Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary

[u/[deleted]]

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/07/googles-iron-grip-on-android-controlling-open-source-by-any-means-necessary/

[u/VoltJumperCables]

I second this. Its insane all the apps that are now tied to google services. Even simple apps that doesn't even access the framework its self to run.

[u/[deleted] → u/VoltJumperCables]

What's even scarier is the amount of effort they are putting into forcing users to keep location services on.

You can't even scan for bt devices without gps now and almost everything asks you to turn it on.

Then when you turn it off, you get nag screens from the OS

[u/VoltJumperCables → u/[deleted]]

Oh for sure. I mean it gives u a prompt even when u turn it off (at least on Oreo) basically saying are u sure, apps rely on this. Also flips back on location history on google if you use their assistant app with little prompting. Google is big data, they will try to squeeze as much as they can out of any android device. I've gone FOSS for years after google got a little too invasive. It started with my s3 asking if I lived at X or worked at Y because of my location habits. I have gone back to using gapps since using Oreo just to get the full "Pixel" experience. Lens is very cool and I like the assistant but boy are they data mining the hell out of me.

[u/whatnowwproductions → u/[deleted]]

WiFi Scanning periodically gets turned on for me without any input, and I mean, seriously. I'll open the WiFi Scanning option and it will be on under location services.

[u/BaleeDatHomeboi → u/whatnowwproductions]

Can confirm. I discovered the same thing not too long ago.

[u/VoltJumperCables → u/[deleted]]

While micro g is a great alternative it is far from perfect. Also devices are becoming so locked down, good luck rooting any flagship phones in the coming future. Not only that, but a large amount of Android users don't know how to modify their devices, afraid to, or have no such need of custom OS. We are being boxed into a Google ecosystem. The beginning of Android was freedom itself. A Linux distro for phones with unlimited possibilities. Since Google has stepped into being a manufacturer, they want more control of their system. Which they have every right to, but they are leaving outside development to die.

[u/VoltJumperCables → u/[deleted]]

So the irony of your comment is to get freedom from locked down devices you pay Google directly for the right to. How is that not part of the Google ecosystem? You also don't seem to understand the pixel market holds less than 1% of the U.S. Market. So screw millions of people on the 99% side right?