Peace be with you, F-Droid Community. 🌹
As many probably know, Google will block Android starting 2027.
Here is my hope: Google has shot itself in the foot with this Darth Vader move, because many People who loves privacy will now switch to de-googled systems, because ( Since to my knowledge), the blockade won’t affect those systems.
So this is just my Openion and my HOPE.
What’s your take on this?
And I kindly say to all developers: Please don’t register in Google.
There are so many people using de-googled systems now, including myself. Please keep going for us, and four you too. Please
Best wishes from Germany 🌹
Is there an alternative to Android and iOS in the US? I’m trying to degoogle but what other phones are there?
Graphene
Doesn’t that only support phones made specifically by Google?
Others are coming from what I’ve heard, but yeah, currently only Pixels have the required hardware. It’s still an awesome OS if you can find a decent second hand pixel.
Whether in the US or elsewhere, no, unless you’re willing to make major concessions (like not having banking apps)
The best you can do is a de-googled android, but even that is getting tricky with some apps
So, did I understood correctly that just getting pixel with GrapheneOS is way out?
Sooooo the way out, is to pay Google a thousand dollars for their phone…
If that’s a bother you could get it secondhand
Yes. Bonus if you get it used just make sure it’s completely unlocked. A carrier phone is not unlocked and is a pain in be butt to get unlocked. I can’t remember what instance it’s on but there’s a graphene community.
Edit it’s !grapheneos@lemmy.ml I know some instances don’t interact with .ML though
So, did I understood correctly that just getting pixel with GrapheneOS is way out?
I can’t really say anything about that, sorry. I’m not familiar with GrapheneOS or Google Pixel. As far as I know, Play Services can apparently be installed in a sandbox?.. but I didn’t quite get it either. So I can’t say whether the system will be affected by Google’s rules. Sorry I can’t help further.
Can you advertise f-droid in an app on play store? Or offer free features on a link that teaches how to f-droid yourself?
Fdroid is exactly what they’re about to block
I think you’re overestimating the de-Google community.
I’d be astonished if there was 10 million of us. Compared to a few Billion normies, we’re a rounding error in their accounting.Well, Chinese people have phones, and they don’t have Google either. Surely there is a way out of all this.
I’d be shocked if there was even 1 million people globally using fully de-googled phones tbh
I’d actually guess it’s roughly 1 million globally. ±20%
The nonprofit GrapheneOS Foundation was founded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by Daniel Micay, Dmytro Mukhomor, and Khalykbek Yelshibekov in March 2023. It received large contributions from donors such as Ethereum developer Vitalik Buterin and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey. As of April 2026, the operating system had approximately 400,000 active users.
obviously thats just graphene. i use e/os on my phone. not sure how many other distros there are…
Most Graphene users are still using Google, but in sandboxed mode. Very few, myself among them, are willing to put up with the downsides of no GPS
Umm, I have GPS on my Goog-less main profile no problem. The other profile with Play (just banking, parking and employer-subvented lunch app) also does. So not accurate.
Other commenter beat me to it, but I meant Google Play Services, sorry for the confusion
They meant Google Play Services, not the Global Positioning System (confusing, I know)
LineageOS is a big one compatible with many devices.
Yes, I would think that LineageOS has more users than any other alternative.
and I’m willing to bet a signifcant part of the userbase installs GApps after installing LOS. or at least microG.
A rounding error that many friends and family rely on for tech advice.
I actually got surprised how quick people around me reacted to remove/avoid the tracker before sharing url links for example.
This is anecdotal, but yeah. I once mentioned this google thing to my wife. She was due to change her phone and once I explained she was like “I’d like to have what you have” so she is now on a refurbished Pixel with Graphene.
Indeed. Users like us might think we are in larger amounts. But sadly enough we are the minority.
Same with Linux.
it’s the lack of awareness combined w the convenience of modern day bread & circuses that keep everyone ignorant.
It’s also a lack of technical understanding and willingness of understanding. Most non technical people just don’t care.
As a game dev i don’t see any problem in releasing the app for both google registered and alternatives. A login for a game could just use email pw right?
it’s a 1984 move
Step 1: Personally identify all deveopers
Step 2: Make impossible to run software from non-identified developers
Step 3: Maintain full control over all software, What? You want to make a Youtube substitute? Blocked.
Problem is you don’t get a choice
I tried to open up an issue (and did a PR) suggesting a developer strike as a tactic (IE open source devs adding their names to a list to promise to remove our apps from google play if developer ID goes through) on the KeepAndroidOpen repo. As a dev whose made many android apps and have them on both f-droid and google play, I thought this would mean something.
The maintainers of that repo have been ignoring me to death since April. I was told by the maintainer that the project was “leaderless”, but in reality it seems they’re very opposed to a developer strike, otherwise my PR would’ve gotten more attention.
Is there a change to an app in Google TOCs that can get folk to get app from F-droid?
For example: “Free features for this app only available on play. New features and enhancements available (paid or) for free through f-droid.” Or if you cannot openly advertise in the app, “Visit our website to get enhanced features and updates” with clear documentation on how to install and permit f-droid and get app through there.
That way, big app devs can create moves to f-droid, normalising it and chipping away at googles power. The more apps, the more legimate f-droid seems to normies.
Ideally done as soon before switchover as possible. Even reach out to content creators.
It moves from protest, to protest and solution.
Must be a US based/themed online “protest”
“We want something to change”
“We aren’t going to do anything drastic for the change”
“Nothing changed? Oh well!”
They almost always seem like a controlled opposition set up to make people believe, gain support (artificially at first to deter competeting protests that are more radical), but once it gets popular it doesn’t accomplish anything, won’t listen to ideas, input and feedback from the community and fold as soon as they aren’t required.
I work on an Android app for a small company. Google doesn’t care at all about Android devs except if you’re running a huge social media app or P2W game. I’m pretty sure they expect blowback from the OSS community and their plan is to simply ignore it.
There are some really popular FOSS apps for android, that are also on google play. Things like tasks.org , all the fossify apps, termux, joplin, ankidroid, thunderbird / k9, and many more.
These being potentially removed from google play by developers due to a developer strike, would have more of an impact than KeepAndroidOpen’s current top strategy, which is for users to mass email their country’s regulators, which are easily ignored by either politicians or google.
Maybe it’s time to consider SailfishOS as a real alternative to Android (which remains very closely linked to Google)?
I’d rather see non-proprietary mobile Linux like postmarketOS, Mobian, or Ubuntu Touch.
I’d love to degoogle but all of the state programs that I am in use Google and my emails that they have are in gmail. You don’t get to have privacy when you are part of US programs.
Can’t you use your gmail account inside a standard mailing app like Thunderbird? As for the other google services, maybe they work in browser?
I’m thinking of taking a government job and why is that you have to do that as part of a US job? What if I just show them I got a flip phone, what will they do?
Idk I’m on the other side as one receiving the support not giving it.
So they’ll be like iPhones?
When this was initially announced, and they said they wouldn’t backtrack (which they have somewhat, for now), I actually did switch to an iPhone. I figured if Android was to be as closed as iOS I might as well try out iOS & see how it goes.
Hardware-wise, holy shit it’s so nice, the device was bliss to use by comparison to my android phone.
But having ads on youtube, having a shit browser (since literally every browser on iOS is a different skin of Safari), it’s so bad. I switched back to android in something like a month (my main use for my phone is watching youtube with Revanced).
Mind you, I’m in the EU, Apple has set up the 3rd party thingy in such an inconvenient way & with so little incentives for developers that there is nothing outside of the Epic Games Store.
If Android ever becomes like this, I think I might as well just switch back to a dumb phone.
@CommanderCloon @grayclouds @fdroid
Just use e/os…
Sadly yes
I think my current phone will be my last normal Android phone. My next one will be either Linux, Graphene or iOS. In that order of preference.
Maybe I’m out of the loop, but shortly after Google announced this didn’t they backtrack and say they will let you install unapproved apps after changing a setting and waiting 24 hours?
An afaik undocumented workaround isn’t exactly evoking trust, particularly coming from Google. Also wtf 24h cooldown to install shit on my own device?!
They said that, but similarly with how they said they delayed switching their extension API after backlash (they’d break adblockers), they ended up doing it later on. That’s what they’re counting on here as well, unless there’s a lot of loud backlash and this hits their bottom line they will eventually eliminate that option down the line imo. They have every incentive to do so.
^This.
Even if there is immense push-back for this right now, they have told everyone what they want to (and eventually will) do. The wake up call we need to focus on is an alternative. A fully functional mobile FOSS OS (I personally hope for Linux, but honestly don’t want to restrict the options if there are others that would be better).
Someone probably going to break the lock like a week into it. You can just refuse the update until it does
Having to jailbreak an android phone… Fuck.
Update system,right? Sorry , things what are common for this commun,I am just learning.
I’ll be serving as the tester for a de-googled phone, hopefully, next month for my family. If all works within expectations, we’ll be moving towards no google phone until the end of the year.
I’ll be getting a Murena phone.
@qyron @AuroraSine
Murena with e/os then.
I’ve had one for 3 years.
Just fantasticMy brain just equates murena to Morena the birth control IUD and I have to pause to go wtf every time. I love that everyone is trying new things. That’s how we build better options.
That’s great to hear. Good luck! I wish I could de-Google my family too.
I’m currently testing /e/OS from Murena myself, but on a Fairphone 6, not a Murena device. The system itself is fine. Takes some getting used to, but no problem. Hope you enjoy it =D
I haven’t had any problem on my Fairphone 6 with eOS except Android Auto wont work without the Play Store installed. I do miss being able to split screen apps like I could in stock android, but that’s not exactly a “problem”
My plan exactly, but on a later schedule - end of the year for me. I’ll go for the cheaper gs6
That is what I intend to get as well. But it would be welcome seing Murena widen their to the entire Gigaset line, like Volla as done.
I think it impacts any system running Google play services, even if you’re on GrapheneOS. Is that everyone else’s understanding too?
Not fully what you’re asking but this was posted on their official Reddit
Google has already had to change how they plan on implementing their blocking app installs from unregistered developers after a lot of backlash. “Sideloading” will still be possible, as we’ve all learned from recent news. The 24 hour wait does add some friction to the whole process, which is the point of course, but it’s far less bad than some people are trying to make it seem. 24 hours, then it’s over and the user is free to install apps as they please.
This “sideloading” restriction is not even the biggest problem right now. Play Integrity is worse and does affect us directly. The effects of Play Integrity are showing up in multiple places, like now apps can’t be installed via Play Store, maybe Aurora in the future, apps refuse to run, Play Integrity verdicts are worse if an app was installed via another source than Play Store, and Automatic Protection has Play Integrity features being added. It’s a far bigger problem. It causes enough friction for some users that they give up on GrapheneOS or other non-GMS OSes to go back to whatever stock OS they had before, one complete with Google apps with privileged access and awful privacy. This other issue just got a lot more attention, and I’m guessing because it’s easier for people to fully understand.
We have been in touch with EU regulators about Play Integrity and I hope that can continue in the future. Google isn’t going to change things because a small group of people are complaining. We need regulators to help with big issues. We need to find a way to make them understand what is happening. Play Integrity is a big example of them locking things down under the guise of “security.” Fixating on other smaller issues is, in my opinion, less effective and a waste of time and resources. The “sideloading” thing has enough attention and opponents to the change have had some success.
I can’t find the post, but I recall the Graphene developers saying this would not affect GrapheneOS because of the way they have play implemented. Play services on GrapheneOS is sandboxed, it does not have permission to enforce this check.
But it will affect GraphenrOS users if less developers will make FOSS apps because its harder to distribute them
Agreed
Okay neat, thanks for the explanation
well for one, you don’t even need play services for all apps downloaded from the play store. and for another, even for the ones that do need it, play services run as an unprivileged sandboxed app, the same as any. so it can’t enforce anything google wants because it has zero control over anything.
Phew, thanks for the explanation
Hey, honestly I don’t know much about GrapheneOS. I only know it’s available for Google Pixels. But you’re right. All Google-certified devices will be ‘locked down!’
You do not need to install Play services on Graphene. You can. You can also install MicroG, or you can skip both and use NextPush or ntfy.
Is there a program or a way to tell what apps currently on ones phone will be affected by this?
Is your OS stock with Google on it? Change that software to something without Google
Is there a program or a way to tell what apps currently on ones phone will be affected by this?
Hi.
As far as I know, there is no program with which you can check this.
But, I know that for example F-Droid apps on Google-certified devices will no longer be usable, because these apps are not registered in the Play Store. According to the KeepAndroidOpen page, this will no longer work.
I want to add: According to the Samsung Galaxy Store Seller Portal, apps that are already installed will remain usable, just without updates.
Hopes, that helped.
fdroid apps can use a reproducible build instead of being signed by fdroid. In that case the dev can use their own keys and also upload to the play store under the same keys. From memory I think the fossify suite apps do this, so could in theory be approved by google.
In practice it’s unlikely though, the process costs money, requires giving identity documents to google, and also makes your app subservient to them, giving them full control over future updates, revocation, and making you dependent on their arbitrary rules for what apps are allowed to do.
other people are posting their experiences with degoogling on lemmy and that’s how i stay informed.
We need a mobile Linus Torvalds, one that’s not Finnish-American.
Alas that’s not happening.
what part of him being finnish-american has influenced his decision making?
He himself sprouted some fucked up lines in the episode of banning Russian devs from the LKML that could be resumed to “lol, cry me a river. I’m Finnish and you know what that means, right?”
And I guess you (is a Finn) too?
Banning Russian devs was (is?) so performative, impractical and stupid, and of course lots of “apolitical” projects display Ukraine flag emojis, but you say one word about not liking genocide…
Exactly
i’m not sure which one you’re referring to, me “knowing what being finnish means” or saying those lines
i know what he’s referring to cus there’s a lot of finns that are russophobic and trying to excuse it with political stuff but it’s not something specific to being finnish… not all of us are like that
I know not everyone is like that. Sorry if it sounded that way.
But nobody can excuse Linus here.
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