Submitted 2 weeks ago by luciole@beehaw.org to technology@beehaw.org
Google moves to lock down the Android operating system, effectively stealing features away from millions of existing users.
I’ve moved from Android to CyanogenMod, then Lineage OS, and now Graphene OS. I have zero interest in a proprietary, locked down platform.
If they really want me to use a Linux tablet, I will.
The sad part is that LineageOS, GrapheneOS and basically all Android alternative OS are built on top of the AOSP, which Google controls, and they’re staling updates to twice a year. These stalled updates may include critical security patches or device compatibility support.
Furthermore many android devices prevent users from entering a boot state which lets the owner install the OS of their choice, making everything more complicated.
Absolutely, Google can kill off Android by making it a walled garden, like iOS, but worse. We’ll see what the Motorola GOS device will be like.
I can definitely go back to tethered Linux WiFi tablet. Maybe something chinese, based on RISCV.
I do believe since GOS is partnering with Motorola they will have access to the OEM exclusive resources and the internal repo.
Neither lineage nor graphene are an option. They still control the platform.
We need a law that forces them to open the platform for competition.
Or hope for Chinese to come up with Linux hardware we can just use.
Holy hell it’s been a while since I heard that name… I remember putting Cyanogen on my PSP back in the day.
I really want a pixel so I can install GraphineOS
I don’t want to be a party pooper but I can’t help feeling that buying Google’s hardware to avoid Google’s software might not pan out in the long run.
I know. Ironic, isn’t it? But as far as I am aware, only Google Pixels support GraphineOS.
Motorola?
Next Motorola will not even fund google
I bought a 1 TB Pixel 8 Pro refurbished off eBay and put Graphene on it right away. I love it.
That’s why my phone looks like this and will look like this for years
software update for Android showing last installed august 2025
We MUST create a stampede exodus to non Google strangled devices. I hope to see Fairphon, Nothing, Graphene, eOS, Linux all flourishing.
Not to defend Google, but they have said they will leave a way for people to sideload. Still sucks that they feel justified in making it more annoying androidauthority.com/google-android-17-sideloadin…
Well no. They said “technically there might be a way to sideload, but only if you jump through incredible hoops like doing it all by USB on your computer or some ridiculous thing, and you definitely won’t be using F-Droid, hell no you won’t.”
Someone should make an iTunes like interface for F-Droid that runs on your computer and syncs when plugged in to your phone.
Fer anyone reading: that is false.
Reading this makes me realize how ignorant I am on all things tech.
Is that seriously Janeway on the PADD on the nightstand?
schwim@piefed.zip 2 weeks ago
As developers keep trying harder to appeal to Google’s kindness and not kill off privacy-based usage of it’s OS, we just keep falling further behind in creating a real-world usable linux phone that can do everything a phone is supposed to do.
Instead of writing a strongly worded letter to Google, EFF should have used this chance to let the community know that the boat is sinking and it’s long past time to jump ship.
skribe@piefed.social 2 weeks ago
Jump where? The alternatives currently require a small selection of hardware; are expensive; don’t offer the same level of service; or all the above.
hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 2 weeks ago
Yeah, probably jump ship to a life without a mobile phone, online banking and train tickets. 🙁
schwim@piefed.zip 2 weeks ago
That was literally my point. The reason there’s no linux phone is because everyone keeps trying to work within Google’s ever-shittier restrictions instead of having made real progress on a linux phone alternative. Now everyone is staring down the barrel of a scenario where they lose their non-Google android phone and still the entities that are supposedly working for our privacy are writing letters to Google asking them to please not be such a corporate giant intent on serving ads and knowing the location of 100% of their OS users.
The linux phone landscape is so terrible because developers keep wasting their time trying to work with Google instead of offering an alternative that works.
ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
Donate to PostmarketOS so they can support more phones and polish it up. It’s based on upstream Linux, and once polished would give us a true and permanent alternative.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 weeks ago
Welcome to Linux on desktop a few decades ago!
AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 2 weeks ago
Tis a cost analysis:
Raise your hands if you want a libre phone. Raise your hands if you’ll loan out Billions of Euros without expectations of returns.
Our planet is too illiterate to loan out billions of euros to R&D a phone design with the hellish logistics of sourcing parts, assembly & shipments, even if we gift the phone schematics on a radicle instance. I say this as someone experienced on lots of failed investments. Even as I await this plausibility. There are others like these.
Designed and spearheaded their own. Detailing risks, dangers, and threat models.