Comment on Breaking: Google is easing up on Android's new sideloading restrictions!
zergtoshi@lemmy.world 3 days agoI’m not saying I’m a fan of that, but at least Apple is upfront about the walled garden they offer and ever has been.
Google started differently, but turned around 180 degrees.
freeman@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
That does not make sense. Even in the worse scenarios Android would be more open than Apple and there would be Android options unaffected by this. Not many and not the most mainstream, though certainly more so than non-Android Linux phones.
But compared to a picking a non-Android Linux phone it makes even less sense. Unfortunately it’s true.
zergtoshi@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I have a more pessimistic view of bad scenarios.
Combine Google Play Integrity checks with being unable to install apps except they’re from the Play Store and you are at the whim of Google.
Right now I’m battling an app provider (of an app I rely on) who decided to start Play Integrity check shenanigans, although that’s in violation with their TOS. I know about not so great scenarios already. My alternative would be to cave and forfeit GrapheneOS, which I’m not willing to do.
We. need. Linuxphones!
freeman@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
I agree that Play integrity is a huge problem and a way for Google to maintain control of Android.
However a Linux phone wouldn’t solve that at least in the beginning.
The devs who don’t allow apps to run on devices that do not pass Play integrity are unlikely to make a Linux phone app.
zergtoshi@lemmy.world 3 days ago
You’re unfortunately right that a Linux phone wouldn’t solve these problems and I’m with you that devs who bend the knee to Google have no interest in providing a Linux phone version - at least for the foreseeable future.
Once there’s a considerable market share for Linux phones (which may never be the case…), those users are potential customers and the tides will shift.
Until then it would at least provide a portable computer that can do a lot of the things current smartphones are capable of, but without the restrictions created by Google and Apple.