, or a direct security liability regardless of what app store.
> Everything there is mostly out to exploit me, or a direct security liability regardless of what app store.
As a shining bright light of hope, I will list some apps I have installed which do not appear to me to fall into those buckets.
1. Anki - Flash cards app, I can memorize stuff. It's really good.
2. KDE Connect - Zero exploitation, open source, even sorta works
3. Peakfinder - So far this app has seemed okay. "I programmed PeakFinder during the day and danced Tango during the night" - Peakfinder's creator
Also, about 70% of the apps on F-Droid https://f-droid.org/ are fine. This is what I miss most about android.
I do think that by percentage more of the iOS apps are exploitative crap or full of ads, probably because you need to pay $100/year for the app to keep existing at all.
One of tricks to get fewer exploitative apps is to avoid iPhone and never install anything that needs google play services.
Also, delete any app that has an ad instantly unless it's really important.
>This is what I miss most about android.
oh don't worry, Google is trying to kill that too. you won't have to miss Android soon. https://developer.android.com/developer-verification discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45017028
I experienced deja vu today when an upcoming festival’s website encouraged me to install a custom app for the event on my phone. Felt very 2010(ish).
Its really sad to search for some basic functionality like "use phone as wireless mic for PC" only to be hit with wall of in-app pirchases and ads. I understand that the main reason is keeping app on store requires paying ransom to google, which is the worst reason one could imagine.
I had the same realisation about game app specifically - in the early days of the App Store, I’d buy several games a year, and play dozens more free games. I can’t remember the last game I bought.