Google has confirmed it isn't discontinuing AOSP, but it's making a change that makes it harder for devs to build Android for Pixel phones.

TL;DR

  • Google has made it harder to build custom Android ROMs for Pixel phones by omitting their device trees and driver binaries from the latest AOSP release.

  • The company says this is because it’s shifting its AOSP reference target from Pixel hardware to a virtual device called “Cuttlefish” to be more neutral.

  • While Google insists AOSP isn’t going away, developers must now reverse-engineer changes, making the process for supporting Pixel devices more difficult.

  • mariusafa@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
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    3 天前

    I swear to good how many time it has to pass until developers realize open source is just a facade only Free Software licences are free as in freedom

    • killingspark@feddit.orgEnglish
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      2 天前

      Sorry how would have a GPL`d aosp helped here? Google would and could still have not published their drivers for the pixel. You’d need pixel drivers licenced by someone different from google to make them publish their changes to the drivers

  • fouc@feddit.ukEnglish
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    3 天前

    Long time coming, Play Integrity (or whatever’s called nowadays) restrictions have effectively killed any alternative distributions.

  • fin@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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    3 天前

    Damn, I’ve just switched to Pixel 3a XL I got for $100 and then installed Evolution OS.

  • danzania@infosec.pubEnglish
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    3 天前

    So I installed LineageOS recently. Now that I’ve transferred my passwords and account info I’m quite happy. What will happen from here? Will some apps stop working? If not, is there a problem with just continuing to use the phone as is until I need a new phone (security, eg)?

  • malwieder@feddit.orgEnglish
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    3 天前

    That was bound to happen at some point. Buying a Google device to then “degoogle” it never sit quite right with me.

  • mctoasterson@reddthat.comEnglish
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    3 天前

    I am running GOS on a Pixel 7, which means I’ve had this device for ~2.5 years at this point, and back when I transitioned to this setup I was aware they were talking about being beholden to Pixels due to the hardware security module not being available on other devices.

    It has been a known issue. I understand it is a very difficult and costly undertaking to develop new hardware and new entrants would be competing against the big guys for fab space, manufacturing and assembly etc.

    We need some kind of nonprofit or independently financed group to advance this cause. Could it be FUTO, Framework, or some other company/organization like this?

    There would be market incentive to solve these problems - There has got to be a lot of demand for a neutral hardware platform that meets the hardware security module and other requirements for bootloader security, custom ROMs, etc.

  • thatradomguy@lemmy.worldEnglish
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    3 天前

    If Pine64 can spec out a reasonably decent prototype of a phone and Purism can sell theirs for 2 grand (not worth it), then somebody else can legit come out with something just the same. Pine64 project and Purism cannot be the only communities that can somehow come out with these kinds of tech. Better yet, more people should be jumping to help out these guys to be free from Google and Apple dominance.

  • andybytes@programming.devEnglish
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    4 天前

    Like, I understand the more the merrier, and so I don’t hate on the whole Pixel, ROM development thingy, but I just don’t understand the appeal of Pixel phones. If you want to be a photographer, get a camera. Other than that, you really don’t need that great of a camera on your phone. Given the condition of America and the police state and corporate surveillance, I don’t know why anybody with a damn look of sense would put their information on these major platforms, let alone even on the outskirts. Some people make money on social media, but a lot don’t. I stick to my guns and I’m on the internet and computers to learn to educate myself, not to dick around with stupid shit. We need something other than Android. And we have to be weary of open source, especially when it’s sponsored by Google. Google is a terrorist organization.

    • shaggyb@lemmy.worldEnglish
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      3 天前

      Being weary of open source is like being afraid to eat food that you watched somebody cook for you.

    • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
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      3 天前

      If you want to be a photographer, get a camera.

      🤦‍♀️

      Even professional photographers don’t have their cameras on them at all times, nor are they as convenient for just whipping out and taking a picture within 1.5s.

      Plus, cameras are expensive and they’re another thing to carry around (idk about you but I don’t have infinite pocket space) and they’re another thing to keep charged, whereas you have a phone with you at pretty much all times anyway, because they’re effectively required for modern society.

      You may as well be saying you don’t understand why phones can play music when you can get an MP3 player, that you don’t understand why they play videos because TVs exist, that you don’t understand why they have web browsers and plenty of apps, because PCs exist.

      I stick to my guns and I’m on the internet and computers to learn to educate myself, not to dick around with stupid shit.

      He said, on this Lemmy thread.

      And we have to be weary of open source

      Ah yes, that nefarious Open Source software. Tell me more about the evils of FOSS, Mr Balmer.

  • Quik@infosec.pubEnglish
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    4 天前

    Now more than ever we need more work on PostmarketOS, Mobian, Gnome Mobile etc…

    Bummer that it’s still so hard to find a somewhat modern, affordable phone that is Linux compatible

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.caEnglish
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      4 天前

      I know someone at a company that built and sold a Linux phone 19 years ago.

      You’re not upset you can’t find a Linux phone: you’re upset you can’t find one anymore.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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      4 天前

      Yeah, I’d totally buy a phone running one of those provided it does all the phone things properly: SMS/MMS, reliable calls, all day battery, etc. I don’t need fancy apps, I just need a working phone.

      If I can get that, I could probably donate some time porting apps.

      • Quik@infosec.pubEnglish
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        3 天前

        It’s so crazy (technically understandable, but still crazy) to me that reliably receiving calls is still such a major issue

      • timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
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        4 天前

        I really want to give furios phone a shot. It’s apparently close to supporting my carrier.

        That and a sailfish phone. The community one though didn’t support my carrier (think it’s mainly EU specced only.)

        What I find missing most of the time though is any esim support. Makes me wonder if the hardware one that you can program an esim on works.