Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦

Keep Android Open
https://keepandroidopen.org/

This is important. We already have a basic duopoly in mobile operating systems, now Google is trying to lock down their platform even more. Nobody benefits from this other than Google's shareholders.

Whether you are a device owner, a developer, or a public institution, this affects you and should matter to you.

Everyone can meaningfully help to push back.

 

#FuckGoogle #Android #FOSS #Mobile

Keep Android Open

Advocating for Android as a free, open platform for everyone to build apps on.

Nov 6 at 6:35pmWeb
Show threadNicole ParsonsNov 6

@rysiek

Reminder of which petrostate despot is a Google shareholder... #PrinceBonesaw .
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/07/heres-a-look-at-who.html

The fossil fuel industry wants control of tech, not for a post-oil future, but for a prolonged fossil fuel funded fascist movement.

MBS's intentions aren't benign.
https://www.businessinsider.com/absher-google-refuses-to-remove-saudi-govt-app-that-tracks-women-2019-3

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-06/google-thiel-stand-out-in-saudi-prince-s-silicon-valley-tour

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-google-hand-dissident-data-to-saudi-arabia-activists-say-2023-7

The Saudi Crown Prince hung out this week with Google execs Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai

The Saudi Crown Prince came to Silicon Valley this week and met with a handful of executives, including co-founder Sergey Brin

CNBC
Show threadTuhinNov 6
@rysiek may be it's not bad, as people will focus more on making Linux for mobile more polished in the meantime? And we'll then no longer need android!
Show threadDawidNov 10

@mukto_manob @rysiek in case of linux on phones there's one HUUUGE issue – lack of apps. We wouldn't have people en masses moving to linux, because there would be no apps. And there would be no apps, because devs wouldn't care about OS without users. It's a circular dependency and even MS wasn't able to break it with throwing money on devs to make apps for Windows Phone. And they tried it decade ago, when number of apps was notably smaller.

I'm not sure if anyone have any idea how to break it

Show threadTuhinNov 10
@djvdq @rysiek I think it's always the case with any new development. A few will start adopting it, then it would start improving as they bring in more friends and family members. And gradually then it's become success. Even with Linux, we have same issues, not a lot of people using it, but as days are passing, more and more people are thinking about it, started using it. At the same time we are getting more and more apps/softwares coming to Linux (as an alternative to Windows counterpart).
Show threadDawidNov 10

@mukto_manob @rysiek sorry, but without some kind of revolution there's no chance that linux on phone would gain even the level it have on PC, where it's still just a small niche.
People need apps to switch. And whioe there are a lot of gres OSS apps that I'm sure would be created for it, there's 0 chance for Google, Meta, MS or banking apps. And what's what regular people need.
I could switch to linux if I had my banking app and few more, but it's not even working on custom ROMs.

Tbc

Show threadDawidNov 10

@mukto_manob @rysiek
MSFT was throwing money on developers to create Windows Phone version of their apps to get traction and even it failed misearably. I'd love linux phone to be usable as day to day driver and I'd happily switch, but let's be real, it wouldn't happen.

The only chance is that EU/China would force devs to do so.

Show threadTuhinNov 10

@djvdq @rysiek yeah, I get it. Banking apps are the biggest issue for me too.

But I'm hopeful about PostmarketOS, it looks like it's evolving in the right direction.

Show threadFossmanNov 14

@mukto_manob @rysiek As someone who's daily driving #postmarketOS (stable phosh) on a #Librem5, I think that mobile Linux is sufficiently advanced for non-developers to use, especially if they are already used to #DesktopLinux.

#FuriLabs devices even come with Android app support enabled out of the box and have higher specs, so I'd expect them to be more normie-friendly.

#FLX1 #FLX1s #LibertyPhone #MobileLinux #LinuxMobile

Show threadkosureNov 6
@rysiek And not even google shareholders... How does it increase share price by preventing a very very small percentage of users from installing off-store apps that aren't even profit generating 99% of the time?
Show threadDaniel BaruchaNov 6
@rysiek there is other option: any mobile linux. I am with 100% from the bottom of my heart but maybe it is a time to divorce the Goog? The only thing against would be the banking mobile app if one must use it.
Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 6

@danielbarucha you are talking to a person who has not used a Googled phone as his daily driver ever in his life.

And that person will tell you that yes, whoever can should move off of Google-based and Google-supported platforms, but it is hard and not available to everyone.

And if Google closes Android further, it will become *harder* for people to move away.

Show threadDaniel BaruchaNov 6
@rysiek thanks, I've got it now after reading more [keepandroidopen.org] . The Unity 3D made the same mistake, while much smaller corporation - the same pattern and the same final outcome - developers boycott. Anyway it is a bit funny to advocate for while not using it, classic Cobbler's kids pattern? :) /with grain of salt/
Show threadsoaprootNov 8
@danielbarucha @rysiek I love my @murena phone but I don't view promoting alternatives and pressuring Google to be an either/or proposition.
Show threadDaniel BaruchaNov 8
@soaproot you are right. I do not want to pressure anyone nor to promote anything. I am looking for alternatives, in general. I would be perfectly OK with either mobian or ubuntu touch but the only issue is my bank - won't work from the browser only. In my case it is rather my internal conflict: I want cheap mobile and linux but I want my bank as well. Classic example of: eat and keep the cake. Freedom is not cheap and shouldn't be - it would loose the value. Thank you for that lesson.
Show threadflngNov 6
@rysiek I'm not even sure it would benefit their shareholders.
Show threadtuban_muzuruNov 6

@rysiek

The fundamental problem has been with us for years: antitrust enforcement in the USA is practically nil.

Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 6
@tuban_muzuru the link I shared as a lot of actionable items for anyone to help pushing back against Google here. You are of course welcome to not do any of these and just complain how bad US is on antitrust enforcement. 🙂
Show threadtuban_muzuruNov 6

@rysiek

The fact remains, Google has been declared a monopoly in court. A generous dose of enforcement is in order, especially in the Android space.

🙂

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-prevails-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google

Department of Justice Prevails in Landmark Antitrust Case Against Google

Today the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice prevailed in its second monopolization case against Google. In United States et al. v. Google, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia held that Google violated antitrust law by monopolizing open-web digital advertising markets. According to the Court, Google “harmed Google’s publishing customers,

Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 6

@tuban_muzuru absolutely. This thread however is not about lack of enforcement in the US, but about stuff people can do right now to push back against Google closing Android further.

Like, you know, actionable things. That people can do. While we wait for antitrust enforcement in the US. Which would be nice, but doesn't seem like it's coming.

Show threadtuban_muzuruNov 6

@rysiek

The very first action item on this list - you'll forgive me if I quote it directly:

"Consumers: Contact national regulators

Regulators worldwide are genuinely concerned about monopolies and the centralization of power in the tech sector, and want to hear directly from individuals who are affected and concerned. When contacting regulators directly, you should be polite and specific about the harm you believe these policies will cause, both to consumers and to competition."

Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 6

@tuban_muzuru yes. Contacting local regulators might actually make enforcement happen. Yes, even in the US.

Honest question: what exactly are you trying to achieve here? Convince me and anyone else reading this thread that nothing can be done because US antitrust enforcement is lacking? What's your endgame here?

Show threadWorldTravelerAll7Nov 6

@rysiek

For awhile now i've been wanting to switch my phone OS to Linux, like Sailfish, but i wouldn't even know how to do so

my goals are #Resist #BreakTheOligarchy & become 💯 #magafree to create #MyBlueWorld , so i'm working my way thru as i learn

i'd love to see more migration from #Windows & #Apple to #Linux

no one should be using #MSOffice anymore w/ #LibreOffice

hopefully we move from #youtube to #peertube soon

i really hope to see more activity on #Mastodon & the #Fediverse

Show threadMidijunkie64Nov 6
@rysiek #FuckGoogle
Hope the #LibrePhone project advances so there can finally be an alternative to the blobware bullshit that Android has become.
Show threadChris WoodNov 7
@rysiek Contacted the UK's CMA via their online form. Thank you for sharing this
Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 7
@chriswood thank you for acting upon it!
Show threadHTPC NZNov 7
@rysiek i wonder if this will get much traction as most in US are already on iPhones and very much used to closed system to the point of loving that aspect as a big "security" feature. There might be bit more kicking and screaming when windows will eventually gets locked down the same way but then unlikely to have anything from a corporation that is not enshitified to max.
Show threadYet another Josh Nov 7

@rysiek

What's the answer?

@pine64 had a fucking chance to bring a Linux phone, and left us with absolute shit, broken/crippled hardware, no actual software, and sucked the oxygen out of the room.

That was the chance. They blew it, and fucked the community in the process.

Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 7

@crankylinuxuser we had other chances, and we will have more.

There was Maemo on N900 and N9, there was (and still is I think) SailfishOS, Librem does its thing. There are Android derivatives like GrapheneOS.

Show threadYet another Josh Nov 7

@rysiek

There were others. But we're at the point now that it's "locked in with Apple", "soon to be locked in with google", and.... nothing.

Until something takes hold, its going to be a closed source hellscape bumpy ride.

Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 7
@crankylinuxuser does that mean we should not push back against Google's shenanigans here?
Show threadFossmanNov 14

@crankylinuxuser @rysiek Perhaps the best way for something to take hold, is for us concerned users (especially those with technical ability) to rally behind, fund and use #LinuxMobile / #MobileLinux to drive development forward.

#FLX1s #Librem5 #LibertyPhone #JollaC2 #Brax3 #LiberuxNexx #DawnDrums #PinePhone #postmarketOS #Mobian #Droidian #UbuntuTouch

Show threadDark HorseNov 7
@rysiek totally agree
Show threadRoland \ WillardNov 9
@rysiek thanks for sharing. I'm actively working on de-googling my life. In the next year or two I'm going to be installing graphene OS.
Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 9
@will good luck! It's a project, but it's a worthwhile one!
Show threadOrange Lizard GirlthingNov 10

@rysiek I sent an email to the Czech MEP's about this a few weeks ago, got one response so far. Trying to mobilize others as well.

Edit: Also made a Czech translated version of their page with relevant contacts I share around when possible.

Show threadDawidNov 10
@rysiek they are trying to close it down to the level how Apple is doing it after loosening their rules, so IMO European Comission wouldn't to anything about it. Sadly.
Show threadMichał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦Nov 10
@djvdq are you trying to convince people not to take any action, then?
Show threadDawidNov 10
@rysiek no, I love that people are trying. I'm just trying to be realist. Which doesn't mean that I like it
Show threadHexJan 24

@rysiek This reminds me of OAA - the Open Android Alliance that tried to make the Android-ecosystem less dependend on Google - in 2009.

https://code.google.com/archive/p/open-android-alliance/

https://web.archive.org/web/20091004162433/http://openandroidalliance.com/about/

Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting.