- cross-posted to:
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- cross-posted to:
- [email protected]
Starting next year, Google plans to require all apps installed on certified Android devices, including sideloading, to come from developers it has verified. Many Android developers see the move as a power grab and have started a movement to “Keep Android Open.”
The petition, organized by software developer Marc Prud’hommeaux, seeks to rally support to challenge Google’s plan and to rouse regulators to the antitrust implications of allowing Google to oversee the verification of all Android developers working with Android Certified devices, but does not affect alternative Android or ASOP builds like /e/OS, LineageOS, or GrapheneOS.
If you stop using original roms this isn’t an issue as it’s part of Play Services.
Not using Play Services is the key.
Lineage and Graphene don’t have Play Services by default.
That’s the tough part, and why FDroid is pushing hard on this too - basically all phones have Play Services.
Damn few of us flash Lineage or Graphene and run without Play, and damn few phones allow flashing anymore.
Fortunately Graphene is working on their own hardware. Looks like it’s time for me to stock up on every kind of flashable phone I can find.
The lack of backwards compatibility is a major issue too. Many of my apps are fine - I don’t need updated versions despite everyone screaming “you’ll get hacked using old software”. I have some stuff on my phone from 2010, and far older on my PC. This “hack” is just repeating the party line for orgs like Google to keep pushing us to newer devices.