People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
-
@Thales_Curiosities @neil This is a small volunteer effort so far, we need help to make it a success. Get involved! Could you set up this email that you are thinking about?
-
@neil f-droid and aurora shop
@Charlie_House @neil Google's Android Developer Verification gives them the possibility to prevent any app from running on all Android devices, no matter the source. That is why there is this campaign. Even if you get the app from F-Droid, Aurora, etc. etc. Google would still be able to prevent it from running
-
@neil I'm sure you're already aware Epic Games have an ongoing legal battle with Google/Apple about putting their own store on Android/iOS based on the same principles.
@KeefJudge @neil It is important to remember that Epic Games is a corporation focused on maximizing profit, not free software or user freedom. Also, Epic v. Google is a lawsuit between two private parties. Epic and Google are working on a business deal right now, this is highly likely to undermine any potential benefits that lawsuit could have for the rest of us. To the point: that lawsuit is useful but not enough.
-
@KeefJudge @neil It is important to remember that Epic Games is a corporation focused on maximizing profit, not free software or user freedom. Also, Epic v. Google is a lawsuit between two private parties. Epic and Google are working on a business deal right now, this is highly likely to undermine any potential benefits that lawsuit could have for the rest of us. To the point: that lawsuit is useful but not enough.
@eighthave @neil No argument here - was just pointing out the two are quite related.
-
@GerardThornley @neil One reason I release small apps as free software, not to Google, is that I want to let anyone interested continue when I switch to working on something else. Proprietary apps are forced dead when the initial developer prioritizes life. Companies behind Netscape and StarOffice realized it in time for their apps to survive. I think any company soon to close should mimic them. At least so that oligopolies forcing them out of the market don't get away with it for free.
-
@steve @neil
Compared to a wild west anything goes lord of the flies app repo? Probably.I yearn for the day when OSS can provide a trustworthy app ecosystem that can also let devs earn a living - something easy and consolidated yet safe from enshitification. But in my 15 years as a linux user and oss enthusiast, things have just gotten more fragmented. Seems this is now androids future too...
-
@steve @neil
Compared to a wild west anything goes lord of the flies app repo? Probably.I yearn for the day when OSS can provide a trustworthy app ecosystem that can also let devs earn a living - something easy and consolidated yet safe from enshitification. But in my 15 years as a linux user and oss enthusiast, things have just gotten more fragmented. Seems this is now androids future too...
-
People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil Highly unlikely anyone will be able to do anything to stop google. Best advice i can give is degoogle your phone, custom ROM. And just use that.
-
People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil I have absolutely no idea what this might mean for the two devices I have that run custom Android installs with unique apps (Boox ereader and FiiO media player), but... ah... this doesn't sound good.
-
People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to:
* pay Google
* give government ID to Google
* agree to Google terms and conditionsPeople should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops.
e.g. via F-Droid.
We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem.
Keep Android Open
Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.
(keepandroidopen.org)
@neil
Hopefully this will give #FOSS devs an incentive to shift app development to #mobilelinux if Google pushes ahead with this.There ARE alternatives. I'm fully aware that they are, for the most part, not prime time ready, but they DO exist, and they've come a long way.
Maybe Google doing this will be a blessing in disguise, as it may just be what's needed to give #linuxphones a push.
I, for one, will switch to one form of mobile Linux or another, if Obtainium/F-Droid/IzzyOnDroid are killed off by this.
#obtainium #izzyondroid #postmarketos #ubuntutouch #ubports #sailfishos #phosh #gnomemobile #plasmamobile
