Privacy

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.

Google is "only" locking you out of using your phone for 24 hours...

For extra security, let's make it a week. Let's make it a month. Let's make it a year.

Ok? Its still my phone, my hardware, and now I have to wait 24 hours before I can install wahtever I want on the phone that I goddamn paid for with my own goddamn money.

Also, let's not pretend as if they not eventually going to go back to their original plan once the initial backlash dies down and people get used to the new norm.

Stop softening the message. They can just turn off any app for any of no reason. This is the same as removing ur ability to do so

That's what they're doing *so far. * I very strongly doubt this is the last time the deal is altered.

Doesn't the new process require the use of Google Play Services?

Removing it would thus render a device unable to install apps at all.

For everyone unaware, enabling developer options already makes your OS less secure, so Google is requiring you to make yourself more vulnerable just to have the right to install any software, not just those allowed by Google. This has been among others confirmed by GrapheneOS themselves:

Other: https://floss.social/@IzzyOnDroid/116261079131226664

This is supposed to be a simplified message for tech illiterate people. While it may not be fully accurate, the alternative is something that <= 5% of the population will understand.

Additionally, as others have pointed out, this is how the change was originally planned. It was only adjusted due to massive backlash. Apparently the current backlash is not enough for Google to adjust it further.

motorola makes great phone. I remember my 1st Android phone, after years on iOS, was the Moto Z Play. That thing can last a week with light usage, or 3 days with medium usage on a single charge. Also remember those moto mods? Motorola had like speaker mod and even a mini projector that you can just snap on the phone.

So what do we do when they start making it harder and harder to install graphene?

This is the kind of action we need to take. Im proud of you for making the change. Taking the time. Making the effort to say nope fuck you and fuck that.

Install GrapheneOS on a used Pixel or an upcoming Moto.

Move. Currently get a phone compatible with Lineage/GrapheneOS (second hand pixel, coz fuck Google). Soonish, Linux phone.

https://keepandroidopen.org/

It is Google, one of the pillars of evil in the USA.

Most hardware doesn't support the fundamental security requirements of GrapheneOS, so that will never happen.

Look into things like /e/OS or Nothing Phone on the Android side, and the various Linux options (Jellyfish OS is, I think, the most advanced).

Its so easy with their web installer, takes like 5 minutes. If you go to their website they have a list of bank apps that work. Mine does and no issues. Ive been using Graphene for a couple years and can never go back.

Barclays: This app only runs in the owner profile and secure app spawning may have to be disabled

https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compatibility-with-grapheneos/

The installation is super easy - barely an inconvinience. However you need to set up everything on your phone manually - no easy transfer from stock Android afaik.

It should. My banking apps worked fine. None of them work on a rooted phone but worked absolutely fine on Graphene.

The fact that android wasn't closed like apple's ecosystem was the exact reason I rejected apple for android.

You aren't wrong. Only minor quibble is that a reason many of us use android is that it's been more open. Apple treats its customers like shit, and locking their hardware and software down like android is about to move even further toward, is all part of that overall contempt apple shows for customers. I would guess that if apple didn't lock their ecosystem so tight, Google may not have planned to make this change. They've probably been talking for years about how they can do it if apple gets away with it. They finally decided it was going to be worth pissing off a segment of users. Fucking assholes.