cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49112030
Malayali?
this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2026
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This shit's nuts, wasn't there a time when google phones were a direct iphone competitor and iphone was only good with Cydia? The next phone I get will have to be a good GrapheneOS phone or I'm gonna have to figure out how to make an OS. Either way FUhck Google and all they're worth. I've been using the startpage.com on Vivaldi browser and it's like using old google.
I think this has all the info:
And their open letter: https://keepandroidopen.org/open-letter/
The “9 steps and 24 hours waiting” thing is kinda misleading: that's once. Only the last two steps (the ones matching today's steps) have to be repeated.
Of course that's still an issue (e.g. you'll only be able to do this for a relative if you see them two days in a row) but it's much less bad than the implied “9 steps and 24 hours waiting every time”
Considering it - appears - to also need Google Play services then I don't know how that will affect degoogled phones.
I've disabled all the Google services on my phone, and I'm able to restart them if necessary, but I don't have a google account (which has to be tied to a physical phone number?), so it's all waaay to sketchy for me.
And the API that connects to? Is that auditing anything else of mine? Capturing yet more data?
Not happy, me.
Great point. I guess if there's no flow for degoogled phones, things really are outrageous.
they're trying to make general-purpose computers into special-purpose computers. (the special purpose is to comply with google)
Honestly, the ability to install whatever the fuck I wanted was the last thing tying me to android phones.
You'll still be able to sideload things on Android, including from unverified developers. There's a once-off setup that makes you wait 24 hours though. https://www.theverge.com/tech/897420/android-sideloading-unverified-developers-process
Let's not use "sideload", as you're just installing apps.
True - I just stuck with Google's naming for consistency.
I absolutely agree that you should be able to install anything on a device you've paid for. Unfortunately, the world's been moving away from that for years, and I'm not sure what we can do to avoid it.
I think if you remove yourself from any tech forums they'll get the message.
doesn't that require a google account or am i remembering that wrong?
Doesn't Android require a Google account anyway?
It does if you want to use any Google apps or services. But Android itself can work without.
nope not mine at least (i think). stock android
For now, yes
As someone with a phone which is not supported by non-android projects. What is the alternative here?
we need hardware that allows to unlock and relock the bootloader after installing alternative operating systems. then you can use grapheneOS and others on your devices. i think motorola is already making steps towards this. i remember reading articles about it.
Fairphone
What is the alternative here for Americans?
So there is no option without just buying a new handset? Obviously I'll just have to use the adb way to get my apps until I can buy a different handset I guess
How is e/os these days? Last time I checked it wasn't that good.
My Pixel 6A died from water damage two weeks ago. Bought a Fairphone 6, flashed /e/ and relocked the bootloader. For a slightly tech savvy person really easy to do. So far, everything works fine including 3/3 banking apps. I didn't install any Google made apps and except for the gboard keyboard and Android Auto I don't miss anything. Both could be easily installed, but I'll try to stay away on purpose. I'm really happy and can recommend! :)
Thanks for the post, specially good about the banking apps! How did you install them, anything specific?
I just installed them via Aurora Store (FOSS alternative to Google Play). No tweaking required.
From what friends tell me. Its really good
aside from various used models (OnePlus 6, Pixel 3a, various old Xiaomi devices, etc.), the Fairphones are your best bet when it comes to Linux phones (as you specify non-Android based projects). The Jolla phone might also be something worth looking at!
iodeOS, e/OS, GrapheneOS, and CalyxOS (they've come back, hooray!) are all great options if you want a degoogled Android ROM (but is still based on AOSP, so not fully independent) and are well supported on the Fairphones and Pixels, as well as a few other devices. These degoogled ROMs are the best option we have now, mobile Linux needs more time in the oven, and will give you more control over your device compared to stock Android! (don't let perfect be the enemy of good and all that)
Jolla's launch day event is today, they should be shipping the first phones sometime today as well. Can't wait to finally get rid of this google spyware!
Google is a piece of shit and alphabet is the asshole. YouTube is the fart.
I hope some regulators pounce onto this.
This god forsaken country will probably never regulate a corporation again
This country that we all live in? The country of Lemmy? I know the EU have been pretty good at slapping down Google's anti-competitive practices recently (though it's a long and slow process and I've not heard any news about this particular one yet).
Have they? That's news to me, last I knew of any EU interaction with Google at all was Ireland acting as a tax haven for them and many American tech companies
That's the one I was thinking of. It's a slow process, but it does happen.
Doubt it, or Apple would have been in trouble decades ago. They're just copying what makes apple tons of cash after all.
The EU or South Korea might. Maybe...
By the way. You cannot ever add an app to the only store you're allowed to use that does not accept ads that we will force on all customers.
We can still do the abd install tho ay?
Yeah convenience usually comes with trade-offs.