Time to popularize Linux phones. I read that the security model is lacking, but especially given that Android is Linux too, it shouldn’t be too difficult to catch up. The EU is also interested in tech independence, so that could be one of the sources of funding. And there are a few viable early projects, like Ubuntu Touch and Sailfish.
this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2026
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I have F-Droid on my Android phone. Iike having a marketplace where I can download floss apps.
Not sure how I should feel about this, if I should support the cause to keep android "open" (when it's everything but), or if I should be happy that this piece of shit OS finally shows it's true colours and people (including me) will finally be forced to find an alternative or stop using this trashware all together.
And hopefully developers finally get serious about GNU/Linux phones.
I thought installing apps through ADB will still be possible ? So we can assume it will be possible with shizuku ?
Gonna have to wing Ubuntu touch and figure it out as i go. Fuck this shit. Access the boot loader while you can
IMO the big problem with this is for old APKs that were created before this new developer registration requirement- you won't be able to install them at all without rooting or using a different vanilla Android version.
It prohibits developers from creating apps and maintaining their anonymity but it also prevents scammers from anonymously streaming people's money with fake apps.
Will be a big problem if their developer registration process is difficult or used as a restriction somehow to govern who can register.
Sorry to piss off all the Apple shills on here, but sounds like an opportunity to me. I think there's enough of us that want something better and some traction with Graphene and some Linux options. This should be a spark to ignite some fires. I'm disappointed but unsurpised by this news, but also a little excited about the window of motivation and opportunity this opens.
Honestly, I'm worried. Current Linux options are expensive and or shitty. IDK if Sailfish is still a thing. I can't use Apple. If I keep taking good care of my not-so-shitty Xiaomi phone, maybe I have a couple more years until I'm pwned.
PostmarketOS seems promising, though.
PostmarketOS is already in a good state for a secondary device, though I don't think it can completely replace an Android phone just yet. Most devices still have some fundamental hardware support issues even on the more well supported phones (camera is the big one, call audio is also problematic on a lot of devices). However, as a pocketable Linux machine, it is wonderful. I got a second cheap SIM card so I can have data on my OnePlus 6 postmarketOS phone as there are a lot of tasks that work better on Linux than Android. I keep an Android daily driver but am trying to do less and less on it and more on the postmarketOS device.
Could you go over what Graphene is for phones? Is it easy to switch to an alternative to android?
Its a version of android OS that can be installed on Google Pixel phones. Its a relatively easy switch if you're technically inclined, but the device needs to be carrier unlocked.
If it's just a fork of Android, doesn't that mean 194 days from now they either need to branch off entirely and write their own code from here on out....
Or....
Never advance the base code?
Neither is true, that's not how forking works. But there is some truth to it in that it can start to become significantly more difficult to keep in sync as time goes on, depending on how obnoxious the security becomes and how many places they have to remove it.
Consider the trivially naive case where Google implements this feature in a single function: "function app_is_signed() -> bool" then the fork just adds "return true;" to the beginning of that function, and happily merges every other update Google makes from then on with zero issues. Even if the code for "app_is_signed" itself changes, nobody cares, because the first thing it does is return true and everything else Google ever tells it to check or do is ignored, the function can still be used everywhere throughout the code, it just no longer actually checks anything in Graphene, whereas it does check things in Google's Android.
Of course the reality is much more complicated than that, but the principle is the same. It's only a question of how obnoxious and difficult Google chooses to be about it. They could move the function around every update, or use many different functions, make a whole system out of it, make it do crazy cryptographic validations and checksums in various different places of the code, have watchdog tasks that are checking that the validation code is getting used. They could be really, really obnoxious about it, if they want to be, and they have more resources than the Graphene OS developers probably do to undo and keep undoing all these obstacles, so if they really want to devote that much time and energy to making Graphene's position untenable, they can. But they could also be doing that now, and they're not. Crackers have been fighting these sort of battles against copy-protected software for ages, it's the same principles, and much of the same economic choices go into it. How much does Google want Graphene OS to go away? How much is it worth to them? It has to have a dollar value to them, and that dollar value might be significantly higher than they're willing to bother with.
No. As long as the base remains opensource (AOSP), they can remove the bad parts. Graphene has made numerous contributions to AOSP, I'm confident they can manage that. And if the user base growths, I hope their fundings will follow.
It would be a good thing for the world if AOSP was forked with big resources behind an open project with an open governance. But that needs lot of resources.
Are there any details on how it will be implemented? Will it affect older versions or just new/updated devices?
So then, in 194 days, Android will be an inferior version of iOS and you may as well just switch to Apple because their devices have a better security posture.
It's mostly marketing honestly. They're both total ass.
FUCK no! Apple is dogshit locked down like crazy, so, fuck no, politely.
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!linuxphones@lemmy.ca
They aren't competitive with Android or iOS phones presently
don't have the scale of userbase
but there's only one way that that's going to change, and that's people starting to use them.
("Linux" here as in "GNU/Linux", as opposed to "the Linux kernel", which Android phones also use.)
EDIT: Another option is to try to shift software use off of mobile devices as far as is practical, if you're willing to carry a second, larger device like a laptop. Just use the smartphone as a phone and as a modem for Internet access via tethering. I've generally been aiming to do that myself. I realize that that's not practical for everyone.
That approach does have some perks
you can get your audio jack, because the space constraints of a phone go away. You aren't dependent upon your hardware manufacturer for N years of updates before your hardware is forced to become out-of-date software-wise. The devices are generally a lot more capable and upgradeable. The hardware is more modular, and there are considerably more options. You can run whatever software you want.
But...it's bigger, the software library isn't generally optimized for small touchscreen use, so one-handed use while waiting in line isn't generally ideal, and it consumes more power. You can run some Android software via stuff like Waydroid, but I'm sure that software that requires a trusted hardware stack won't accept that.
That’s generally true. Personally, I enjoy using a laptop way more than using a mobile device of any kind.
However, modern life is beginning to require mobile apps (Android or iOS). More and more things simply aren’t available as a website or FOSS. You have to have a vanilla mainstream mobile device to do certain things like using your bank account. I really hate that.
Hardware peripherals are another area that really sucks. If you want to enjoy the comforts of modern life, many people just bow down and use one of the two mobile platforms in order to use their smart ring/scale/lights/curtains/heating/car, etc.
Resisting all that is getting increasingly difficult, because there’s so much to resist. On the other hand, resisting is also becoming increasingly appealing as enshittification intensifies.
(“Linux” here as in “GNU/Linux”, as opposed to “the Linux kernel”, which Android phones also use.)
I feel compelled to point out that PostmarketOS, one of the popular Linux phone options is not, in fact GNU. It's based on musl and BusyBox, not glibc and GNU utils.
How do I "uncertify"y Android device? Install a fork I guess. Shame it's not as easy as installing a new OS on the desktop.
It is, if you can unlock the bootloader.
Maybe the only good use of AI is someone automates reverse engineering drivers for mobile.
They’re gonna take away my Projectivy, aren’t they? 😔
First I'm hearing of this launcher. Definately gonna download the apks.
I’m in PDX and setting a webcam as my TV launcher’s background has been the coziest, bestest thing ever. Way better than the default page o’ ads.
So what other os that is supported with security updates and still works with whatapp/fb/insta sideloading is there? For me the security support and access to messaging apps is most important since that is what i use mostly. Any ideas?
- Google has announced that a workflow for advanced users to install whatever they want will remain, but hasn't published details. Many people don't entirely trust them about this.
- Third-party Android builds like LineageOS won't be affected. These need a device with an unlockable bootloader. They can run any Android app that doesn't intentionally sabotage them (some banking apps do this).
- Linux distributions for phones exist, and can run Android apps via Waydroid. This provides the most freedom for the user, but the highest effort. This is mainly suited for Linux hobbyists right now.
I'm assuming that this would apply to any "flavor" of android? ~~So Graphene is not immune from this?~~
Nvm, guess it is
From what I've heard, google free android versions won't be effected.
What if I have an android installation that has google, but I watch one of those videos on youtube that says "degoogle your android phone"? Is that enough? Or will I need a full installation that has no google right from the start?
The way I understand it, you need a non-stock Android that wouldn't enforce the cert requirements
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