Google: 'Your $1000 phone needs our permission to install apps now'". Android users are screwed - Louis Rossmann
-
I bought a Pixel recently and for 2 days I tried to make it work. 2 whole days of fumbling pain! And I felt fucking horrible. Almost nothing is customizable and everything coated in a thick layer of AI. Every google app has dark patterns. Don't like it? Well too bad, apps like goog photos keep on asking if you want to upload your life with a recurring popup that tries to trick you. Don't want Google Search Bar? Well... you don't get to say no bitch, don't make me hurt you. It is not a healthy relationship.
So. I just took the plunge and flashed GrapheneOS. Graphene will take a bit of work getting replacements for some of my needed apps like mail and map. But there are lots of neat options and I'm having fun with it. Problem fixed.
I used the graphene web install. I booted up my Pi 4B+ and used gnome-disks to flash a MicroSD with Ubuntu 24.10 then installed the two packages in the web install instructions then I got Brave (I went to the Brave homepage and they have some curl option to download. I needed to install curl, did that then got Brave installed. Once brave is installed you have to disable browser fingerprinting memory reduction and disable the "brave shield" (the little shield near the address bar) for the web installer GrapheneOS page. (It's a fresh install, on a Pi, and I know the site, no real risk)
After this you can just press the big buttons on the page and follow the instructions on the page.
There are many ways to do this. They have lists of compatible browsers and operating systems. I picked (eww) Ubuntu and (eww) Brave because they seemed easiest on the list and I did not virtualize or use containers in any way cause it messes up the webUSB magic the website uses. I like to play it safe as possible when firmware is involved so I didnt speed up the instructions. And also when you buy a Pixel, big thing! Turn on dev tools and toggle your oem bootloader setting off and on again. If it can't do that you need to return the phone because it's locked down by carrier.
Well... I hope my long sleep deprived ramblings help someone else break their chains. Read a bunch about it before starting! Good Luck!
Good on you for using grapheneos! But you should always install the software you want anyway. You don't need google photos. You can install a different launcher etc. Don't become complacent and go with the setting out of the box. That's the reason tech turned into shit. Consumers don't care for it anymore.
I must admit however, that the launcher market has turned to shit though. There used to be so many more cool options to choose from.
-
I have LineageOS on my second phone, so the issue doesn't apply to custom ROMs, as the developers assured me. On my main phone, however, I still have the stock ROM because it's a new and expensive phone, and there are no custom ROMs for it yet, especially as it's a MediaTek. If they try to block sideloading, it would be a good time to report it to the European Union.
-
I used my last phone for about 4 years. At that point the battery life was getting worse, and the coating to prevent smudges and make your finger slide easily had worn off in the middle. Even then it's still perfectly usable, I just wanted an upgrade and to get away from Samsung.
I don't understand the people that upgrade every year or two. In the last 5 years basically the only new development has been higher refresh rate displays and faker looking (more processed) camera images...
I don't think people are doing it because the new phones have better specs. It's more a social status flex or because tech consumerism (buying new toys) is a default hobby now for many.
-
I don't think people are doing it because the new phones have better specs. It's more a social status flex or because tech consumerism (buying new toys) is a default hobby now for many.
That's unfortunate. Personally I can barely tell all the black rectangles apart. It's a utility for me, not a fashion accessory. Maybe if it was, I'd have an iPhone
-
Good on you for using grapheneos! But you should always install the software you want anyway. You don't need google photos. You can install a different launcher etc. Don't become complacent and go with the setting out of the box. That's the reason tech turned into shit. Consumers don't care for it anymore.
I must admit however, that the launcher market has turned to shit though. There used to be so many more cool options to choose from.
Yup, Thanks, I plan too. I installed Nova and then cut its network permissions. It's something for now.
-
This is about preparing for DMA and the likes in other countries.
I don't see how the DMA would cause this other than Google preemptively setting themselves up for malicious compliance. The whole point of the DMA seems to be to give users choice not take it away.
-
I find it very strange how many people in the comments here think the solution is to buy an iPhone. Maybe you are all just rich and can afford to spend $1000+ based on vibes, but considering the Android market still has a massive value advantage I'm not really sure what the point of switching is. This all feels very similar to how some Westerners decided Chinese tech and even the Chinese government were suddenly problem-free just because Americans elected Trump for a second time.
I trust China more than this current administration..What are they gonna do? Drone strike me? Oh, wait, that's the US.
-
Look up Australia's whitelisting system.
If you phone isn't manually approved, it won't be able to connect to a cell tower, not even for emergency calls.
What the hell
-
This is about Revanced, isn't it? They failed to kill it via the YouTube backend so now it's down to lock down the os and browsers as much as possible to keep feeding people the juicy ads.
This is bigger than "just" Revanced though. It is about using any open source software that could replace a Google app and losen Google's grip on your data.
-
I bought a Pixel recently and for 2 days I tried to make it work. 2 whole days of fumbling pain! And I felt fucking horrible. Almost nothing is customizable and everything coated in a thick layer of AI. Every google app has dark patterns. Don't like it? Well too bad, apps like goog photos keep on asking if you want to upload your life with a recurring popup that tries to trick you. Don't want Google Search Bar? Well... you don't get to say no bitch, don't make me hurt you. It is not a healthy relationship.
So. I just took the plunge and flashed GrapheneOS. Graphene will take a bit of work getting replacements for some of my needed apps like mail and map. But there are lots of neat options and I'm having fun with it. Problem fixed.
I used the graphene web install. I booted up my Pi 4B+ and used gnome-disks to flash a MicroSD with Ubuntu 24.10 then installed the two packages in the web install instructions then I got Brave (I went to the Brave homepage and they have some curl option to download. I needed to install curl, did that then got Brave installed. Once brave is installed you have to disable browser fingerprinting memory reduction and disable the "brave shield" (the little shield near the address bar) for the web installer GrapheneOS page. (It's a fresh install, on a Pi, and I know the site, no real risk)
After this you can just press the big buttons on the page and follow the instructions on the page.
There are many ways to do this. They have lists of compatible browsers and operating systems. I picked (eww) Ubuntu and (eww) Brave because they seemed easiest on the list and I did not virtualize or use containers in any way cause it messes up the webUSB magic the website uses. I like to play it safe as possible when firmware is involved so I didnt speed up the instructions. And also when you buy a Pixel, big thing! Turn on dev tools and toggle your oem bootloader setting off and on again. If it can't do that you need to return the phone because it's locked down by carrier.
Well... I hope my long sleep deprived ramblings help someone else break their chains. Read a bunch about it before starting! Good Luck!
wrote last edited by [email protected]I mean, good on you to go for Graphene, but honestly a lot of stuff you describe is solved with a custom launcher. Search bar and customizability for example. I use KISS launcher on my private phone (Pixel 7) and on my work phone (Pixel 9), no issues with either of these topics.
The one thing I wholeheartedly agree with though is the cancer that is Google Photos and the peddling of backing up stuff.
-
I have LineageOS on my second phone, so the issue doesn't apply to custom ROMs, as the developers assured me. On my main phone, however, I still have the stock ROM because it's a new and expensive phone, and there are no custom ROMs for it yet, especially as it's a MediaTek. If they try to block sideloading, it would be a good time to report it to the European Union.
Are you sure it won't apply? As far as I understand, it'll apply to all devices with Google services installed. Which includes most ROMs, as well as non-Google ROMs after you manually install gapps. Is my understanding off?
-
And especially any youtube app that blocks ads. OF COURSE Google will never allow Newpipe, Revanced, FreeTube and so on to be installed on Android phones ever again.
I have no idea if this shit is coming to android tv, but i turned updates off just in case as I use SmartTube Next on it to watch ad free youtube. Ugh. Fuck google.
-
But you literally mentioned linux phones, why add that you'll use "iOS out of spite"? Lol
I added, "if I can't find a linux one that is suitable for my needs". And I mean it, I will spend the time and energy for due research when the time comes to change it. I am a long time linux OS user in my personal computer so I won't shy away from using a phone if the OS feels different to android.
All I am saying is after this consideration, if I am left between iOS and android, I will go iOS because of how blatantly disrespectful google has become of it is base users in the last 5-10 years.
-
If they only cared about thwarting malware they could have just relied on code signing via public certificate authorities, like with binaries on Windows.
-
I have LineageOS on my second phone, so the issue doesn't apply to custom ROMs, as the developers assured me. On my main phone, however, I still have the stock ROM because it's a new and expensive phone, and there are no custom ROMs for it yet, especially as it's a MediaTek. If they try to block sideloading, it would be a good time to report it to the European Union.
They also stopped support that allowed for easier development of custom ROMs a couple weeks back. So it's not good news for custom ROMs. Either someone needs to form Android for good, or Linux phones are our next best bet.
Back in 2019 when the leadership changed, they moved to be 100% about advertising, which is why Google started going browser fingerprint tracking. Invasive is the name of the game. Within 6 months of that, they're also locking down their entire ecosystem like Apples does, specifically to squeeze more data out for advertising. This isn't an action taken in a vacuum.
-
I get what you're saying and you're definitely right. I don't side load things all that much but the times I have was because there was no other viable way to get what I needed and it worked amazingly well (not to mention testing something before it's available on the app store).
It's one of those things like a fire extinguisher that you might not need but you are very grateful it's there just in case you ever do.
Yes, I love to have the capability, but haven't used it so long that it wouldn't motivate me to switch away from android to keep it.
-
So the users will have to get their own key and give it to the patcher/manager?
im guessing the two possibilities are:
- the developer signs the apk with their developer key
- the user compiles an apk from the source code and signs it with their developer key
someone correct me if im wrong
-
I trust China more than this current administration..What are they gonna do? Drone strike me? Oh, wait, that's the US.
If you are American, you should buy Chinese tech because the Chinese government is more interested in spying on and controlling its own people than you.
If you are Chinese, you should buy American tech because the American government is more interested in spying on and controlling its own people than you.
-
Can you at least put a custom ROM on to disable this?
-
If you are American, you should buy Chinese tech because the Chinese government is more interested in spying on and controlling its own people than you.
If you are Chinese, you should buy American tech because the American government is more interested in spying on and controlling its own people than you.
wrote last edited by [email protected]What if I am american, but travel to both countries? I am thinking xiaomi w/ custom ROM?
