I find it very strange how many people in the comments here think the solution is to buy an iPhone. Maybe you are all just rich and can afford to spend $1000+ based on vibes, but considering the Android market still has a massive value advantage I’m not really sure what the point of switching is. This all feels very similar to how some Westerners decided Chinese tech and even the Chinese government were suddenly problem-free just because Americans elected Trump for a second time.
Google: 'Your $1000 phone needs our permission to install apps now'". Android users are screwed - Louis Rossmann
Submitted 17 hours ago by rustyredox@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QBEKlIV_70E
Comments
Ilandar@lemmy.today 3 hours ago
possumparty@lemmy.blahaj.zone 35 minutes ago
I trust China more than this current administration…What are they gonna do? Drone strike me? Oh, wait, that’s the US.
H0neyc0mb@lemmy.world 1 hour ago
…Used or refurbished iPhones are relatively cheap and better for the planet.
Ilandar@lemmy.today 1 hour ago
Relative to what? Better for the planet than what? I’m not really sure what your point is here, you seem to be implying that a secondhand market for Android phones doesn’t exist (note: it does, and Android phones are still much better value secondhand because they lose value so quickly relative to iPhones).
singletona@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
Apple now allows sideloading of apps and Google is trying to get rid of sideloading.
What… the Fuck?
Luffy879@lemmy.ml 2 hours ago
Apple now allows sideloading of apps
Apple allows as much sideloading as google wants to next near.
Yes, you can install from .iPa files, but you still need to pay 100€ a year to be able to sign the IPA files, as much as with googles new policy you now need to pay 25€ + your full name to get a signature, to sign the Apks with
monogram@feddit.nl 1 hour ago
This ⬆️ Apple has set the lowest bar, and google is simply following the trend.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
Now we have to get EU on the case 😀
eleitl@lemmy.zip 3 hours ago
The EU is no longer an ally in such matters but a bad actor.
SkeletorOfDeath@lemmy.world 1 hour ago
I have LineageOS on my second phone, so the issue doesn’t apply to custom ROMs, as the developers assured me. On my main phone, however, I still have the stock ROM because it’s a new and expensive phone, and there are no custom ROMs for it yet, especially as it’s a MediaTek. If they try to block sideloading, it would be a good time to report it to the European Union.
DupaCycki@lemmy.world 4 minutes ago
Are you sure it won’t apply? As far as I understand, it’ll apply to all devices with Google services installed. Which includes most ROMs, as well as non-Google ROMs after you manually install gapps. Is my understanding off?
peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 14 hours ago
This defeats the entire purpose of me having android
Like I’m just going to switch to an iPhone now. Not because Apple is any better, but because I have more family with them.
They took away our SD cards, they took away our removable batteries, they took away our headphone jacks. Now they’re taking away side loading apps, and that’s it. I’m done. The death of android.
Dremor@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Removable batteries are coming back, as they become mandatory in the EU in 2027. Or you can already get one with a Fairphone (which also has SD card slot). As for the headphone jack, I’m afraid it won’t come back. Bluetooth alternative es are far better these days, and good adapters (like Apple one) are barely more than $10.
raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Bluetooth alternatives are far better these days
Disputable.
- they are cable-less, thus need to be charged separately
- they are cable-less, thus it is easier to lose them
- bluetooth implementation is a potential security vulnerability
- transmission by radio will always be less energy efficient than transmission by wire
AndyMFK@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 hours ago
Bluetooth alternatives aren’t better, that’s laughable.
You cant buy beyerdynamics DT-990s with Bluetooth, you cant get Sennheiser HD 490 Pros with Bluetooth, you cant buy Audeze LCD-5s with Bluetooth. I could go on and on but you get the point. Good headphones don’t use Bluetooth.
The nice headphones a lot of us have had for years, well before the headphone jack was removed don’t have Bluetooth.
So when you say they’re better 1. You’re wrong. And 2. You’re missing the point.
If you prefer Bluetooth, fine, but phones with headphone jacks still have Bluetooth. You’re only ok with it because it doesn’t effect you and I think that’s appalling.
Imagine phone manufacturers remove the ability to use Bluetooth headphones and I say “that’s fine, wired headphones are better anyway”. It’s not about that, it’s about removing your freedom to choose and it should NOT be tolerated
Resonosity@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 hours ago
Phones that run Linux and have a headphone jack:
2026 will be the year of the Linux phone!
tibi@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
No, bluetooth is not better. Bluetooth has latency which is bad for anything that needs realtime audio, like video games or any kind of live performance. It also runs on 2.4 like every other electronic Wireless devices making it prone to interference.
USB C is also inferior because you need dongles which increase complexity of your setup, it’s more prone to failures. Like audio cutting off every x minutes because connection is just slightly loose or other electronic gremlins. I’m saying this having just had a gig and the MD’s phone we relied on for the metronome started acting up during the performance not recognizing the dongle until a reboot.
Audio jacks were simple, analog, worked perfectly fine and delivered high quality audio. What we have now is overengineered slop that is less reliable and more expensive.
lennivelkant@discuss.tchncs.de 4 hours ago
I never had one of my wired earbuds fall off the platform at the train station and disappear in the gravel, nor did I ever have isues with forgetting to charge them, let alone their case being brolen and not charging at all. And if I want to switch my favourite headphones over from my PC to my phone, I’m really glad my old phone still has a jack.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Bluetooth is better than…it used to be? Because I promise you there is no earbud on planet earth better than my open back cans.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
They won’t become “removable” like in ye old Nokia days. It’s not like you can carry extra batteries and just swap them on the go.
They just have to be swappable without special tools or specialist equipment.
Kuranashi@lemmy.world 11 hours ago
I still have a headphone jack. Rare but Androids with them exist if you go out of the mainstream bullshit.
int32@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 hours ago
I have a fp4 and it is VERY annoying to not have jack(I don’t wanna use bluetooth because jack works, doesn’t need a battery and is low tech), so now I only listen to music on my computer, but I’m planning on making an mp3 player with a raspberry pi pico.
olympicyes@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
The Apple adapter is very good. I used one on my Linux machine that had a finicky built in port. Obviously works great on a phone. If you need one in a car at least MagSafe/qi is available now but not ideal.
I don’t love the idea of “removable” batteries being mandated if that means like the batteries in an old flip phone. We needed them then because the capacity was so bad and power banks didn’t exist. I would prefer that manufacturers require them to be third party replaceable instead.
MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 11 hours ago
Fairphone is too big, i don’t want a phablet in my pocket
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 11 hours ago
Tbf, you can a very cheap android phone for around $100 USD, the cheapest iPhone starts at around $400. Also, Apple developer account cost $99 per year, Google developer account cost $25 one time fee, so the cost is gonna trickle down to the user, sometimes you find free apps on google play and then you look at apple and it cost a few dollars, its most likely due to the recurring costs to maintain a developer account.
Also, Apple doesn’t allow torrent clients, You can’t use firefox with ublock origin on iOS.
(But then again, these advantages could also go away in a few years… 👀)
peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 8 hours ago
Wait no Firefox on iPhone? Fuck that I’m back in
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 8 hours ago
Orion sorta lets you use Firefox addons. I use the built in adblocker it has tho.
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
I just get a flipphone, and try to build some portable computing device from a Raspberry Pi CM, even if they made it 5V, for “industrial purposes” (read: likely some industry people wanted to stop people from building their own portable devices), which is less ideal for battery operation.
humanoidchaos@lemmy.cif.su 9 hours ago
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.
I’m glad I stopped expecting logic from you people.
peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 8 hours ago
What’d you mean you people?
PieMePlenty@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
be me buy new phone, chose android cause I can install anything on it get free iphone from work sell iphone on ebay cause I can install anything I want on my android google doesnt want me to install anything I want
Fuck me.
Luffy879@lemmy.ml 2 hours ago
frozenpopsicle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 hours ago
I bought a Pixel recently and for 2 days I tried to make it work. 2 whole days of fumbling pain! And I felt fucking horrible. Almost nothing is customizable and everything coated in a thick layer of AI. Every google app has dark patterns. Don’t like it? Well too bad, apps like goog photos keep on asking if you want to upload your life with a recurring popup that tries to trick you. Don’t want Google Search Bar? Well… you don’t get to say no bitch, don’t make me hurt you. It is not a healthy relationship.
So. I just took the plunge and flashed GrapheneOS. Graphene will take a bit of work getting replacements for some of my needed apps like mail and map. But there are lots of neat options and I’m having fun with it. Problem fixed.
I used the graphene web install. I booted up my Pi 4B+ and used gnome-disks to flash a MicroSD with Ubuntu 24.10 then installed the two packages in the web install instructions then I got Brave (I went to the Brave homepage and they have some curl option to download. I needed to install curl, did that then got Brave installed. Once brave is installed you have to disable browser fingerprinting memory reduction and disable the “brave shield” (the little shield near the address bar) for the web installer GrapheneOS page. (It’s a fresh install, on a Pi, and I know the site, no real risk)
After this you can just press the big buttons on the page and follow the instructions on the page.
There are many ways to do this. They have lists of compatible browsers and operating systems. I picked (eww) Ubuntu and (eww) Brave because they seemed easiest on the list and I did not virtualize or use containers in any way cause it messes up the webUSB magic the website uses. I like to play it safe as possible when firmware is involved so I didnt speed up the instructions. And also when you buy a Pixel, big thing! Turn on dev tools and toggle your oem bootloader setting off and on again. If it can’t do that you need to return the phone because it’s locked down by carrier.
Well… I hope my long sleep deprived ramblings help someone else break their chains. Read a bunch about it before starting! Good Luck!
ook@discuss.tchncs.de 16 minutes ago
I mean, good on you to go for Graphene, but honestly a lot of stuff you describe is solved with a custom launcher. Search bar and customizability for example. I use KISS launcher on my private phone (Pixel 7) and on my work phone (Pixel 9), no issues with either of these topics.
Thr one thing I wholeheartedly agree with though is the cancer that is Google Photos and the peddling of backing up stuff.
Ibuthyr@lemmy.wtf 1 hour ago
Good on you for using grapheneos! But you should always install the software you want anyway. You don’t need google photos. You can install a different launcher etc. Don’t become complacent and go with the setting out of the box. That’s the reason tech turned into shit. Consumers don’t care for it anymore.
I must admit however, that the launcher market has turned to shit though. There used to be so many more cool options to choose from.
frozenpopsicle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 48 minutes ago
Yup, Thanks, I plan too. I installed Nova and then cut its network permissions. It’s something for now.
RedFrank24@lemmy.world 9 hours ago
If Google is going to lock down my device to the point where I can’t install apps without their permission, I might as well dump Android and go straight to Apple. I sacrificed my phone being good for the openness of the platform, but if Google loses that openness, why shouldn’t I go with Apple?
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 6 hours ago
Because the cheapest new iPhone is $600 and you can get a cheap new android phone for around $100-$200 and get 6 years of security updates (Galaxy A16 for example)
If a smartphone is no longer a computer where you can install whatever you want, why bother investing so much money on a very locked-down phone? You can use the hundred of dollars you saved to spend on a small portable PC or something to run any software you want.
Psythik@lemmy.world 6 hours ago
$600 is pocket change for a phone these days. And for that $600 you’re getting a flagship phone. You couldn’t pay me enough money to put up with a non-flagship. Been there, done that. They’re too slow and frustrating, and apps keep closing due to lack of RAM. Never again. I much rather spend $600-800 on a high-end device that’s a couple of generations old.
willington@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 hours ago
Openness isn’t just a nice to have. It is essential.
The difference between general purpose computing and gatekept walled garden computing is night and day.
monogram@feddit.nl 1 hour ago
We don’t even need to assume: torrentfreak.com/apple-revokes-eu-distribution-ri…
rasakaf679@lemmy.ml 3 hours ago
You might say their words are like farts in the wind
humanspiral@lemmy.ca 7 hours ago
Apple hardware has always been a generation ahead. Even when android/qualcom catches up, next generation is out already. The reason to avoid apple was it being a closed system money grab.
siftmama@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
Apple hardware ahead of Android? I’ll have what you’re having!
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
The only answer is money at that point. I don’t know how much phones are these days, but aren’t iPhones like $1400, but Android is like $900?
I may be wrong though. Last time I bought a phone was 2018, and it was $600. Still using it.
viking@infosec.pub 7 hours ago
You can get Android phones with reasonable specs around $200. No need for the so called “flagships”.
RedFrank24@lemmy.world 7 hours ago
I already tend to buy the expensive flagship models of phones. I buy unlocked and it lasts me ~5+ years, so I get the best phone I can get at the time and make it last, so money isn’t as much of an issue if I were to move to an iPhone.
SuperSpruce@lemmy.zip 5 hours ago
How does this affect “second-party” apps (i.e. apps you have created yourself)? Are you still allowed to go to Android studio, make an APK, transfer it to your own phone, and install that app? If no, this spells the death of experimental indie developers on Android.
nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 hours ago
yes. you will get a developer key from Google, and then you will sign your APK with your key.
drmoose@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
You don’t need to sign anything just turn off play protect with 1 adb command:
adb shell settings get global package_verifier_user_consent adb shell settings put global package_verifier_user_consent -1 # disable Play Protect
turtlesareneat@discuss.online 5 hours ago
Even Apple lets you do that… one imagines Google being less restrictive than Apple
elucubra@sopuli.xyz 17 hours ago
Their arguments are kind of lame. To install APKs from outside the store is already an involved process that generally makes it harder for the uninformed to sideload. Make sideloading a bit harder, but possible. My xiaomi makes me wait and read warnings before installing APKs, for example.
floofloof@lemmy.ca 15 hours ago
Side loading will still be possible but the apps themselves will need to be signed by the developer through Google, so Google ultimately still controls what can be installed. Maybe someone will crack it.
circledot@feddit.org 13 hours ago
[Installing software] will still be possible but the apps themselves will need to be signed by the developer through Google, so Google ultimately still controls what can be installed. Maybe someone will crack it.
Fixed that for you :-)
devfuuu@lemmy.world [bot] 14 hours ago
It’s a great way to workaround them being forced to open the ecosystem a little and allowing alternative stores and that stuff. It only took more than a decade, they obviously not happy about it, so gotta screw people in another way.
fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 10 hours ago
But this process impacts other stores, too, like FDroid.
LiveLM@lemmy.zip 14 hours ago
“Uugfhh, but the users don’t read the warnings!! They just click yes until it works!!”
And that is my problem because??? For fucks sake
owenfromcanada@lemmy.ca 16 hours ago
I know it’s not really ready for it yet, but I guess I’m gonna be looking into a Linux phone before I thought I would.
SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 hours ago
Same, though this will be the push the community needs to really launch a Linux phone. It’ll suck for awhile, but I’m looking forward to debating phone distros with all of you.
chellomere@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
I’m using arch mobile btw
AbidanYre@lemmy.world 14 hours ago
Sorry it took so long to reply, I was waiting for Gentoo to finish compiling on my phone.
pogmommy@lemmy.ml 15 hours ago
I use Debian as my daily driver and am disappointed to see that the best-supported devices under Mobian within my budget are the Pinephone (which has shockingly low specs) or the Pinephone Pro (recently discontinued, no longer sold. Also had poor specs).
I was toying with was getting an SBC with an LTE/5G hat & 7in touch screen, plugging it into a portable battery, and 3d printing a case for it.
Fairphone with PostMarketOS seems more practical.
sk1nnym1ke@piefed.social 14 hours ago
My main problem with linux phones is that many apps only exist only for android or ios.
Sure some apps are basically a website that you can acess by web browser but many apps cant be replaced able (banking, tickets, public transport, games)
Vanilla_PuddinFudge@infosec.pub 14 hours ago
I readily await the visibility and interest this will give mobile linux development.
olympicyes@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Nearly 100% of the development for handheld Linux is Steam OS / Steam Deck. If Valve moves to ARM at some point then you might see useful improvements that benefit the mobile use case.
ScoffingLizard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 hours ago
My shitty country cant use those anyway.
OboTheHobo@ttrpg.network 15 hours ago
Something kind of concerning I just found - there’s an option for “limited distribution” which is “Intended for ‘students, hobbyists, and other personal use.’” One of the differences is the following:
Has “capped number of apps and installs”(specific limits not disclosed)
Doesn’t this imply there’s going to be global tracking of what apps people are installing even through sideloading or APKs? I can’t think of any other way to enforce this. They would have to know how many times people installed an app even when its not through any kind of app store or even from the internet at all.
Peffse@lemmy.world 15 hours ago
I’m pretty sure that was implemented a while ago. My install of VLC from F-Droid started showing up in Play Store’s update list.
It couldn’t update since the signature didn’t match, but Google knew about it and included it anyway.
0x0@lemmy.zip 9 hours ago
They provide the OS, what makes you think that kind of tracking isn’t already happening?
App stores provide the apks but then you’ll use your phone’s installer to actually, well, install the apks.JustARaccoon@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
Presumably that will work like test flight does where you can only install the app through an invite system
overload@sopuli.xyz 4 hours ago
Does this mean the end for YouTube Revanced on Android?
Zink@programming.dev 9 hours ago
I think I am just done with the whole concept of the convenient prepackaged tech product, and especially staying “connected” with them.
For example, I stopped wearing a smart watch this summer and it’s been a positive. I was the type to wear it 23 hours a day and track my sleep with it and everything. It turns out that not instantly seeing every notification or knowing the exact minute of the day are not a big deal, sans are even good for me.
Part of what I’ve also done is use my phone a lot less and my linux desktop a lot more. I use it as a mobile communication device and not my computer for everything. I guess the next time I need to replace it I’ll either get an iphone since everybody in my family has one, or I’ll see where these wonderful Linux phone projects end up.
xnx@slrpnk.net 8 hours ago
Sideloading being so easy on iphones and now becoming very difficult on android. Wow
elephantium@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
Joke’s on them, my phone only cost $300
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 11 hours ago
You’re pissed about it? Visit here: opencollective.com/postmarketOS
IMHO that’s our best shot. Totally Google free, mainstream Linux kernel.
LordCrom@lemmy.world 8 hours ago
Will this kill FDroid ? I imagine yes since you have to install it from a download.
waldo_was_here@piefed.social 17 hours ago
So ,i install graphene OS on a pixel phone ,problem solved
yukichigai@lemmy.sdf.org 10 hours ago
cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 17 hours ago
fuck google tbh
Gammelfisch@lemmy.world 10 hours ago
$1000 USD for a mobile phone…no thanks.
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 13 hours ago
(non-Android) Linux phones aren’t really ready for daily driving even for relatively advanced users - but it looks like we’re gonna have to deal with it anyhow
girthero@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
Its like Microsoft and Google are teaming up to drive me closer to Linux.
Nikki@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 hours ago
just installed lineageos with root because of this, so thanks Google i guess
pirate2377@lemmy.zip 16 hours ago
dovahking@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
I’ll just buy and use decade old phones with unlocked bootloader till I can. There’s barely any innovation in phones these days and I’m sure someone will come to fill the gap Android left (hopefully Linux). I’m still using my 5 year old phone degoogled with custom a16 and still going strong. I also have a backup pixel 6 in case the current one breaks. I can easily wait 10-15 years.
upside431@lemmy.world 5 hours ago
This is redicolous
eelectricshock@lemmy.world 13 hours ago
My problem with this is when I now don’t have freedom from surveillance in my country because I mainly use F-Droid to install my privacy conscious apps.
HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 3 hours ago
This is about Revanced, isn’t it? They failed to kill it via the YouTube backend so now it’s down to lock down the os and browsers as much as possible to keep feeding people the juicy ads.
ook@discuss.tchncs.de 19 minutes ago
This is bigger than “just” Revanced though. It is about using any open source software that could replace a Google app and losen Google’s grip on your data.
asparagapple@lemmy.world 2 hours ago
This is about preparing for DMA and the likes in other countries.
HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 48 minutes ago
I don’t see how the DMA would cause this other than Google preemptively setting themselves up for malicious compliance. The whole point of the DMA seems to be to give users choice not take it away.