https://pairdrop.net is FOSS, cross platform, realtime, peer-to-peer, and only needs a browser. You can host your own version if you prefer. In contrast, Firefox Send (also FOSS) was 'asynchronous' (you could upload, and then email a link), but it was shut down due to abuse. https://github.com/timvisee/send is a fork of the archived github project that you can self host with many improvements, notably authentication, so only yourself and trusted users can upload. (edit: wrong link for ff send)
Here's the REAL reason: Apps grant Developers/Content owners more control/metrics/data about the user to feed their advertisers, which translates to more revenue. It's way easier to hoover up data about the user outside of the browser sandbox, and in apps.
I wish I knew, but the ad industry LOVES this tech: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=smart+tv+ACR&t=ffab&ia=web Every other result is "How ACR is going to be awesome for advertisers/marketers". the ones in between are "How to shut off ACR" :-/
Smart TV's run automatic content detection on all their inputs. You will also be nagged to put the device online relentlessly, and some models will not let you skip internet connectivity.
IMAP on O365 now requires "Modern Auth", which requires OAuth to authenticate access to mailboxes. Anything that connects via IMAP will need to be approved by the admins at this point (Including Thunderbird). Without the cooperation of your organization's IT team, you are not going to get far.
It’s not the Muslims, it’s the evil Christians. Same problem, but different names.