It just keeps getting worse. I think this is going to single-handedly destroy the OSS ecosystem that Android enjoys. It is incredibly frustrating watching this play out without having an alternative to migrate to.
Because it’s one thing to publicly show what you want and another to be forced to show everything that you have because you’re not a terrorist, are you? Have you though if children?
> I think this is going to single-handedly destroy the OSS ecosystem that Android enjoys.
This was always the plan. Co-opt FLOSS with services running on FLOSS platforms that are not, themselves, FLOSS. Make it insanely unattractive to run actual FLOSS services on the otherwise FLOSS platform. At that point, it might as well be what Apple does.
There's a reason why rms was insistent upon GPL, but he never did have a real answer to that sort of corporate behavior.
It would be righteous for it to destroy all of Android, not just its ecosystem.
The obvious alternative is Linux phones. Granted, the tech sets us back by maybe two decades, but at least we're almost at the stage where we can rapidfire develop our own apps or open source apps using LLM assistance.
I'd love to use GrapheneOS but I have to stand firm on not giving Google any money (at least directly). I really wish I could use GrapheneOS on non-Google hardware.
Graphene is planning to make their own phone though, so that may work for you. I don't use Google software at all, not even their search engine or email, but I find that buying Google hardware is acceptable since the bootloader is unlocked.
> Graphene is planning to make their own phone though
I don't think it will be their own phone, and I hope they don't go down that route.
They are talking with an OEM to help them increase their security to reach the requirements of GrapheneOS, at which point GrapheneOS will be able to support those non-Pixel phones.
> I don't use Google software at all, not even their search engine or email, but I find that buying Google hardware is acceptable since the bootloader is unlocked.
Same here. I've been a user of /e/OS for 4.5 years. I have come to the conclusion that the only Android system worth its while in terms of security is GrapheneOS. If it wasn't for it, I would go with an iPhone. And I do avoid TooBigTech as much as I can (I even self-host some stuff for that). But the hardware situation is the way it is, and the Pixels are simply superior at the moment.
> I'd love to use GrapheneOS but I have to stand firm on not giving Google any money (at least directly).
I see it a bit differently: Google will be fine without me. But I can contribute to GrapheneOS. So I may as well have a Pixel and donate to GrapheneOS.
The survival of GrapheneOS is far from guaranteed for multiple reasons, but sure, it's nice while it lasts and stays updated with patches. I think Graphene might benefit from having additional hardware interoperability, and additional security layers that defend it even in the face of delayed patches from upstream.
Sure, but the survival of any Mobile Linux doesn't have better odds.
The way I see it, the more support GrapheneOS gets, the higher the likelihood it survives. The goal is to reach a point where Android manufacturers consider that they lose money if they don't reach the requirements of GrapheneOS, because enough people care about them.
The chipmakers. In my dystopia, there are military permanently stationed at all of them, making sure that nothing gets out of there that can run unauthorized OSes or LLMs. Innovation Force.
