Australian users of alternative app stores should make a complaint to the ACCC: https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/contact-us-or-report-an-iss...
In the past, they forced Steam to implement proper refund policies, and they are currently suing Microsoft about the way subscribers were duped into paying more for "AI features" they didn't want.
But long-term, Android is such a massive code base, and was designed more for surveillance and consumption, than for privacy&security and the user's interests.
I think getting mainline Linux on viable and sustainable on multiple hardware devices is warmer, fuzzier foundation. (Sort of a cross between Purism's work on the Librem 5, and PostmarketOS's work on trying to get mainline Linux viable on something else.)
I switched from Windows to Linux it's been 2 years. One of the few things I missed on Windows, was the native WhatsApp app, as the Web WhatsApp it's horrible. Then a few months Meta killed the native app and made into a webview-app :)
We'll finally get our ecosystem diversity back when the next geopolitical happening happens and Google bans Chinese android apps on bullshit pretexts.
Wait a few years more.
Even if that was true, AOSP is better for privacy and security than any other Linux distro.
This is a step in the right direction to keep people safe in my opinion. Most people around the world don’t understand the risks.
99% of all car accidents with real world consequences are caused by licensed human drivers, ergo, all licensed human drivers should be removed from roads.
Same argument. It's true, and simultaneously, it skips right past all of the ramifications of the proposal, even when the ramifications conceivably result in more harm than the original problem did.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Chesterton#Chesterton's_...
The topic here is Google nuking F-Droid from orbit, probably because it has NewPipe.
You are restricting a fundamental digital right in exchange for a minuscule reduction in risk.
Before they are allowed to make any comment on scams, they should clean up their own store first.
If you're in the US, UK or EU, please contact your government.
https://contact-the-cma.service.gov.uk/wizard/classify
It's very simple to submit a complaint.
The solution, I think, would be a regulation that forbids manufacturers of any chip or device CPU from making obstacles to reprogramming the device (using fuses, digital signatures, encryption etc). So if you buy a device with CPU and writable memory, you should be able to load your own program and manufacturer may not use technical measures to stop you. The goal of regulation would be preventing of creating digital waste, vendor locks and allow reusing the hardware.
Of course, features like theft prevention won't work, so the user should be able to waive this right.
You will lose DRM-based apps (e.g. Netflix), Payment apps, and bank apps though.
Regulation should prevent Google from subsidising manufacturers to use Android. Arguably the recent antitrust legislation [2] applies in this case because they're effectively paying manufacturers to place that horrendous and impossible to remove search bar on the home screen.
[1] https://www.androidauthority.com/graphene-os-major-android-o... [2] https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-wins-signi...
Edit: Oh I get it, "develop for the platform" means develop and distribute. Maybe it's just me, but seems like an important difference.
Many people bought Android phones because of the open capability. Even if you don't use it, just knowing you have an out is important.
And now Google is "altering the terms".
anonym29•1h ago
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
999900000999•1h ago
Google wants my apartment lease to let me distribute free games, so I just won't support their platform.
This is not about security, it's about control.
userbinator•1h ago
Of course we know, but they always spin it as being about security.
hsbauauvhabzb•1h ago
Edit: and to be clear, I’m against this change by google. I think there is value in protecting grandma from sideloaded apps (if that even happens in the real world) but this isn’t about protection of consumers, it’s about centralised control of what you can and can’t do, in preparation for handing over the reigns to an authoritarian government. ‘Security’ either to protect you from scams, protecting YouTube from third party apps, or preventing nation state hacking or similar will inevitably be the driving narrative.
khimaros•58m ago
ElegantBeef•56m ago
anonym29•39m ago
My Linux phone is a PinePhone pro, which I believe is no longer being sold. It's not great. Phosh could generously be described as "in progress" last time I used it. UIs for many applications aren't built for small touchscreens like that.
I'd have to review the hardware market again if I were going to make a fresh recommendation. Librem looks cool conceptually, but they're a bit pricey, and their framing of a "Made in USA" variant as a premium feature rather than a red flag, a reputation risk, and a supply chain risk make me skeptical of whether Librem is a trustworthy entity at all, or might just be controlled opposition. That could just be me erring on the side of paranoia, though.
hsbauauvhabzb•1h ago
userbinator•1h ago
China will never let that happen.
hsbauauvhabzb•44m ago
codedokode•43m ago
realusername•15m ago
lern_too_spel•6m ago