F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
F-Droid and Google's Developer Registration Decree | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
Considering Google and Apple both donate to Trump, we really need an alternative: Linux mobile OS. A linux OS that can be installed on a range of phones, from cheap to more expensiove. Just buy the phone and install the OS, as you do on PCs.
Good linux mobile OSs already exist, but phones' hardware is still proprietary and messed up, so it is very difficult to provide a good hardware support for those mobile OSs
Yes, the bottleneck isn't software, it's hardware. We need phones with unlocked bootloaders
Good is used looy here.
When will F-Droid stop working on stock android?
Try Graphene today. IT WORKS
Samsung s22 and s25, checking in. Graphene won't be viable for the vast, overwhelming majority of Android users today or in the coming seasons.
I hope people figure out some kind of virtualization/docker-containerization solution to the coming Goo-lag.
I don't have time today
Except for stuff you really need like online banking, tap payments and digital ids
Even on GrapheneOS, sure it uses a sandboxed Google Play Store, which is obviously great for users, but the developers of Android apps still have to hand over their personal data to Google specifically as this new decree from the Lords of the Google fiefdom entails.
Because FOSS developers rightly value their personal privacy, this decree effectively kills incentive for FOSS developers to continue making and maintaining apps for Android. Running GrapheneOS doesn't circumvent this.
It's like I'm saying "I'm hungry" and you say "Go for a run, it's healthy for you." I mean... it's true that running is healthy... but the act of running doesn't solve the problem of me being hungry...
Depends on your location. There is a timeline table here:
I see September 2026 as a tough date.
There's nothing set in stone yet. Google just committed to doing it is all that's happened so far. But the response against it has been pretty heavy and we'll see how it goes. We have to speak up right now and organize our communities like this post is doing.
LOL. There's dozens of us here.
Don't wait. GOS just works.
I honestly didn't realize how the fdroid deployment worked, and now I'm gonna be way less skeptical of apps I see there.
I do not go to Google play until apps on f-droid prove inadequate for my usage.
Will the F-Droid website shutdown as a whole if the project ends?
I've gone back to flip phone. Yes, an XP3 Plus running android; but with no app store and no apps that use Internet. Data, and WIFI is off forever. It just comes with basic apps out of the box. Nothing Google is on it. It's just for phone calls.
And I've gone back to a standard MP3 player. All this because the smartphone ecosystem is utterly chaotic and fragile. Anything smart is nothing but a headache to me now. Smartphones are anything but convenient to me today (they are more like dopamine slot machines with the trash social media apps that come pre-installed on them to keep people scrolling).
But I have an old Samsung tablet running LineageOS that I just use for reading. Never put it online. And I see no reason to update any apps. Maybe in the future, I might consider installing other apps (highly unlikely). But I'm fine with how it is. And since Syncthing is no longer an option on Android, I'll just use Rsync to sync my books directly to the micro SD card I use with it.
I don't use anything Google anymore (yes, not even YouTube). And I really don't want to install Google's shitty app store and make a new Google account (after getting rid of all my Google accounts). This is why I'm wondering what the plan is for the F-Droid project.
Is it time to just dump anything Android too? Unless it's a scaled down version of Android that comes with the device like my flip phone?
Syncthing is no longer an option on Android?
That's what I heard. They discontinued it. But it's been forked.
I just think it's best to drop anything Android now; and truthfully, just stop bothering with smartphones at this point. Or don't use Android for much other than in a locked down phone that comes out of the factory with no Google BS; like the XP3 Plus flip phone I bought for a fraction of the price that a trash smartphone would be.
To be frank, I don't use Android for much of anything now. I've completely given up the smartphone. I don't miss it. And honestly, it's a relief.
I'm using syncthing-fork.
I'm using Syncthing-Fork on Android and Syncthing on Linux. Works very well.
Can one just remove GSF and bypass this? Or is it something going to be built into Android going forward? Genuinely curious.
I am not on Android now, but…
…Can folks not just dual-boot?
Like, keep a stock partition to make Play Store apps happy, and a “main” GraphemeOS boot option or whatever.
To my knowledge no. Theres also the issue of hardware. For example, I stupidly gave samsung another chance about 3 or so years ago, and you basically cannot put another OS on their devices without bricking them.
This is something the EU should really regulate, unfortunately they are busy regulating oat
milkdrink and veggieburgers.I contacted the EU DMA team a while back. Part of the response:
So at least some part of the bureaucracy are aware of it.
That’s the copy pasta I got, too!
The thing I don't understand about any of this, is why can't you comment on ongoing dialogues with the gatekeepers?
I understand the basic tenants of keeping the discussion closed until official statements can be prepared, to prevent the press and the public from going off half cocked. That makes sense for private matters.
This is not private. I can't understand what is the point of negotiating law for people if they can't even see the ongoing process?
the eu is way too busy chewing us boot atm
It's a banker's cartel. Nothing more.
I'm confused why so many open source developers think that the EU is going to be the foster parents of FOSS communities
There's a real effort in some EU countries to fund FOSS projects to get out from under US dominated tech.
It's because they did a thing with USB once
Pretty sure the EU was designed to serve the interests of carnists and other capitalists.