this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2025
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20
Why does Google support the Private Rom communities? (lemmy.zip)
submitted 12 hours ago by QuantumToast@lemmy.zip to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Why does Google bother unlocking boot loaders, or doing anything that helps AOSP? Why have they not gone the way of Apple?

top 16 comments
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[–] MIXEDUNIVERS@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I'm on Graphene OS and I have some problems with my banking apps and I think it will get worse over time. My device before my pixel was on micro-G but I had so many problems that I embraced Graphene os and its sandbox Google.

I would love to take the step and cut more Google out of my life. But now I have a new car with Android Auto. And I love the concept. But now Google needs all these rights to my apps.

And to my knowledge, there isn't any open source alternative or reverse engineered Android Auto.

[–] QuantumToast@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 hour ago

Hopefully someday there is

[–] ChidiAnagonye@infosec.pub 23 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (2 children)

Why does Google bother unlocking boot loaders

Funmy you asked, because Google just stopped releasing Pixel Device-Specific Code that allows Custom ROMs to be more easily built, requiring Custom ROM developers to reverse-engineer the source code, which takes a lot of time.

or doing anything that helps AOSP?

Free code from people. Also, AOSP doesn't matter if you need Google Play Services in order for apps to work. Some apps don't work on Graphene OS, for example, I imagine in 5 years, at least 50% of apps wouldn't work because the app developers would be encouraged by Google to use Play Integrity APIs.

Why have they not gone the way of Apple?

Its like a FPTP Election system, it's a Duoply. You need a mainstream device for apps to work, either iOS or Android, as long as Google is just slightly more free than Apple, you still would want Android.

I don't think I'd ever quit Android unless they pull a move like, idk, banning sideloading completely.

[–] HoneyMustardGas@lemmy.world 9 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

I don't think I'd ever quit Android unless they pull a move like, idk, banning sideloading completely.

Be careful what you wish for or say, it might actually happen sooner than not. We are getting closer and closer to an Orwellian society and that technology is already hopping on the bandwagon. If control of the market is what they want but cannot have it they will still use every tactic to improve that agenda. It's hard to notice but it is gradually happening.

(No I don't watch too much Black Mirror, it's not an addiction, it's just inevitable)

[–] ChidiAnagonye@infosec.pub 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

I'd just use an iPhone with tethering to a Linux Phone or a Pocket PC then... 🤷‍♂️

Use the main Phone to do stuff that requires it, everything else goes on the Linux device.

[–] HoneyMustardGas@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

So much work it must be fun. One day I will be one of those people who has two phones in service at a time for myself but for now let's hope they don't take away sideloading.

Note: never messed with Linux but one day I might, let's see where life takes me.

[–] QuantumToast@lemmy.zip 1 points 10 hours ago

I hear that change by the way will be handled different and they will release Pixel source code specifically to those who request it. It has something to do with the lawsuit they are facing.

[–] deegeese@sopuli.xyz 10 points 12 hours ago

Few enough people do it to have a serious impact on revenue.

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 9 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Sometimes people make things that are useful to Google or find bugs for them. It has no meaningful cost to them as long as non-Google Android isn't appealing to mainstream users.

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Huawei and their HarmonyOS would disagree with you on how many users there are on an AOSP variant. It's a meaningful cost to Google, which is probably what is motivating them to lock down their phones now.

https://medium.com/huawei-developers/what-is-harmonyos-how-it-differs-from-android-e5ea3fc50acc

[–] Zak@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Huawei was forced to offer non-Google Android due to USA sanctions. I don't know whether that has created difficulties for them in the Chinese market, but a quick search shows a significant decline in market share in Europe.

I do think Amazon launching an Android phone in 2014 without Google's ecosystem is the main reason Google launched SafetyNet. Of course the Fire Phone failed because it wasn't very good and Amazon didn't iterate, but I imagine Google didn't want them or anyone else to try again.

[–] Outwit1294@lemmy.today 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Might be due to monopoly laws. They also make huge donation to Mozilla every year.

[–] QuantumToast@lemmy.zip 2 points 10 hours ago (3 children)

Why does Apple get to lock Evey thing down?

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 10 hours ago

Pre-built walled gardens are appealing from a security standpoint. Or at least they were before MDM systems were more mature.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 hours ago

Phones have basically always been this way.

Like did you ever install a custom OS on your flip phone? Maybe a modded OS, but not one rebuilt almost from scratch.

[–] Outwit1294@lemmy.today 1 points 9 hours ago

Because we let them