Google: “Based on this feedback and our ongoing conversations with the community, we are building a new advanced flow that allows experienced users to accept the risks of installing software that isn’t verified. We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.”
Thank god. I would’ve ditched Android for good if this went through, and while it sounds like it would be annoying for casual users to enable unverified apps, at least we can still install them.
Easing is not removing.
Anything more than a warning and disclaimer popup is too much.
Google is paving the ground for Linuxphones.
It’s so blatantly obvious how evil they’ve become that it makes striving for alternatives a necessity.Not good enough. Google showed their hand and they will try this garbage again at a later date
We are designing this flow specifically to resist coercion, ensuring that users aren’t tricked into bypassing these safety checks while under pressure from a scammer. It will also include clear warnings to ensure users fully understand the risks involved, but ultimately, it puts the choice in their hands.
The current system requires user to enable developer options, which is already hidden behind a dark pattern (tapping the Build number multiple times) then enabling the installation of apps of unknown sources for specific apps, which also comes with a warning.
It’s basically what we have already, so cut the bullshit and leave it be.
that warning was not at all prominent, and as others have said, t does not exist anymore on modern android
Err, that’s not true on the last fee devices I’ve used, Pixels and a Fairphone. Installing apps from APK files doesn’t require me to enable dev options. In fact trying to install an APK from say Files brings me straight to the permission setting. It’s also per-app. It can be accessed under Settings > Apps > Special app access > Install unknown apps.
That’s not what the phrase “dark pattern” means.
I wonder if they realized phone sales would drop if they made it virtually impossible to maintain privacy apps and OS.
… continues to make Play Integrity an integral part of Android and making all the stupid banking and govt apps requiring having it on your phone thus making it harder to de-google.
still no… fuck you.
Literally idk why people are saying “If this happens I’ll switch to an iPhone”
Like bruh Apple is even a more closed off walled garden? What sort of sense does that make to switch to something twice as expensive and gives you absolutely no control?
Even if Google decided to implement this in the future, I will never switch to an iPhone and neither should you
Lol its like the Americans going “I’ll just move to China”…
Me as a someone who was born in mainland China and gained US Citizenship:
(meanwhile my grandmother just obtained US Citizenship too lmao)
They’ve already lost my trust. GrapheneOS or LineageOS are the only safe bets now.
I’m still slowly moving towards a Linux phone. That I can install whatever on, of course.
Maybe even eInk screen. Just that currently there’s nothing with eSIM as well.
Is eSIM really the dealbreaker of all things?
For me it is yeah. It’s really convenient when traveling.
We were in Malaysia and Brunei last year and honestly dual sim on my phone worked way better than eSIM on my mum’s iPhone. No issues whatsoever.
I never claimed it worked better or worse. I’m saying my experience is good though. And the hassle is much less.
Can also come to another country prepared. I don’t have to be looking, swapping. It just works.
I mean I guess. We came prepared and the experience was still bad so I really don’t see the point of wSIM to be completely honest.
But if it works for you I can see how that might discourage you from picking certain phones.
I may simply have had a good run. But I do recall negative experience from the last, when I’ve used local SIMs. Ive been constantly harassed in some countries by their operators sending me ads all the time. Couldn’t be stopped.
No such issues currently with 2 eSIM providers that I use regularly.
Hey, could you expand on why you prefer eSIMs? I’ve seen this idea in many places but couldn’t find any reasons to prefer eSIMs over physical.
Very convenient for travel.
It’s not that hard to swap a sim.
I never said it’s hard. It’s much more convenient. Can also come to another country prepared. I don’t have to be looking, swapping. It just works.
I have been looking at getting a flip phone and ditching this “Smart phone” bullshit altogether, I still might. I’m sick of this rug pull bullshit and no one can convince me they aren’t just going to try again.
Easing up? Don’t fucking touch it. Google is already annoying me with their play protect warnings.
For the last two years, I’ve been running my own mail server, ready to cut over the moment google wants to fuck around again. I’m happy NOT depending on my own mail server as long as possible, but it’s clear the free lunch is going to end one day. I’ve started backing my way out of Android and I’m surely not going to be buying another iOS or Android phone.
Yea no, just don’t change things. Things are good as they are without them trying to encroach further on our ownership of our devices.
For now
$100 says they’re just going to make it require adb.
I really hope you’re wrong
I’m guessing they’re going to hide it in developer tools with a bunch of warnings and no explanation on how to get there so regular users don’t turn it on by accident.
Which would actually make sense.
They’ll make it requiring registration to enter a developer program or something to let you install crap.
Did you read the article?
The company is building a new ‘advanced flow’ that allows these users to accept the risks of installing unverified apps. Previously, the only permitted method for experienced users to install apps from unverified developers was to use ADB.
If you need to use adb to set a flag once that’s not too bad I suppose…
Oh no nothing so user-friendly. They’re gonna require them to be loaded via adb every time. And they’ll say that’s the only way they could do it for security or some shit.
