Opening my weather app this morning I was greeted by this warning:

Google has announced that, starting in 2026/2027, all apps on certified Android devices will require the developer to submit personal identity details directly to Google. Since the developers of this app do not agree to this requirement, this app will no longer work on certified Android devices after that time.

It’s the first time I hear about this, seems to be about:

Tech crunch article from august, “google will require developer verification for android apps outside the play store”

Cirrus app: Github

Was this a big thing I somehow missed? I hope more devs will follow suit.

  • MOARbid1@piefed.socialEnglish
    0·
    2 days ago

    I’ve only ever used Android, dating back to the T-Mobile G1. I think I’m now ready to switch to iPhone. If I’m going to be pigeonholed into a completely walled garden, it might as well be with a company that knows what they are doing.

    I really don’t want to switch, but probably will for my next upgrade.

    • cerebralhawks@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      I switched to iPhone in 2016. I had no idea Pixel was coming, and my choices all sucked. The more I looked at the iPhone 6s, the more I realized it was the right phone at that time.

      I’m now on my fourth iPhone and I’m kind of done with them. “Apple Intelligence” and the keyboard gets so many things wrong. On a 16 Pro Max. And yet my Galaxy S10 which is 5 years older gets almost nothing wrong.

      iPhones have great screens and the newest Snapdragon barely catches up to the new iPhone chip. But I think it does more. The Pixel chip is much further behind (comparable to an iPhone 11, I hear) but even that phone seems smarter.

      I feel like iPhones are really nice basic/feature phones. They work well with my Macs, but Macs don’t stop working if your phone runs Android. They just don’t play well together.

      Apple is a lot better on privacy. They never pretended to be or care about open source though. iOS is based on macOS which is certified UNIX; Android is Linux more or less but neither is open. I think it’s a moot point at best and a bullshit non-point most days. Open source I mean. As far as privacy, I think Apple is better on a good day but maybe misleading, but Google never really pretended to care. The deal was always, premium stuff for your personal data. We just didn’t care as much back then.

      Honestly there are no great options. If I had to buy a phone right now, I’d probably get a Galaxy S25. I just hate what’s going on with Nova Launcher. But I love using my S10, it’s just a dated screen at this point.

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      Honestly considering the same. Sideloading is the only reason to stick with Android and that’s now going away. Apple devices have more power, better battery life, better displays, etc etc etc. Especially considering the “base” 17 is now actually a really good value while Pixel prices have skyrocketed in recent years to iPhone levels (presumably for AI shit I don’t even want).

      • MOARbid1@piefed.socialEnglish
        0·
        2 days ago

        I was also looking at the 17, and it looks like a great option. A 16 pro might also be a good option

      • MOARbid1@piefed.socialEnglish
        0·
        2 days ago

        I absolutely get what you’re saying, and a good part of me agrees with you. Here is the thing, I’m tired boss. I’ve made an effort my whole life to use open source, privacy friendly everything.

        I’m now to the point where I don’t have time for messing with phones. Fixing broken stuff, compatibility, etc etc.

        I need a powerful phone with a great camera that just works.