They're still moving the Overton window on making Android a walled garden. They're playing a longer game.
It still remains to be seen what the actual requirements are, and even if F-Droid could become "approved" that doesn't mean they want to. Time will tell.
The "security" rationale is horseshit given just how much malware is readily download able on the Play Store. Google never cleans its own house before going after others.
Also, let's be clear about the mobile landscape right now. Many apps aren't written in Java or Swift, but instead are being transpiled from other languages like TypeScript and using UI libraries that aren't locked to the mobile platform itself.
When a new mobile platform enters the space it will require some react-native and capacitor glue code and we are in business.
WTF Concession? Why are we asking google for permission to use the devices we bought as they see fit?
Ok, google is doing what is best for them, abusing users. But the manufacturers are really to blame here because the devices are by default locked to what google and them decide. There is no Market Choice here.
> Google’s been working hard to relive everyone’s fears...
* iOS - walled garden, so no
* Android:
* * with a Google account and Play Services - a bit less of a walled garden, but still no
* * Android without Google:
* * * GrapheneOS - root or adb not supported, so no
* * * LineageOS - seems like a viable option although it seems like it depends on Google's development of Android and keeping it FOSS. How's the situation with security updates? Which phones would you recommend? I don't count Samsung or whatever crap as they're generally quite user-hostile.
* Linux - IIRC only PMOS supported FDE. Is that still the case? Are there are good Linux phones? I tried PinePhone a few years ago, but it was crappy. The OS also lacked basic features like new windows showing up inside the screen.
* anything else?
librem 5 is also an option. It is sorta expensive and weak but is the most capable.
https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/Devices
right now im on calyxos but development has been paused for like a year
Fairphones seems OK, although for €549 I'll probably stick to a dumb phone and invest in a better laptop for now. I'm not saying it's too expensive for what it is, though - it's still a tiny computer with all kinds of periphery.
I just wish there was a version with a shitty camera for €50 less or with no Bluetooth for €10 less - you get the idea.
Interestingly, when I went to
https://www.fairphone.com/shop-home
the prices for the headphones were lower for a few seconds and got higher afterwards.
€186.75 -> €249
€74.25 -> €99
while the phone price remained the same. Both are increases of 33.(3)%. Probably a script that determined my location and added a VAT.
croemer•2h ago
b112•2h ago
For example, lots of people use phones without any google play framework installed. Without that framework, how does it "carry over"?
This just raises more questions about how this whole process works.
Is it only the play api doing so? If so, then if you de-google, this entire problem goes away?
If not, then how can you 'carry over' to a phone unless you also install the play framework? Seems like that's unhelpful.
fluidcruft•2h ago
izacus•1h ago
silisili•1h ago