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Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

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Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#41

Post by palata »

0xedd wrote: post #30

Great opportunity to take the plunge into a Linux phone, like Pinephone. Still in beta quality but with more people, more can be done. Personally, I daily drive it with compromise. Had I been a secretary, it wouldn't cut it.

I guess anything is an opportunity to mention one's favourite project.

Don't get me wrong: I like mobile Linux distros (played with PostmarketOS), but I think it is completely off topic.

All this article says is that Google will stop supporting 2 apps. Open source apps maintained by others will replace them, for sure.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#42

Post by palata »

uneekname wrote: post #18

Perhaps custom ROMs will only ever exist among a relatively small group of "hackers" or whatever you want to call us, but I do really hope we can grow this community in the coming years. You know that xkcd with n standards, let's add another, now it's n+1? That's kinda how I feel about Android ROMs these days. I'm hopeful we can join forces to a greater extent, and make these platforms easier for less-technical folks…

I feel like custom ROMS have become really good these days. I have been using /e/ OS for 2 years, just like a normal stock Android. I got the phone with it (no need to install it myself), and never had to fiddle with it. I don't have the Google Services, but that's my choice.

LineageOS, GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, I think all those are becoming really good.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#43

Post by palata »

behringer wrote: post #4
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #2

Title could just be "Google deprecates open source Dialer and Messages apps". But yeah, this is hardly a surprise, almost every app Google had on Android used to be open source and nearly all of them have been replaced with proprietary variants over time.

Just another step towards Ubuntu or another proper linux distro to take over the phone space.

I strongly disagree. It's just another step towards other open source apps taking over those two use-cases on alternative Android systems. AOSP is still open source, and maintained by Google. So this doesn't seem like a big deal to me, like at all.

I feel like people tend to really under-estimate the difference between "proper linux distros" (why "proper", btw?) and Android. Android was designed for smartphones, good luck catching up with "proper" distros.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#44

Post by palata »

luca020400 wrote: post #39
CrampusDestrus wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Windows is not open source, AOSP is

A lot of people still don't see how the operating system as a whole is open source, not having properly supported open source apps is not the best, but while we can make apps and/or update the aosp versions, we can't make an operating system...

> A lot of people still don't see how the operating system as a whole is open source

What? Just checkout the sources and go through them, maybe?

> not having properly supported open source apps is not the best

If your definition of "properly supported" means "supported by Google", I guess...

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#45

Post by quaintdev »

deng wrote: post #33

Has the author of this article ever used a custom ROM? There are so many free alternatives for these apps out there. If I remember correctly, LineageOS ships with their own version of Dialer/Messages anyway. I usually replace them with the versions of SimpleMobileTools, which work just fine. The main difficulty for custom ROMs are not these standard apps. The real issues are bootloaders which cannot be unlocked, undo…

> It's getting more and more difficult to use Android without a Google Account.

Good that is how they shoot themselves in the foot. The more they do this, the more people will realise they need alternative and ditch Android.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#46

Post by palata »

albertopv wrote: post #9

How can you call Android an open source mobile OS anymore given even these basic functions will be dropped?

Respectfully, I think you need to look closer and understand what AOSP actually is. It seems like your are mixing things up.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#47

Post by unnah »

fifteen1506 wrote: post #32
glodalitazic wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SailfishOS is totally usable. It is not as open as some others, but they get more stuff to work

How are they, as a company, with all the Russia shenanigans (trade bans, etc.?)

From what I have been able to determine as a user, the sanctions have been a big blow to the company, but they are still able to operate in Western countries and are also seeking partnerships in China. We'll have to see if they can pull through and keep some part of their business profitable.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#48

Post by luca020400 »

palata wrote: post #44
luca020400 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of people still don't see how the operating system as a whole is open source, not having properly supported open source apps is not the best, but while we can make apps and/or update the aosp versions, we can't make an operating system...

> A lot of people still don't see how the operating system as a whole is open source What? Just checkout the sources and go through them, maybe? > not having properly supported open source apps is not the best If your definition of "properly supported" means "supported by Google", I guess...

Supported => Supported by Google yes.

I think you misread my comment, or I wasn't clear enough, I work on AOSP daily so I know very well what's in there :)

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#49

Post by wesapien »

palata wrote: post #42
uneekname wrote: post #18

Perhaps custom ROMs will only ever exist among a relatively small group of "hackers" or whatever you want to call us, but I do really hope we can grow this community in the coming years. You know that xkcd with n standards, let's add another, now it's n+1? That's kinda how I feel about Android ROMs these days. I'm hopeful we can join forces to a greater extent, and make these platforms easier for less-technical folks…

I feel like custom ROMS have become really good these days. I have been using /e/ OS for 2 years, just like a normal stock Android. I got the phone with it (no need to install it myself), and never had to fiddle with it. I don't have the Google Services, but that's my choice. LineageOS, GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, I think all those are becoming really good.

I've been using custom ROMs since the Galaxy Note 1 came out (my first smartphone). My LG V20 is still working and getting mobile service while on LineageOS. GPS has been finicky on it but I have a Galaxy A70 for driving around for now.

Re: Google is about to make life more difficult for custom ROM fans

#50

Post by jraph »

glodalitazic wrote: post #21
jraph wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ubuntu actually pioneered the domain with Ubuntu Phone, and then abandoned it. It's been taken over by UBPorts, a community effort, with Lomiri for it's graphical environment. I don't know these much, as I think they don't let you run regular Linux apps. There are many linux mobile distributions, I think the most mature / widespread ones are Mobian, PostmarketOS and Manjaro. And UBPorts of course. Mobian has been ups…

SailfishOS is totally usable. It is not as open as some others, but they get more stuff to work

Yes, I always forget about it (because I'm not interested personally. The way I see it is that if I want a mostly open source mobile OS but with some proprietary blobs, Android is just fine. I just can't justify using SailfishOS).
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