this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026
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92
Google gives Android users a way to install unverified apps if they worked hard for it(including waiting 24 hours) (android-developers.googleblog.com)
submitted 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] shrek_is_love@lemmy.ml 6 points 41 minutes ago

They think this will take some of the heat off of them. Hopefully no one actually thinks this is a reasonable compromise. If I want to help an elderly family member install something on their phone during Thanksgiving dinner or a family reunion, I'm not gonna want to wait a day. Uncle Paul's flying back to Florida tomorrow morning!

[–] gary_d@lemmy.world 12 points 3 hours ago

I imagine that the demand for linux phones will only grow.

[–] darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 26 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Okay but, installing an apk is not the kind of thing a scammer does. They'll just install some standard off the shelf remote access software from the play store

This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process and opted for scammers for some reason. Even though they're completely disconnected

[–] cecilkorik@piefed.ca 11 points 3 hours ago

This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process

It feels that way because that's exactly what happened.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 19 points 4 hours ago

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 31 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

And again, confirming that my current phone will be the last android device I own.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 9 points 4 hours ago (3 children)

What will you use instead though?

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 24 points 4 hours ago (5 children)

At this stage, I'm thinking one of the Motorola phones that will run Graphene out of the box.

[–] real_squids@sopuli.xyz 1 points 13 minutes ago

Even sidegrading to an older mid-high range phone seems like a good idea at this point. I hate android 12 and everything after it with a passion. Moto have been decent in my experience though, hopefully HMD will follow suit with Graphene

[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 6 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I use graphene on a pixel. Graphene is Android, albeit a much better version of Android.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 hours ago

I don't care whether it's technically android or not, I care that it's not a tool to let google in to my life.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 11 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Isn't that Android?

[–] riptide@lemmy.world 7 points 4 hours ago

I believe it’s a fork of android that is not managed by Google

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

It's an Android fork that has been degoogled

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world -1 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

........so it's android.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Is that meant to be a "gotcha" or something?

My point is, this is the last time I let google control my phone.

[–] SanctimoniousApe@piefed.social 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I imagine since it's not an official product of Google's, it can't legally be called "Android." As such it's something that is not Android, but is highly compatible with it since both are rooted in the AOSP.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world -1 points 1 hour ago

Legally? Maybe not.

But Col Sanders left KFC after selling a business he created with his own secret reciepe. Then after he sold it, he watched the new owners use his image to sell an inferior chicken product.

So he started up another new chicken resteraunt using the original reciepe. Legally he couldn't call it KFC, but that doesn't change the fact that it was the original KFC reciepe.

Hows that phrase go? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.

Call things whatever word you want, it's still the same thing in the end.

[–] Fetus@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I'm hoping it's smaller than any of their current offerings. I really want to support a "factory" GrapheneOS phone, but can't stand the size of current generation phones.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 hours ago

I want the opposite! I currently use a fold phone because phones are too small :P

[–] tabular@lemmy.world 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Linux phone, landline, or tin can and string.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Another option, an ESP32 radio. Surprisingly large mesh network in the greater Seattle area.

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world -1 points 3 hours ago

Yeah, but you guys don't have any ghosts in your city! So.....Who ya gonna call???

[–] Bullerfar@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Fairphone with /e/os or Jolla phone with sailfishos (waiting for the reviews of their new preordered flagship phone coming out this fall.)

[–] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Well, that runs into a different problem with the same results.

Sure, GOOGLE can't hinder you from installing apps, but the fact that nobody has heard of these OS's before means your selection of available apps is what hinders your ability to install apps.

[–] SanctimoniousApe@piefed.social 0 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

You != Everybody.

[–] halcyoncmdr@piefed.social 3 points 1 hour ago

That exact issue killed Blackberry, the largest smartphone maker at the time. Even after they built a compatibility layer to run Android apps.

You think anywhere near enough people are going to go out of their way to try something that doesn't have marketshare already to maintain an entire alternative hardware and software ecosystem? Where can I get wherever awesome shit you're smoking?

[–] heiligerbimbam@lemmy.wtf 3 points 2 hours ago

I am already on Graphene OS.. so, do what the fuck u want. I dont care.

[–] kalapala@sopuli.xyz 13 points 5 hours ago

Rental devices tend to be bad investments for the individuals.

[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

I hate how much more difficult my work or life has to be because some people shouldn't have a smartphone.

[–] xSikes@feddit.online 2 points 3 hours ago

spoiler
___either going back to cell phones or we all go for Linux phones

[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (2 children)

Hot Take: Honestly, this is not as bad as I thought it'd be... IMO

(But still, it's kinda a slipperly slope...)

[–] morto@piefed.social 18 points 4 hours ago

Their strategy:

  • announce they will make extreme restrictions
  • people get crazy over it and backlash
  • announce that they're listening to people and will soften the proposed restrictions
  • people relax and accept the restrictions, while the media portray them as the good guys
[–] spectrums_coherence@piefed.social 5 points 3 hours ago

I feel if everything they said is true, then this is a reasonable solution. But from my many Youtube scammer video experience, like people have already mentioned, most scammers use standard remote access software, not some bespoke APK.