Was this a big thing I somehow missed?
It's one of the many small things that hide the big thing. In 2027 android will be fully locked down, unnecessarily.
The big thing is whatever the lockdown is for.
this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2025
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Privacy
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This news makes me actually sad. I have had high hopes in the last years in the FOSS world, having myself and three other persons move to use Linux as daily driver on Desktop/Laptop.
My phone has FOSS apps only except for banking, health, transport tickets and 2/3 work rekated stuff. My messaging, files and pictures are handled by FOSS apps installed from third parties (F-Droid, Obtainium) on selfhosted servers... I was finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
This news sound to me like the tunnel ahaead is collapsing.
I got the same alert on Gmaps WV (google map wrapper found f drood) Google is giving us more reasons to switch to a custom ROM
Does anyone know if this will affect Android TV?
Wait you could install arbitrary apks on android tv?
You have an android tv and not smarttube? Your youtube experience will increase ALOT.
A lot. Two words. You don't write alittle, do you?
What a Huge Nerd thing to say.
Wellplayed.
I am dyslexic and not a native speaker, but thanks for the correction! The example with a alittle is actually a good one. If you loose the unfriendly vibe, your comment would be more appreciated.
Yup. I’ve installed a few that way
Where are you linux hardware manufacturers ?
Syatem76? The same company that made POP OS are making PCs and laptops They claim that they made the laptop with the longest battery life
Phones ?
@Akip I got this message the other day. It sucks how the app won't work on certified devices next year.
Agreed. Google just didn't consent to you getting an app without ads. My hope is maybe we can circumvent it for a while with PWA or browser website bookmarks. Maybe long enough for alternatives to arrive or consumer protection to kick in. I refuse to give up hope even though I might need to abandon android. For now I guess I will just not buy another phone since androids time seems limited. Really hard to find something to recommend to family and friends that just works. My goto grapheneOS also seems more and more cut down with more and more apps refusing to work outside play store downloads or refusing to work on 3rd party OS.
Yes, you must have missed it. And so it begins.
Google is moving to make Android less open source. I'm not sure more devs following suit is going be good for them or their users. The G doesn't give an F.
What we need is an OS fork that gets maintained. If not that, some other workaround that fools the Google servers. Because you can bet money that nobody made from flesh and blood is going to look at this inside Google.
Maybe devs can band together and form Middle Finger Corp. and designate one willing person as their contact to serve as registered dev for a gazillion apps. Follow the letter of the law, not the misguided spirit of it, in a manner of speaking.
If you are sitting on a mobile OS and you were afraid to fail like Windows, maybe now is the time to give it a go?
Hopefully this leads to a lot more development of and for Ubuntu Touch. Biggest issues it faces are lack of compatibility and lack of apps. I think the core is solid though. I used it for a week when switching from iOS (so no Android background) and enjoyed it, but a few too many minor issues built up and I ended up going to Calyx.
They're not "pulling" the app from anywhere, it's just simply not going to work on "certified devices". This is the end of Android as we know. It's been a good run.
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It is a big thing at least in developer circles. It made the front page of Hacker News multiple times.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45087396
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I'm going to look into adding this to my app https://git.allpurposem.at/mat/Sudoku Indeed I do not agree with this, so it will become unavailable when the terms go into effect. I will look into making it available for Linux Mobile.
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And so it continues... Google trying to shoehorn themselves into a position of authority of the internet. Imagine they get as much sway as the banks now have? Private entities controlling the masses for massive profits. Fuck off Google.
Wording of the message implies it’s possible to have uncertified version of Android… Such a thing possible?
Yes, like GrapheneOS
any version of android that's not vendor or downloaded from the official android website
- like https://lineageos.org/
- https://e.foundation/e-os/
- or the aforementioned GrapheneOS
- ~~calyxos.org (paused)~~
Adding iodé to the list, cocorico !
Why everybody always forget about iodé ?
first time I hear about it, seems to be based on lineageOS?
What's with the premium tiers? Seems a bit sketchy to be honest.
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