It must be stated: Google is malicious! The language used here and elsewhere conceals the fact that:
a) Google is a for-profit company with no morals (they work with militaries and surveillance-agencies to kill);
b) they operate in a monopolistic manner;
c) they're eroding control of your personal-property.
This is just another move by Google to consolidate control over the AOSP. It doesn't matter that this convoluted sequence can temporarily 'bypass' Google's wishes--in fact I would state this is clearly worse. Removing the ability to install non-Google-endorsed software on your own private-property could be illegal. This is perhaps the only thing they could do to prevent lawsuits, only they've made it so asininely convoluted that only 0.01% will actually complete the process that it should be illegal monopolistic behaviour. American courts have absolutely failed everyone by allowing this rampant malicious behaviour to be the norm in American-software.
Google's Android already created friction for installing software outside their ecosystem. There is no justification for this behaviour. It cannot be defended. Stop following their market-speak. This is belligerent and malicious behaviour!
To put a finer point on this: Google is charging a recurring fee to anyone who wants to distribute software to phones--Android-phones. If you have a need to distribute software to your organisation's mobile-computers you now need to pay a recurring fee to Google, or... jump on one foot, spin around, touch the ground and hope Google doesn't bully you further. Oh, and you have to do this dance personally for all 438 mobile-computers you manage. The absurdity of the situation is appalling! The fact you have users defending--and that is what these sort of responses are doing: defending one of the most profitable companies in existence--"oh, just do the dance now so it won't inconvenience you later".
The "escape hatch" is down that corridor, to the left, left, right, left, left, up, right & behind the book-case; take the stairs up, down five flights; depart at Washington D.C. and on arrival you'll see a button. Press it. It might not do anything.
No doubt it's a pain in the ass and it's not just a protective measure. But pretty much every company isn't doing stuff in the best interests of customers anymore (the bigger the company, the worse it is).
But I work with what I've got available at the moment.
I'd love for a free uncontrolled option to become available, but there's not really any good choices at the moment.
My wife picked up a blister pack of gum recently, the package has 10 spots for gum but they now give you 9 and have modified the vaccuum forming machine to close out one of the 10. Lol. Just a blantant FU consumer.
The idea is to make it so convoluted that normal users won't go through with this, if a friend tells them this is how to install an app that actually acts in the interest of the device owner. Either that, or it becomes so normal that most people will just do it without a thought, and then it fails to protect anyone from anything.
I like the cooldown as a protection, though. But given what else you can do with an unlocked phone without a cooldown, it seems overkill.
I know there are scams that convince people to install malicious apps that steal crypto or whatever. So long as there's always a workaround, I guess I'm not super opposed to protecting people who are... easily scammed. I don't like the waiting period part though.
Gonna be pretty embarrassing when people still get scammed even with this feature in place. I've already heard stories of some old person buying like $2500 worth of gift cards and the cashier, who has been prepped for this exact scenario, is powerless to stop them.
"Is someone telling you to buy these gift cards to settle a payment?"
"....n. n. no I need them for Christmas gifts."
"It's common for scammers to tell people to lie about why they're buying the gift cards. If someone told you to say that to me, they're lying to you. No legitimate business or government agency will require you to settle a payment using gift cards."
*clearly nervous but also now getting angry*
"No I need these for my grandkids!"
if they kept 24 hour cooling off period, but it was just in general options, it would be theoretical defensible... but hiding it under developer settings is malicous.
Mine was also named "Apps from unverified developers". However, I'm not sure it actually got applied when I did it just now. Pressing on that quickly flashed something on the screen, but it disappeared before I could see what it was. I didn't get to flip a toggle nor enter the PIN. Pressing "Apps from unverified developers" again doesn't do anything now (not even the quick flash from the first time).
Appreciate any help!
EDIT: I restarted my phone just in case it did work, and checked again, the option is just gone. I'm unsure if this means something went wrong, or if it means it did work, and I'm currently in the 24 hour cooldown period.
Ah yeah, I understood that part. It's just that this step never happened for me: "Verify Intentions: Flip the toggle, confirm that you are not being coerced by a third party, and enter your device PIN or password."
Mine, it was difficult to find in the list and didn't come up at all when searching the menu. But it was still there, I'm just waiting for the countdown to complete.
Maybe it got buried in the list? 🤷
So, I just checked and the button is back. Looks like the fuckers actually made it two days to wiggle out from under their entrapment-like gimmick. Now I have to wait another 24 hours.
Graphene for my Pixel 7 Pro, I guess. I have like 20 F-Droid apps. Google can fuck themselves. The masses won't even notice a difference, sadly.
Update
Okay, I've been doing research instead of just listening to the buzz on Lemmy. Nothing is meaningfully going to change. You are free to use Obtanium or F-Droid to install any app you want, and FOSS developers don't have to do a thing.
There's just a roadblock that's going to be introduced. You have to go through a little wizard that asks you if someone is pressuring you to enable side-loading, and then even when you say "yes, I want to move forward and enable side-loading", you have to wait 24 hours, one time, and never again. And that's only to install new apps. It's not going to affect any ones you already have installed.
The video linked in this FAQ was very clear and demos the process.
I can't believe the Lemmyverse let me believe that F-Droid and Obtanium were effectively going away for normal Android users, and that I must install something like GrapheneOS. 😑
I still might! Google can suck my asshole, but reinstalling a phone OS is a big deal. Not that it's hard or particularly error prone, but I have to reinstall everything, and set everything back up, because I'm not gonna buy a new phone to put Graphene on it, and then do the standard Android migration process. I would have to wipe my phone and redo everything. That's a chore that I probably won't do if nothing is meaningfully changing for me. I can deal with "the advanced flow".
F-Droid and Obtanium are going away for normal android users.
It is deliberately difficult, and this whole thing is absolutely about Google making more money by tightening control of the ecosystem, not about security.
Nine steps, 24-hour wait, buried in Developer Options, delivered through a proprietary service that Google can revoke whenever they want. That's not sideloading. That's a deterrence mechanism built to ensure almost nobody completes it. And since it runs through Play Services rather than the OS, Google can tighten or kill it silently
F-Droid and Obtanium are going away for normal android users.
Sure, and normal users haven't even heard of them, so nothing's lost.
It doesn't sound like that website's up to date.
this whole thing is absolutely about Google making more money.
F-Droid has like 4,000 apps on it. Let's say all 4k are made by different developers. The $100 registration fee would net them $400,000. That's a drop in their bucket. That's like 1 second worth of their ad revenue. They would not cause this much of a community uproar for $400k. This is absolutely about preventing scam apps.
What's really happening, I'm guessing, is Android gets a bad rap in other countries because of all the scams and people switch to iPhone. That does a lot more damage to their bottom line.
It's also way too easy for some dumb 70 y/o congressperson or business executive to install spyware on their phone, and they are putting a speed bump in front of that.
I hate Google, but come on. They're not trying to squeeze pennies out of open source developers. The fee is another speed bump to stop scammers from simply making another free developer account to spread they're malware after they get banned.
Google absolutely aren't trying to make money from developer registrations, that's just removing administrative burden.
They're trying to make money from closing the platform. Google have been gradually working over the last few years to close Android, and this is just another step. It definitely won't be the last. They have made it much more difficult to get up to date source of AOSP security fixes. Commit history is squashed. Play Integrity API changes are a ruse to secure the platform, that just happens to lock apps out of GrapheneOS, the most secure Android variant.
Google realise that there is a real threat from an open Android platforms giving users a choice and that will eat their profit margins.
Believe whatever you want, but this is a quote from Google:
Sideloading is fundamental to Android, and it's not going anywhere. Our new developer identity requirements are designed to protect users and developers from bad actors, not to limit choice.
Sorry for my snark, if you saw it before I deleted it. I thought you had replied to a more recent comment from me where I included the instructions and the video link.
I understand you now, and no, I don't necessarily trust Google when they say side loading is never going to go away, but it's not going away right now.
And yet certain people on Lemmy are still saying it's going away very soon, and downvote me when I say it's not.
Ok, that makes sense. I'm just surprised I didn't hear about the workaround. No one had mentioned it that I've seen. I really thought I had to switch to Graphene, and I was sad.
I've been using Lineage with no Google Play services for years, so unless the app developers decide to stop updating their apps, I'll be alright. But in the future, I fully intend to switch to post-market OS when I purchase my next phone.
The majority of people will stick on whatever the companies give us. But at least Linux is having a nice run on desktop and laptop infrastructure thanks to steam being neat and Windows being garbage
Only if it's paired with countries moving away from requiring the big services to use government or banking services. Oughta be a law that banks and government institutions must provide access via other OSs and browsers.
Yeah, I'm also planning to switch to PostmarketOS. I was running Ubuntu Touch when my carrier changed things to where my phone didn't work as a phone without VoLTE. Ubuntu Touch doesn't support VoLTE on my Pixel 3a so I reluctantly switched to stock.
It wasn't until after I switched to stock firmware that I found out that PostmarketOS has experimental support for VoLTE on my device. I'm hoping "experimental" is good enough for my purposes, but we'll see when I get around to doing it.
I installed e/os/ on my Fairphone 6 and it is missing a lot of Android stuff that I use:
NFC payments
Android Auto integration
The IKEA home app won't run
Okay, it's not that much. 😄
Still, I don't feel like I can ditch my Android phone.
My current plan is to see how the Mecha Comet fares, and maybe use it for most things, but keep an Android phone for things that require submission to the Tech Gods of the West.
What I really want is my bank to support NFC payments on my phone. They see the details of my purchase anyway!
My bank used to do this, but migrated to Google Wallet, which sucks. I think that is the cheapest option for banks, so I would be surprised if any choose to roll their own.
Depending on the financial institution, that sort of app function would be outsourced to a third party anyhow. Payment networks are semi-separate from banks/financial institutions, and they're generally involved in digital wallets. And those payment networks are separate -- like how we recently saw the big banks sell Moneris, a payment network, off to US private equity. Or how Interac isn't a 'bank'. Even something like an ATM is a partnership between banks and payment networks -- you can see the payment networks ATMs are a part of on the decals on the ATM, which generally need to match the decals on your card. Those are the payment networks the banks semi-outsourced / partnered with for facilitating ATM activities. The bank buys/owns the ATM (typically), and then has an agreement in place with those networks in regards to payments / transactions, and a defined data exchange between those networks and the banks systems for settlements.
Migrations to google wallet are generally cheaper than getting that sort of feature with one of the older style payment networks, you're right about that. Cheaper by a fairly large margin.
One point I was making though, is that there are likely more companies 'seeing' the details of your purchase than you may realize. And many of those companies have significant ties to the USA, and are reliant on USA products/services. Even "local community credit unions" tend to use one of two networks, one of which has all its support coming out of the USA. Our government / regulators have made no movement to detangle any of that, and are, in fact, pushing more and more of your financial industry into offshoring services to the USA. Our government/Carney are all "Elbows up!" in the media, but "Pants Down!" in practice.
Those still touch payment networks. Debit cards are basically cards from Payment networks that are partnered with Banks/Credit Unions. PSP/DC Payments is an example of a payment network, Everlink, Interac, Exchange, Cirrus, etc. Seeing as Carney/Canada are ok selling off those payment networks to US Private Equity, you're going to always be somewhat dependent at this point on US services. Like I'd bet you that most of Interac, even though it's "Canadian", is running in US Cloud platforms like Azure and AWS, meaning it's 'realistically' fair game for US AI harvesting etc. Canadian businesses that try to pretend they're 'good' on this front will almost always cite privacy legislation compliance, to things like "Data residency" -- pretending as though just because a copy of the data is stored in Canada, that it isn't exposed/leveraged/dependent on US/foreign services.
None of that matters since in the Netherlands many shops are card only. I need to pay somehow... I'd rather not have all payments be controlled by two companies (Apple and Google). Getting off of US hardware is a laudable goal, but not as important as breaking monopoly power.
But I hate how many notifications Android Auto creates and how many Google apps you have to install to get it to work. I have it set up under separate user on Graphene OS not to pollute my main profile.
I'm assuming, then, though, that you do have a computer, in order to receive emails and such. Too much in society is attached to having other stuff: mailing address, email, phone number, two factor authentication, running privacy violating software on Windows, etc...
If you've been doing it since the 80s, have there been eras that have really challenged your desire or whatever to not have a mobile phone?
Do you think life would be much easier if you did have a mobile phone?
Why do you not have a mobile phone?
Do you think other or younger people should follow your lead?
I'm so curious about your story. I've thought about it many times, and as much as I think the technology is super cool and amazing, I also really wish it wasn't all but legally required to participate in so many aspects of society. It makes me wonder where you're from and where you live and if you're American or not.
I'm assuming, then, though, that you do have a computer, in order to receive emails and such.
You assume correctly. My computer (which is not a laptop btw) is indispensable. I have a strong desire to keep my digital life all in one spot and a PC is my best option, since I also like to make software and play video games.
If you've been doing it since the 80s, have there been eras that have really challenged your desire or whatever to not have a mobile phone?
I have never once looked at a smartphone and thought "man, I wish I could do that." I'll admit, once in a while I do daydream about how easy they make it to send and receive money, but that's about it. I don't make or spend enough of it for it to be a huge concern.
Do you think life would be much easier if you did have a mobile phone?
Believe it or not, it has gotten slightly easier to live without a smartphone in recent years. Medical providers started providing online portals where you can do everything. In years past, they were pretty dogmatic about doing everything over the phone.
It helps a lot that I live in a very rural area full of boomers (in America, yes). People here still go to the bank in person, restaurants have paper menus, people still use paper atlases to get around, etc. So I haven't run into any barriers to conducting life business without a phone.
Why do you not have a mobile phone?
They simply never interested me when they started becoming popular while I was in college. I grew up in a time when you left the house in the morning, and no one knew where you were or what you were doing until you told them when you got home in the evening. I like that, so I keep doing it.
Do you think other or younger people should follow your lead?
I think they should do it if they want to, and fight to keep it possible. And always remember: if someone tries to tell you you can't do something without a phone, they're just bluffing. Everything is negotiable.
Wow, thank you for taking the time to give such thoughtful answers.
I have one more slightly more complex question, though, since I run into it occasionally and absolutely abhor it: do you ever have to use a scan-only pay-to-park or anything like that? You said you live in a rural area that has paper/physical things, still - does that imply that you never encounter these digital-only things? Or that maybe you do and just choose not to engage with them? If you don't, what would you do if you did?
For example, you go into town and the available parking at a restaurant is pay to park, and there is no physical meter, only a scannable code on the signs everywhere, telling you you scan it and pay with an account at a website or through their app.
A real parking garage I often really visit has a system that scans your license plate on entry. Then on exit, there is no booth anymore, but another camera that scans your plate at the exit. If you don't have an account or haven't paid, the bar blocking your way doesn't lift. The system is designed to be interactionless, but only as long as you've made an account with a valid payment option on it.
do you ever have to use a scan-only pay-to-park or anything like that? You said you live in a rural area that has paper/physical things, still - does that imply that you never encounter these digital-only things? Or that maybe you do and just choose not to engage with them? If you don't, what would you do if you did?
I have not encountered anything like that myself. And frankly, I stay as far away as I can from big cities because of reading stuff like this. That is pure cancer. If I ran into something like that with no alternative, I would definitely give somebody a piece of my mind over it. Maybe not everything is negotiable in the moment after all.
A wall parking garage I often really visit has a system that scans your license plate on entry. Then on exit, there is no booth anymore, but another camera that scans your plate at the exit. If you don't have an account or haven't paid, the bar blocking your way doesn't lift. The system is designed to be interactionless, but only as long as you've made an account with a valid payment option on it.
This makes no sense to me. how are you even supposed to know this the first time you use it? So they just trap people inside with no recourse? That's 'calling the cops for false imprisonment' territory.
I'm definitely hoping I die before bullshit like this catches up to me.
Hahaha there are a bunch of big colorful signs at the entrance, but yeah, you are correct, it is cancerous bullshit. That parking garage constantly has issues with lines of people getting stuck and having to wait.
It's also a new system, as of maybe 2023, which was bad enough, being automated and only accepting card, before.
Another bad detail to ruin your day is that it's at a hospital and is basically the only parking available.
I too have been Graphene'd up for years. I'm slowly working on ditching the last few bits of Google, just about the only thing left is an old gmail that's tied to a bunch of accounts, which I might keep around as a forwarding thing for a little while yet.
TL;DR: it will get harder to distribute android apps to the majority of the users. You can still do whatever you want with your device, for now, if you go through all the new extra steps.
Yup, also not only unlockable but relockable (some are only the former as I understand), relocking is important for the new image's security and may enable more apps to work.
I'm still on my Fold6. I got a Pixel Pro Fold to use Graphene and it was great for a while, but the device itself kinda fell apart, so I'm back on the Fold6.
A folding Linux phone would be really cool, and also $3000.
The package (com.google.android.verifier) will be introduced on devices running Android 8 or higher, granting Google the ability to block the installation of unverified apps.
The only thing it might affect is my favorite f-droid music app. I'm leaning away from the Alphabet ecosystem for other uses though - Joplin instead of Keep for note-taking, Organic Maps instead of Gmaps for nav, local LibreOffice files instead of Workspace apps when online collab isn't critical.
Nobody has quite stepped up to compete with G Sheets. Even Excel online is a distant runner-up. Proton is working on challenging Alphabet's Drive/Docs/Sheets hegemony but right now it's painfully basic.
Ouch. I once crowdfunded a phone that was compatible with Ubuntu Touch and it came out two years late, downgraded, and mine didn't even work. It sounds like yours might at least have resale value.
I am running LineageOS with MicroG for now but I still feel im not degoogled enough lol. Relying on that horrendous company in anyway (even if it is to maintain and contribute to the AOSP) still makes me feel a bit sick. So I have a second phone (FP6) Running pmos thanks to @TheMightyCat@ani.social which im waiting for it to become stable enough to daily drive and then ill be satisfied.
I recently learned Samsung makes a durable phone with a removable battery, and it has no lineage os support. So IDK, I'll troll around eBay for a good deal on a used phone I guess. Sooner than later this phone is dying.
I'm gonna split my phone from my smart device entirely. Buying a Maker 2 phone when it drops tomorrow. Maybe this won't work out as well as I'd hoped... but it will actually cost me about the same for 2 lines cuz I'm already overpaying on my regular plan.
I own a Fairphone, so switching to graphene would be trivial. However, I think I will stick with the convoluted workaround they will implement. At least until I get tired of it.
I don't know, I might start just carrying around that Lenovo tablet I've got running Fedora Gnome. It's only slightly larger than the average phone in 2026 anyway, and it's got a SIM card slot.
I think this will be the first and last time I got a flagship model. I'm going back to upper-middle range Samsungs, that still have the headphone jack. My 10+ years old ThinkPad is much better to use than my S23 Ultra, the only thing that is locked down is the WLAN card slot (really need to do that hack, I already bought the necessary tools for it).
We already have the developer option to allow apps not verified by Google. You can do the 24hr wait now to preemptively enable unverified apps, and then nothing will change whenever they choose to actually start enforcing signatures. I've already done it and although a bit annoying it's far from enough a roadblock for me to get rid of my phone. We need better Linux phones, or banking apps that can actually work on graphene without the constant cat and mouse game of passing play integrity in the Google space. Even if we had a great Linux phone many mobile websites just try to redirect you to their app rather than build a real mobile website, so it would be tedious to use for many functions. Graphene is great, but the number of Android apps that refuse to run without play integrity passing is far too high for me to risk buying a compatible phone and going all in on it. Perhaps the new Motorola partnership will be able to help this in some way, but I won't believe it until I see it.
I'll continue using my phone until it stops working. Then I'll go with a feature phone, maybe something rubbing Kaios because WhatsApp is a must where i live. Can't say i use my phone for anything productive to warrant having one, but since i already do...
125 Comments
smegger@aussie.zone · 88 pts · 3d
Just enable the bypass now in preparation. Only took at second Google search:
Google provides a built-in "escape hatch" in the settings, though it is intentionally designed with significant friction to prevent social engineering attacks. [1] (https://keepandroidopen.org/), [2] (https://www.gadgets360.com/apps/features/how-to-bypass-android-24-hour-delay-and-install-third-party-apps-on-your-phone-11243027)
Unlock Developer Mode: Open your device Settings, go to About Phone, and tap Build Number 7 times.
Enable Unverified Packages: Go to Settings > System > Developer Options and scroll until you find Allow Unverified Packages.
Verify Intentions: Flip the toggle, confirm that you are not being coerced by a third party, and enter your device PIN or password.
Reboot: Restart your smartphone.
Wait out the Delay: You must wait exactly 24 hours. Google enforces this mandatory cooling-off period.
Finalize: After 24 hours have passed, return to the Unverified Packages menu to select either a temporary (7 days) or indefinite installation window.
smegger@aussie.zone · 32 pts · 3d
Fyi mine was under "apps from unverified developers" in developer options.
dropdrip@lemmy.ml · 27 pts · 3d
It must be stated: Google is malicious! The language used here and elsewhere conceals the fact that: a) Google is a for-profit company with no morals (they work with militaries and surveillance-agencies to kill); b) they operate in a monopolistic manner; c) they're eroding control of your personal-property.
This is just another move by Google to consolidate control over the AOSP. It doesn't matter that this convoluted sequence can temporarily 'bypass' Google's wishes--in fact I would state this is clearly worse. Removing the ability to install non-Google-endorsed software on your own private-property could be illegal. This is perhaps the only thing they could do to prevent lawsuits, only they've made it so asininely convoluted that only 0.01% will actually complete the process that it should be illegal monopolistic behaviour. American courts have absolutely failed everyone by allowing this rampant malicious behaviour to be the norm in American-software.
Google's Android already created friction for installing software outside their ecosystem. There is no justification for this behaviour. It cannot be defended. Stop following their market-speak. This is belligerent and malicious behaviour!
To put a finer point on this: Google is charging a recurring fee to anyone who wants to distribute software to phones--Android-phones. If you have a need to distribute software to your organisation's mobile-computers you now need to pay a recurring fee to Google, or... jump on one foot, spin around, touch the ground and hope Google doesn't bully you further. Oh, and you have to do this dance personally for all 438 mobile-computers you manage. The absurdity of the situation is appalling! The fact you have users defending--and that is what these sort of responses are doing: defending one of the most profitable companies in existence--"oh, just do the dance now so it won't inconvenience you later".
--Google
smegger@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 3d
No doubt it's a pain in the ass and it's not just a protective measure. But pretty much every company isn't doing stuff in the best interests of customers anymore (the bigger the company, the worse it is).
But I work with what I've got available at the moment.
I'd love for a free uncontrolled option to become available, but there's not really any good choices at the moment.
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2d
My wife picked up a blister pack of gum recently, the package has 10 spots for gum but they now give you 9 and have modified the vaccuum forming machine to close out one of the 10. Lol. Just a blantant FU consumer.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 3d
Thank you. Truly insane they added all those steps to the process.
smegger@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 3d
I guess gotta protect those who don't understand tech or something. At least there's a mildly inconvenient way to bypass it
matsdis@piefed.social · 9 pts · 3d
The idea is to make it so convoluted that normal users won't go through with this, if a friend tells them this is how to install an app that actually acts in the interest of the device owner. Either that, or it becomes so normal that most people will just do it without a thought, and then it fails to protect anyone from anything.
I like the cooldown as a protection, though. But given what else you can do with an unlocked phone without a cooldown, it seems overkill.
raspirate@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 3d
I know there are scams that convince people to install malicious apps that steal crypto or whatever. So long as there's always a workaround, I guess I'm not super opposed to protecting people who are... easily scammed. I don't like the waiting period part though.
Gonna be pretty embarrassing when people still get scammed even with this feature in place. I've already heard stories of some old person buying like $2500 worth of gift cards and the cashier, who has been prepped for this exact scenario, is powerless to stop them.
"Is someone telling you to buy these gift cards to settle a payment?"
"....n. n. no I need them for Christmas gifts."
"It's common for scammers to tell people to lie about why they're buying the gift cards. If someone told you to say that to me, they're lying to you. No legitimate business or government agency will require you to settle a payment using gift cards."
*clearly nervous but also now getting angry*
"No I need these for my grandkids!"
*sighs. Starts scanning cards*
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3d
I wouldn't stop at "mildly"
CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1d
if they kept 24 hour cooling off period, but it was just in general options, it would be theoretical defensible... but hiding it under developer settings is malicous.
MahouOwl@piefed.zip · 10 pts · 3d
Mine was also named "Apps from unverified developers". However, I'm not sure it actually got applied when I did it just now. Pressing on that quickly flashed something on the screen, but it disappeared before I could see what it was. I didn't get to flip a toggle nor enter the PIN. Pressing "Apps from unverified developers" again doesn't do anything now (not even the quick flash from the first time).
Appreciate any help!
EDIT: I restarted my phone just in case it did work, and checked again, the option is just gone. I'm unsure if this means something went wrong, or if it means it did work, and I'm currently in the 24 hour cooldown period.
smegger@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 3d
It makes you wait 24hr before you can confirm if you want it set permanently. You'll have to go back to that setting tomorrow to continue.
MahouOwl@piefed.zip · 5 pts · 3d
Ah yeah, I understood that part. It's just that this step never happened for me: "Verify Intentions: Flip the toggle, confirm that you are not being coerced by a third party, and enter your device PIN or password."
smegger@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 3d
Mine, it was difficult to find in the list and didn't come up at all when searching the menu. But it was still there, I'm just waiting for the countdown to complete. Maybe it got buried in the list? 🤷
snoons@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3d
Just had the same issue. Now I will have to try and remember to tap this fucking button again at 4am tomorrow...
snoons@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2d
So, I just checked and the button is back. Looks like the fuckers actually made it two days to wiggle out from under their entrapment-like gimmick. Now I have to wait another 24 hours.
MahouOwl@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 2d
Yup, just checked and it's the same here. Button is back and I was able to turn on the countdown.
hansolo@lemmy.today · 0 pts · 3d
I just did this and now I have a timer, but the toggle is still off.
burido@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3d
Or, you know? Just use Shizuku with install with options. Aurora store and Droid-ify both support built in install options with Shizuku.
flightyhobler@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2d
Took too long for this comment to show up. It seems that too few people know this, which suits Google just fine, I assume.
somereaduser@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 1d
I can't seem to access any of your links.
Keep android open leads to dead github page; and I'm getting an "Access denied" error for gadgets360.com
smegger@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 1d
I just copied the summary from a Google search, just search "bypass Android install verification" and you'll get the same info
hansolo@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 3d
MVP here. Thank you for posting this.
doingthestuff@lemy.lol · 34 pts · 3d
Man I wish we could all agree to use the most superior date format:
YYYY MM DD
Bahnd@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 3d
[Angry ISO-8601 noises]
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3d
That's Canada's standard.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2d
Only because it's the global standard. This isn't our flag to wave, we're just in the sane majority here.
Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club · 23 pts · 3d
Graphene for my Pixel 7 Pro, I guess. I have like 20 F-Droid apps. Google can fuck themselves. The masses won't even notice a difference, sadly.
Update
Okay, I've been doing research instead of just listening to the buzz on Lemmy. Nothing is meaningfully going to change. You are free to use Obtanium or F-Droid to install any app you want, and FOSS developers don't have to do a thing.
There's just a roadblock that's going to be introduced. You have to go through a little wizard that asks you if someone is pressuring you to enable side-loading, and then even when you say "yes, I want to move forward and enable side-loading", you have to wait 24 hours, one time, and never again. And that's only to install new apps. It's not going to affect any ones you already have installed.
https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides/faq#advanced-flow
The video linked in this FAQ was very clear and demos the process.
I can't believe the Lemmyverse let me believe that F-Droid and Obtanium were effectively going away for normal Android users, and that I must install something like GrapheneOS. 😑
I still might! Google can suck my asshole, but reinstalling a phone OS is a big deal. Not that it's hard or particularly error prone, but I have to reinstall everything, and set everything back up, because I'm not gonna buy a new phone to put Graphene on it, and then do the standard Android migration process. I would have to wipe my phone and redo everything. That's a chore that I probably won't do if nothing is meaningfully changing for me. I can deal with "the advanced flow".
EvenOdds@lemmy.zip · 12 pts · 3d
F-Droid and Obtanium are going away for normal android users.
It is deliberately difficult, and this whole thing is absolutely about Google making more money by tightening control of the ecosystem, not about security.
A nice summary from https://keepandroidopen.org/
Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club · 2 pts · 2d
Sure, and normal users haven't even heard of them, so nothing's lost.
It doesn't sound like that website's up to date.
F-Droid has like 4,000 apps on it. Let's say all 4k are made by different developers. The $100 registration fee would net them $400,000. That's a drop in their bucket. That's like 1 second worth of their ad revenue. They would not cause this much of a community uproar for $400k. This is absolutely about preventing scam apps.
What's really happening, I'm guessing, is Android gets a bad rap in other countries because of all the scams and people switch to iPhone. That does a lot more damage to their bottom line.
It's also way too easy for some dumb 70 y/o congressperson or business executive to install spyware on their phone, and they are putting a speed bump in front of that.
I hate Google, but come on. They're not trying to squeeze pennies out of open source developers. The fee is another speed bump to stop scammers from simply making another free developer account to spread they're malware after they get banned.
EvenOdds@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 2d
That site is absolutely up to date.
Google absolutely aren't trying to make money from developer registrations, that's just removing administrative burden.
They're trying to make money from closing the platform. Google have been gradually working over the last few years to close Android, and this is just another step. It definitely won't be the last. They have made it much more difficult to get up to date source of AOSP security fixes. Commit history is squashed. Play Integrity API changes are a ruse to secure the platform, that just happens to lock apps out of GrapheneOS, the most secure Android variant.
Google realise that there is a real threat from an open Android platforms giving users a choice and that will eat their profit margins.
Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club · 0 pts · 1d
Believe whatever you want, but this is a quote from Google:
EvenOdds@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 1d
And you really think Google are the pinnacle of honesty and you can take their word for everything?
They tried to block side loading, then relented after enormous pressure, and now are using corporate spin to make it sound like they care.
Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club · 1 pts · 1d
Sorry for my snark, if you saw it before I deleted it. I thought you had replied to a more recent comment from me where I included the instructions and the video link.
I understand you now, and no, I don't necessarily trust Google when they say side loading is never going to go away, but it's not going away right now.
And yet certain people on Lemmy are still saying it's going away very soon, and downvote me when I say it's not.
masterofn001@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2d
Fdroid is a far more secure and reputable store than Play.
Google hosts and distributes more malware than anyone.
PrinzKasper@feddit.org · 10 pts · 3d
I mean, that was Google's original plan, until the backlash led them to introduce this option for "advanced users"
Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club · 1 pts · 3d
Ok, that makes sense. I'm just surprised I didn't hear about the workaround. No one had mentioned it that I've seen. I really thought I had to switch to Graphene, and I was sad.
shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip · 23 pts · 3d
I've been using Lineage with no Google Play services for years, so unless the app developers decide to stop updating their apps, I'll be alright. But in the future, I fully intend to switch to post-market OS when I purchase my next phone.
BurgerBaron@quokk.au · 23 pts · 3d
I switched to GrapheneOS soon after the Pixel 8 came out, so ~2.5 years ago. DeGoogled last year. DeAmerican'd as much as possible this year.
I'm hoping Android getting locked down will motivate more people to work on Linux for mobile devices.
forkDestroyer@infosec.pub · 2 pts · 1d
The majority of people will stick on whatever the companies give us. But at least Linux is having a nice run on desktop and laptop infrastructure thanks to steam being neat and Windows being garbage
somegeek@programming.dev · 17 pts · 3d
I'm on lineage for now. But android as a whole isn't safe anymore
mesamunefire@piefed.social · 16 pts · 3d
I have a fairphone so ill probably be fine. I expect an acceleration in phone open source tech soon.
huey_m@piefed.social · 6 pts · 3d
Only if it's paired with countries moving away from requiring the big services to use government or banking services. Oughta be a law that banks and government institutions must provide access via other OSs and browsers.
fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 3d
I think we need to promote people carrying two phones, or a phone they just use for bank apps and a second category of device
DeadEndLink@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3d
I do this.
poVoq@slrpnk.net · 14 pts · 3d
I am not in a country that will be affected on that date, but my plan is to switch to PostmarketOS before the end of the year.
TootSweet@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 3d
Yeah, I'm also planning to switch to PostmarketOS. I was running Ubuntu Touch when my carrier changed things to where my phone didn't work as a phone without VoLTE. Ubuntu Touch doesn't support VoLTE on my Pixel 3a so I reluctantly switched to stock.
It wasn't until after I switched to stock firmware that I found out that PostmarketOS has experimental support for VoLTE on my device. I'm hoping "experimental" is good enough for my purposes, but we'll see when I get around to doing it.
Sunshine@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 3d
You have my respect!
poVoq@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 3d
Well, I am probably going to try setting up dual boot with Android first 😅
Sunshine@piefed.ca · 14 pts · 3d
I think another good secure mobile os with arguably the best looking UI is Sailfish🇫🇮
neo2478@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 3d
I am already very happy with e/os on my Fairphone 6!
NotEasyBeingGreen@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 3d
I installed e/os/ on my Fairphone 6 and it is missing a lot of Android stuff that I use:
Okay, it's not that much. 😄
Still, I don't feel like I can ditch my Android phone.
My current plan is to see how the Mecha Comet fares, and maybe use it for most things, but keep an Android phone for things that require submission to the Tech Gods of the West.
neo2478@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 3d
NFC payments not working its a privacy feature in my opinion. No one is collecting or selling data about your shopping habits (except you bank ofc)
NotEasyBeingGreen@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 3d
What I really want is my bank to support NFC payments on my phone. They see the details of my purchase anyway!
My bank used to do this, but migrated to Google Wallet, which sucks. I think that is the cheapest option for banks, so I would be surprised if any choose to roll their own.
wampus@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 3d
Depending on the financial institution, that sort of app function would be outsourced to a third party anyhow. Payment networks are semi-separate from banks/financial institutions, and they're generally involved in digital wallets. And those payment networks are separate -- like how we recently saw the big banks sell Moneris, a payment network, off to US private equity. Or how Interac isn't a 'bank'. Even something like an ATM is a partnership between banks and payment networks -- you can see the payment networks ATMs are a part of on the decals on the ATM, which generally need to match the decals on your card. Those are the payment networks the banks semi-outsourced / partnered with for facilitating ATM activities. The bank buys/owns the ATM (typically), and then has an agreement in place with those networks in regards to payments / transactions, and a defined data exchange between those networks and the banks systems for settlements.
Migrations to google wallet are generally cheaper than getting that sort of feature with one of the older style payment networks, you're right about that. Cheaper by a fairly large margin.
One point I was making though, is that there are likely more companies 'seeing' the details of your purchase than you may realize. And many of those companies have significant ties to the USA, and are reliant on USA products/services. Even "local community credit unions" tend to use one of two networks, one of which has all its support coming out of the USA. Our government / regulators have made no movement to detangle any of that, and are, in fact, pushing more and more of your financial industry into offshoring services to the USA. Our government/Carney are all "Elbows up!" in the media, but "Pants Down!" in practice.
NotEasyBeingGreen@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 3d
Ugh. My plan for now is to carry a bank card. 😅
wampus@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 3d
Those still touch payment networks. Debit cards are basically cards from Payment networks that are partnered with Banks/Credit Unions. PSP/DC Payments is an example of a payment network, Everlink, Interac, Exchange, Cirrus, etc. Seeing as Carney/Canada are ok selling off those payment networks to US Private Equity, you're going to always be somewhat dependent at this point on US services. Like I'd bet you that most of Interac, even though it's "Canadian", is running in US Cloud platforms like Azure and AWS, meaning it's 'realistically' fair game for US AI harvesting etc. Canadian businesses that try to pretend they're 'good' on this front will almost always cite privacy legislation compliance, to things like "Data residency" -- pretending as though just because a copy of the data is stored in Canada, that it isn't exposed/leveraged/dependent on US/foreign services.
NotEasyBeingGreen@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 3d
None of that matters since in the Netherlands many shops are card only. I need to pay somehow... I'd rather not have all payments be controlled by two companies (Apple and Google). Getting off of US hardware is a laudable goal, but not as important as breaking monopoly power.
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net · 4 pts · 3d
https://doc.e.foundation/os/how-to/android-auto/
But I hate how many notifications Android Auto creates and how many Google apps you have to install to get it to work. I have it set up under separate user on Graphene OS not to pollute my main profile.
NotEasyBeingGreen@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 3d
Yeah I'm thinking it might be better to buy a phone mount for my car instead. 😥
neo2478@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 3d
You can also set up a work profile on e/os and install android auto there
dubs@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 2d
I'm fairly happy with my Linux phone. Not too worried :P
snoons@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 3d
Going to have to try out postmarket soon, but want to find a job irl before then.
popekingjoe@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 3d
I'm already rocking GrapheneOS on all of my devices except my work phone. I'm good.
chunes@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 2d
Continue to not own a mobile phone as I have done since the 80s
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 6 pts · 2d
I'm assuming, then, though, that you do have a computer, in order to receive emails and such. Too much in society is attached to having other stuff: mailing address, email, phone number, two factor authentication, running privacy violating software on Windows, etc...
If you've been doing it since the 80s, have there been eras that have really challenged your desire or whatever to not have a mobile phone?
Do you think life would be much easier if you did have a mobile phone?
Why do you not have a mobile phone?
Do you think other or younger people should follow your lead?
I'm so curious about your story. I've thought about it many times, and as much as I think the technology is super cool and amazing, I also really wish it wasn't all but legally required to participate in so many aspects of society. It makes me wonder where you're from and where you live and if you're American or not.
chunes@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 1d
You assume correctly. My computer (which is not a laptop btw) is indispensable. I have a strong desire to keep my digital life all in one spot and a PC is my best option, since I also like to make software and play video games.
I have never once looked at a smartphone and thought "man, I wish I could do that." I'll admit, once in a while I do daydream about how easy they make it to send and receive money, but that's about it. I don't make or spend enough of it for it to be a huge concern.
Believe it or not, it has gotten slightly easier to live without a smartphone in recent years. Medical providers started providing online portals where you can do everything. In years past, they were pretty dogmatic about doing everything over the phone.
It helps a lot that I live in a very rural area full of boomers (in America, yes). People here still go to the bank in person, restaurants have paper menus, people still use paper atlases to get around, etc. So I haven't run into any barriers to conducting life business without a phone.
They simply never interested me when they started becoming popular while I was in college. I grew up in a time when you left the house in the morning, and no one knew where you were or what you were doing until you told them when you got home in the evening. I like that, so I keep doing it.
I think they should do it if they want to, and fight to keep it possible. And always remember: if someone tries to tell you you can't do something without a phone, they're just bluffing. Everything is negotiable.
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 1d
Wow, thank you for taking the time to give such thoughtful answers.
I have one more slightly more complex question, though, since I run into it occasionally and absolutely abhor it: do you ever have to use a scan-only pay-to-park or anything like that? You said you live in a rural area that has paper/physical things, still - does that imply that you never encounter these digital-only things? Or that maybe you do and just choose not to engage with them? If you don't, what would you do if you did?
For example, you go into town and the available parking at a restaurant is pay to park, and there is no physical meter, only a scannable code on the signs everywhere, telling you you scan it and pay with an account at a website or through their app.
A real parking garage I often really visit has a system that scans your license plate on entry. Then on exit, there is no booth anymore, but another camera that scans your plate at the exit. If you don't have an account or haven't paid, the bar blocking your way doesn't lift. The system is designed to be interactionless, but only as long as you've made an account with a valid payment option on it.
chunes@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
I have not encountered anything like that myself. And frankly, I stay as far away as I can from big cities because of reading stuff like this. That is pure cancer. If I ran into something like that with no alternative, I would definitely give somebody a piece of my mind over it. Maybe not everything is negotiable in the moment after all.
This makes no sense to me. how are you even supposed to know this the first time you use it? So they just trap people inside with no recourse? That's 'calling the cops for false imprisonment' territory.
I'm definitely hoping I die before bullshit like this catches up to me.
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 1d
Hahaha there are a bunch of big colorful signs at the entrance, but yeah, you are correct, it is cancerous bullshit. That parking garage constantly has issues with lines of people getting stuck and having to wait.
It's also a new system, as of maybe 2023, which was bad enough, being automated and only accepting card, before.
Another bad detail to ruin your day is that it's at a hospital and is basically the only parking available.
AdolfSchmitler@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
Kinda looking forward to the response on that
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 1d
RIGHT?!
Like, I am perpetually curious and interested in knowing more about other people, especially those older than me.
ArmchairAce1944@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 3d
I am on grapheneOS.
tehmics@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 3d
Already on graphene
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 2d
I moved to GrapheneOS a few years back and dumped their services for an Immich server and proton mail
CrabAndBroom@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 1d
I too have been Graphene'd up for years. I'm slowly working on ditching the last few bits of Google, just about the only thing left is an old gmail that's tied to a bunch of accounts, which I might keep around as a forwarding thing for a little while yet.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
What's the hardware? Pixel?
BCsven@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
Yep started with a 7, now I'm on the 9. It has been great
WalrusDragonOnABike@reddthat.com · 7 pts · 3d
Was planning to just install lineage on my phone, but broke the screen recently and it was nearly 6 years old anyways so decided to get a Linux phone.
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 2d
Cross that road when it happens. Likely, next phone purchase will be a lot more annoying.
JakenVeina@midwest.social · 7 pts · 3d
Lookup their official process for bypassing the lockdown, and do it. Then never buy a google-controlled device again.
Obituarykidney@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 3d
I have not been following Google News, what's happening with Android?
matsdis@piefed.social · 10 pts · 3d
See: https://keepandroidopen.org/
TL;DR: it will get harder to distribute android apps to the majority of the users. You can still do whatever you want with your device, for now, if you go through all the new extra steps.
csolisr@hub.azkware.net · 6 pts · 3d
Save up for a secondary phone I can "sideload" things on at my leisure, or barring that, seeing if Shizuku isn't retroactively blocked on my device
Sunshine@lemmy.ca · 18 pts · 3d
We need to pressure every tech reviewer to mention whether or not a phone model has an unlocked bootloader.
MalReynolds@slrpnk.net · 11 pts · 3d
Yup, also not only unlockable but relockable (some are only the former as I understand), relocking is important for the new image's security and may enable more apps to work.
Sunshine@piefed.ca · 4 pts · 3d
Yes, someone tell the Swiss phone company Punkt that relocking secures the device.
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 1d
Waiting for Motorola linux phone.
Canconda@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
Supposedly 2027 onward their top line phones will be Graphene compatible.
HuePony@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 2d
Don't wait, do it now
bad1080@piefed.social · 5 pts · 3d
google has no power over my phone, long time crdroid user (lineage fork)
CumbrianCucumber@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2d
I've been on Ubuntu Touch for a couple of months now! I'm enjoying it so far
CCMan1701A@startrek.website · 2 pts · 1d
Which device and cell provider are you using?
CumbrianCucumber@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
The phone is a Fairphone 3, and the provider is Lebara (I don't think it exists outside the UK, but there you go)
CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2d
I own, and love, my samsung Fold7, so afraid im kinda screwed.
bilb@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 1d
I'm still on my Fold6. I got a Pixel Pro Fold to use Graphene and it was great for a while, but the device itself kinda fell apart, so I'm back on the Fold6.
A folding Linux phone would be really cool, and also $3000.
CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
yea
I love my fold since i play OSRS for a couple hours a day, and can watch youtube on half the screen while still having a decent sized screen.
Its also great professionally, since i can call up blueprints and not have them postage stamp sized.
melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2d
Probably find something else to pursue that doesn't require dystopian technology. I can't imagine that I would just sit there and despair over it.
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2d
Tell us what you come up with? If apple and android are out, it's gonna be sailfish or graphene on a thinning hw profile, right?
melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
I'd rule out utopian tech as well. Maybe singing, dancing or tree climbing?
Beangut@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2d
GrapheneOS currently, I have decided this is the last I'll have though. Back to the landline when this one breaks/is locked out of the walled gardens
winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 2d
Landlines are all VOIP now unfortunately
1337ESTbun@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 3d
android 8.1 fur me >:3 this phone probably has at least 10 CVE's I'm sure of it
Sunshine@piefed.ca · 5 pts · 2d
The package (com.google.android.verifier) will be introduced on devices running Android 8 or higher, granting Google the ability to block the installation of unverified apps.
modernangel@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 3d
The only thing it might affect is my favorite f-droid music app. I'm leaning away from the Alphabet ecosystem for other uses though - Joplin instead of Keep for note-taking, Organic Maps instead of Gmaps for nav, local LibreOffice files instead of Workspace apps when online collab isn't critical.
Nobody has quite stepped up to compete with G Sheets. Even Excel online is a distant runner-up. Proton is working on challenging Alphabet's Drive/Docs/Sheets hegemony but right now it's painfully basic.
QuickSuccess@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
Is that better than OsmAnd?
Smaile@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2d
Stuck with Samsung phone so it looks like I'm fucked
orenj@leminal.space · 4 pts · 2d
I have a furilabs phone i got in anticipation of this... turns out no service provider supports it in my neck of the woods. Kinda fucked
bilb@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 1d
Ouch. I once crowdfunded a phone that was compatible with Ubuntu Touch and it came out two years late, downgraded, and mine didn't even work. It sounds like yours might at least have resale value.
tom@lemmy.reepay.org · 3 pts · 1d
I am running LineageOS with MicroG for now but I still feel im not degoogled enough lol. Relying on that horrendous company in anyway (even if it is to maintain and contribute to the AOSP) still makes me feel a bit sick. So I have a second phone (FP6) Running pmos thanks to @TheMightyCat@ani.social which im waiting for it to become stable enough to daily drive and then ill be satisfied.
LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
Switches to Graphene OS earlier this year when my old phone kicked the bucket. Super happy with the change!
greedytacothief@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 1d
I recently learned Samsung makes a durable phone with a removable battery, and it has no lineage os support. So IDK, I'll troll around eBay for a good deal on a used phone I guess. Sooner than later this phone is dying.
Canconda@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
I'm gonna split my phone from my smart device entirely. Buying a Maker 2 phone when it drops tomorrow. Maybe this won't work out as well as I'd hoped... but it will actually cost me about the same for 2 lines cuz I'm already overpaying on my regular plan.
DeadEndLink@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
Dumbphone/grapheme combo
nik282000@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
I would rather have a netbook with a cellular modem than a phone at this point. They are all 6" diagonal slabs of brain cancer.
flightyhobler@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d
I own a Fairphone, so switching to graphene would be trivial. However, I think I will stick with the convoluted workaround they will implement. At least until I get tired of it.
captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1d
I don't know, I might start just carrying around that Lenovo tablet I've got running Fedora Gnome. It's only slightly larger than the average phone in 2026 anyway, and it's got a SIM card slot.
Jaysyn@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
Nothing, because I barely use my phone as it is. Hopefully, when it is time to upgrade there will be some decent Linux phones in my price range.
ZILtoid1991@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2d
I think this will be the first and last time I got a flagship model. I'm going back to upper-middle range Samsungs, that still have the headphone jack. My 10+ years old ThinkPad is much better to use than my S23 Ultra, the only thing that is locked down is the WLAN card slot (really need to do that hack, I already bought the necessary tools for it).
COASTER1921@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 1d
We already have the developer option to allow apps not verified by Google. You can do the 24hr wait now to preemptively enable unverified apps, and then nothing will change whenever they choose to actually start enforcing signatures. I've already done it and although a bit annoying it's far from enough a roadblock for me to get rid of my phone. We need better Linux phones, or banking apps that can actually work on graphene without the constant cat and mouse game of passing play integrity in the Google space. Even if we had a great Linux phone many mobile websites just try to redirect you to their app rather than build a real mobile website, so it would be tedious to use for many functions. Graphene is great, but the number of Android apps that refuse to run without play integrity passing is far too high for me to risk buying a compatible phone and going all in on it. Perhaps the new Motorola partnership will be able to help this in some way, but I won't believe it until I see it.
mofongo@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 1d
I'll continue using my phone until it stops working. Then I'll go with a feature phone, maybe something rubbing Kaios because WhatsApp is a must where i live. Can't say i use my phone for anything productive to warrant having one, but since i already do...
spacegoat@lemmy.world · -3 pts · 2d
Never bought an Android and never will because I saw this exact shit coming
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2d
So with apple locking hard way before android, now what are you proudly signall-uh, running, with neither of them as options?