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. 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.

  • qx1vsx@lemmy.ml
    0·
    4 months ago

    What I really hope for is a way to install linux on any mobile device, be it Samsung, Google, One Plus or whatever, like we do with Linux… with linux it doesn’t matter which brand is your laptop… it always works, and if we can replicate that it means true freedom and also it means linux mobile phones are gonna be more fun and broader than desktop computers… cuz everyone uses smart phones.

  • jobbies@lemmy.zip
    0·
    4 months ago

    There’s still hope with AOSP. I could see something coming out of that before a Linux platform is ready.

    • xia@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      I thought they already gutted much of AOSP. Like removing the dialer or contacts and stuff.

          • AdrianTheFrog@lemmy.worldEnglish
            0·
            4 months ago

            for 4 Linux would also kind have the same problem as a 3rd party ROM, (almost) no one is making mobile apps for Linux

            Sure, there are a lot of desktop apps, but most don’t have a mobile UI in mind

            • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
              0·
              4 months ago

              Linux has all kinds of problems but none of them are fundamental the same way that Android is.

          • Alaknár@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            0·
            4 months ago

            You’re saying that an Android without any Google/Samsung/Xiaomi/OnePlus interference wouldn’t solve the problems introduced by Google/Samsung/Xiaomi/OnePlus?

            • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
              0·
              4 months ago

              No that’s not what I said. I’m saying there is no Android without Google.

        • hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org
          0·
          4 months ago

          We already have it (LineageOS etc), the problem is that the hardware they run on (reflashed unlocked android phones) are disappearing and the whole android ecosystem with proprietary 3rd party software is getting more restrictive.

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgOPEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      Haha yeah, probably. Honestly I’m shocked they don’t have an Android store like Epic. But I digress.

  • Shimitar@downonthestreet.euEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    Buy Nothing Phones… Un-lockable bootloader without need to even ask for it, very lite and clean AOSP derivate android flavour.

  • amuck1924@lemmy.world
    0·
    4 months ago

    So what is our alternative? I get that we need to start working on an actual viable open platform, but it seems like the difficulty is mostly hardware and device manufacturers locking the bootloader at this point, isn’t it? So is that where we need to go? To make the “Raspberry Pi” of mobile phones?

    I’m happy to help, I just don’t have the free time to spearhead a whole project.

  • I Cast Fist@programming.dev
    0·
    4 months ago

    At this point, the “best” solution might be buying one of those SBC (single board computers) that also has an android image, like orangePi or ODroid and “build” the rest of the phone on top of it. Might be the only way people can get a screen smaller than 6" as well. I say Android in this case because it has access to all the apps without needing emulation or Waydroid

    OOOOORRRRR, just buy an used older phone that you know is easy to unlock and install a custom rom. Did that with a motorola G6, am happy with lineage. Not the fastest phone by a long shot, especially as newer versions of many apps just introduce more bloat because fuck you, but perfectly usable for messaging and video watching. Also has a headphone jack!

  • kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    0·
    4 months ago

    Ill address your issues with Android and then ill give my issues with mobile Linux:

    1
    1. The closing of development of an increasing number of components in AOSP.

    Yeah this is bad but not even devastating for custom roms like GOS or LineageOS

    2
    1. Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus have removed the option of bootloader unlocking on all of their devices. I suspect Google is not far behind.

    I highly doubt Google would lock the bootloader, they still make the most friendly devices for custom roms (yes even after all they have done). Also Samsung hasnt acturally allowed custom roms for a while now while Xiaomi doesn’t either.

    3
    1. 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.

    Even if a developer used the Play Integrity API it doesn’t mean custom roms or other operating systems like GOS arent supported. I use GOS and have had no issues with play integrity, there are no incentives to require a certified Android device.

    4
    1. 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.

    Sideloading isnt going anywhere and tbh I doubt this will be strongly enforced, Google will always have the threat of root resurfacing. You dont even need root to get rid of Google Play services and install MicroG.

    Conclusion

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

    That seems highly unlikely, even with everything Google has done the fact is AOSP is the only mature open source mobile project.

    Now ill get to my issues with mobile Linux:

    Hardware

    As of now there is no good hardware and no plans by any company to make good hardware in the future.

    UI

    Mobile Linux interfaces are at least a decade behind Android, clunky and bearly usable. Btw yes I have tried them recently, they suck. For the most part mobile Linux interfaces are made by developers who would never acturally daily drive them.

    Software support

    Not a lot of Linux software supports arm and those that do either don’t work with touchscreens or have them as an afterthought.

    UX

    The software that does work generals isnt designed with small screens in mind and are very often scaled down desktop apps

    Basic functionality

    Basic functionality is absolutely not there on Linux phones, things like calling and texing either require commands or outright dont work at all. For example according to the Postmarketos Wiki in order to change volume on a Pixel 3a during a call you need to manually change it with commands. Genuenly what the fuck, if im on an important call the other person isnt going to wait several hours for me to fiddle with the terminal. If I need to send a text now im not waiting several hours until it works.

    Security

    Mobile Linux has all the security issues as Linux with no mitigations, except phones contain a lot more personal information and are more likley to be a target for data extraction.

  • Da Oeuf@slrpnk.net
    0·
    4 months ago

    Are there any Linux mobile OSs that do not use a compatibility layer with Android underneath it?

    I tried Ubuntu Touch a couple of years ago and couldn’t get mobile data working with UK provider but apart from that it was very cool.

  • network_switch@lemmy.ml
    0·
    4 months ago

    Yes. Need the kind of love desktop hardware got for Linux with mobile hardware. I don’t need tap to pay and mobile deposit. That can come when the ball really gets rolling and the user base is too large to not service. For now I’d be happy with consistent phone/text support, signal application, a mobile Firefox, and the phone dockable to run full desktop applications. Strong enough hardware. Google are a bunch of jackasses. Need more phones to support PostmarketOS or something

    Most apps I can replace with a web browser but the mass market has shown it’s preference for an app store. Got to get payments integrated into Flathub

    • Hack3900@lemy.lol
      0·
      4 months ago

      I’m in a similar position. My next phone will be a Linux device I just hope I can install Signal everything else I can do on my pc instead even if it’s less convenient

  • Baldr@programming.dev
    0·
    4 months ago

    I’ve been thinking about this and I wonder if Linux can have more success if we have pocket computers that gradually add phone functions instead of trying to have phone hardware work with a system that isn’t made for phone-like experience in general.

  • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    tl;dr: buy a second hand pixel 8 and install GrapheneOS. It’s Android, but it will get you through a few years while you wait for postmarketOS to become viable as a daily driver.

  • toastal@lemmy.ml
    0·
    4 months ago

    I got a Sailfish OS last year seeing the writing on the wall already with all the bootloader locking. It’s been bumpy to put it lightly, but at least it has Android apps to help get over the gaping holes of basic missing apps like a halfway decent XMPP client.

  • Eskuero@lemmy.fromshado.ws
    0·
    4 months ago

    I have a Pixel 9 Pro which is supposed to get security updates until 2031 but at the pace Google is closing Android down I wonder if it will even be viable to stay on an AOSP degoogled ROM until then.

    I feel like the future is leading us to a place where we will have to reduce our mobile computing to a trusted but slow and unreliable main phone while keeping a secondary mainstream device for banking/government apps.

    • ninth_plane@lemmy.world
      0·
      4 months ago

      I also think disconnecting the concepts of “pocket computer” and “always-on two way radio with location tracking and internet connectivity” are things you could put in different physical devices.

      • FoundFootFootage78@lemmy.mlEnglish
        0·
        4 months ago

        Just gotta work out how to get internet on the pocket computer, so I can do mobile banking and cab bookings on the go.

  • Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.netEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    Definitely going to be trying for some kind of linux phone for my next one.

    Debating biting the bullet on the ~$800 cost of a fairphone.