If manufacturers had their way, there wouldn’t be any phones for one side.
There’s nothing stopping manufacturers from permanently locking the bootloader. Some do and others don’t suggesting that the industry does not have a universal preference.
I do think Google wants it to be inconvenient enough to run a version of Android they haven’t blessed as one’s main phone that it has no chance to become mainstream, but that’s about the prospect of an OEM not bundling Google’s apps and store, not hobbyists running custom builds. If that sounds like an attempt to use market power to exclude competitors in violation of fair trading laws in a multitude of jurisdictions, you might be on to something.
There’s nothing stopping manufacturers from permanently locking the bootloader. Some do and others don’t suggesting that the industry does not have a universal preference.
Some manufacturers have stopped allowing unlocking their bootloaders, some bootloaders have been hacked by the community. It’s not like this is a static system.
I do think Google wants it to be inconvenient enough to run a version of Android they haven’t blessed as one’s main phone that it has no chance to become mainstream, but that’s about the prospect of an OEM not bundling Google’s apps and store, not hobbyists running custom builds.
No, Google is also trying to stop hobbyists running custom builds from accessing services built on their software (the aforementioned SafetyNet). Hackers keep finding ways around this, but Google keeps trying to lock them out.
No, Google is also trying to stop hobbyists running custom builds from accessing services built on their software (the aforementioned SafetyNet). Hackers keep finding ways around this, but Google keeps trying to lock them out.
That’s a side effect. If Google really wanted to interfere with hobbyists, they would mandate hardware-based attestation and all the current workarounds would be broken. It would be much harder to create workarounds for that.
It appears phones as old as the Android 8 era can support this and phones that shipped with Android 13 or newer always do. I had the impression it had been universal a little longer.
All bootloaders should be able to be unlocked and able to install the OS of your choice. Also you should be able to choose whatever app store you want. It is your hardware, you payed for it.
App stores are just one part of the puzzle. Unless consumers actually have rights, manufacturers will keep trying to limit their options.
The reason I don’t use Android phones in China is because every company uses its own, separate version of what’s basically microG (notifications, location…) and update checking, and so my RAM is gone before I know it and everything’s super laggy. And on my grandma’s Android tablet these desktop-style notifications pop up overwhelmingly because of certain apps that bundle adware. This is what happens when sanctions took away a default option. Customization is no doubt something great for hobbyists and an option that should exist but there is a benefit to having a default monopoly (though, again, there should be an opt-out).
Sure, but Google is trying to take away that opt-out! So we’ll be left with a monopoly and nothing else. That’s strictly worse than not having a default monopoly.
I agree with you, but my point from the start here (which I should’ve said more clearly) was that this doesn’t mean Apple must open up in response (and by default), which would leave us with no good centralized, minimalistic option either.
But you don’t have Google available as an option due to sanctions, right? It doesn’t have anything to do with other options being available. The same would go for Apple - they could be cut away with sanctions, and having other options wouldn’t preclude the default option from existing.
Except Google is trying to limit this on Android phones as well (e.g. with SafetyNet).
If manufacturers had their way, there wouldn’t be any phones for one side.
There’s nothing stopping manufacturers from permanently locking the bootloader. Some do and others don’t suggesting that the industry does not have a universal preference.
I do think Google wants it to be inconvenient enough to run a version of Android they haven’t blessed as one’s main phone that it has no chance to become mainstream, but that’s about the prospect of an OEM not bundling Google’s apps and store, not hobbyists running custom builds. If that sounds like an attempt to use market power to exclude competitors in violation of fair trading laws in a multitude of jurisdictions, you might be on to something.
Some manufacturers have stopped allowing unlocking their bootloaders, some bootloaders have been hacked by the community. It’s not like this is a static system.
No, Google is also trying to stop hobbyists running custom builds from accessing services built on their software (the aforementioned SafetyNet). Hackers keep finding ways around this, but Google keeps trying to lock them out.
That’s a side effect. If Google really wanted to interfere with hobbyists, they would mandate hardware-based attestation and all the current workarounds would be broken. It would be much harder to create workarounds for that.
And also all current phones would be broken, which they can’t do.
It appears phones as old as the Android 8 era can support this and phones that shipped with Android 13 or newer always do. I had the impression it had been universal a little longer.
I mean that’s something that’d happen regardless of whether you may install other App Stores on an iPhone easily, no?
GP wrote:
App stores are just one part of the puzzle. Unless consumers actually have rights, manufacturers will keep trying to limit their options.
The reason I don’t use Android phones in China is because every company uses its own, separate version of what’s basically microG (notifications, location…) and update checking, and so my RAM is gone before I know it and everything’s super laggy. And on my grandma’s Android tablet these desktop-style notifications pop up overwhelmingly because of certain apps that bundle adware. This is what happens when sanctions took away a default option. Customization is no doubt something great for hobbyists and an option that should exist but there is a benefit to having a default monopoly (though, again, there should be an opt-out).
Sure, but Google is trying to take away that opt-out! So we’ll be left with a monopoly and nothing else. That’s strictly worse than not having a default monopoly.
I agree with you, but my point from the start here (which I should’ve said more clearly) was that this doesn’t mean Apple must open up in response (and by default), which would leave us with no good centralized, minimalistic option either.
But you don’t have Google available as an option due to sanctions, right? It doesn’t have anything to do with other options being available. The same would go for Apple - they could be cut away with sanctions, and having other options wouldn’t preclude the default option from existing.
I don’t get what you mean.
How do other app stores on Android lead to Google stuff not being available? There’s no connection, the reason is sanctions.
How would other app stores on iOS lead to Apple stuff not being available?