The app's README has recently been updated to include the statement: "Google has announced that, starting in 2026/2027, all apps on certified Android devices will require the developer to submit personal identity details directly to Google. Since the developers of this app do not agree to this requirement, this app will no longer work on certified Android devices after that time."
Things can only go downhill from here, and it's hard to imagine how things could get any better. I mean, I can only hope Google will change their minds and see sense here.
I'm past the point where I care if my next device has "phone" features like calling and SMS. I'm fine with technical limitations, but I'm done with Apple and Google adding artificial ones.
Maybe I'll get a used Librem5. I'd get a Jolla phone, but they don't ship to the US. But honestly in my research, there's been no blogs I can find that compare these 3rd party phones to each other that aren't like 4 years old and outdated.
Soon there'll be a marketplace, where you can, for a few dollars, "hire a dev". They will use their identity documents and help you in obtaining a signing certificate.
I assume, since the statement specifically mentions CERTIFIED devices, that they do intend to further develop the app.
As always with Google policies, this means users will need to jump through more and more hoops (as today with custom ROMs and banking apps already).
I really hope first and foremost that this policy can be reverted, and if not, that the community develops means of technological circumvention (examples mentioned by others include an "app runner" app or letting others identify the app).
It is a sad state the Android ecosystem is heading to.
Google might have to be careful how hard they push on security+greed+control tactics like this.
I think that most of the world is overdue to replace their ubiquitous computing devices with ones not controlled by the US, and the current administration's behavior must be accelerating those thoughts.
(BTW, if a platform were designed for security-first, rather than corporate-surveillance-and-and-passive-engagement-first, it wouldn't as much matter who wrote whatever "app" code ran on it.)
The same author also put identical wording on all of their actively maintained Android apps (SherpaTTS, Whisper IME, gptAssist, GPS Cockpit, etc.: https://github.com/woheller69)
There's a whole subsection of app devs that will just stop making apps for android. Getting graphene or a chinese phone with android won't mean anything because all you will be running is old version of apps since there will be very few devs interested in developing for the platform. The vast majority of people owning an android will be buying "certified" devices which means they can no longer run these apps, essentially drying the whole ecosystem up, which I think is google's goal.
Hopefully this means that a third player will join and provide a truly open android platform.
If an OS is owned and controlled by a single company, it's never truly open. No matter how much they claim it is.
edit: I should clarify, I'm talking about devs that develop for third party stores exclusively. Usually privacy conscious or devs whose apps aren't allowed on the play store for this and that reason like tachiyomi.
Honestly, this move from Google will probably do more to breaking the duopoly (iOS and certified Android) than anything else. As alternative flavors of Android start appearing hopefully a more open - and less invasive(?) - fork would appear
How hard would it be to rewrite this application to work as web app, or "PWA"? From a glance it would require to record sound, and it is already possible to do using Web APIs. Not sure if models will run fast enough to work in real time, though.
15 comments
[ 1.7 ms ] story [ 38.0 ms ] threadMaybe I'll get a used Librem5. I'd get a Jolla phone, but they don't ship to the US. But honestly in my research, there's been no blogs I can find that compare these 3rd party phones to each other that aren't like 4 years old and outdated.
As always with Google policies, this means users will need to jump through more and more hoops (as today with custom ROMs and banking apps already). I really hope first and foremost that this policy can be reverted, and if not, that the community develops means of technological circumvention (examples mentioned by others include an "app runner" app or letting others identify the app).
It is a sad state the Android ecosystem is heading to.
I think that most of the world is overdue to replace their ubiquitous computing devices with ones not controlled by the US, and the current administration's behavior must be accelerating those thoughts.
(BTW, if a platform were designed for security-first, rather than corporate-surveillance-and-and-passive-engagement-first, it wouldn't as much matter who wrote whatever "app" code ran on it.)
Security ? Which security ? All or nothing ? /s
Hopefully this means that a third player will join and provide a truly open android platform.
If an OS is owned and controlled by a single company, it's never truly open. No matter how much they claim it is.
edit: I should clarify, I'm talking about devs that develop for third party stores exclusively. Usually privacy conscious or devs whose apps aren't allowed on the play store for this and that reason like tachiyomi.
We're finally getting back to native on our computers. /s