If I am already using a rooted but proprietary smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S23), downloading my apps from other sources than Google Play, how would Google be able to control what I do with it? If necessary, I could just stay on my current OS build as well. All in all, while politically and philosophically, Google’s new policy is bad, I don’t feel threatened by it with my current understand of the situation and technology…
I don’t necessarily disagree, but the fact they walked back the original policy because it was so unpopular leads me to believe they are trying to save face by implementing a PITA way of enabling unknown sources, such as through ADB.
The reason why I suspect that is because even with the original policy change, they were still going to allow unsigned apps to be installed via ADB.
But I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out.
I think they got afraid such strict policy would put wind in the sails of Linux Phone initiatives
But I might be jaded
I think you’re more overly optimistic regarding the amount of concern and knowledge of the general public. I have never met a single person that cares about privacy and alternative phone issues, and I’ve been complaining nonstop.
But the opposite would mean some point did make them go about their sense. And for me that is even more unrealistically optimistic
Hence “I might be jaded”
I don’t think so, shareholder driven companies don’t think long term
I’d argue it’s already a small minority of users. Any change is very likely to be negative