Afiak, they are still leaving in the ADB option to install non-Google apps, for now.
It’s not about preventing
sideloadinginstalling software in the normal way1 by someone determined to do it.It’s about spreading FUD and propaganda demonizing the idea of device owners actually having control over their property instead of abdicating their rights and ceding their privacy to technofeudal overlords like Google.
1 because “sideloading” is itself already a propaganda term
Google has acknowledged this will still be available but it is so inconvenient as to be meaningless.
And how is said person gonna get Termux?
The playstore version is very crippled and Google could remove it for any bullshit reason they wantSure but the whole point is to make things like side loading as difficult and painful as possible to the point where doing so is not seen as valuable.
Or use a ROM (grapheneos, e, lineage, etc)
AFAIK Graphene is Pixel-only (and only those still currently supported by GOOG), and I’m given to understand eOS is insecure AF. Add in locked-down bootloaders having become so common, there needs to be a better answer.
They are working on getting another manufacturer up to their security standards. How long that’ll take, who knows, but they are working on it.
“Better answer” means “enforce antitrust and consumer protection law to punish corporations for attempting to usurp device owners’ property rights.”
and I’m given to understand eOS is insecure AF.
This is not entirely accurate. People involved with Graphene have been caught spreading misinformation about /e/ and Calyx many times. The head dev himself is severely paranoid, to the point he makes wild accusations against anyone who doesn’t agree with him.
I’m open to the better answer - what is it?
I’m saying this as a general strategy for everyone. Roms basically require a PC, and a lot of people nowadays do not have one.
You can use Graphene’s web installer in a chromium based browser, even from another Android phone if you have one. So they don’t necessarily require a full blown PC. You can even do it from your steamdeck, if you were so inclined.
I’d venture a guess that most people who know what Graphene OS is probably own a PC of some sort.
Lol I haven’t used a PC in years mostly because of money problems, because Android mostly functions as a computer, I mean torrenting, VLC, uBlock Origin… I didn’t even need a PC, and again money issues, so i only had a phone as my main “computer”. Only recently got a SteamDeck and its my only PC.
Hence “most” haha
Those people are morons, and probably don’t care about their rights on their mobile device anyhow.
