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TheCraiggers 3 days ago

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.

thewebguyd 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

It's extending beyond mobile too, which is terrifying.

Anonymity is under attack in general

eddieroger 3 days ago | parent [-]

Anonymity isn't under attack, we've been giving it away since MySpace and Facebook. Why forcibly take what you're willingly given?

wiseowise 3 days ago | parent [-]

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?

lenerdenator 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> 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.

OutOfHere 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

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.

cosmic_cheese 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Linux phones need a lot of love in both the hardware and shell departments to be practical for replacing mainstream smartphones.

palata 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> The obvious alternative is Linux phones.

Kindly disagree. Linux phones are very far behind.

The obvious alternative is an alternative OS based on AOSP. Like GrapheneOS.

EvanAnderson 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

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.

palata a day ago | parent | next [-]

> 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.

drnick1 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

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.

palata a day ago | parent [-]

> 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.

OutOfHere 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

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.

palata a day ago | parent [-]

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.

xandrius 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I switched to Ubuntu Touch and I see nothing wrong with it, very pleased actually. What's your experience?

OutOfHere 3 days ago | parent [-]

On which device/hardware?

xandrius 2 days ago | parent [-]

I got a FairPhone 5, not bad. I wanted to contribute without supporting Google, so FP is a good choice.

curt15 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

How many Linux phones work well even as phones?

palata a day ago | parent [-]

Even if they do, the security model is very different.

philipallstar 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Then the Linux phones will come under regulatory pressure to reveal this information and shut down freedoms.

TheCraiggers 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Who would they pressure? And even if they were successful in pressuring them, people would just remove it or fork.

pessimizer 3 days ago | parent [-]

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.

lenerdenator 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Linux is far, far harder to regulate.

Android never had the FLOSS ethos of Linux or the GNU project at large.

vivzkestrel 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

what happened to fuchsia OS or sails?