I know right now there are some privacy-focused distros of Android, but it might be time to just have a fork that moves off in a different direction. I think the only way to have success is create a distro that is very friendly to developers. If you get enough devs creating software for the fork, you can start to get users. I imagine the fork would only be popular with enthusiasts and devs at first.
Because since OpenMoko no one managed to make a phone that mainstream public feels like using, or the typical corporate developer feels like targeting, that is why.
I've been thinking about what's keeping me on Android in recent years. For awhile it was things like swipe typing and USB-C, but those are gone. Then it was sideloading and a maps app that isn't garbage, both of which Google is trying their damnedest to eliminate.
Agree with every word of this. It's the open-ness that's kept me on Android all these years. I'm less of a phone-tinkerer than I was a decade ago, but I still use dozens of those side-project, non-commercial F-Droid / side-load apps all the time.
If (looks like when) I lose those, I'll be (sigh) buying an iPhone. There isn't any other point to Android, for me.
Because these phones are cheaper.. I plan on using iOS in the future where I'm required to use government/banking apps, but I have to start saving money right now since iphones are considerably more expensive than low-end android phones.
i have said this for years, what the original Android team did was revolutionary until they got acquired by google. They should have stayed independent and licensed their software. Same with youtube it was technically a public entity by its purpose well before google acquired it, another reason it should have stayed independent.
The reason for Android remains mostly same as ages ago: flexibility and customization without barriers. The countless things one can do without having to think twice about what workaround will be needed to go thru weird Apple hoops. Being about to do simple things like transfer files to a laptop without having to use any third party apps. Having a homescreen with just the icons you want and some added information and stuff without a ton of work, no problem (a third part launcher, acknowledged). If iOS isn't trying to stop you from finding a way with it's limited UI, there is always some other trick or workaround required to just go about your day doing things. With android for years now just never had to even run into any of that. Never a reason to switch.
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[ 4.6 ms ] story [ 28.7 ms ] threadI don't know what's left.
If (looks like when) I lose those, I'll be (sigh) buying an iPhone. There isn't any other point to Android, for me.