> Google pulls the plug ? cool, you're stuck on Android 17

And you're stuck on the current hardware generation. Pretty much the only reason why Android sucks less than other mobile OSes is that hardware vendors have a pressing reason to make it work. The further the Google Android kernel diverges from its last-open version, the harder it will become to backport drivers -- and that's assuming that hardware vendors even bother to comply with the GPL when Google decides not to.

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barbazoo 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> And you're stuck on the current hardware generation.

As someone using a Pixel 3a as their main device that gave me a chuckle.

	▲	edoceo an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I had Pixel3 until Nov 2025 - when it suffered its final drop. I was kinda grumpy I couldn't convert to Graphine cause the hardware was not supported.

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littlestymaar an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

> The further the Google Android kernel diverges from its last-open version

Can it even diverge though? The kernel code is GPL so I don't think Google can close it down even if they wanted.

	▲	kaashif an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Unless they invent kernel as a service or undertake a remarkably ambitious AI license laundering project, I think you're right.