It feel like we’re losing to Google, day by day. They aren’t killing AOSP directly, but they are making it useless step by step.
Now it’s Google Play Services, Play Integrity checks, installation source checks… more and more apps just refuse to run without GMS. Banking apps? Most of them don’t work. And it’s only getting worse. I run vanilla AOSP on my main profile, no Play Services. I keep GMS only in my work profile for the apps that absolutely need it. But now even some regular apps that don’t need any play services won’t work on my main profile anymore. They simply block your from running , like le chat.
Maps is google’s most important app there is no way to run without play services. Sure we can use webview or gmaps wv, but they don’t provide turn-by-turn directions. Earlier maps used to work without play services, but two years ago, an update stopped it from working. Now that old version is out of date and no longer works.
Google is slowly making GMS very important to run. The problem with GMS is they require to run as system app and has to have all the permissions by default.
Hope EU puts pressure to make google allow apps to run independently without GMS or atleast install them as user apps(like graphene os sandboxed play services).
If we keep going on like this, AOSP can only run fdroid apps in the future.
Good; if an app isn’t in fdroid then you don’t need it and should move to its fdroid replacement.
Sadly there are apps that don’t have an F-Droid replacement.
Well if they matter and if the source code is available under an FSF approved license; then it should be relatively easy to get them in to fdroid
I wish that was the case but there is no source code, not even a web app. That’s the problem with most of them.
Then they were just going to disappear on you anyway. Best not to have them.
I stopped using Google Play Services 6 years ago. I only do my banking on PC. However, there are things I cannot do this. One example is, my local municipality’s public transportation app. It doesn’t have source code, it doesn’t have a web app, it doesn’t even have an API. I already cannot use its some parts due to its dependency of Google Play Services. Not having this app would just make my life harder.
Public funds, public code.
I am with you on this!
Need to buy a VPN? check F-Droid first. Need any other utility? check F-Droid first, I am ready to suck up a lot of inconvenience with the apps that aren’t polished (Most of the time they are superior). Feeling generous? donate and help make the world a better place.
I sucked up a lot of inconvenience using Linux for last 2 decades or so, so I am well prepared.
Garbage take.