- enable developer options
- confirm that you are not tricked
- restart phone and re-authenticate
- wait one day
- confirm with biometrics that you know what you are doing
- decide if you only want unrestricted installs for 1 week or forever
- confirm that you accept the risks
- enjoy the few apps that still have developers motivated to develop for a user-base willing to put up with this
Is this for all android systems because it is a huge rug pull if so
I can understand this workflow being created to protect the legions of people who are tricked into installing spyware.
It doesn’t remotely affect me because I use GrapheneOS and if this is an issue for you then you’re probably someone who should look at installing GOS or Lineage.
I don’t think Google should be able to do this and it is likely part of a longer-term strategy to strangle any competition. At the same time, I can understand how this change will save a lot of grandparents from clicking a link in a text from their ‘grandchildren’ and installing spyware that’ll steal all of their bank information.
Removed by mod
e: nm, mod got 'em
This would not have affected me since I use Lineage OS without Google Play Services, but I am now more seriously than ever looking into using a Linux phone like Postmarket OS.
- Camera
- Phone projection for cars
- Contactless pay/ wallet/pay alternative
Give me a device that can do these and I am in for ditching android. I only use browsers or off store apps that have linux support mainly anymore anyway.
At least the last one won’t happen, as banks would have to be on board. And banks are not on your side with this one.
It would affect a lot of users, then it will indirectly affect you too, as a lot of devs won’t be as interested in maintaining their apps for so few users. But I hope it will at least give a bit of a push to developing postmarket os. I personally am sure going to get a second hand phone to install postmarketos too and hope I can contribute at least a little bit. I am prepared to suffer, at least a little bit for the right cause.
How will this be accepted by the EU? Will it comply to the regulations?
In addition to the advanced flow we’re building free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists. This allows you to share apps with a small group (up to 20 devices) without needing to provide a government-issued ID or pay a registration fee.
Fuck you sideways, Google.
What? ID?
They want developers to share their IDs to have their apps on the play store. The limited groups is so hobbyist developers can still share apps without having to jump through those hoops and so the users don’t need to go and enable sideloading, with the caveat that there’s a call on how many users you can send it to it looks like.
That’s already the case. The new thing is that they want developers to share their ID to have their apps be installable on Android in the first place, even if they don’t use the Play Store.
They think this will take some of the heat off of them. Hopefully no one actually thinks this is a reasonable compromise. If I want to help an elderly family member install something on their phone during Thanksgiving dinner or a family reunion, I’m not gonna want to wait a day. Uncle Paul’s flying back to Florida tomorrow morning!
Okay but, installing an apk is not the kind of thing a scammer does. They’ll just install some standard off the shelf remote access software from the play store
This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process and opted for scammers for some reason. Even though they’re completely disconnected
This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process
It feels that way because that’s exactly what happened.
I was hoping for at least something slightly believable, someone let Gemini write the justification I guess
I imagine that the demand for linux phones will only grow.
THE PENGUINS MUST GROW
And again, confirming that my current phone will be the last android device I own.
What will you use instead though?
At this stage, I’m thinking one of the Motorola phones that will run Graphene out of the box.
Isn’t that Android?
I believe it’s a fork of android that is not managed by Google
It’s an Android fork that has been degoogled
…so it’s android.
Is that meant to be a “gotcha” or something?
My point is, this is the last time I let google control my phone.
yes but also no.
google influenced, but not google controlled anymore.
I imagine since it’s not an official product of Google’s, it can’t legally be called “Android.” As such it’s something that is not Android, but is highly compatible with it since both are rooted in the AOSP.
Legally? Maybe not.
But Col Sanders left KFC after selling a business he created with his own secret reciepe. Then after he sold it, he watched the new owners use his image to sell an inferior chicken product.
So he started up another new chicken resteraunt using the original reciepe. Legally he couldn’t call it KFC, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was the original KFC reciepe.
Hows that phrase go? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.
Call things whatever word you want, it’s still the same thing in the end.
I use graphene on a pixel. Graphene is Android, albeit a much better version of Android.
I don’t care whether it’s technically android or not, I care that it’s not a tool to let google in to my life.
Even sidegrading to an older mid-high range phone seems like a good idea at this point. I hate android 12 and everything after it with a passion. Moto have been decent in my experience though, hopefully HMD will follow suit with Graphene
I’m hoping it’s smaller than any of their current offerings. I really want to support a “factory” GrapheneOS phone, but can’t stand the size of current generation phones.
I want the opposite! I currently use a fold phone because phones are too small :P
any links for more info?
March 2, 2026 https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at-mwc-2026/
That’s some good news indeed.
Linux phone, landline, or tin can and string.
Another option, an ESP32 radio. Surprisingly large mesh network in the greater Seattle area.
Yeah, but you guys don’t have any ghosts in your city! So…Who ya gonna call???
Fairphone with /e/os or Jolla phone with sailfishos (waiting for the reviews of their new preordered flagship phone coming out this fall.)
Well, that runs into a different problem with the same results.
Sure, GOOGLE can’t hinder you from installing apps, but the fact that nobody has heard of these OS’s before means your selection of available apps is what hinders your ability to install apps.
/e/ OS is just a degoogled Android (similar to Graphene, but not so security oriented). You can install the same apps - though some might not work properly.
Sailfish OS is Linux, but if I understand it correctly they have a compatibility layer enabling you to seamlessly install Android apps on it.
/e/os is Android without Google proprietary stuff. It runs most Android apps.
“Nobody has Heard of these os’” - wtf you talk about? They are gaining popularity here in EU as well as in Turkey. It’s getting popular to de-google/de-americanize. People are hating on the monopoly iOS and Android has on the industry. Better to do something than being a sheep about it, and just let thos mofos suck the data out of your life forever?
You != Everybody.
That exact issue killed Blackberry, the largest smartphone maker at the time. Even after they built a compatibility layer to run Android apps.
You think anywhere near enough people are going to go out of their way to try something that doesn’t have marketshare already to maintain an entire alternative hardware and software ecosystem? Where can I get wherever awesome shit you’re smoking?
When i was a kid, blackberries were more common than android. At least in my area it was the “in” thing to be on BBM
Rental devices tend to be bad investments for the individuals.
I am already on Graphene OS… so, do what the fuck u want. I dont care.
I hate how much more difficult my work or life has to be because some people shouldn’t have a smartphone.
spoiler
___either going back to cell phones or we all go for Linux phones
If graphene had Liquid Glass I’d unironically switch to it. I can’t stand flat looking UI.
Are you really trading off an aesthetic feature for no privacy?
Secondly, just install a liquid glass theme if you’re funny.
Hot Take: Honestly, this is not as bad as I thought it’d be… IMO
(But still, it’s kinda a slipperly slope…)
Their strategy:
- announce they will make extreme restrictions
- people get crazy over it and backlash
- announce that they’re listening to people and will soften the proposed restrictions
- people relax and accept the restrictions, while the media portray them as the good guys
I feel if everything they said is true, then this is a reasonable solution. But from my many Youtube scammer video experience, like people have already mentioned, most scammers use standard remote access software, not some bespoke APK.
