Google: “Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified. We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.”
Thank god. I would’ve ditched Android for good if this went through, and while it sounds like it would be annoying for casual users to enable unverified apps, at least we can still install them.
Don’t consider this a win, guys, this is more of an ‘Oh shit, we’re screwed if we follow through with this right now’ moment, there’s nothing stopping them from walking this back at a later, less turbulent date when no one’s paying attention, and locking Android down anyways, as this directly reminds me of the situation which caused WEI to be scrapped.
Also, the EU pushing Chat Control through the back door might embolden Google to both try an Android lockdown just like was going to roll out before, and try WEI again, and get both actually pushed through somehow.
I wouldn’t even be surprised if MS were emboldened to try to lock down PCs… Again…
I mean, sure, but there was never anything stopping them from doing this in the first place except public pressure. Large companies changing tracks due to public demand is a good thing, and definitely a win.
I think its better to simply realize that a win doesn’t mean the fight is over. It’s okay to be happy about a success. Just don’t let up on the pressure.
I wonder if they realized phone sales would drop if they made it virtually impossible to maintain privacy apps and OS.
It’s not sideloading, it’s installing. Stop giving into this idea that installing other apps is somehow bypassing normal methods!
I heard that if you don’t get your groceries via Walmart+ delivery, then it’s smuggling.
Transporting?
Great analogy
They’ve already lost my trust. GrapheneOS or LineageOS are the only safe bets now.
safe or just safer?
If you want perfectly safe code it yourself and install your own network of towers. Then make sure you send one of the devices you’ll have to design and build yourself to anyone you want to contact.
Otherwise, you’ll have to make do with safer.
never wanted to use side-load on a g-phone. get a different os and we’ll talk. likely enable it in dev options because of it’s preexisting warning/disclaimer.
Users only need to eat half of a shit sandwich!
This is less terrible news, not good news.
This new ‘flow’ will require drinking a verification can (of piss) every time you want to use a sideloaded app
For the last two years, I’ve been running my own mail server, ready to cut over the moment google wants to fuck around again. I’m happy NOT depending on my own mail server as long as possible, but it’s clear the free lunch is going to end one day. I’ve started backing my way out of Android and I’m surely not going to be buying another iOS or Android phone.
No freaking way this was because of “feedback”. This was because the European Commission will keep escalating their fines if Google keeps at it with the monopoly bullshit.
Quite some time ago, the messaging I was getting from Microsoft was that Windows 10 security updates were going to end this year. I didn’t really keep up with the news on that front, but I did notice that there was some kind of law suit in the EU that from what I recall basically came down to the fact that MS would have to continue to provide security updates to Win 10 free of charge for EU users.
Literally within the last week, a buddy of mine asked me to look at his computer and see if I could upgrade it to Win 10. I could not, as it doesn’t have a supported processor. But what I noticed is that MS now offers the option to extend security updates until 2026 with the click of a button.
So, thanks EU folks! Already knew ya’ll were awesome, but I assume this change of heart from Microsoft was a result of that suit. I appreciate it.
The EU is just a bit behind being maliciously lobbied to death (eyeroll).
(See Digital Omnibus Act)
Easing up? Don’t fucking touch it. Google is already annoying me with their play protect warnings.
That’s not good enough. They’re just going to keep lightly pushing against the bad publicity until everything not controlled by Google on your phone goes away.
We need an alternative made without googles shitty hands in the mix. This forced duopoly between Apple and Google sucks. No phone competition in the US also sucks. Overpriced Samsung or a Google phone, while companies Like Red Magic have fan and liquid cooled phones with huge batteries, more ram, and more storage, for less than a grand being sold around the rest of the world outside the US.
Oneplus had great success but then enshittified. Raised prices to match Samsung and Google, outsourced support to some place that didn’t sound like they were even in the same dimension as any English speakers and took away their ability to help customers even by accident and finally quality of their phones went to shit.
They could’ve sucked the Chinese government subsidy tit for another few years and would’ve established themselves as legit competition, but that would only delay inevitable enshittification by a few years.
They’re a descent phone right now with their OnePlus 15. Huge battery, good and bright screen, top of the line processing and 16GB of the fastest ram you can get in a phone, and less than $1,000.
My issues with it are that their potential unlocking and rooting is a bit up in the air, and that they only offer up to a 512GB with no SD card.
I’d buy a damned Red Magic 11 pro if they didn’t block root and supported band 71.
Nah, I’m not doing back to OP. I hate to say it, but If you’re going to use android, nothing beats pixels. Not even close.
If GrapheneOS manages to actually work with a decent hardware maker to get a phone to the market, I’ll get that next, but only if Android auto and banking apps work. Phone’s useless to me without those.
Only reason I’d give those up is if I can get another Linux phone as polished as Nokia N9. Still the best phone I’ve ever owned.
Not a popular opinion, but if those two options are unavailable, I’d rather switch to iPhone than use a non pixel android.
It’s looking like pixel may be planning on locking down root access as well, soon. Really, pixel has never done anything very great. No SD card, ok, screen, ok apu, pretty good cameras, meh battery, and meh storage and ram. Never anything special. Sony phones had potential but they’re always priced high and their software support sucks. I wish LG had kept making phones
I completely agree, but despite OP or Samsung looking better on paper, overall experience is just so much smoother. Shit just works. And at some point I began to value that over specs.
Just for some perspective, I’m basing what I’m saying on OP 3T, 5T and 8Pro, Samsung S21 and Pixel 8 pro and currently 9 pro fold.
You chose poorly for Samsung. I’m still holding onto and using my Note 20 ultra. Their last great phone.
We need an alternative made without googles shitty hands in the mix. This forced duopoly between Apple and Google sucks.
That goes for MS and Apple on the desktop too, and allegedly Google is trying to enter that space as well for the umpteenth time.
At least as far as PCs are concerned, they’re still unlocked at the bootloader level, despite MS’ attempts to lock that down, and there’s nothing stopping you from installing Linux or BSD on your PC still. Mobile devices outside a handful which aren’t locked down, unfortunately don’t have that luxury.
Yep. I’m running Linux on all but one of my machines. You at least have the option with most any PC. There’s a very quickly dwindling option to do the same with phones.
Stop it. You’re reminding me why I want to move my family out of the US. Its not just phones, everything is a facade here.
My guess is they’re going to do what Microsoft do (or used to do until about 6 months ago) when you want to sideload anything on their consoles: They charge you. You buy dev access for your account and use it to unlock your phone.
I believe I’ve seen them announce that already, so, yeah
If this flow existed once for disabling the entire feature permanently, I would be okay with it. But it seems like they are going to intentionally make installing any software they don’t get a piece of painful to install every time. That is not an acceptable compromise.
I’m just waiting for the moment Valve also decides to enter the mobile market :)
Well, they do have few mobile devices with Ryzen and QC chips, they have been investing heavily in Linux OS recently, so crossing fingers Libre phone would collaborate with them to release Libre Phone Black Magick to the gamers, that would sway a big chunk of Android enthusiasts to switch, and then apps would follow.
If they decide to make the Steam Deck 2 actually a Steam Phone with controller attachments that could be a way for them to enter the mobile hardware.
Not enough cooling. A better idea would be to release a Steam Deck 2 with the same form factor as the 1 and a Steam Deck Mini with a phone form factor and the same performance as the original Deck.
I like the sound of the Steam Deck Mini. Maybe it could be the return of the Sony Xperia style phone.
For now. You just wait. Evil corp is gonna evil corp it all up.
I miss the days when their slogan was “Don’t be evil”
Yeah, Google used to be the “Cool” company back then. I used to root for them.
Lots of companies feel the need to serve their users on their way up.
Once they feel they got much or most of the market on lock, they no longer need to justify themselves to their users, and a cycle of pure valueless exploitation begins, aka enshittification.
Right, that meant “be slightly better than Microsoft”. They never tried to “do no evil”, no sirree, that’s far too difficult.
… continues to make Play Integrity an integral part of Android and making all the stupid banking and govt apps requiring having it on your phone thus making it harder to de-google.
still no… fuck you.
I’m glad banks around these parts don’t require an app to function.
Degoogle now before they install their malware on your device(s).
If you can get your hands on a pixel, get grapheneOS. If not, get LineageOS or degoogle your phone. With LineageOS you’ll have to make do with internet banking instead of banking apps.
Depends on the bank.
This is what I’m struggling with. I use an app-only challenger bank, so I feel a bit stuck unless I change everything…
Well some thing is going to change no matter your struggles. :(
So true. I’m loathed to lose the interest rate, but needs must when the devil drives, and boy is he driving right now.
I had one bank like that but when I called them they were able to disable the app challenge and use text/email instead. The catch was that if I ever opened the app again it was re-enabled.
It’s literally ONLY got an app. No web, no branches. They’ve become quite common and popular in the UK (like Revolut).
Aren’t there challenger banks that have website interfaces?
Yep. Monzo implemented an emergency-use website about 5 years ago, Revolut shortly after (and I think they have a desktop app now). I’m with neither (though I can SEE my accounts online, I cannot DO anything with them).
Not to be that kind of guy, and I upvoted your comment, but isn’t it ‘make due’? I might be wrong, however.
