E: apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate.

Android has always been a fairly open platform, especially if you were deliberate about getting it that way, but we’ve seen in recent months an extremely rapid devolution of the Android ecosystem:

  1. The closing of development of an increasing number of components in AOSP.
  2. Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus have removed the option of bootloader unlocking on all of their devices. I suspect Google is not far behind.
  3. Google implementing Play Integrity API and encouraging developers to implement it. Notably the EU’s own identity verification wallet requires this, in stark contrast to their own laws and policies, despite the protest of hundreds on Github.
  4. And finally, the mandatory implementation of developer verification across Android systems. Yes, if you’re running a 3rd-party OS like GOS you won’t be directly affected by this, but it will impact 99.9% of devices, and I foresee many open source developers just opting out of developing apps for Android entirely as a result. We’ve already seen SyncThing simply discontinue development for this reason, citing issues with Google Play Store. They’ve also repeatedly denied updates for NextCloud with no explanation, only restoring it after mass outcry. And we’ve already seen Google targeting any software intended to circumvent ads, labeling them in the system as “dangerous” and “untrusted”. This will most certainly carry into their new “verification” system.

Google once competed with Apple for customers. But in a world where Google walks away from the biggest antitrust trial since 1998 with yet another slap on the wrist, competition is dead, and Google is taking notes from Apple about what they can legally get away with.

Android as we know it is dead. And/or will be dead very soon. We need an open replacement.

It truly can’t be overstated how important this will be in the coming years, given the current trends of Android towards being a closed ecosystem.

  • Armillarian@pawb.socialEnglish
    2·
    2 months ago

    I can’t support this even if i wanted to… bank got to decide which OS and its version i use now. Since most of the bank require most verification and transaction to be done through phone. Also alot of small vendor only accept digital cash (due hygenic reason and speed).

    • Staden_ スタデン@pawb.social
      1·
      4 days ago

      Here in Brazil most of the traditional (physical) banks will support doing transactions through internet banking on a web browser, but the newer banks (digital only) will require that you have their apps installed on a smartphone.

    • forestbeasts@pawb.social
      2·
      1 month ago

      Wow. Over here where we live (in the US), we can just use a web browser on our desktop. We don’t use any “digital cash” stuff, though, just our physical bank card (tap-to-pay with a physical card takes care of hygiene and speed).