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WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

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Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#21

Post by IlikeKitties »

nipperkinfeet wrote: post #5

Things can only go downhill from here, and it's hard to imagine how things could get any better. I mean, I can only hope Google will change their minds and see sense here.

I think people underestimate just how bad this will become. First they will use Remote Attestation against users. Not only will your certified device not run unsigned apps, your uncertified device won't run certified apps (already happening [0]) Than more and more services will require you to own a google certified device. Banks, Governments, Insurance, Postal Service, everyone. (see also [0] for examples)

Soon you'll live in a world where you are forced to own and regularly use a device certified and controlled by either Google, Apple or Microsoft without exception and no way around it.

[0] https://grapheneos.org/articles/attestation-compatibility-gu...

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#22

Post by IlikeKitties »

OsrsNeedsf2P wrote: post #6

I'm past the point where I care if my next device has "phone" features like calling and SMS. I'm fine with technical limitations, but I'm done with Apple and Google adding artificial ones. Maybe I'll get a used Librem5. I'd get a Jolla phone, but they don't ship to the US. But honestly in my research, there's been no blogs I can find that compare these 3rd party phones to each other that aren't like 4 years old and o…

You'll soon find that those phones will be useless because you are required to own a certified device to interact with your government, bank, insurance company, postal service etc. I can see it happen every day.

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#23

Post by folkrav »

rangestransform wrote: post #20
tremon wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're clearly betting on Trump to strong-arm the EU into dropping the DMA, or not enforcing it on US tech giants. And sadly, it seems like that could work.

I hope so, I’d rather have th EU dependent on the US for tech than develop their own tech industry

… why?

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#24

Post by folkrav »

synsynack wrote: post #7

Soon there'll be a marketplace, where you can, for a few dollars, "hire a dev". They will use their identity documents and help you in obtaining a signing certificate.

This is already what’s happening on iOS devices. Signing services like Signulous[1] basically buy a bunch of developer licenses, and registers your devices on it. The keys eventually end up getting revoked, obviously.

[1] https://www.signulous.com/

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#25

Post by folkrav »

frizlab wrote: post #8
RedShift1 wrote: post #4

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck Google. I bought my device and I want to do with it what I want!

And in this instance it makes sense, because the status has changed . Everyone is pissed at Apple for doing that sort of things, but personally I don’t blame them: they were clear on the restrictions from the start and there are literally no surprises when buying a device from them. If you don’t like that, just don’t buy from them…

> If you don’t like that, just don’t buy from them…

This line of thinking only works as long as there are decent alternatives that exist. Now that Google is going this way too, the alternatives just plainly don’t exist at all, especially for those bank/government/security apps depending on Play services.

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#26

Post by nodja »

There's a whole subsection of app devs that will just stop making apps for android. Getting graphene or a chinese phone with android won't mean anything because all you will be running is old version of apps since there will be very few devs interested in developing for the platform. The vast majority of people owning an android will be buying "certified" devices which means they can no longer run these apps, essentially drying the whole ecosystem up, which I think is google's goal.

Hopefully this means that a third player will join and provide a truly open android platform.

If an OS is owned and controlled by a single company, it's never truly open. No matter how much they claim it is.

edit: I should clarify, I'm talking about devs that develop for third party stores exclusively. Usually privacy conscious or devs whose apps aren't allowed on the play store for this and that reason like tachiyomi.

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#28

Post by pjjpo »

dns_snek wrote: post #11

I'm still waiting to hear what the EU will have to say about all of this, it seems like a very clear violation of the Digital Markets Act to me.

Isn't it the EU that pushed for more details on publishers being public in general? I helped someone get their details registered on the Apple app store before their app would be delisted in Europe.

If details are needed, actually verifying them rather than being any self-reported text seems fairly reasonable.

Re: WhoBIRD is now deprecated on certified Android devices

#29

Post by yogorenapan »

folkrav wrote: post #23
rangestransform wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope so, I’d rather have th EU dependent on the US for tech than develop their own tech industry

… why?

They're probably American, like most of HN. It does feel like a shitty way to treat allies
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