Those of you who install non-google-play apps (aka: sideloading), what's your gameplan for the upcoming Google restrictions on Sideloading?
Edit: Replaced "Restrictions" in place of the word "Ban"
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Comments212View original on sh.itjust.works
Edit: Replaced "Restrictions" in place of the word "Ban"
Waiting for someone in Europe to sue them.
I use F-droid for everything. I'd truly be fucked.
Chaos and rebellion.
Sell off any phones that I can't modify. Aggressively de-Google while setting up fake accounts to send garbage into their system training.
Light my way with the burning of bridges.
Hoping that EU comes to the rescue.
google saw that EU allowed apple to do something similar, so why not take the chance to lock the garden...
Nah they wont.
Sure, they are really good on the right-to-repair issue, but that's because they want to be more independent and less reliant on other countries to make new phones. As for privacy and information control, the government don't really have an incentive to give people more privacy and freedoms. They are still trying to pass chat control with a majority of the EU members in support (the only reason its not passed yet is because EU laws need to be unanimous)
You obviously don't understand EU, it's far from only right to repair, but EU has many protections against American shenanigans, like tracking and storing of personal data, and right to be forgotten (GDPR). EU Also dictated Apple should allow sideloading, something Apple of course mostly circumvented, but they could face steep fines for that too.
EU also has way stricter regulation than USA and UK on mass surveillance. And generally way better consumer protection than USA.
EU also mandates de-anonymisation online: (1). EU also plans to have every single message one sends to be scanned by them.
I think the reasoning behind their decisions is simply summed up as: more power to the EU administration, less freedom for everyone else, be it US tech giants, EU citizens or small software developers.
FUD
For the immediate future, I'll be all set with GrapheneOS.
Beyond that, I'll suffer whatever inconveniences I need to in order to avoid this bullshit. If that means I can't use my banking apps, I'll find a better bank, or use the web site, or just say "fuck it all" and stop banking on my phone altogether. I've already given up NFC payments. It's not the end of the world.
This will only become a bigger pain in the ass as time goes on, I'm sure, but I will die on this hill. I suggest that everyone draw their lines in the sand sooner rather than later.
I hope so. There is some apps that I've simply grown accustomed to using on a phone and I know will not be supported on a Linux phone
Yep. Me too. I'll be OK for now with GrapheneOS, and as time goes on I'll make changes as needed. I'm actually optimistic things will work out before it gets to that point, but if it doesn't I'm willing to do what I need to. I will die on the hill with you.
This is the way.
I'm so tired of this shit man, I no longer have any real plan.
I'm seriously considering carrying the smallest x86/ARM Tablet capable of running Linux I can alongside some cheap phone for 4G hotspot and calls/strictly necessary.
Guess PC land is the last place we still have freedom (for now!!!! 🙄🙄🙄)
Not for long, the Microsoft boot secure thing is sus
I’m not one to bang on about the year of Linux, but honestly, the floor is falling out from under ‘consumer Windows,’ and they are doing little to stop it.
At some point, even OEMs are going to get fed up and start offering their own wine/proton centric distros on some laptops/big tablets. They will be awful and bloated, and business laptops will probably be stuck with Windows forever, but still.
Fedora is a thing
If my job didn't require MS Authenticator I would just be carrying around a dumb phone and my work laptop.
My job requires MS Authenticator and I just use Aegis to make my TOTPs.
Is there a deeper MS Auth feature that locks you in?
Yeah, they don't allow us to use TOTPs. It's "passkeys only" through MS Authenticator. Using anything else causes the 365 dashboard to refuse to onboard.
You can use a MiFi router with tablet and a dumbphone just for calls.
Honestly no idea. It's hard enough finding a phone with an audio jack, and now I have to find a phone with an audio jack, and an unlockable bootloader so I can install another OS?
Just seems like my way of living is incompatible with modern society. It's all just too hard
I know right?
Used a locked phone! Submit your ID to the web! Create a Instagram account! SUBMIT! SUBMIT! SUBMIT!
yeah so hard to switch to wireless audio. horrible even.
Idk if you're aware of this. But phones with headphones jacks still have Bluetooth. I use wireless earphones occasionally (and yes, it is horrible) but I also need to be able to plug in to my home hi-fi system
Once my phone becomes that limited I may as well go back to a feature phone after mine stops being usable.
Trying to import a Pixel 10 from outside of the states for the Sim slot.
Then GrapheneOS and run it into the ground.
I really hope Graphene partners with Fairphone, helps them get their security up to par, and make the Fairphone the official Graphene phone.
Then I could just use Fairphone forever.
The 10 might not get graphene due to changes in the way the hardware is done. If you want graphene now, grab a pixel 9 instead. Or at least wait till they have an official statement for it.
They have officially stated that they can support the 10 now, but it will have to wait until after the port to QPR1. https://xcancel.com/GrapheneOS/status/1960792610114511190#m
Ahh right on. Hadn't seen that. Thanks for telling me!
There hasn't been anything Google on my phone for a while now, so I'll first wait and see how they regain control over my phone :D
the ":D" really made the comment, its like the "this is fine" meme, but simplified to 2 characters xD
Basically, yes
All we can really do is deal with shit as it arises, but it's still shit
We'll have to see how they implement it first. If it's just through Play Protect, I'm fine as I'm already not using that. If not, guess I'll have to make-do with a Linux phone.
I'm probably going to spam this around a bit, since most people don't seem to know about it, but a reminder that FuriLabs has a (GNU+)Linux phone with decent spec.s and the ability to run Android app.s (from what I've heard) pretty decently: https://furilabs.com/
Biggest drawback is it's based on Halium. Usual growing pains of a new product/company apply but apparently the company is pretty responsive and their dev.s have worked with customers to get things like calling working with the carrier and bands of their country where it hasn't worked before so improvements move pretty quickly.
Collection of different experiences I've variously seen online over the last year or so:
I don't own one, myself, so I can't give any personal experience but I've seen it around for a few years now but most people don't seem to even know about it. Maybe there's a reason for that? But none I've ever seen anyone say.
(all that said, – if they take PayPal – I'm gonna buy one with PayPal credit as soon as humanly feasible; the end goal, for me, was always to move to Mobile Linux, eventually, so I'm very interested to try out if this makes it finally feasible, for me)
This is what I have my eye on. That or a sailfish phone. Reviews seem really good so they gives me hope. Still going to be inconsistencies but that's a tradeoff I'd make.
I think I want this. I just can't do without rcs messaging. My family won't switch to the apps
FLX1 has an audio jack, SD card, and removable battery?? If they continue to develop this (if it doesn't die by the wayside, as the others have), and Signal continues to work on it, I'm in! From this cursory look, it seems to be exactly what I was looking for.
Edit: holy crap. It's bigger than the Pixel 7 Pro.
So how long until celluar providers also say you have to have a trusted device to activate your SIM? Apple, Google, Samsung, automotive and Windows would be fine and they’d probably allow their branded or limited hotspots.
This would basically eliminate any Linux option (pc or phone), and DIY devices. I could see other OOB vendors getting on board to be certified to have a certificate issued to them.
Not impossible, but SIMs go in all kinds of devices nowadays including tons of generic IOT gadgets.
I'm going to wait for someone else to figure out a workaround and write a tutorial. Then wait for some indian youtuber to make a video tutorial out of that.
Without someone mumbling into a buzzing mic, I don't believe its authenticity.
Dude, why do half the Indian YouTubers sound like mumble rappers. Hell, they’re better than me because they probably speak 3+ languages, but they can’t think it’s good for their viewership.
Gonna push me to using a dumb phone and a Linux laptop I guess.
Doesn't sound bad at all really when you think of it.
The ban is only in Brazil, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Terrible, and those are some of the bigger markets, but I am not affected in a years time. I will have to see more as we approach the date on working around it.
The change is global, but it's hitting those countries first (2026).
From the official post about the change:
I think it was clear I know about it, because I said "in a year's time". I even already sent this exact timeline in this thread
What's their PR flavour text for that?
And how does a company get the authority to do a "ban"? Isn't that supposed to be a Government thing?
Seems like their real goal is to make the users of their devices as vulnerable as possible. How?
This comment is very conspiratorial. While this change is making people more vulnerable to malware and lessening their freedom, the screen lock thing is complete nonsense. Your launcher has been given permission to keep the screen on. If it is the system launcher and that permission was provided automatically, all you need to do is use another launcher.
The official Google blogpost states this timeline:
October 2025: Early access begins. Invitations will be sent out gradually.
March 2026: Verification opens for all developers.
September 2026: These requirements go into effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. At this point, any app installed on a certified Android device in these regions must be registered by a verified developer.
2027 and beyond: We will continue to roll out these requirements globally.
There is no PR stunt here, just the need to read. Unless you are considering a PR stunt the claim that it is 50 times more likely to get malware from outside of the Play Store, that is just a complete lie as the Play Store is filled to the brim with malware.
I am using stock android on a smartphone that was in the Android One program. I have not changed the the launcher.
My expectation when keeping the Google first party screen lock thing is for it to not make it easier for me to make the mistake of leaving the phone unlocked.
And that will mean that if I were to feel like making my own app for the smallest of things and just install it on my own phone, I need to tell Google: "Hey! I am programming for Android!" as if they don't already have enough of my data.
And then sideloading would probably require signing it with a certificate, so Google will always know that I made a software and installed it on my phone.
Yes. There is no PR "stunt" here. Not everything that includes PR is a stunt.
Using the phrase "PR flavour text" refers to whatever PR is saying to make the actions of a company, seem less controversial. And that is the main job of a company's PR department.
In this case, it is:
'This change aims to reduce malware and scams associated with unverified apps, as sideloaded apps are significantly more likely to contain malicious software'
And yes, that thing is a lie as you already explained. That is why I call it PR flavour text.
This just gives me a deadline for switching to a Linux phone.
Seems to have come earlier than what I thought I would be able to manage, but I will have to manage somehow.
Strongly Considering going back to a Prepaid burner style and just carrying a laptop everywhere.
I don't need to be that connected.
The Punkt Mp02 would be great for that.
You get a feature phone that can still do hotspot so you can get data to your laptop
Oh my god that's incredible
Your brain will thank you!
Honestly, last year I started a "tech reclaimation" period where I was reclaiming my time from corporate social media to free myself from the (as arctic monkeys put it) "endless stream of great tv".
I've moved to selfhosting almost all my services and have gone back to physical media (except my digital backup library) for most games and movies.
The detox has been nice, I enjoy games again, I can experience boredom and all the inspiration that comes with it. Life is good. Disconnection is bliss.
Get a Fairphone. Install Lineage on my current phone, install Linux on the Fairphone.
Not updating my phone for now. Installing a custom ROM on my next phone
Pray for lawsuits.
I'm not sure really.
I like the idea of alternatives like a Linux phone OS or a custom ROM like Graphene, but I also hate the idea of needing to faff around with my phone to make it work how I want it to.
my plan is not updating my phone until the google plan is reversed.
Probably grapheneos until it dies (thanks Google) then 2 phones, a cheap stock one at home shutdown and no sim, only for critical services that are exclusively app based, and a Linux phone as my main.
Stay on GrapheneOS as long as I can, then look for an alternative OS like trying Linux phones again and maybe they will be ready for prime time by then (hope springs eternal and all that).
I have been using custom ROMs since CyanogenMod and am currently mostly on GrapheneOS, some of it entirely Google-free.
I used to use cyanogen mod but have not used a custom ROM in years. How difficult is it to setup these days and how difficult will it be to adjust?
GrapheneOS is very easy and smooth, but only works on Pixel hardware. LineageOS is more rough around the edges and considerably less secure.
Hopefully GrapheneOS can be my solution since I've got a Pixel 7a, but I first need to move over all my 2FA accounts because Twilio Authy does not work on GrapheneOS 😭
FYI, Aegis works on GrapheneOS if you need a recommendation (in terms of an app for 2FA).
1 plus for Aegis.
Backup all your codes to an encrypted file you can do whatever you want with.
No cloud, no "automagic", no obfuscation.
True peace of mind.
I ordered a Pixel and plan to flash Graphine. I hate the cruel irony of paying Google to degoogle a phone, but my current phone is on its last legs.
Hope to keep this one alive a good few years, after that I have no clue. I hope Linux phones catch up.
GrapheneOS is a lot more smoother experience than LineageOS.
Either that or CalyxOS
Better hope the pixel 10 has it unlockable bootloader I know I am
Went with a 9pro since the site did not mention support for 10.
Yeah cause it's not out yet. I had a base 9 so the 10 pro will be decent enough upgrade
I've been meaning to get around to installing GrapheneOS on my phone (Pixel 7 pro) for a while now. I'll make sure my next phone has a LineageOS ROM available.
Can wholeheartedly recommend gos.
Im sorta lazy. Did not switch to linux until windows 11 even though I should have after windows 7. I use the android that came on the phone because im lazy but I have to be able to sideload so this may turn out to be androids windows 11.
I've been looking into pure Linux Phones like Ubuntu touch and the Kali Mobile thing. Shame that its limited to hardware that I can't find here
I'm probably going to have get a separate phone for work, need a few apps that I don't foresee working on a Linux phone anytime soon.
"The apps don't work on my phone" won't fly as an excuse lol, and I like my job most days.
This is likely my result as well. I've tried to avoid needing 2 phones but... I think it'll be nice to explore Linux phone options.
Well hey, having clear separation between work and personal could be a plus. Hopefully enough to offset the annoyance of carrying 2 devices...
I'll stay on GrapheneOS as long as possible. And if it stops, I'll get a Linux phone.
If this actually happens, my next phone will probably be a dumb phone, unless I can find a true linux phone.
Im starting to get to a point where I don’t even want to have a phone anymore. Like fuck people in general lol I don’t have many who call or text anyway. The browsing I do I can just stick to my PC.
I haven't fully researched that topic yet but should I be safe with e/os?
For now... Google is developing AOSP more and more behind closed doors, which is more troubling for other Android based OS's. So even if e/OS is not (much) effected by this 'sideloading' thing, other choices Google makes will destroy something at some point.
If Google is going to build this "sideload protection" in the core of Android, this is going to be very bad, even for e/OS.
Fuck Google.
I've been using LineageOS for years, and have been planning for my next phone to be a used Pixel running GrapheneOS. While this announcement from Google sucks shit, it won't affect me I don't think. More worrying are the other changes in the pipeline that would stop development of GrapheneOS. I am dying for a working Linux phone.
We HAD one. It was called Greenphone.
It didn't sell.
Now we don't.
That was a pivot, according to a dev on the project.
Damn, never even heard of it. Surely demand is higher now.
It won’t apply to GrapheneOS. It only applies to certified OSes and GrapheneOS is not certified because it doesn’t license Google Mobile Services.
I get that. I'm more worried about other planned changes that will affect Grapheme development.
Wait and see, then panic if affected.
Planning to become a primary iphone user with a PostmarketOS side phone. Want I want in the future is that if I'm using Android apps, it's through Waydroid or Android Translation layer. Then hopefully in my lifetime I see non-Android Linux become popular. Or a non-commercial organization take lead on an Android fork that gets significant adoption
What phone are you planning to run postmarket os on? They have like a long list of supported devicws and honestly IDK which one to pick if I were to hypothetically go with with postmarket os
I'm thinking of buying a fairphone or test it out. I do have a pixel 7 that I can give it a go with
Might have to check their list and see what I can obtain cheaply
I sideload two apps and when I can't use them anymore is when I can't trust android. One of them is package disabler pro. I use it to keep androids bloat and spyware shutdown.
Shit bro that app is STILL working???? I remember running that on my LG and Samsung phones
Google removed it from the play store. I bought it in 2023 for my phone.
Shit I remember now....I bought this and when the app was pulled and brought back I had to buy it again (which I didn't)
Luckily there was some type of Samsung KNOX developer key thing that I did which worked for few years until Samsung permanently blocked it
https://www.packagedisabler.com/
Fairphone makes an effort to open source all code including device trees and encourages the developement of custom roms and alternative oses like Linux mobile. So I'll just switch to a Fairphone with a custom ROM.
I won't switch to mobile linux though since I don't want to go back to an unsandboxed environment.
PinePhone?
Wait until it affects me. Just like when I ditched Chrome. Just like when I ditched Windows. I used Vanced long after they were stopped, didn't switch to ReVanced until Vanced literally could not play anymore. I'm the latest adopter, for sure. By the time I make a change, the path of what I want to do has been well-tread by others.
So you're ditching Android, for what? Is there an actual Linux phone you're looking for, are are you gonna carry around a pocker-sized PC? (genuinely asking)
Don't know yet! I would assume get a phone that supports Graphene or Lineage. But I'm not opposed to some PDA sized Pi Zero Frankenstein abomination if it does what I want it to.
My plan is the stick to using older phones that google wont bother pushing the update out to. Forever if need be.
My LG Velvet 5G is still going strong. Hoping Lineage or Graphene will release a rom for it someday.
That device didn't meet the requirements for GrapheneOS even when it was supported by the OEM. As of now, it is an EOL device and is highly insecure. https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices
It affects only people using factory roms and google play services. I don't remember the last time I used a factory rom, I've use microg for nearly a decade, (and I'm a mod of ![email protected]) and I'm not planning to change this workflow even when I will replace my phone, so I'm pretty sure I'm not affected at all.
See the thing with this is, Google would be forcing manufacturers to meet their "requirements" in order to get Google Play Certified, now they are using the requirement list to force this change, they could also add a "Disable Bootloader Unlocking" requirement to certification.
Its the mobile equivalent of the "Windows 11 TPM Requirement".
Unlockable bootloader is indeed more and more important. Hopefully a handful of manufacturers still allow that
gonna stop buying ARM based devices until they figure their FOSS shit out to the extent x86 had in 2022
I am hoping, that I can switch to a Fairphone with a custom ROM til next year. If I can't get the money for it until then, I Am just hoping that it will be implemented through an android Update, because in that case it won't affect me, since I Am already stuck on Android 11 or so.
What are you talking about a ban on sideloading?
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/08/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-starting-next-year/
Ah, so people saw a signing requirement, that may or may not only be part of play protect and immediately called it a sideloading ban.
My plan is to wait and see if it even affects me in any way.
Yeah, people are overreacting, but Google taking control here is still a big issue
The article has this to say about it:
Which does suggest that it applies to everyone, as opposed to being something that only applies to Play Protect.
I don't have a Google account and i don't want one. It's a sideloading ban.
Why would you need a Google account? Are you an app developer?
Yes, that's why I would need an account.
What about Aurora Store and F-Droid?
You have to "side-load" those apps, so they will at least need to register with Google. Aurora is unlikely to be granted such dispensation. Apps that are currently only offered through F-Droid will also need to be registered with Google. I doubt they'll look kindly on apps like NewPipe, or AdAway.
Each individual app developer will have to register with Google, regardless of where you install the app from: F-Droid, Aurora, Obtainium, directly getting the APK from GitHub, doesn't matter.
Well, I don't like throwing away devices I can still do something with, so I'm going to keep using the android devices I have until they stop working. After that, I'm not actually sure. I don't want to completely give up on mobile gaming because I do like having an easy way to play games away from home, but I haven't found a good alternative yet. Mobile Linux devices either aren't worth their price or, if they are, I have no way to purchase them.
I would just install a mobile Linux distro onto newer android devices but on top of the fact that you can't just install Linux onto android devices like you can on PCs, I've heard that, at least with some manufactures, that's soon to be impossible as well.
This seems like an ideal opportunity for samsung to fork android.
Judging by the "Galaxy Store" they tried to get people to use, Samsung would just make apps go through their approval process instead, not that much better.
Wait and see. The only reason for buying any hardware is to run on it the software I want to use.
My phone only updates until Jan 2026 so I'll be fine. I reckon they'll allow installing via adb still as otherwise people won't be able to develop new android apps
chuckles nervously in GrapheneOS
I think the only thing I sideload is AdGuard, and they're already verified. So it shouldn't really affect me.
I'm still against it on principal.
The only reason I'm on a Google rom is because I can't get confirmation that I can cast Netflix to a Chromecast with microG. It's the only Google ecosystem thing that matters to me. If they try to break my phone then I finally get to get over that hump, no loss. Almost everything in my phone is F-Droid ("side-loaded" is such a loaded phrase)
I'm also hopeful that this move will get struck down given the recent anti competitive practices cases they've lost.
That was a completely different environment. Dont forget who was watching from the balcony at inauguration.
i have a degoogled Samsung something running lineageos and was able to easily cast to a friends google tv thing through vlc
Yeah, I've got an actual Chromecast, not a Google TV, so I can't install anything on it. I have enough computers around that buying anything new would be redundant, but nothing works quite like a Chromecast.
i truly don't know the difference, this guys was a little disk that plugged in hdmi. let me look it up and see if i was a cast. (who knew google had more than one 'smart tv' product line)
edit- from what i see, it was a cast
The name is really just branding - Chromecast, Google Cast and Google TV have all been used for radically different Cast Receiver products. The important part though is that my device doesn't have Android TV installed on it; it doesn't have Apps and I can't install VLC on it.
(If you meant VLC was on the mobile device, I believe this is a separate system where you stream from the mobile device to the Cast Receiver thingy. The big value of Chromecast (the standard) is that the mobile device doesn't do any real work, just tells the Cast Receiver where to look for the stream. If I misunderstand the situation let me know, I'm eternally hopeful)
vlc was from my phone yeah, which is why i was surprisdd jt worked so well and easily
I already moved back to a paper calendar in my diary, two years ago. my passwords go into firefox and also a paper contact book. recently google has started interfering with the firefox manager🥳 but mostly I have disabled it. I think it probably still captures keys but I dunno. chicken and egg - how can it ask to save the password if it didn't sniff the firefox page?
Home is now a rasberry pi/steam deck/linux combo with still one comp running windows for games but turned off most of the time. I don't take notes outside of sending to a group of myself in signal. I put all the android games on a cheap tablet and I am contemplating grapheneos for the phone, but for now using a window manager from fdroid, with cuts down on a lot of the google assistant fuckery.
overall, I am not sure. I think as long as I can use the fdroid apps, manager and clock, I am mostly ok. I leave the screen on and plugged in to keep google from killing the alarm clock, but I am keeping an eye out for a nice alarm clock in the future, which maybe chats to home assistant on the pi, because I do want accurate time.
The biggest use I make of my phone, and why I have had a pixel for so long, is taking pictures - to show what I do, how I take things apart, what I need to do, parts and serial numbers, hardware. buying/selling/banking.
The camera in my pocket and signal are my killer apps.
As long as I can turn off frickin google assistant, I will probably still use android, honestly. But I started making non-critical parts of my life not-android a while back. My utopia is a private device centered on me and my family, not a data pump for a corp.
google does not provide, even as well as a paper calendar.
Start watching YouTube in Firefox, I guess. I can't deal with ads and I'm not paying one of the richest companies in the world an ever increasing monthly fee for the rest of my life.
Were you not supposed to use firefox?
I've always been using firefox + unlock origin, never messed with apps because they are annoying.
I prefer YouTube ReVanced. It does a lot more than just block ads.
See, the way I'm thinking about it is that, I like my browsing to be non-persistent.
Ideally (if I actually remember to do OPSEC correctly that is), I would clear browsing data before leaving my house, so if some cop seizes it, they won't be able to see all the stuff I watched, just a clean browser, same with Lemmy, it gets logged out and data cleared before I go somewhere I deem insecure. Apps can leave residues/temp-files. I just don't like the idea of "Apps".
(And of course, all traffic goes through VPN, and for Lemmy, also TOR.)
I also use Firefox focus as my default browser, but it doesn't do ublock origin unfortunately. But everything is temporary for all those one off links you probably open.
Normal firefox can do the same, just set it to "delete browsing data on quit"
Ya but I don't want to do that lol. I like having Firefox for my main browsing, but when people send me Instagram links and other garbage, I will open, view, and forget.
I'll need to see what the fuck their answer for personal installs are....my pixel 10 comes in
tomorrowTHIS WEEKEND (ugh) so by the time I run the wheels off of it, I will know if I'm staying on android or moving to iOS and doing a $99 developer certAt least apple isn't fucking judging what you sideload
Edit: cert on android is cheaper.....if I'm forced to go that route I'll stick with Google
Um no lol. Fuck Google, Fuck Apple. Big corp always suck.
But lets compare both of their stores.
Apple App Store has zero usable torrent clients.
Lets take a look at Google Play Store. Yep, there's like 5 of them.
Also, Google Play Store only charges you a $25 one time fee for a developer account. You need $99 per year for apple.
Fuck this sideloading restriction bullshit, but even with the autocratization taken into account, Android would probably still be better (for the near future at least, I can't predict what Google would do in 10+ years, but torrent clients have been on the Play Store for like a decade now).
Also, Android allows real browsers. Firefox and browser extensions. Again, idk what Google is gonna do in 10 years, but extensions have been on the official Play Store version of Firefox for a while.
If that's the case I'll stick with Google if I have to have a developer account to sideload with impunity...thanks for this info
WebKit is shit. I forgot about my uBlock origin Firefox combo
iOS has allowed non-Safari browsers for close to a decade, now. Otherwise I mostly agree
iOS browsers are just mostly reskinned Safari btw
Custom roms. Support them all
SailfishOS on a Jolla phone.
I have no plans to make a shift away from Android based purely on this. I already maintain fairly platform agnostic software and service usage patterns just for these kinds of reasons. So just calling smartphones "done" as an active interest and just using whatever is the cheapest thing that gets the job done for as long as possible is not a very hard thing for me to do if it comes to that.
Yeah same lol I don't feel like spending time watching 5 youtube ads back to back, and browse an ad-infested internet. I'll get like one of those $50 cheap prepaid phones, then just carry my steamdeck (that I already have) everywhere. I don't care if its a 720p display, if its good enough for gaming, its good enough for watching youtube videos on firefox + ublock origin.
I'm probably being too optimistic, but they've gotta have a switch in dev settings to disable this check, right? I really hope they're not truly, full stop, not allowing you to side load apps that don't meet this stupid requirement.
FFS they just had that awful Pixel 10 launch event where they talked about Android being open and what not.
A while back, there were rumors of Microsoft banning piracy from windows, then it turned out to be a nothing burger. I hope this is the same.
To add do your FFS:
Aren't they also adding a proper Linux Terminal with the next Android? You do this but ban installing non-store apps? Make it make sense!
Have two phones: one rooted with a custom ROM and the other one for banking. 🤷♂️
If banking apps don't work, can you use the website?
Like for example if "Bank of whatever" app doesn't work, wouldn't bank-of-whatever.com still work?
That makes sense, I hadn't considered that since my jobs are always on direct deposit. I can see how the mobile deposit could be necessary for some people and potentially their business.
Thanks for your perspective!
what are the downsides of rooting?
My banking and government apps don't run on rooted phones
No more over-the-air updates, no more locked bootloader. Those are both significant security downgrades that usually come with rooting Android.
Edit: downvoters apparently dont know that the main rooting methods all modify the boot partition, which prevents OTA updates from succeeding. Updates are very important to protect your phone with security patches against zero days and other vulnerabilities. Likewise modifying the bootloader requires unlocking it - which means no more secure boot and anyone who takes your phone can happily boot whatever they like on it. This is also bad.
Except for Graphene. The last step in the installation is locking the bootloader back, and the phone clearly says it's locked.
Graphene is a custom OS, not a root process. Further, Graphene OS is not rooted by default. The GrapheneOS maintainer has written at length explaining why they don't include root access by default (tldr: makes the phone less secure).
Configuring root mode aka 'rooting android' is different to installing a custom OS.
Good point. Sometimes it helps to read properly
Does anyone know how graphine performs on foldables? The big reason I haven't just switched to it is a healthy skepticism about it's ability to handle the two screens well.
Using graphineos on a pixel fold, only complaints is that the taskbar isn't editable like it is in stock android, and sometimes it does not enable the inner screen when I unfold it, but only when full screen stuff is open. Close it and it works fine.
Super small nitpicks overall. Everything else works as expected for me.
That is very surprising and promising, thanks for the feedback
If google blocks my access to Monster Strike I'm buying a Huawei probably
Unless there's an FOSS OS friendly phone these days, that would be cool to try
I'm on eOS, so this specific thing will be a non-issue.
I already have an old dumbphone as backup. It might actually get some use going forward. Installing Linux on my current main phone may be in order.
Another thing I'm thinking of is potentially combining the dumbphone with a tiny laptop, say 10-12 inch. We used to have this category of device in the early 2010s. With today's manufacturing it could be made to fit into a large coat pocket or purse. Need to look up if anyone is making these at this time.
GPD Win?
Or you can get a handheld like Steamdeck and you can use it for both portable gaming and on-the-go computing.
Yeah something like this! Apparently there are quite a few, from handheld-gaming-device to full on "laptop.zip" devices. Let the requirements gathering start 8)
My eeepc still works. That PC is like a toughbook.
Isn't eOS still android?
yes, but this change only affects certified Android devices (ie, ones that run software that Google put their blessings on), and /e/OS is squarely an uncertified (and Google-free) Android fork
I don't think the new changes will mean that all sideloaded apps are banned. We don't yet know how much Google will misuse this to make installing apps that they don't find "appropriate" even though they are completely safe a burden. The verification will probably be fully automated. Can anyone clear this out?
Switching to a Linux phone
What options are there there?
Dunno yet, but I've quit using better products than Android for smaller offenses than this. I'll probably settle down to do some research tonight.
No plan required, as I'm not using stock Android of any kind.
I use calyxos so it should be fine. but this is so fucking annoying. we need to do something. now if you want android users to install your apps they have to pay to have them on the google play store... and I doubt anyone will stop them. next year will be the year of the linux(not android) mobile.
Didn't calyx OS pause development?
I can't even get images from their website anymore
lol I didn't even notice... well then ig I might move to lineage. at least if I don't have updates I won't have google's shit for sure!
They are not pausing development, but are dealing with some major changes to their team and doing a lot of rework behind the scenes. They are pausing any rollout of new updates for 6 months, according to their plan. In that time they also removed the releases from their website. Hopefully they are able to stick to this plan and resume updates then (it seemed it would require a reflash). But I fear it is over and out.
Root it and keep finding workarounds, like I've always done.
It's a lot easier when you just drop apps/services that actively try to detect rooted devices. I don't miss any of the "Pixel exclusive" AI bullshit they keep trying to shove down our throats, because they don't allow rooted devices to run most of it. Oh no! Anyway...
Buy my friends some real computers ig
Nokia still sell phones, better battery life too. Was curious about webOS or what ever it was that a few fairly low spec phones were using although not sure if that died off.
Realistically it would just become a device I have to have because of the stupid expectations of society, but I won't care about or respect it. Get the cheapest second hand one I can find and use until it breaks. Get a call/SMS only SIM, mine is PAYG but currently subbed to a monthly £4 bundle for unlimited minutes and texts.
Lucky patcher will handle it, I suppose
Lucky Patcher still around?
I low key wish I could go back to a flip phone.
Java .JAR / J2ME superiority
I wish more people were sending talking using text-based packet radios. Much harder to censor. No ISP needed, just need one radio-enthusiast in each area to set up repeaters and you can talk to people far away. Like just ignore cell towers everyone gets a meshtastic. Fuck the reliance on corporate infrastructure.
What is it, the government put up a firewall? Haha, radio waves in the air go brrrrr across the border.
Too bad the current state of thing is that meshtastic is only has people sending test messages to each other or a small excusive club of friends, and ham radio or gmrs are all old conservatives who are already acquaintances. Not really useful as a open forum for strangers talking to each other.
I have a Chinese phone with a Chinese rom so that the Chinese can spy on me instead, I don't think they'll be adding the restrictions given that my phone has a toggle to completely disable google play services
For me, that's not really fun either.
I'm a former PRC citizen and they probably think of me as a "traitor" for leaving. The have been PRC nationals accused and convicted of running a "illegal police station" to harass dissidents. The only thing worse than being harassed by one government is being harassed by two governments.
Edit: Also I have a phone with LineageOS now, zero spying :D
Graphene pulls their updates from Android. Not sure if they're capable of removing this requirement
It won’t apply to GrapheneOS. It only applies to certified OSes and GrapheneOS is not certified because it doesn’t license Google Mobile Services. It doesn't bundle it and it's also not part of AOSP so that GrapheneOS is built on AOSP doesn't matter.
It won’t apply to GrapheneOS. It only applies to certified OSes and GrapheneOS is not certified because it doesn’t license Google Mobile Services.
Lying.
Probably just register as a hobby developer and in worst case scenario sign apps I build from source with my own key and install them on my own devices, in case the original developer is not registered. None of the information I give google is new, they know all of that probably long time ago, and I don't plan to distribute apps, just install them myself.
This seems like a macOS system where you can install apps from outside of Apple Store, but it still needs to be a registered developer. It's not THAT bad, as it may initially look like. Just remember the old Android Marketplace with tons of shady fart and flashlight apps.
But, I bet there will be a root workaround for that so... no worries. Root, disable, hide root, enjoy like nothing happened.
Source for this ban claim?
I know there is a ban on not being able to install unsigned apps, but it won't limit apps to only Google Play apps.
Please, while the whole situation is BS, adding complete misinformation to the mix isn't going to help.
Source: Google themselves.
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification
It never fails to amuse me how confidently wrong some people can be when they don't even read what they link to.
Because, you know, if you did read that link, you'd know how wrong you were.
What's wrong about:
I don't want to suck Google's dick and create a Google account to send my applications to people who want to sideload them.
You were confidently wrong about me being a regular user. Nice try though.
You literally pointed out that sideloading will still be available, which is what this is about. It's not about if developers need to be registered, that's its own issue with is separate own issue. Blocking sideloading means no more 3rd party stores, which will still be very much allowed even in these ruling.
And when did I say anything about you being any type of user, regular or otherwise? And what does that have to do with anything about this false claim that sideloading will be banned?
Did you reply to the wrong comment? Or are you taking confidently wrong to a whole new level?
Sideloading with a central authority is not sideloading.
Oh, of course. When you get trapped in your confidently wrong BS, you move the goal post.
The whole thread is about supposedly not being able to install beyond the Google Play Store, its literallyin the posts title. Trying to rewrite what "sideloading" is now isn't helping you're argument.