Mastodawn

Google announced that as of September 2026, it will no longer be possible to develop apps for the Android platform without first registering centrally with Google. This registration will involve:

- Paying a fee to Google
- Agreeing to Google’s Terms and Conditions
- Providing government identification
- Uploading evidence of the developer’s private signing key
- Listing all current and future application identifiers

https://keepandroidopen.org/

#android #opensource #keepandroidopen

Keep Android Open

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

@jbz It’s a great time to develop more Linux‑based mobile apps to replace Android, which is becoming increasingly closed. Linux phones are improving every day, but they still lack sufficient developer support. I’ve seen several Android apps recently ported to Linux, and I hope more people will start buying these phones—especially in Europe, where digital sovereignty remains insufficient.

You can follow Linux‑mobile accounts such as @furilabs, and @postmarketOS to stay updated!

@clero @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS i didn't even know there are Linux phones! Where does one buy them?

@Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS
The Flx1s is probably the best Linux phone currently available on the market. You can purchase it at https://furilabs.com/.

FuriPhone FLX1s Linux Phone

FuriPhone FLX1s Linux Phone

poleguy looking for lost tools Feb 22

@clero @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS I haven't heard of this one. Does it reliably receive calls, SMS, wake with me alarms? How about GPS navigation and photos?

I was so disappointed with #pinephone being called beta, but not being able to do any of these things. Pinephone did a grave disservice to the Linux community to call this beta and never make any progress beyond what I would call a pre-alpha or board-bring-up hardware stage.

Is this the same type of garbage? The FAQ is blank.

@poleguy @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS
I've seen a few reviews on YouTube and, as far as I can tell, everything seems to work. Calls and SMS work reliably. Alarms work when the device is on (a sleeping device won't wake up for the alarm). GPS, without Google services, is probably as precise as the degoogled Android phone's one (still precise enough for navigation). The camera is not very good but still usable (20-MP main camera).

@poleguy @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS
You can look at those videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2tg3aO6eNs&pp=ygUFZmx4MXM=
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lITN4HJ3M5Q&pp=ygUFZmx4MXM=

Is this the year of the Linux... Phone? - Furiphone FLX1s Review/Experience

YouTube

poleguy looking for lost tools Feb 23

@clero @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS So, it sounds much better than the pinephone in which all these things are terrible.

So, does the device normally go to sleep regularly, such that using it as an alarm clock is impossible? This seems like a significant oversight in the hardware design, or if the hardware supports it, a significant deficiency in the software.

@poleguy @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS I just read on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/pinephone/comments/ng3fbj/how_to_keep_pinephone_working_during_sleep/) that the device would probably have to be charge every night, and while plugged in it will stay on (even when the screen is off) so the alarm can work. It's far from what android offers but it should work.

@clero @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS Maybe for now, but looking specs I would argue that new Jolla phone goes much further and OS is more polished

@Antti98 @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS I'm looking forward to watching reviews when users receive the new Jolla phone!

||| /\ |/ [ []Mar 5

@clero @Dubikan @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS 291g is not a phone, it's a laptop 😄

@Dubikan @clero @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS Highly recommend to check https://commerce.jolla.com/products/jolla-phone-preorder. It runs with SailfishOS which is according to my research most mature linux alternative. And as I have used it myself, I must say it runs super smoothly. It even has android container running separately off the main system which allows you run most of android apps during transition period. For me it was one day of setting it up and super smooth transition

Jolla Phone Pre-order Voucher

@clero @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS I would add @jolla as most mature Linux option currently ;)

@Antti98 @jbz @furilabs @postmarketOS @jolla I agree, but Sailfish OS has its own app store and there is a lot of closed‑source code (Jolla’s proprietary apps and UI). Jolla’s phones are still Linux phones, but to me it looks like another Android—driven by a company fairer than Google, yet it’s still a company. If the Linux phone can’t run “standard” Linux apps, then you should probably just take an @e_mydata (/e/OS) phone, which isn’t European but is certainly cleaner and more feature‑full.

@clero @jbz @jolla Jolla is in process of open sourcing all app by them (and other parts!). Surely there still will be UI part and android support, microsoft exchange parts that will most likely stay closed source. Personally I think it is good that there is company behind it, much more likely that they will succeed. But Sailfish is GNU linux in traditional sense, what android isn't, right? If "standard" you mean flatpaks, those have worked in the past, why not in the future again?

@Antti98 @jbz @jolla I didn’t know that Flatpaks work. I read online that they didn’t work well, depending on which Jolla phone you were using. Anyway, until Jolla open‑sources every app and the UI, I won’t consider buying one of their phones. However, I agree that FOSS alternatives are less ready for public use and therefore, Jolla is probably a good entry point into the Linux open-source ecosystem.

@clero @jbz @jolla That is correct that Flatpaks don't currently work properly, but they have worked before, so I am hopeful that they will also in the future. I think that is mainly prioritizing issue.

Definitely understand if some people want full FOSS. I want something mature enough to be used now, so personally I don't mind the closed parts as most of the system is open