It is still happening. Although not as bad as it initially appeared.
What can we do? Use GrapheneOS and contact your representatives. That’s pretty much it. But good luck, your reps are likely trying to actively promote locking down the OS.
Note that you can also get the Fairphone with iodeOS installed, which may be preferred as e/OS’s launcher is closer to iOS in appearance while iodeOS looks more like stock Android. Based on personal taste for that I think, but I would prefer iodeOS.
Using graphene or lineage won’t help. You will still need to avoid google services. Which means no banking apps, government apps, McDonald app, Whatsapp … And the list goes on.
My google android device runs GrapheneOS, with which you can use sandboxed google play services. Yes, the google play services API will likely block nonconforming apps from functioning if they use play services, but apps don’t have to use play services, and you’ll still be able to install anything you want. As far as I’m concerned, any app that stops working when google pulls the plug in September will be replaced with a FOSS alternative.
I’ve already swapped to GrapheneOS and refuse to use anything from the Play store. Don’t even have it installed.
Most of the apps I was already using day to day have GitHub repos with apks and Obtanium auto updates for me.
Yeah losing banking apps sucks, but oh well? I don’t see the big loss there. I’ll just use the desktop site and anything else I’ll just go to my bank physically.
I’d rather deal with the inconvenience at this point.
My bank(s) have their own 2FA apps which are used for the web as well.
Same apps are used to identify myself and digital signatures for taxes, credit, health care etc.
The worst of all is that a private company owns one of these 2FA apps and can in theory deny you service.
The EU should be rolling out their own later this year (or next). But for now, I need an up-to-date Android/iPhone not to make life more complicated than it has to be.
That’s true in most European countries nowadays. You can use sms authentication but it usually cost extra.
And that still doesn’t solve the government app issue, o have all my ID loaded and get all my government notification on that, including tax deadlines, official communication and official IDs… That would be a serious step back if I am forced to give it up
I am on Lineage with no gapps, I do have microg though, but not logged in. And have been for a couple years. No problems with Whatsapp so far, and banking apps too for that matter.
I should have been more clear… Waydroid uses LineageOS as its Android image and since it is used on x86_64 (it also supports ARM but > %90 of Android image downloads are x86_64) it is basically worse than phones with custom ROMs from the perspective of app developers trying to lock down stuff / create security.
It is still happening. Although not as bad as it initially appeared.
What can we do? Use GrapheneOS and contact your representatives. That’s pretty much it. But good luck, your reps are likely trying to actively promote locking down the OS.
Thanks. I will do those things.💪
In addition to GrapheneOS (Motorola/ Google Pixel), I was considering brands made in the EU: Jolla phone with Linux or FairPhone with eOS.
Note that you can also get the Fairphone with iodeOS installed, which may be preferred as e/OS’s launcher is closer to iOS in appearance while iodeOS looks more like stock Android. Based on personal taste for that I think, but I would prefer iodeOS.
I got e/OS and just installed a different launcher, but I think it’s great that there are more options for Fairphone.
Using graphene or lineage won’t help. You will still need to avoid google services. Which means no banking apps, government apps, McDonald app, Whatsapp … And the list goes on.
My google android device runs GrapheneOS, with which you can use sandboxed google play services. Yes, the google play services API will likely block nonconforming apps from functioning if they use play services, but apps don’t have to use play services, and you’ll still be able to install anything you want. As far as I’m concerned, any app that stops working when google pulls the plug in September will be replaced with a FOSS alternative.
I’ve already swapped to GrapheneOS and refuse to use anything from the Play store. Don’t even have it installed.
Most of the apps I was already using day to day have GitHub repos with apks and Obtanium auto updates for me.
Yeah losing banking apps sucks, but oh well? I don’t see the big loss there. I’ll just use the desktop site and anything else I’ll just go to my bank physically.
I’d rather deal with the inconvenience at this point.
I can’t remember the last time i had a banking app. Are they so critical in your experience?
I use the web browser.
My bank(s) have their own 2FA apps which are used for the web as well.
Same apps are used to identify myself and digital signatures for taxes, credit, health care etc.
The worst of all is that a private company owns one of these 2FA apps and can in theory deny you service.
The EU should be rolling out their own later this year (or next). But for now, I need an up-to-date Android/iPhone not to make life more complicated than it has to be.
My bank (Capitalone) won’t allow check deposits by the web browser and is closing their physical locations so you can’t deposit in person either.
Time to switch to a local credit union.
Damn. No local branches to visit is ass.
What do you do if you want to make a large withdrawal or deposit?
They are mandatory for authentication even when using web site
That’s awful. Mine uses phone number but i also haven’t tried to open an account in a while.
That’s true in most European countries nowadays. You can use sms authentication but it usually cost extra.
And that still doesn’t solve the government app issue, o have all my ID loaded and get all my government notification on that, including tax deadlines, official communication and official IDs… That would be a serious step back if I am forced to give it up
No whatsapp? I used it on waydroid with no google services installed
Yes, gave your tried recently? Wathsapp Is banning users Just because they use it on lineage os without google apps… Not common, but it’s happening.
I was lineage os maintainer and still follow a few forums. And this topic is recurrent in the last months.
I am on Lineage with no gapps, I do have microg though, but not logged in. And have been for a couple years. No problems with Whatsapp so far, and banking apps too for that matter.
Is “no google services” the issue here? I still have waydroid but with google play at the moment
Whatsapp web is so unbearably slow i might just use waydroid lol, thanks for reminding
EDIT: it is fast but it is using %50 of a core at all times🤷♂️ Aaand now it is calmly sitting in the background, no cpu usage
I think it’s an issue with rooted or bootloader unlocked phones mostly …
I should have been more clear… Waydroid uses LineageOS as its Android image and since it is used on x86_64 (it also supports ARM but > %90 of Android image downloads are x86_64) it is basically worse than phones with custom ROMs from the perspective of app developers trying to lock down stuff / create security.
…which is precisely what GrapheneOS does?