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The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

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Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#251

Post by djrogers »

tw04 wrote: post #221
harryf wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s possible that Google cutting off Huawei will actually backfire, because it makes having a viable alternative to Android a MUST HAVE instead of just NICE TO HAVE. Perhaps it’s possible to resurrect Blackberry 10 ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackBerry_10 ) for example, which seemed to be an impressive piece of engineering that got trampled by Blackberrys failing business. I played with a demo once that could…

Had blackberry made messenger multi-platform 15 years ago, and released an email app for iOS and Android they would still own the business market. Even in 2019 email sucks on a modern smartphone compared to blackberry in 2004. I'm still hoping Apple wakes up and releases messenger for Windows and Android before that ship sails. They claim to be a services company but they still can't seem to let go of tying it to dev…

> They claim to be a services company but they still can't seem to let go of tying it to devices.

They've shipped apple music on Andriod since day 1, have had it on Sonos for several years, and in the last 6 months have announced & started to ship TV on tons of actual TVs and non-apple straming boxes.

They've 'let go' of tying services to devices, but iMessage isn't a paid service so the advantage to shipping it on other platforms is lower.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#252

Post by squarefoot »

Phlarp wrote: post #232
squarefoot wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Play can be rewritten from scratch to look like the real one and point to open source repositories, but the real hassle are device drivers: they're tight closed to the point there's not a single person in the world who managed to install a 100% open OS on a phone or tablet; even Purism themselves had to use some closed blobs here and there. Closed firmware/blobs/drivers are the #1 problem; that's the battle to…

What about the baseband?

I understand carriers don't want the average Joe to mess with the radio, I'd be totally ok with that, so I would agree on closed source firmware on baseband if it was limited only to that use: a fully separated system that deals with connections and nothing else. All data could be en/decrypted on main device CPU, so that the radio closed firmware would essentially have full access to noise. Of course IP addresses could not be masked, but they would be available anyway to authorities with full access to cell towers and traffic.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#253

Post by partiallypro »

Ultramanoid wrote: post #103

Does it reveal Google's iron grip on Android ? Really ? I'd say it rather reveals most users' unhealthy addiction to Google's services, without which, this whole thing wouldn't be the 'tragedy' and wake up call it's turning out to be for many. I have used Android for a decade now completely Google-free and no one could pay me enough money to be tracked and to run pure spyware 24/7 at this point... I enjoy immensely h…

Unless you get an iPhone, you have really haveno other choice....at least not without forgoing most apps. This is the problem with walled gardens in general. Even if Microsoft kills certain things for Chinese made laptops...the OS still allows you to run programs which are not reliant at all on these APIs, because Windows is generally not a walled garden.

My hope is that Chinese companies start making a new OS, and Google sees this and makes their APIs more open and free so in such an event not everything is rendered inoperable.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#254

Post by slrz »

ggg2 wrote: post #175
gsich wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just remember the shit Microsoft had to do with the browser selection screen.

which was a direct result of Google suing them to show it. oh the irony!

Pretty sure that it wasn't Google doing the suing. I remember it being Opera. Did Chrome even exist back then?

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#255

Post by roboys »

Symmetry wrote: post #151
PuffinBlue wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's interesting. Do you have any more info on where they are putting those factories?

Everywhere from Nigeria to Lesotho basically. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35288650-the-next-factor...

They are building infrastructure across the whole continent, connecting all major ports.

Expect that this will cause a decline in EU GDP as the remnants of colonialism get displaced/replaced.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#256

Post by aerique »

acct1771 wrote: post #205
macintux wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My only remaining dependency on Google is YouTube, and I could do without that in a pinch, although I’d definitely miss it.

What's your gMaps replacement, if any, out of curiosity?

Not the parent poster but I use Here WeGo on Sailfish running on the Android subsystem.

It's ok.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#257

Post by roboys »

Roritharr wrote: post #9

Google invested Billions into Android. Samsung tried to hedge for this by building Tizen(Bada) and realized how much needed to be invested to get an Android competitor going, so they kept the development going, but focused for their Smartwatches, as this would have to be a "if the worst happens" plan, not something that could be a profitable venture. LG has the Palm/HP borne WebOS for their TVs, i suspect with a simi…

I'm glad that nails are starting to be placed in Google Play's coffin.

As it stands, Android's whole notification system (3rd party apps included) relies almost completely on communicating with Google servers. Seems like a bad design if privacy is a concern.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#258

Post by bonestamp2 »

roboys wrote: post #257
Roritharr wrote: post #9

Google invested Billions into Android. Samsung tried to hedge for this by building Tizen(Bada) and realized how much needed to be invested to get an Android competitor going, so they kept the development going, but focused for their Smartwatches, as this would have to be a "if the worst happens" plan, not something that could be a profitable venture. LG has the Palm/HP borne WebOS for their TVs, i suspect with a simi…

I'm glad that nails are starting to be placed in Google Play's coffin. As it stands, Android's whole notification system (3rd party apps included) relies almost completely on communicating with Google servers. Seems like a bad design if privacy is a concern.

> Seems like a bad design if privacy is a concern.

True, although having one endpoint does have some advantages for battery life and api consistency.

Re: The Huawei Disaster Reveals Google’s Iron Grip on Android

#259

Post by roboys »

reacweb wrote: post #125
TsomArp wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not like they had an option. They are a US based company. They must do it.

I fully agree. Google had to comply, but it is not in its advantage because it shows that Google is too much powerful and that is problematic.

I'm sure Indian tech companies/government are watching this play out as well.

Google may lose a lot more business than it seems at first glance.

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