Google Is Closing Android. 37 Orgs Are Fighting Back | Techlore

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dane_brdarski@reddit

What's the problem to have an open source fork?

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rickhora@reddit

No smartphone manufacturer will install this fork in their phones.

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Khalmoon@reddit

Apple is really bad. I know. But this is diabolical to just rug pull like this. And frankly not enough people are talking about this.

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KingArthas94@reddit

Or maybe, hear me out, Apple isn't that bad compared to the alternatives

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cleverdirge@reddit

Apple is already worse than this. You can't install apps on iPhones at all without this kind of verification.

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Apple has always had this rule, though, that's the point. There is no rug pulling. I bought an iPhone perfectly understanding this impossibility to install external apps. I don't need that feature so I don't find it as a negative thing to not having that feature on my phone.

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cleverdirge@reddit

Apple has always had this rule,

That is why I said they are worse. Apple set the bar, took an open source operating system and built one of the largest walled off ecosystems in tech.

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KingArthas94@reddit

It was their right to do it and billions of customers, me included, have decided that we want something like that for our smartphone instead of the "open" alternatives.

Want to demonize me?

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cleverdirge@reddit

By right does not make it right. I'd rather have a diverse and open tech ecosystem, not one where a single company owns the hardware, software, and half the market.

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MagnetoManectric@reddit

idk why the downvotes... apple really isn't that bad compared to the alternatives. I always look at it like this: Apple is one of the only players left in the game that operates on the easy to understand business model of: they produce hardware, and they sell that hardware to you for a markup. They're not making most of their money selling advertising or data, so they've nowhere near as much incentive to sell your data or otherwise breach your privacy.

Yes, the iOS ecosystem is closed in a way I wish it wasn't, but at the end of the day, you own that phone more than you ever own a google pixel.

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KingArthas94@reddit

idk why the downvotes... apple really isn't that bad compared to the alternatives.

Tech subreddits are invaded by children that don't understand anything about computers, they've also been sold the idea that Apple is the enemy because it's "not open" and their top iPhones cost 1000€ instead of 200€.

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brettmurf@reddit

Or maybe because you guys keep talking about "alternativeSSSSSS"

There is one. Android (and its variants) and iOS.

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KingArthas94@reddit

There are multiple alternatives though, as Android's openness allows you to choose between Google's Android and other people's Android.

Otherwise people would not spam Graphite (or whatever it's called) so much.

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cdsmith@reddit

That's not an accurate description of Apple's business model. Apple makes roughly about as much money as a gatekeeper for iOS applications and in-app purchases as they make selling their hardware.

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MagnetoManectric@reddit

even the bulk of that hardware is paid to them by mobile carriers who eat much of the cost in exchange for locking people into subscription mobile plans

I don't know about in the states, but they don't really operate like that here in the UK anymore, almost all phones come network unlocked in 2026. Used to be a lot more common. It also used to be common for carriers to much more heavily subsidise handsets, they don't really do that much anymore either. Typically, you pay for the phone and service more or less seperately, and you pay retail price.

iOS applications and in-app purchases, advertising, cloud services, etc

And aye, they make moeny on liscencing fees for the app store as well, of course. But that's still more akin to a console manufacturer such as Nintendo than it is the opaque, data hoovering monoliths of Google and Microsoft.

Point being, apple's business model feels a lot more... scruitable than the others, and their incentives align more with you as the consumer than those other companies.

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cdsmith@reddit

I did edit that post to clarify that the carrier point was specific to the U.S. I understand this is very location-specific.

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dills122@reddit

I really don’t understand the downvotes besides the hive mind. Apple has been a better experience for a long time, the hardware is better, the usability for like 90% of users is better, the main complaint people have is how strict and non customizable it is and true but how many times do you need to do those tasks that aren’t allowed by Mac? And also you could look into apps that bring functionality to Mac, one I use is magnet which brings window snapping to Mac.

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cdsmith@reddit

The reason this doesn't make sense is that we aren't talking about the quality of hardware or UX. We're talking specifically about complaints that the operating system is too locked down and requires developer registration to distribute applications. These are precisely the things Apple does way, way more of.

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CSAtWitsEnd@reddit

Another user mentioned it elsewhere, but like...that feels like a known tradeoff for Apple. You're paying a premium for relatively high-quality first party stuff, with a much poorer experience / ecosystem with 3rd party stuff. (And it's not like people don't complain about Apple's limitations / walled garden approach regularly)

But a shift like this is a big change in philosophy, so of course people who landed in the ecosystem FOR that differing philosophy, are gonna be much more disappointed.

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dearth_of_passion@reddit

What defines a better experience for you?

I have an android phone as my personal device, an iPhone from my work, and an iPad as another personal device.

The iPad is great, since I use it exclusively for watching movies, reading books (including comics), and playing the occasional game. The screen is awesome, and almost all the numerous downsides of Apple's OS design philosophy don't impact my use case.

However, the iPhone is an entirely different beast.

The complete segregation of the file system functionality is absurd. If I download a document from my work email, I shouldn't have to hunt around for it.

On Android, I can create a "documents" folder, and any app I use to download files can see that folder and place files there.

On iOS, I have to download a file, can access it only through the app that downloaded it, then select the file and "send" it to other apps. Shit I had to look up a tutorial just to change the wallpaper.

The UI itself is janky as hell unless it's literally the only kind of UI you've ever used. If you have any experience with a more full featured UI/OS, iOS is incredibly nonsensical.

I was talking to a friend, lamenting that I have to sync my iPad with iTunes to put ebooks and comics on it, since there's no way to send files over my home network. (maybe there is if you have a Mac, I have a windows PC) His response was "you're supposed to upload your files to icloud and download them from there". My dude, I have a 512gb iPad and multiple terabytes of storage on my PC, while icloud gives you basically no storage unless you pay them. Not to mention the data used to send files outside the local network to apple's servers then back to the other device.

Apple has good hardware that still manages to be overpriced, but awful software for anyone that has ever used an even slightly more functional one. Even damn Windows Phone UI was better than iOS.

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dills122@reddit

You know what I think I’m an idiot lol I am specifically speaking about MacOS and not really iPhone and that makes no sense on an Android thread so disregard my babble above not sure why I posted that here.

But MacOS vs. Windows that is how I feel though.

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KingArthas94@reddit

besides the hive mind

I mean, it's just that. A group of people that have been brainwashed into thinking that Apple is bad for ridiculous reasons.

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ThisIsMyCouchAccount@reddit

To your last point - I find it crazy how people will dismiss something for something so trivial. Not every piece of software does every thing. And when I add up all the useful things my computer does it outweighs something small like that by a huge factor. Especially when there are usually super easy and cheap fixes.

I don't call Windows trash because their virtual desktop solution is half baked when macOS and Linux have great solutions.

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psihopats@reddit

It is.

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rkcth@reddit

You have two choices, a phone sold by a hardware company, who is one of the most profitable companies in the world and will charge you an arm and a leg for hardware, that is usually super high quality, or buy one from an advertising company, whose goal is to extract as much of your personal information as possible, and so therefore tries to make it as cheap as possible, to get as much people’s data as possible. They are the most profitable advertising company in the world.

I think for many people, the choice comes down to what’s valuable to you. If you value privacy and dependability, but don’t care much about customizability or cost, you choose Apple. If you value cost, and don’t care much about privacy or reliability, and highly value customizability you choose Google.

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acdha@reddit

Also in this case “arm and a leg” means “the same or slightly more” unless you’re buying the absolute cheapest phones (and thus replacing them more often). Most people over-weight the cost of the device relative to what they spend on services

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SkoomaDentist@reddit

Not to mention that Apple supports almost all their models much longer than typical Android phones get support. I bought my previous iphone (the original SE) from a blowout sale just before it was discontinued here and used it until the second battery finally gave out almost 7 years later. It got security updates throughout that entire time (and in fact still gets them!).

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ThisIsMyCouchAccount@reddit

I know it's much better now but that is what pushed me away from Android at first.

I bought the first Note. Brand new flagship phone. Android was already one major version behind and only got one update about six months later. Which by that time another new version had come out so it was still behind.

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rkcth@reddit

For like quality, that’s true, but there are some extremely inexpensive android phones.

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acdha@reddit

Yes, there are some cheap ones but build quality is horrible - I had a cheapskate relative who spent more on $100 Android phones than I spent on iPhones because I didn’t have to replace mine more than every 5 years.

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helloiamsomeone@reddit

that is usually super high quality

If you ignore all the *gates and them continuously putting 50V display lines right next to 1.5V data lines on the edge of laptop boards where liqud ingress is most likely, then sure.

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rkcth@reddit

Every windows laptop I’ve had, has had some persistent issue within 6 months to a year. The most common issue I’ve had, with 4 different laptops and two different brands (HP and Dell) is battery swelling. My Mac stuff is so rock solid, and the UI just feels so much more responsive. Windows feels like I’m stuck in molasses in comparison.

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JaCraig@reddit

I'm genuinely curious what you are doing to your laptops that you have 4 machines with battery failures. I think I've seen 3 out of our entire fleet of HP in the last 8 years. I think our macs have actually seen more during that time but I'd have to check.

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noketone@reddit

i'll have whatever you're smoking if you think apple isn't collecting data to advertise too

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rkcth@reddit

It’s actually a huge part of their marketing, but maybe they are lying. They actually do a LOT of things for privacy. Things Google would never dream of, because it would cost them so much money.

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noketone@reddit

are you sure?

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n00lp00dle@reddit

you should read the apple privacy policy. its not good for privacy either.

everyone knows google is an ad company first and foremost. everyone knows microsoft is a patchwork nightmare of legacy software. but for some reason (apples relentless advertising) people think apple genuinely care about privacy.

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foundafreeusername@reddit

Apple also did a rug pull to macos developers when switching to a model where you have to get registered and get your apps notarised. Without that users get a warning and have to go through hoops running it.

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deanrihpee@reddit

to be fair, iPhone has been very strict and walled garden since the beginning, so the culture has been like that, it's worse for Android because it's a regression, from freedom to walled garden

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Khalmoon@reddit

I completely get it. but the reason it irks me so much is because the same people that freak out about the walled garden are seemingly silent about Google creating a walled garden.

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bakedbread54@reddit

...are they? can you see silent people on the internet?

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Khalmoon@reddit

It’s really telling if people I know that routinely keep up with android also don’t know about googles new walled garden they are trying to make.

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ElliotNess@reddit

So, are they silent or do they not know?

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Khalmoon@reddit

The reason we are here in this thread talking about this is because the community felt strong enough to spread the word about this problem. It is not being spread nearly as much as I feel like it should be. Google is basically trying to condemn Apple then become them. That’s diabolical behavior. Even for Google.

I’m just disappointed that this isn’t a louder discussion that reaches more subs that are android adjacent,

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rhazux@reddit

I’m just disappointed that this isn’t a louder discussion that reaches more subs that are android adjacent,

Nothing is stopping you from starting the discussion. You know how to make posts, but none of your posts are about this topic.

Maybe you should take a step back and realize that not everyone knows the things that you know. Discussions aren't going to happen until awareness is risen.

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Khalmoon@reddit

I’ve wanted to , go to r/Android and type in Google and look at the discussion on this issue. It’s dismissive. Multiple comments saying “it’s not a big deal” or “overblown”

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bakedbread54@reddit

Irrefutable logic

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Caffeine_Monster@reddit

seemingly silent

A lot of android users and developers aren't aware of what is happening.

I would bet a lack of noise is mostly due to ignorance rather than belligernce right now.

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Khalmoon@reddit

Which means the few that find out aren’t being loud enough. There’s massive TikTok’s and posts when Apple makes a minor change but crickets for this. It’s really weird.

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cronofdoom@reddit

I imagine most people don’t even know this is happening yet. This is the first I’ve heard of it.

The average consumer couldn’t care less though

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deanrihpee@reddit

really? a lot of people against it, including me, I mean there's a lot of organization send Google an open letter to revert this, but the problem is, this is probably, somewhat, I don't have any source, backed by government due to "scam", particularly in SEA region, as stated in Google's first announcement, so they force Google to do this, then if it is actually true, what can we even do against Google + Government, even after sending an email to our local representative?

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beefcat_@reddit

With Apple the transaction at least feels honest. You know you're buying into a locked down ecosystem.

I saw the writing on the wall a decade ago when Google stopped letting me use NFC tap and pay with a custom ROM (on my developer device that was explicitly sold with an unlockable bootloader!)

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Fuzzy_Paul@reddit

Why is this deleted mods? The statement was true for google to push to govement identification for developers.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

You know why this video is a month old?

This is no longer an issue. They have not killed sideloading.

Google released their "advanced flow" for anyone to enable installing any APK via developer options.

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helloiamsomeone@reddit

sideloading

This is not a real word, it doesn't mean anything. Did you mean "installing"? You install applications.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

It means plenty to people that are literate. You install apps from the Play Store.

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helloiamsomeone@reddit

I tap on an apk and it says install. I run the command sudo pm install ... to install. I go into fdroid and it says install.

The serf mindset is just too ingrained for some though.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

Yes, installing open source code compiled into an APK shared via GitHub makes me a serf. Gods forbid I use the commonly accepted nomenclature for the process.

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turtleship_2006@reddit

I love how people act as if "sideloading" is recent propaganda, not a term they've been using for decades

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

Flashbacks to homebrew on a DS.

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p4nik@reddit

You are right. They did not kill sideloading; they only made it harder for the end user, but you can't just write an app anymore, publish it on GitHub, and provide an APK, which you can install, without registering yourself at Google.

Would it help the official narrative to help with security? Debatable.

If you want to do this as a hobby and share your stuff with friends and family, then good luck without giving your details to Google. (And pay a fee to become a dev, of course.)

https://developer.android.com/developer-verification

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mcpower_@reddit

This is incorrect. You can still install apps from unregistered / unverified developers if you use go through the advanced flow, which is a one-off 24 hour wait: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html

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turtleship_2006@reddit

Also, verifying is free, the reason you might not want to do it is because you'd have to give Google your ID, not that you'd have to pay.

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root88@reddit

You make it sound like it is all okay. This is just another step on the way to slowly removing everything so the users don't complain when it happens all at once.

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ImJLu@reddit

Is there any evidence to suggest that, or is it just slippery slope fallacy?

This change makes sense because most end users are idiots that need to be protected from themselves. As long as the ability to sideload remains for those who actually understand what they're doing, it's really not that big of a deal.

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root88@reddit

It's not, though? They said you can only sideload your app to max 20 users. Is that not correct?

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ImJLu@reddit

So slippery slope then. Got it.

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root88@reddit

See how you had to leave off the fallacy part this time?

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jonknee@reddit

It's two different programs, you can side load but there are a lot of hoops to jump through (including a 1 time 24 hour wait) because people keep getting robbed and Google is trying to project the average user.

The friends/family thing is you have to register the devices ahead of time and

And finally ADB still works, so if you're tech savvy nothing changes there. The changes are purely because tons of people keep getting scammed. I would guess if scammers start abusing the friends and family thing by making unique apps to scam people with that program will go away as well.

The page about the changes talks a lot about the scams people face.

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html

This flow is a one-time process for power users – but it was designed carefully to prevent those in the midst of a scam attempt from being coerced by high pressure tactics to install malicious software. In these scenarios, scammers exploit fear – using threats of financial ruin, legal trouble, or harm to a loved one – to create a sense of extreme urgency. They stay on the phone with victims, coaching them to bypass security warnings and disable security settings before the victim has a chance to think or seek help.

Basically people believe something really bad is going to happen unless they install an unverified app and then it drains their accounts.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

I personally don't see this as a slippery slope. Even before they finally announced what the advanced flow was, I trusted they weren't eliminating it.

This isn't about protection at all though. Play Store is the vector for scammers using remote software.

Worst of all Google ads are the largest source of connecting victims to those bastards. They're literally profiting off of it.
The most basic of a human review would tell you that a random Gmail registered five minutes ago doesn't actually belong to ParamountCBS or whatever company they're impersonating on AdWords today. Google looks the other way and takes the payment, serves the link to a fake phone number or directly to malware half the damn time.

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metheus-13@reddit

Is it really a fallacy when we see it happen all the time, especially with technology?

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CSAtWitsEnd@reddit

Literally an entire viral word for this very practice - enshittification.

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cornmacabre@reddit

Ive followed this pretty extensively when it was news a month ago, and was very disappointed to learn how misleading the vocal detractors are in representing pretty much every detail here to heighten the outrage meter.

There's a notable message to promote here, but it's totally undermined by the hyperbolic misrepresentations. That earned a lot of skepticism about the whole narrative here when "android is closing," becomes "android is making a security change that results in slightly more friction for people who sideload non play store apps."

My main takeaway when you get into the details of it all is that it's a big fat nothing burger to 99% of users, and the outrage ultimately boils down to a speculative slippery slope argument.

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valarauca14@reddit

Did you see their announcement?

The repeatedly stated they have no plans to remove side loading. The 24 hour wait period and multiple re-starts is so people cannot be tricked/scammed into side loading a a malicious app. As currently you can do the entire side loading process while on a call with a scammer. Which speaking as somebody with boomer relatives, yeah... it happens.

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p4nik@reddit

Ok, it is slightly better, but if you don't register at Google, your app is still not without restrictions, since it is capped at 20 devices by using the "limited distribution."

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

No, it works the same as now with an unverified app, just like everything on F-droid, or that you download straight from GitHub. Right now you still have to check "install APKs from unknown sources." The only change is you have to wait 24 hours after that initial first step.

Or 20 people can install it without first changing that setting and the developer not paying anything.

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p4nik@reddit

I stand corrected about the 20-user thing.

I've interpreted this wrong.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

That part's neat if you've coded up something for the family to use and want Grandma to install it without going through too much extra trouble.

I don't like the 24-hour waiting period, but it's a one-time thing you can do when you first set up a new device. There may even be ways around it with ADB commands to set the flag as already timed out.

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cdsmith@reddit

I don't know if I like it, but I do understand why they did it. A lot of social engineering stuff is built around creating a sense of urgency so that your target can't stop and think, or ask a friend or family member if they are confused about what's going on. This is a step that's a minor one-time inconvenience to people who really do know what they are doing, and probably fixes 90% of the situations they are targeting where some scammer masquerading as "tech support" gets someone to install a fake app that looks like their bank.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

I see this explanation and while I love the idea behind it, I nearly have a stroke.

The evil damned scammers use apps on the Play Store!!! I've watched, caught, and cleaned up the aftermath of those assholes too many times. (I concede they can manually install deeper apps that give them more persistent control later, but this is only after they've already maxed out the credit cards of the victim.)
The existing friction with enabling unsigned apps already in Android with the option that you have to whitelist an app to be able to launch APKs it's already too complicated for 95% of the scam victims to correctly do themselves. Tapping a nondescript part of the screen multiple times is already a great barrier of entry.

Speaking of developer options and ADB access - without this 24 hour waiting period the scammers could download Shizuku from the play store, pair it, and do a hell of a lot more damage than an APK could on it's own. The true security settings and vulnerabilities aren't being further buried if ADB is still exposed without the waiting period.

Google themselves connect victims to the scammers via ads. I've personally watched "Paramount Plus Support" move entirely through Google's official ecosystem to nearly buy as many gift cards as they could. All because a disabled woman googled "Paramount help" and clicked on the "first result" then called the number. The behavior of the TV app saying "link with your phone to sign in" made it convincing enough when they said go download X-remote-control-app from Play Store.

Google's pretending to be the good guy while raking in the money directly from the scammers, paid via AdWords. Companies like AnyDesk actually put a stop scammers. They sponsor people and events to fuck with them while nearly eliminating them from their own platform.

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the_ai_wizard@reddit

Also dont forget to drink a verification can

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peakzorro@reddit

Thankfully Windows Phone died alongside Zune.

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dreadcain@reddit

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html

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frisch85@reddit

Last news I read about it is that while they don't kill sideloading, if you want to install an apk you need to tap it, then wait 24 hours and do it again and verify with your password or biometric data.

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waozen@reddit (OP)

Correct. They are making sideloading as difficult and annoying as possible, where 99% of regulars would not bother nor consider alternatives. That's their point, eliminate customer alternatives and maximize control, to the extent they can get away with.

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Kissaki0@reddit

You don't need to wait for every install. You have to wait to enable the sideloading. After you set that up, you should be able to install them just fine.

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frisch85@reddit

Ah thanks, that makes it a lot more convenient then.

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Anmolsharma999@reddit

stfu and stop calling installing apps as 'sideloading'

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ChrisRR@reddit

That ship has sailed. It's been called sideloading for decades

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

Manual installation of APK files 😉 funny how we all know what I'm talking about.

You could ignore me, but it seems plenty of people want to stay fucking ignorant and not realize that Google clarified this policy weeks ago. This is outdated news and just spreading misinformation.

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dreadcain@reddit

It was clickbait when it was new

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jesuslop@reddit

yeah 24 hour wait steps. Just as well disable sideloading.

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Belhgabad@reddit

Plus the fearmingering clickbaity title... usually you see this in r/technology not this sub

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tapafon@reddit

However, that flow is similar to "unlocking bootloader" flow which some vendors have (Xiaomi). Since they can permanently lock bootloader, I think Google may allow vendors to do the same with "sideloading". Very reminds of Apple, where you can install your own apps outside of App Store or Testflight, but without paid dev account you have to resign them every 7 days.

Not to mention F-droid will be way less popular, especially if Google Play Protect starts to remove unsigned apps installed beforehand, unless that flow is enabled.

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tiffanytrashcan@reddit

You already have to enable a setting under developer options, both of which vendors can already disable, as of today, before this advanced flow.

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Theemuts@reddit

Remember when you actually owned the stuff you bought, and were free to do with it as you pleased? Good times...

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jack-of-some@reddit

You can still own the stuff you buy. You have to buy the stuff you can own to do that.

This is why we were buying Android over iPhone because Android was more open. There's options popping up now that will be the answer to Android being closed.

Will you put your money where you mouth is?

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Stunning_Energy_7028@reddit

What kind of options are available?

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DustyAsh69@reddit

Motorola is working with Graphene OS, if I remember correctly. Other than that, you can buy laptops and peripherals from companies like System76, Manjaro & Tuxedo instead of buying from the multi billion dollar corporations.

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FortuneIIIPick@reddit

Dell sells systems with Linux preinstalled.

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DustyAsh69@reddit

Dell is a multi bullion dollar company. The ones I mentioned are not.

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oldsecondhand@reddit

Motorola is a multi billion dollar company and it's supporting Graphene OS.

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DustyAsh69@reddit

Buy a pine phone or an Ubuntu phone, then.

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Fragarach7@reddit

As someone who used to jump between FOTM ROMs back in the ICS era of Android, my major issue was as phones got more crazy, custom ROMs would support less and less. Is there a list of what I lose on say, a pixel 8?

I remember one big deterrent was Knox on Samsung meant no tap.

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im-a-guy-like-me@reddit

Wow. Haven't thought about that stuff in a while. I used to run cyanogen. Good times.

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Fragarach7@reddit

Looooved Cyanogen on my HTC EVO. Actually charged it a while back and turned it back on, accidentally clicked messages and immediately turned the phone back off.

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im-a-guy-like-me@reddit

I bricked soo many Sony X8s during that era. 😅

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DenizzineD@reddit

Graphene is based on AOSP.

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Sveet_Pickle@reddit

Is AOSP not still technically independent of google?

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Basilikolumne@reddit

Technically correct, but if you fork it to be free of Google's enshittification, you won't have enough momentum behind that project to actually keep it going as a viable alternative.

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Sveet_Pickle@reddit

True, Motorola partnering with grapheneOS is a strong step in the right direction though. I think the fair phone distributor in the US is only graphene too

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DustyAsh69@reddit

I didn't know that... Will have to install Linux then.

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DenizzineD@reddit

Oh I’m not arguing that you should switch. Stay on GrapheneOS, it’s still the best one by far. They should hopefully find a solution to this issue. I trust their team on that. I just wanted to clear up that GrapheneOS is based on AOSP which makes it pretty dependent on Android staying open.

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dreadcain@reddit

Am I missing something or is this about google locking down access to the app store and nothing at all to do with "closing" the AOSP?

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eidetic0@reddit

No it’s not the Play Store.

It does say in the official docs:

If you publish apps only outside of Google Play, create an Android Developer Console account to verify your identity and register package names.

Alternatively:

apps can be installed on up to 20 devices that end-users have explicitly authorized

Unless I’m misreading something, it looks like this is an attempt to lock down AOSP.

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dreadcain@reddit

Thats for things like internal company apps where you want the security of a verified signed install but don't want the app on the play store.

From that same page "For developers who don't want to verify": https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html

It's explicitly clear that you'll still be able to publish and install apps without verification

[-]

fripletister@reddit

That's literally addressed in the video, which you clearly did not watch.

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

The video is wrong.

[-]

dearth_of_passion@reddit

The vast majority of android users are not particularly tech savvy (not an insult, but a reflection of android having significant market penetration) and will not encounter apps that are not in the app store.
Even if they do find a random apk, it will plaster the warning about "ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO RISK INSTALLING THIS WEIRD APP" which will certainly reduce the number of installs even more.

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

So exactly the user experiance it has been for the last decade except they added a one time 24 hour wait

[-]

theusualuser@reddit

That should make you think, though. Why are they doing this, if it's just the "status quo." They're clearly in the process of shutting down and locking off android for their own benefit.

I suppose they're within their right to do it, but it doesn't make it right. I'd be on a linux phone if there was one that worked half as well as android currently, but I think the reality is that we're pretty far away from that still, which is why this is so concerning. Everything in technology is just getting more closed and worse, and this is another step in that trend.

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

That should make you think, though. Why are they doing this

The 24 hour wait is almost certainly about fraud prevention. Increasing verification requirements to publish on the store is about malware prevention. I don't think it's that deep. The status quo wasn't that great. There was/is tons of malware published on the app store.

There's also been multiple linux phones, firefox and ubuntu both made real efforts at it and failed to find any kind of market.

[-]

b0w3n@reddit

if only there was a legitimate linux phone still

a 6 year old pine phone ain't it though

[-]

Gugalcrom123@reddit

Motorola ThinkPhone with Droidian.

[-]

JhonnySkeiner@reddit

Too bad none of those are shipped here. Thirdies are fucked I guess

[-]

DustyAsh69@reddit

Yes. We are.

[-]

Inujel@reddit

I just bought a Fairphone 6 with /e/OS and I find it amazing so far!

[-]

Paulus_cz@reddit

Please elaborate, I am contemplating FP, but not sure how /e/OS will impact my work (specifically need to have RSA Authenticator/ MS Authenticator/Mobilepass/Teams installed)

[-]

Inujel@reddit

I had no problem with any authenticator, teams, messaging app etc. Even the Belgian national auth app (it's me) works out of the box.

My only issue was with a banking app. I use two: ING and CBC. ING works perfectly, CBC requires me to install the app "from the PlayStore". I couldn't get it to work. But it's really the only issue.

There's a list of supported banking apps here: https://community.e.foundation/t/list-banking-apps-on-e-os/33091

[-]

TheyOnlyComeAtNight@reddit

I have a Fairphone 3+ with /e/OS and have no issues with PingID and MS Authenticator Actually I never had an app not working, though I'm not a huge smartphone user...

[-]

waozen@reddit (OP)

/e/OS is a great alternative that more people should be aware of.

[-]

loozerr@reddit

Does Jolla count? I think it's the most serious alternative OS.

[-]

unicodemonkey@reddit

I remember sudo apt-get installing stuff on an N900 before I went with Android... Good times. Symbian was already rolling out developer accounts and signed apps at that time, and Qualcomm did the same with BREW.

[-]

loozerr@reddit

There was a point in time where Qt was pretty much a Nokia thing.

[-]

unicodemonkey@reddit

Ahh, I've mixed up KDE and GTK. Maemo didn't use KDE, its apps used to be GTK-based and then there was that transition to Qt that was the beginning of the end...

[-]

nairou@reddit

I just wish it was available in the US

[-]

Bunslow@reddit

anyone know what happened to pinephone?

[-]

dthdthdthdthdthdth@reddit

Either you open the bootloader of your phone. Then you can modify android as you like or you just enable installing apps from other sources. Will still be possible, just takes 24h once. But systems like graphene probably won't require that, they don't have to.

The issue is rather that it became less accessible. So if you don't verify, your all will only reach adbaced users.

Other Linux based systems on phones are very limited.

[-]

luctus_lupus@reddit

Sadly you then lose access to google wallet and most if not all banking apps, a non-starter for a lot of people.

Really hope we'll have an alternative OS at some point but it's very difficult with vendor lock-in

[-]

BruhMomentConfirmed@reddit

I'm working on a system where you use one non-rooted slave phone mainly for banking/wallets, have it stashed away somewhere at home with some RFID modules attached, and it can function as a proxy for you to use Google Wallet on a rooted device.

[-]

Liberty-Justice-4all@reddit

Listen to your own words.

WHY do you lose access to "wallet and most of not all banking apps"?

It's because "most if not all" banks tooked at unsecured phones running pirated apps and immediately said:

"If let my users access their bank accounts here, most of them will be robbed blind by some hacker, and juries are going to say that was an obvious outcome I should have prevented."

[-]

expertninja@reddit

I can sign into my bank account with any computer that has internet access and an x86 processor, with two factor authentication. Why can’t I access the same functions when I use a smaller computer?

[-]

verrius@reddit

Depending on your bank and what you're running...that's not always true. A depressing number of official websites only work in Chrome or Chromium based browsers.

[-]

jack-of-some@reddit

You can. All my banks have a website which works perfectly on my phone.

What I can't do is submit my check by taking a picture of it using my computer. I also can't do that using the webapp on my phone.

[-]

expertninja@reddit

Not all my banks do the same. One specifically locks you to a gimped mobile page if it catches a whiff of any mobile/tablet screen

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

It's not terribly hard to trick the vast majority of sites into rendering a desktop page. I don't think anyone who managed to run an alternate OS would have trouble figuring it out

[-]

deja-roo@reddit

It's literally just a button in Chrome lol

[-]

expertninja@reddit

I wish, the user agent switcher doesn’t work because it tests other ways to lock out mobile browsers.

[-]

FortuneIIIPick@reddit

You've tried using the Desktop mode in mobile chrome with your bank and confirmed it doesn't work?

[-]

Sea-Housing-3435@reddit

If banks cared about the end user device security they would first and foremost block outdated, unsupported android versions. It's less likely you will get "hacked" on new lineageos than on the stock rom that is missing 1 year of security updates.

And even with that the majority of cases where people lose their money is due to phishing.

[-]

tudalex@reddit

In some countries they actually do this. A colleague of mine asked me for an Android phone recommendation because their bank told them that they won’t support their Android version any longer.

[-]

ososalsosal@reddit

You can still run every bank's web page in a browser on a phone.

Source: my Chinese phone can't run my bank app but somehow I'm still able to spend money.

[-]

Paulus_cz@reddit

Not sure why you are getting downvoted, it is what it is.

[-]

matthieum@reddit

Not even that.

My bank has a dedicated Auth App to access accounts online, and somehow it stopped working on my phone over a year ago: it randomly started claiming that the phone was rooted, and anytime it did, it would wipe out the secret "for security reasons", requiring me to then going to the bank counter to get a new secret :/

The only advice from the bank advisors I got was to switch to a new phone :/

Not fun.

[-]

dthdthdthdthdthdth@reddit

When installing a different OS, yes. When enabling third party apps, no. I will do that immediately when the update drops.

[-]

mx2301@reddit

If I remember Jolla Phone would also be an promising option, being android compatible while also not being an android phone.

[-]

Lord_Blumiere@reddit

postmarketos looks promising, its still quite early in development but it is very usable if you're willing to get your hands dirty.

Sent from my OnePlus 6t running postmarketos :)

[-]

Appropriate_Crew992@reddit

This! Show us ze way !

[-]

KindOfPoo@reddit

What options are there that support banking apps and touchless payment?

[-]

jack-of-some@reddit

Doing banking through a browser and pulling out your card for payments.

We went through similar "sacrifices" when choosing Android over iPhone already.

Will you put your money and your comfort where your mouth is?

How important is owning your device over convenience?

[-]

Theemuts@reddit

"You don't have to pay rent when you're homeless"

[-]

jack-of-some@reddit

Droll.

I'm not saying we shouldn't push back on Android making changes (or for that matter shouldn't fight for iphones to be more open).

But if all we do is see the devices we're using constantly get more locked down and the only action we take is posting on Reddit about how the olden days were better nothing is going to change.

The moment Android becomes enough of a hassle for me I'll move to the next best alternative. Same as moving to Linux. I'm perfectly happy not being able to play Fortnite (bonus honestly) if it means I don't have to put up with Microsoft's bullshit.

[-]

protoanarchist@reddit

This is exactly it.

Linux and PWAs have the potential to push forward here.

[-]

EveryQuantityEver@reddit

Problem is, PWAs require writing for the browser in JavaScript. I have no interest in doing that. I want to write native code in Kotlin

[-]

protoanarchist@reddit

I'd love to see jetpack web targets reach maturity and support PWAs!

[-]

protoanarchist@reddit

You shouldn't be getting downvoted for this. There was a time before banking apps.

People need to smarten up and accept that some consumer behaviours have been self destructive.

[-]

EveryQuantityEver@reddit

There was a time before antibiotics too. That doesn’t mean we should go backwards

[-]

protoanarchist@reddit

That's a false equivalency. Don't argue in bad faith.

[-]

protoanarchist@reddit

That's a false equivalency. Don't argue in bad faith.

[-]

Paulus_cz@reddit

That is a lot of words for saying: "None".

[-]

Espumma@reddit

Because just saying 'none' doesn't address people that want ultimate convenience over privacy. You shouldn't have to sacrifice one for the other, but that's the world we live in. It's a choice you have to make, sadly. And if you can't, then you can stay with the phone you currently have just fine.

[-]

nachohk@reddit

Because just saying 'none' doesn't address people that want ultimate convenience over privacy. You shouldn't have to sacrifice one for the other, but that's the world we live in. It's a choice you have to make, sadly. And if you can't, then you can stay with the phone you currently have just fine.

I can't log in to my bank on my computer without having their app on my phone. It's not always about convenience. Many of us don't have much of a choice.

[-]

ManaDrainMusic@reddit

I have to agree hard with this.

Not just from the standpoint that is it really THAT MUCH of an inconvenience to use a browser and physical card? Thats how it used to be at one point 🤷🏻‍♂️

But also because if the goal is to de-google completely, isnt part of the satisfaction in doing so adopting (or readopting) alternative methods to get what you want at some expense of convenience? Especially when recognizing the reason google (or any company for that matter) makes things unbelievably convenient is to lower user friction so they never want to leave?

[-]

azuled@reddit

What options? You mean android derivatives?

[-]

sylos@reddit

You'll own nothing and you'll be happy!

[-]

Guinness@reddit

Remember “do no evil”?

[-]

MidnightSunIdk@reddit

do (not) be evil

[-]

CondiMesmer@reddit

No, I honestly can't remember that ever really being the case with technology.

[-]

sabahorn@reddit

You still do. Don't be an id1ot and belive what they tell you. What is yours bought, is yours !!! Final! Just because some aholeceo says something does not means it is like that !

[-]

Significant_Fig_7581@reddit

Question, What we can really do if they really didn't let us download this stuff? Can we just not update or root the device?

[-]

zazzersmel@reddit

who cares? like seriously, beyond your misguided sense of principle, can you explain why it matters? Also you'd be surprised how many products you assumed you 'owned' because you bought the physical distribution medium actually had terms of service declaring otherwise...

[-]

TheRealPomax@reddit

You still own the stuff you buy, you're free to put whatever you want on your phone. But the problem is that you didn't buy Android. You only bought the phone itself.

[-]

franklindstallone@reddit

Sure but that was a time where people didn’t have their whole life on the computer or the whole world on online making it a prime place to scam people.

You either force people to learn how to use their computer securely and to be discerning about software quality or you make it so any rando can’t distribute scam apps.

It’s just easier and to their benefit to make it harder for the scammers

[-]

AngryFace4@reddit

Yeah back when software updates weren’t a thing?

[-]

srona22@reddit

and none of 37 orgs are with enough "influence". Even EFF can't make shit when EU MPs are ~~sleep~~ bought.

[-]

portar1985@reddit

What does this have to do with EU MPs? EU is fighting back against moves like this but it takes time for those gears to move. EU is the only reason that they have been holding back this long, it's the unfettered US market that is the problem, that allows companies do whatever they want basically. Apple has been forced to allow 3rd party stores in EU, will be the same case for Android

[-]

garanvor@reddit

Besides, I am pretty sure the Alphabet behemoth will be very intimidated by a sternly worded letter.

[-]

HeerHaan@reddit

Best to give them your support so that they can gain that influence.

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

How does a software dev test their app without getting it signed first?

[-]

waozen@reddit (OP)

Possible, but extremely inconvenient and are additional steps that 99% of normal users or customers would not subject themselves to.

[-]

turtleship_2006@reddit

To be fair I doubt 99% of users used APKs in the first place

[-]

waozen@reddit (OP)

Disagree, though it is hard to put a finger on exact percentages. Sites like APKMirror and APKPure are very popular. Various GitHub repos, that focused on android software, would offer APK downloads. Significantly popular apps like Obtainium, are based around tracking and updating the latest APK releases at selected GitHub repos. Etc...

[-]

turtleship_2006@reddit

Sure, maybe there were millions of people that used it, but there are billions of active android devices. There's no way it's more than 5%, at absolute most 10.

Remember that subreddits/posts and communities like this are HEAVILY biased in that almost exclusively "power users" are going to bother to read articles like this, nevermind reply etc.

[-]

p4nik@reddit

You use ADB (https://developer.android.com/tools/adb) for development.

You enable USB or wireless debugging in the developer options and install and debug your app on the phone with the use of ADB.

Alternatively, you can use the official emulator, though some things can only be tested on a real device, like Bluetooth or NFC.

You usually self-sign the code when building an APK. When you don't specify a keystore, your APK will be auto-signed with a debug key and use a debug keystore, which will be created by the build system.

There is also an AAB, which works a little differently. This is typically the artifact, which is then uploaded to the Play Store.

[-]

turtleship_2006@reddit

Or you can go through the one time process of allowing installs on unverified APKs on your device

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

Oh, i thought this would block anything running at all without being signed by a paid signature, especially adb.

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

Aside from the normal dev routes like ADB and emulation you'll still be able to run unsigned apps: apps https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/03/android-developer-verification.html

Also there's no wait or anything to get an app signed, the dev signs the app themselves. They registerer their signature once, after that they're a verified dev and can sign whatever they want including dev builds

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

Oh, i thought this would also stop adb.

So sideloading is now just harder, not impossible?

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

Barely even harder

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

I mean, before i could use my phone,.browse to a website, download an apk, and "open" it.

Now i need a device with the android sdk and a bit of commandline knowledge dont I? Thats a big difference for 99% of pop

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

No you still browse to a website download an apk and open it. The main change as far as unverified sideloaded apks is the first time you do it on a new device there will be a 24 hour cooldown before you can open it.

[-]

waozen@reddit (OP)

There should be no "24 hour cooldown" whatsoever. There are also other additional restrictions and annoyances, designed to make sideloading as inconvenient as possible.

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

Oh, i thought when i first read about this it wasnt doable. Thats less bad, just annoying.

[-]

dreadcain@reddit

Well it's being blown way out of proportion by tech bloggers looking for clicks. "Google begins the roadmap for a 2027 release of a pretty minor anti scamming measure" just doesn't drive the same viewership

[-]

mattcrwi@reddit

Yes

[-]

mcpower_@reddit

adb, which is unrestricted. From https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides/faq:

Will Android Debug Bridge (ADB) install work without registration? As a developer, you are free to install apps without verification with ADB. This is designed to support developers' need to develop, test apps that are not intended or not yet ready to distribute to the wider consumer population. Last updated: Sept 3, 2025

[-]

mrbaggins@reddit

Yeah okay.

[-]

p4nik@reddit

I am a dev myself, so I would use ADB, which would still work.

But since Google removed the "Don't be evil" part, the scummy behavior is just rampant.

I was toying with the possibility of testing out Graphene OS, but I am lazy.

This will give me the motivation to migrate.

Thanks, Google.

BTW: The Google Play Dev console has a new item called "Android developer verification" where you can register package names and, of course, your identity.

[-]

ScaredyCatUK@reddit

Graphine OS really needs a pixel phone though

[-]

ExoMonk@reddit

There's a Motorola offering coming. Not sure when though

[-]

CiamciaczCiastek@reddit

2027, and if I remember correctly in the later part. plus it's going to be flagship-only at first, so you'd have to be fine with dropping like a grand on a phone, which I imagine most people won't. you can still just get a pixel instead though, the newest ones have support for like 7 years.

[-]

oldsecondhand@reddit

Do you have source for it coming only for flagship phones? Motorola is pretty popular as a mid-range phone brand.

[-]

CiamciaczCiastek@reddit

probably even better: https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqspwptwga0m8nhxww0znnlxkcyxtqykwh2pt3yc8rlpz7z36r7dczgyfx4d9

[-]

CiamciaczCiastek@reddit

https://primal.net/e/nevent1qqsyc0aelty55c9l4jp3438fj700jljxnx9rluun0ltu675v0d6r3hcqr8jm5

[-]

TripleFreeErr@reddit

graphite is technically illegal to distribute with hardware in the US atm because it refuses to add age verification. CRAZY

[-]

virtualdxs@reddit

Those laws are not yet in effect, and are only in specific states.

[-]

ShinyHappyREM@reddit

yet

[-]

whootdat@reddit

*in select states

[-]

BruhMomentConfirmed@reddit

I don't see how the method of installation is relevant. This change will block ADB installations of self-signed applications all the same.

[-]

mx2301@reddit

So are you then moving to iOS or some other alternative?

[-]

p4nik@reddit

No, since I own a Pixel 9, I would like to install GrapheneOS (https://grapheneos.org), a de-Googled version of Android, with the focus on privacy and security.

Unfortunately, it currently only runs on Pixel phones.

[-]

ImNotABotScoutsHonor@reddit

GrapheneOS recently partnered with Motorola to have it come preinstalled on certain Motorola phones, so at least GOS won't be relegated to just Pixel phones any longer.

[-]

valarauca14@reddit

to have it come preinstalled on certain Motorola phones,

Starting in 2028

[-]

itsmebenji69@reddit

Would that help open it to other phones or would it only be Motorola ?

[-]

ImNotABotScoutsHonor@reddit

While I consider myself a techie, I'm not educated enough in smartphone markets / matters / software to answer that for you, sorry.

[-]

itsmebenji69@reddit

Appreciate the honesty !

[-]

sylvester_0@reddit

iOS is worse and has always been bad in this regard.

[-]

the_ai_wizard@reddit

bruh, google removed dont be evil like 20 yrs ago

[-]

geft@reddit

It's still there actually, just at the bottom.

[-]

nnomae@reddit

I'd be telling governments that all phones must ship in a manner that allows users to install their own OS. Screw this begging Google and Apple for scraps business. Demand we be able to install Linux on every phone and tablet instead.

[-]

Melodic_Performer921@reddit

That would just make phones worse and more expensive

[-]

nnomae@reddit

No it wouldn't. All you would need to add is the ability to boot from an SSD mounted over the data cable on the phone. It would actually be far cheaper to not spend a fortune locking down every component and just make the hardware directly accessible from the OS.

[-]

Abrissbirne66@reddit

Ok nice, but I just don't get why people would install Linux instead of GrapheneOS. Where is the point in killing compatibility with basically all smartphone apps? This Linux on a phone thing seems like a cult to me.

[-]

MothToTheWeb@reddit

Another reason to push to make alternative stores possible

[-]

waozen@reddit (OP)

Direct payment to the developer has to become more possible too, including via digital currency. People should be able to go to developer websites and buy the app directly from there, if they prefer, and be able to install it on their smartphone.

[-]

Fuzzy_Paul@reddit

Dump your apps on alternate stores. If the majority of developer do this the alternative platform will soon be the only one. Don't let one statement from poor judgement withhold you. Succes comes from developers not from the platform remember that.

[-]

tcdoey@reddit

It amazes me, no headlines or coverage, almost no backlash (well, just a little), on what is probably one of the biggest corporate 'takeovers' in smartphone history. Nothing will be the same after this. No DIY, no indie developers or small businesses, forever.

I made what i think is a fantastic video system for improving your camera (all kinds of controls) for video streaming and live concert recording. Well, that's over now, i guess. I may be overreacting because I haven't read enough yet, but so far it looks like I'll never be able to release it now.

[-]

iNoles@reddit

what is stopping Google to close AOSP?

[-]

ChrisRR@reddit

You can't close source code that is already open source, only new code

[-]

DrollAntic@reddit

Nothing will change unless profits are harmed. You want change, show it by stopping ALL major corporation owned store purchases and subscriptions. As long as we keep feeding the greed machines, enshittificaiton will continue.

[-]

BlueGoliath@reddit

Content on the fallout of AWS's usage of AI isn't programming related but this is?

[-]

RadiantDew@reddit

One of the most clickbaity titles ever. "Closing Android" smh

[-]

cheezballs@reddit

I took it to mean they were attempting to close source it.

[-]

cosmic_cod@reddit

Google might kill Google Play store and maybe a couple more services and graphic schemes and apps like Google Accounts, etc . It can't kill entire Android which is open source and impossible to close. Why do people refuse to understand it? Google does not "own Android".

[-]

ewall198@reddit

Not sure why you're getting down voted. The title makes it sound like they're shutting down Android, not "requiring developer verification". Very misleading title.

[-]

Intelligent_Thing_32@reddit

Oh noooo, now Indians won’t be able to flood the app store with trash 😞😞😞😞

[-]

sai_ismyname@reddit

in all honesty... if this happens and sideloading is dead

i will try iphones for the first time in over 20 years

[-]

cointalkz@reddit

tbh the lack of filtering is why Android apps are so much worse than Apple. This is a good thing.

[-]

light24bulbs@reddit

You know if you root your phone they can't do anything to stop you doing anything

[-]

RedEyed__@reddit

Misleading title

[-]

the_ai_wizard@reddit

I was tempted to move to iphone after being bored with android, but this will do it for me

[-]

cdsmith@reddit

You are going to move to iOS because you think Android makes it too hard for unregistered developers to distribute applications? Do you see why that's ridiculous?

[-]

xMaku@reddit

Bro, here in apple ecosystem we are all behind the apple walls.

[-]

rayanlasaussice@reddit

building my own os so fuck ! I knew it !

[-]

laffer1@reddit

Age verification is one reason this is happening

[-]

b_buddd@reddit

Of course they did

[-]

Anmolsharma999@reddit

google is worst fcking company on the planet, They've ruined internet, All of their stupid decisions are towards generating more revenue from their advertising platform. Slowly they bought out open source projects like chrome & android and slowly have been killing them to be more closed source.

[-]

ham_plane@reddit

Holy shit, I read this headline and though they were sunsetting the entire Android OS 😅

Honestly, its Google, so it didn't seem out of the realm of possibility

[-]

wannaliveonmars@reddit

-1 misleading title

[-]

ThumbPivot@reddit

Who even writes Android apps anymore?

[-]

New-Anybody-6206@reddit

Millions and millions of people.

[-]

ThumbPivot@reddit

I mean... Have you looked at the play store over the past 15 years? It's all so... Useless, bug ridden, and filled with ads. The SDKs are poorly documented and they're even less user friendly than Swing. What culture of technical excellence and consumer freedom is worth protecting here when the best Android can do is Electron apps that are never as good as just going to the website?

I can't be sad about Android closing its market when that market is consistently the worst part about using my phone.

[-]