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Comment by rpdillon

20 days ago

Yeah, I'll just ditch Google over this. The only reason I put up with their crap is because I can actually just install software on my phone. If they take that away, there's no motivation to stay.

And go where? IOS is worse as far as openness and controlling your own hardware. And the Linux phones are not exactly practical for normal use.

  • If I can't run F-Droid and termux and all that, I have no need for Android supposed freedom. I'll just use an iPhone (it would be the first time!), minimize my use of mobile platforms to the maximum extent I can and stick with Linux laptops.

    I'm currently researching Android alternatives, including Librem and Jolla C2, and I'm skeptical that those will be compelling. It's just so sad.

    • I’ve been daily driving a Librem 5 for two years. It’s not compelling, but I’m surprised at how little all those tiny inconveniences matter in the long run.

      I think we tend to underestimate our ability to get used to stuff.

    • I suspect that many developers publishing on F-Droid, and the F-Droid itself, may obtain registration, and continue to be available, termux and all.

      But not every developer, of course, would agree to register.

      1 reply →

  • If both phone OS's are going to be the exact same on user choice then you might as well compare the two on their merits and this is not a comparison Android wins.

I rely on fdroid and am not sure what I'll do with this pixel 6a. I sometimes root, sometimes don't but I may have to get on the lineageos program full time. And I'm hoping for a rumored last batch of pinephone pro phones to be available later this month although I have no illusions about it being a real daily driver.

  • LineageOS currently says that it won't install over the latest update on the 6a.

    You can try it, but don't cry if it bricks.

    The newish one I bought got GrapheneOS instead. That worked without a hitch, but it's got more than a few problems.

Ditch Google for what?

  • I responded elsewhere, but to summarize:

    Use an iPhone, minimize my use of it. Continue to emphasize Linux on all my other devices. Move away from Google and Apple services to as much self-hosting as possible. Leverage TailScale to make my services accessible, globally, without actually exposing them on the internet. I'm just assuming that I will have to have some kind of attested device in order to run banking and payment apps and that might as well be a locked down device like an iPhone.

    • This is the way. I've been living this life for a while now and IMO it's the best way to go in 2025.

  • An unofficial build of Android, like Grapheneos. It likely won't be able to install apps from the Play Store, but at that point it might be a blessing.