While it does not affect them in theory, it is unlikely most app developers will give significant effort to only support a small percentage of Android users running custom ROMs. So while GrapheneOS users will be able to install apps, there will likely not be that many apps to install.
Comment on Android will become a locked-down platform in 194 day
bioluminescence@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 weeks ago
What does this mean for GrapheneOS and similar degoogled android versions?
DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
i078@europe.pub 5 weeks ago
The european movement away from american stuff however is increasing, I’m hopeful that Jolla, Fairphone and the ROM world will actually increase in importance and numbers
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 5 weeks ago
It’s the other way around. GrapheneOS users will be able to install all the apps but stock Android users will not be able to install apps from F-Droid and other alternative sources*. F-Droid will lose access to about 99% of the market.
*Technically it will still be possible for open source devs to distribute apps to stock Android users but it will require handing Google your personal information and setting up way more complicated build configuration.
DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Please see the edit with clarification, since I guess I wrote it poorly and multiple commenters did not get my point.
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
Yeah, uh, no alarm bells in the market competition watchdogs? None at all?
eleitl@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
I’m writing this on a GOS Pixel tablet with only free/libre installation sources. There are quite enough applications to install.
DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Please see edit of my comment. Since it seems my point did not get across, I elaborated. Of course there are plenty right now since there are no barriers yet.
eleitl@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
GrapheneOS is not limited by Google, as long as the bootloader is unlockable and Google contnues releasing the sources. Longterm, the GOS project needs to support alternative hardware platforms.
rumba@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
It means they fork and they’re going to need funding to keep up with security work at least.
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 5 weeks ago
Nothing changes for now but other moves by Google clearly show they are trying to kill 3rd party ROMs by locking down Android’s code. In my opinion, unless EU steps in and mandates phone manufacturers and Google to support google free apps we’re fucked.
lbfgs@programming.dev 5 weeks ago
EU wants phones to be locked down so they can then make Google implement mass surveillance for “national security” reasons
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 5 weeks ago
What are you basing this on? If you say “Chat Control” I will just ignore you.
Squizzy@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
Chat control is an issue tbough why ignore it?
eleitl@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
The EU has no interest in allowing privacy on devices, since it is increasingly attempting to control alternative narratives. We’re in touching distance of the Fourth Reich now.
Riverside@reddthat.com 5 weeks ago
Europe has explicitly no problem with this. They showed they have the power to censor Russian media but refuse to do this with European far-right, they just want the local fascists to win.
eleitl@lemmy.zip 5 weeks ago
This describes the EU, in a nutshell …substack.com/…/the-comprador-calculus-why-europe… The fascists have already won.
MatSeFi@lemmy.liebeleu.de 5 weeks ago
Would not be sure about that. There has been steps in opposite directions in the past. Remember the regulation regarding 3. party app Stores on IOS, or even further back in the past the “Free Brwoser Choice” in MS-Windows.
jabjoe@feddit.uk 5 weeks ago
It is surely called competition law?
maximumbird@lemmy.world 5 weeks ago
I’m dumb But using grapheneos How would them locking down the code affect graphene?
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 5 weeks ago
Graphen is based on AOSP - Android Open Source Project. As the name implies, that’s the part of Android that’s Open Source. Google publishes this code, Graphene OS people modify it and release. All bugfixes, security fixes and new features go there. Google first stopped accepting contributions from other devs and now they are limiting how often will they release AOSP and how often will they publish security fixes. This makes development of Graphene OS more difficult and it looks like Google’s ultimate goal is to make Android closed source. Graphene OS doesn’t have the resources to develop Android by themselves so this would probably kill the project.
zhkent@lemmy.today 5 weeks ago
Some apps require google play, like android auto and maps.
I’m using grapheneos with open street maps, so I don’t think there would be any problem with that. There is a work around to load some apps that require google play with out a google account. I’m guessing that is what would be affected.