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Instead of leaving Android entirely, one can use MicroG, which is a FOSS reimplementation of the Google Play Services client. https://microg.org https://microg

Instead of leaving Android entirely, one can use MicroG, which is a FOSS reimplementation of the Google Play Services client. https://microg.org https://microg.org https://github.com/microg/android_packages_apps_GmsCore https://github.com/microg/android_packages_apps_GmsCore Currently, the easiest way to use MicroG is through CalyxOS, a distribution of Android 10 that preinstalls MicroG instead of Google Play Services. It supports all Pixel devices and the Xiaomi Mi A2. https://calyxos.org https://calyxos.org https://gitlab.com/calyxos https://gitlab.com/calyxos Unlike most Android distributions, CalyxOS is designed to be used with a locked bootloader, which is more secure than an unlocked bootloader.

propogandist 6y ago
Agreed. I was looking at MicroG again given Lineage OS has updated to Android 10, unfortunately it seems there are a changes for Android 10 that's preventing microG from being being fully compatible (SafetyNet API). Google's moves to lock down the platform further is also disgusting. They will be mandating a new App bundle format (AAB) instead of APK beginning in 2021. This will force more apps to run through Play Store, enabling more tracking & analytics. They will also require devs to give a copy of their signing key to Google for them to sign applications. https://www.xda-developers.com/google-play-billing-v3-app-bundle-requirement-2021/amp/ https://www.xda-developers.com/google-play-billing-v3-app-bu...
- infogulch 6y ago
  > They will also require devs to give a copy of their signing key to Google for them to sign applications. What.
  - propogandist 6y ago
    from the article... >Mandatory Android App Bundles for Newly Published Apps in 2021 >The .aab file contains APK files for the base application and all supported architectures (ARM, ARM64, and x86), languages, and layout variants. >This format requires giving a copy of your app’s signing key to Google so the Google Play Developer Console can generate a bundle with signed versions of each APK in the bundle; the correct APK for a particular device’s architecture, language, and layout are delivered via Google Play Dynamic Delivery....
    - infogulch 6y ago
      Why require the key instead of a small db of signatures of all possible combinations? It seems Google wants the power to publish on your behalf arbitrary transformations of your software releases. That doesn't seem reasonable.

propogandist 6y ago

Agreed. I was looking at MicroG again given Lineage OS has updated to Android 10, unfortunately it seems there are a changes for Android 10 that's preventing microG from being being fully compatible (SafetyNet API). Google's moves to lock down the platform further is also disgusting. They will be mandating a new App bundle format (AAB) instead of APK beginning in 2021. This will force more apps to run through Play Store, enabling more tracking & analytics. They will also require devs to give a copy of their signing key to Google for them to sign applications. https://www.xda-developers.com/google-play-billing-v3-app-bundle-requirement-2021/amp/ https://www.xda-developers.com/google-play-billing-v3-app-bu...

infogulch 6y ago
> They will also require devs to give a copy of their signing key to Google for them to sign applications. What.
- propogandist 6y ago
  from the article... >Mandatory Android App Bundles for Newly Published Apps in 2021 >The .aab file contains APK files for the base application and all supported architectures (ARM, ARM64, and x86), languages, and layout variants. >This format requires giving a copy of your app’s signing key to Google so the Google Play Developer Console can generate a bundle with signed versions of each APK in the bundle; the correct APK for a particular device’s architecture, language, and layout are delivered via Google Play Dynamic Delivery....
  - infogulch 6y ago
    Why require the key instead of a small db of signatures of all possible combinations? It seems Google wants the power to publish on your behalf arbitrary transformations of your software releases. That doesn't seem reasonable.