Privacy

Samsung tried its own implementation of RCS, but Google in their monopolistic shittery straight up blocked out any implementations that aren't literally themselves, open protocol farce

Amazon's Fire OS is android but they've announced a new webOS ripoff, VegaOS, Linux running HTML5/react apps. Normally I'd think this kind of diversity is a good thing, but apparently it's locked down even tighter and side loading into Vega OS just isn't a thing at all.

Edit: the point I was trying to make is that some vendors are working to get away from Google's Android foundations completely. I would think that graphene could go that route if the rug was pulled. But good luck with device support when the device specific source isn't released.

They are basically heading down that path; I believe they started developing in private then they dump all their code twice a year for the public, which has made developing GrapheneOS (etc) way harder to manage.

I can only imagine they want to limit projects like Graphene, but they still want to release source because what made Android big was/is all of the "3rd party" phones like Samsung, etc... but now Google has their own hardware who knows what could happen.

It definitely feels like the end times where we are clinging onto our last freedoms (thanks to privacy friendly roms) before we privacy-seeking folk jump to linux phones (when they become useable/stable).

Only if play protect thinks it's a virus

Well they are good for security, but they don't have to be bad. Pixels are "locked" until you unlock it and install GrapheneOS and then re-lock it to prevent unauthorized access, that's preferable to both "no lock" and "lock you don't control" imo.

(This only applies to carrier unlocked pixels you buy elsewhere of course, if you buy it from a telcom company they lock it down, which is bad).

the minute fair phone releases board schematics for the 6 I'll buy one. they did it with the 5, id love for them to do it with the 6.

I wish i could trust the fairphone in the US but I think it only supports t mobile..I travel a lot and need solid connection in case I need lyft to work or something. And airline apps..

Bring back RAZR days! I had so many razrs. Iove them

"Unfortunately" they prioritize security and no phones but Pixels and their upcoming Moto have all the necessary hardware.

If you don't care as much about security however and just want to get away from google there's plenty options, like LineageOS or /e/OS.

Personally I wanted both, so one day when it was time to switch phones I bought an unlocked Pixel instead of some Samsung with a fancy camera. Android users could all do that tbf, it's not like phones last forever these days, the question is if they prioritize security and privacy or features (that will probably be different on GrapheneOS anyway, that fancy camera is only so fancy because of the onboard processing done by the phone, your pics won't look as good on Graphene.)

After massive pushback. Their original plan was basically full control. It still is, but they'll allow you to install something if you ask nicely first.

The other issue is the timing. They can claim this is for security all they want, but it was announced suspiciously close to the courts ruling that Google needed to open up their ecosystem to other app stores. This is a blatant attempt to keep control of the app ecosystem by forcing devs to go through Google regardless of where they intend to release.