415
Google gives Android users a way to install unverified apps if they worked hard for it(including waiting 24 hours)
(android-developers.googleblog.com)
this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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What will you use instead though?
At this stage, I'm thinking one of the Motorola phones that will run Graphene out of the box.
Isn't that Android?
I believe it’s a fork of android that is not managed by Google
It's an Android fork that has been degoogled
........so it's android.
Is that meant to be a "gotcha" or something?
My point is, this is the last time I let google control my phone.
I imagine since it's not an official product of Google's, it can't legally be called "Android." As such it's something that is not Android, but is highly compatible with it since both are rooted in the AOSP.
Legally? Maybe not.
But Col Sanders left KFC after selling a business he created with his own secret reciepe. Then after he sold it, he watched the new owners use his image to sell an inferior chicken product.
So he started up another new chicken resteraunt using the original reciepe. Legally he couldn't call it KFC, but that doesn't change the fact that it was the original KFC reciepe.
Hows that phrase go? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.
Call things whatever word you want, it's still the same thing in the end.
The point that is clearly not sinking into your wired-to-argue-for-no-reason brain, is that it gets rid of the shit that Google is fucking with. Which is what they were concerned about, not the underlying structure of the OS being offensive to them.
Ok, not OP but also wired-to-argue-for-no-reason :
People present graphene as some independent project that throws the middle finger to Google.
In reality Google could very easily stop tolerating the sandboxed playstore and require them to follow the same "certification" as the other.
Sure graphene could still ship but without the playstore that will be a very different experience. You can roll with F-Droid etc but your choice of apps would be very limited.
Basically, I just wanted to point out that graphene is definitely working with the permission of Google and google could very well sabotage the project in a few dumb requirements.
As someone that uses GrapheneOS without google play services, I'd be fine with it. Fuck em.
yes but also no.
google influenced, but not google controlled anymore.
I use graphene on a pixel. Graphene is Android, albeit a much better version of Android.
I don't care whether it's technically android or not, I care that it's not a tool to let google in to my life.
I'm hoping it's smaller than any of their current offerings. I really want to support a "factory" GrapheneOS phone, but can't stand the size of current generation phones.
I want the opposite! I currently use a fold phone because phones are too small :P
Even sidegrading to an older mid-high range phone seems like a good idea at this point. I hate android 12 and everything after it with a passion. Moto have been decent in my experience though, hopefully HMD will follow suit with Graphene
any links for more info?
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/32656-motorola-partnership-announcement
March 2, 2026 https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at-mwc-2026/
That's some good news indeed.
Linux phone, landline, or tin can and string.
Another option, an ESP32 radio. Surprisingly large mesh network in the greater Seattle area.
Yeah, but you guys don't have any ghosts in your city! So.....Who ya gonna call???
Fairphone with /e/os or Jolla phone with sailfishos (waiting for the reviews of their new preordered flagship phone coming out this fall.)
Well, that runs into a different problem with the same results.
Sure, GOOGLE can't hinder you from installing apps, but the fact that nobody has heard of these OS's before means your selection of available apps is what hinders your ability to install apps.
/e/ OS is just a degoogled Android (similar to Graphene, but not so security oriented). You can install the same apps - though some might not work properly.
Sailfish OS is Linux, but if I understand it correctly they have a compatibility layer enabling you to seamlessly install Android apps on it.
"Nobody has Heard of these os'" - wtf you talk about? They are gaining popularity here in EU as well as in Turkey. It's getting popular to de-google/de-americanize. People are hating on the monopoly iOS and Android has on the industry. Better to do something than being a sheep about it, and just let thos mofos suck the data out of your life forever?
/e/os is Android without Google proprietary stuff. It runs most Android apps.
While technically correct, it runs apps, it's misleading because it won't run the majority of apps from the playstore.
Google holds people captive with the playstore and the very sneaky google play services.
Only the most hardcore tinkerers and privacy oriented would run a pure AOSP phone.
I love my LineageOS (AOSP) phone without micro-g. So a few evil apps don't work without Google's spyware... Win-win.
I've tried it, and only ran into a couple apps that wouldn't work with MicroG. I won't pretend it's painless, but it's workable for someone with sufficient motivation.
These devices have replaced play services with things like micro g, so yes they will run pretty much any android app even Google ones would work but that would be defeating the purpose.
e/os and Sailfish are pretty popular alternative OSs (OSes? OSii?) and e/os is an android fork, with Sailfish having an android compatibility layer, so they work with standard Android apps.
Source: I use e/os.
Why are you in here arguing losing points with no reason or even knowledge about them?
You != Everybody.
That exact issue killed Blackberry, the largest smartphone maker at the time. Even after they built a compatibility layer to run Android apps.
You think anywhere near enough people are going to go out of their way to try something that doesn't have marketshare already to maintain an entire alternative hardware and software ecosystem? Where can I get wherever awesome shit you're smoking?
When i was a kid, blackberries were more common than android. At least in my area it was the "in" thing to be on BBM