Ofc it is. I’m not saying it isn’t Impressive what they did. But it is still true out of 2 million+ lines of code it is basically only few tweaks overall. GOS is only possible because of the Android dev that made AOSP and because of AOSP security features.
This is coming down to semantics. You said very secure. I took issue with that attribution. It may be secure, but certainly is not very secure. I know, I’m being pedantic but such is my burden to ensure accuracy and clarification with what’s said and what’s meant by the same (because of more of a personal issue on my end).
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A switch to Linux smartphone OS would be interesting, yes I’d probably have to give up mobile banking using apps. Yes I’ve already had to give up NFC payments.
I think the weak point right now is probably the way the US in particular is moving to ESIM only, I think GOS still relies on Google play partially for some nuances of ESIM management, particularly activation flows? I could be wrong.
The year of linux phone is coming. I can feel it. 
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It will never have its year, but it might have a year where it’s the only option if you don’t want to make a Google or Apple account 
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Linux will be the only game in town if screwgle have their way.
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I think it’s time to think of Android phone not as all-round solution for everything smartphone can do, but just as a id/basic services device. I expect it will be if not only, then preferred way to use government services and IDs, banking, insurance, school activities, etc. And if people want privacy, they should treat it like this. You will pay 150-200 for basic phone with 5+ years of support and use it only for things mentioned. It can be offline or turned-off for most of the time.
Then you’ll need 2nd device, probably de-googled android, or maybe even linux phone, that you will use for private communication, media player, your data, organizer, fitness tracker, maps, etc.
Other option is iPhone, and I would suggest that one to anyone who is not interested in alternative mobile systems.
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There is a petition at change.org about this. Tuta posted this on Bluesky.
Petition · Stop Google from limiting APK file usage - United States · Change.org
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…. but I want privacy for IDs, banking, insurance, school activities, etc as well. So the obvious answer is to take the 2nd device option (pass on the 1st device), and just use webapps instead of dedicated apps. My Sony Droidian phone is becoming more attractive as this thread rolls on. I can almost hear it saying…. use me! use me! 
It’s only when the number of FOSS users gets large enough to warrant commercial interest that retailers and service providers will seize upon the obvious gap in the market.
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The nuance is that what is secure for your average Joe will not be for a whistleblower. Basically, security is not absolute. Also the same goes for user freedom : normal Android doesn’t run with root.
If you dont want to have a constructive conversation, I am done. One doesn’t have to be 100% against or 100% for something. I dont want to argue further cause I apparently have “inferior communication skills”.
Hard disagree on this. This will imensely hurt the whole ecosystem. Many apps developer might stop development as they lose the majority of their user base.
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you are reffering to GrapheneOS’s statement yes?
And I’m with you, I know a friend who’s stuck with a phone and due to a new device, Latest Pixel supported by GrapheneOS, if that rolled out earlier I dont think he would’ve been able to sid- (cough excuse me I just got a report that Louis now called it installing an app and some fans might get mad at me for calling the S- word, cough) Installed any apps outside the Google Play Store due to it still utilizing Google Play Services.
I am very very curious what happens if you do disable or uninstall play services on stock roms (through ADB and Universal debloater for uninstalling play services, and I know y’all that are gonna say “It will install back after you reset the phone”, I’m aware, shush)
Yes, I was referring to the GOS statement.
Can you even disable “GPS” ?
What I find crazy is even Chinese phones* haven’t blocked third-party install (better therm than sideloading?), although they make it extremely hard. I wonder whether it will really be completely blocked. Even Google publish an app only on Github (Edge Gallery).
But regardless or whether it will be completely blocked, this will afraid potential new users of F-Droid.
The EU currently has a comment period on a upcoming legislation called the Digital Fairness Act. I encourage EU citizens to comment that we need fair platforms where all stakeholders have their say..Something like that. European Commission - Have your say
(Worth a try, although this was supposed to be prevented with the DMA already)
*by which I mean phones by chinese.manufactures in the Chinese market, not international Chinese phones)
yes you can disable it with no additional tweak.
I meant Google Play Services, hence the quotes.
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I understood that, yes
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OK I am surprised that stock Android phones continue working normally after it is disabled. Would have thought they relied on it for some essential features.
Tested on my samsung real quick
well it will spam you with notifications bragging you to enable it on apps that rely on it.
For me the most annoying was Google Messages and Watch7 Manager, even my watch relies on Play Services for the connection alone, yikes.
Maybe I could get around to like disabling it, sideloading, then enabling it again, that will have to be tested. Or maybe uninstalling it all together will work who knows when this thing happens we’ll see
Edit: Has stopped begging for the most part, good, seems only if you attempt to run the apps now.
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Age verification but for Android… lmao