Comment by whatsupdog
18 hours ago
Google has so far allowed installing apps without their explicit permission. So it's much higher on freedom index, imo. And there's no obligation to use Google cloud apps. There's alternative for every Google cloud app.
Also, Pixels have unlocked bootloaders and Android is open source to the point where third parties can and do make alternative OS distributions.
And it's necessary to have a second phone to actually use any of that while maintaining access to one's banking app.
The hardware is nominally open only because they enforce participation in their software ecosystem via other means.
That's like saying there's no freedom in USA because I didn't get a visa to visit. We are talking about the freedom of Google devices. And you are talking about banks not letting you install their apps on a non Google OS. Totally different things.
> And it's necessary to have a second phone to actually use any of that while maintaining access to one's banking app.
Partially accurate / misleading at most.
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