Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source capacity over the last decade.

Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.

Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.

  • Lovable SidekickEnglish
    21•5 days ago

    Tried to restart my fairly new Pixel phone a couple days ago by holding down the power button, but instead of showing the Power menu it prompted me to ask the Digital Assistant something. Excuse me? I don’t remember enabling that. Every other phone I’ve ever had, holding down the power button has always been the way to power down or restart. I had to search Settings to find how to configure the power button to control the power. Or course maybe I could have asked the Digital Assistant - but fuck that.

    • @[email protected]English
      7•5 days ago

      Yep, this is how they trick people into inadvertently using their shitty ai Spyware. Welcome to the future, yay. Fuck Google and Samsung.

        • @[email protected]English
          2•3 days ago

          Yes, with a heavy grain of salt.

          First- it seems like a huge pain in the ass to get your bootloader unlocked (a locked bootloader can not have custom ROMs installed) Relavent XDA thread

          Second- None of the ROMs I listed officially support your device it appears. However, there are other ROMs available for the device. I can not speak to their reputability or trustability. XDA thread of various ROMs available for the device.

          The only ROM I listed which can be used on your device is an unofficial LineageOS port.

          A great place to look, ask, and get help is at the XDAForums for your device. They usually have helpful and friendly people who can help you as long as you read their previous relavent threads first.

          If at some point you are looking to replace your current phone, a good place to look for recommendations is CalyxOS’ modern devices page. The reason I recommend using CalyxOS’ device page over something like Graphene’s is because in many parts of the world Google’s Pixel is not available. Calyx includes devices that are easier to get such as some Motorola’s, and other OEMs on a best-case basis.

        • @[email protected]English
          4•4 days ago

          What do you mean by webview? If you mean the entirety of webview then no ROMs do that AFAIK. android would be broken without it. If you mean replace Google’s webview with their own version, I’m pretty sure all the ROMs I listed there do it. I didnt fact check it though so feel free to prove me wrong

      • Lovable SidekickEnglish
        11•5 days ago

        In Settings you select Power as the function of the Power Button instead of Digital Assistant. Then the power button works like it should.

          • @[email protected]English
            3•5 days ago

            On android the off button is on the quick settings, and on iphone you hold the power button and one of the volume buttons

          • Lovable SidekickEnglish
            2•5 days ago

            No idea. Presumably they expected me to figure out the settings and change it like I did. Or maybe I could have told the Digital Assistant to restart the phone, I dunno.

          • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘English
            3•4 days ago

            It’s designed as an always on device. They expected you to leave it always on. Wankers

          • @[email protected]English
            4•5 days ago

            On my P7Pro, pressing power and volume up simultaneously brings up the shutdown/restart/lock prompt