People should be able to write software for Android, and distribute it outside Google's Play store, without having to: * pay Google * give government ID to Google * agree to Google terms and conditions People should be able to install the software they want on their phone, from sources other than Google's Play store, without having to jump through Google-imposed hoops. e.g. via F-Droid. We've got until September this year to stop Google squeezing the open Android ecosystem. https://keepandroidopen.org/ https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/@neil/116087210269757672

Doesn't require root, installed on top of Android, launches like an app. Best, lowest risk way to get familiar with the capabilities without requiring a new device with specific distro support. I'm a huge believer in having things you can actually experience in your hands. - [Andronix](https://andronix.app/) - [UserLAnd](https://userland.tech/) - [Termux](https://f-droid.org/packages/com.termux/) (install distro via command line) Mobile distros: - [Mobian](https://mobian-project.org/) (aims to mainline into Debian) - [Droidian](https://droidian.org/) - [Maemo Leste](https://maemo-leste.github.io/) - [Postmarket](https://postmarketos.org/) (based on Alpine) - [Manjaro](https://manjaro.org/) (based on Arch) - [Ubuntu Touch](https://ubuntu-touch.io/) - [Pocket Blue](https://pocketblue.github.io/) (Fedora-based) - Others Mobile desktop environments options to try on your distro: - [Phosh](https://phosh.mobi/) (Gnome-based) - [Plasma Mobile](https://plasma-mobile.org/) - [Lomiri](https://lomiri.com/) - [GNOME (mobile) Shell](https://blogs.gnome.org/shell-dev/2022/09/09/gnome-shell-on-mobile-an-update/) You could even try installing [Waydroid](https://waydro.id/) in it for [Xzibit-style](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/xzibit-yo-dawg) Android-ception

This will be great for secure communication with people who have yet to switch to Android

I imagine certain features like Google Maps' different busyness indicators might be missing because otherwise that would require telemetry?

I’m still in the saga of trying to switch to android and hit another roadblock lol. I’m looking for a web browser that implements gesture navigation with linear animations like on iOS. The closest browser I’ve found is opera GX, but the PC/MacOS version of opera runs like shit with 30fps animations for all the UI elements.

I remeber **Moto E 1st Gen** with Snapdragon 200, 1GB RAM ,4 GB (2.1 GB usable) Storage. I have played games on it in 2017 it was some COD AW clone. I could install alot of Apps on just 2.1GB storage. No hang and good multi tasking on 1GB RAM. Again I got a SD 625 + 4GB RAM and it is awesome. I remeber thinking 4GB in phone will be max forever as 8GB in PC/Laptop was good enough for gaming and 16GB in PC for browsing ain't enough. Now in 2026 6GB in Android is considered low-end and Apps crash. Again I got a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 + 8GB RAM. Devs please stop making apps big, CPU/RAM heavy. Apps like Facebook/Instagram should be shamed they are 1GB each. Android OS has no limit on cache. Android OS has no native user-frienly option to control which apps can run in background. Phone/SoC reviews are a scam, they say SD 363 is 50% better than SD 625. I don't think it is a very big leak from SD625 to 7s Gen 2. Reviewers are stuck in 2013, "casual games run OK and COD runs at 60 FPS", it always did for every phone! I think I am going to boycott high tier phones.

> The Google Discover feed is a constantly evolving beast that offers news, updates, and now social media posts right there on your homescreen.

So I just got a Moto Razr and am going to start setting it up. I've been outside of the android ecosystem for a long time. Can I get some recommendations for anything and everything? I recently read the Nova launcher has gotten much worse since I last used it. I'm also not sure if I should do a launcher or just use the base OS. I know that there are loads of articles out there, but I'm getting really tired of wading through AI gen articles and would love your personal experience. Thanks in advance!

upcoming OnePlus device, rumored to have a massive 7800mAh battery (per Wccftech). and it would absolutely smoke the 5,000 and 4,685mAH batteries in the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Instead, Apple and Samsung seem to be prioritizing thinness at all costs, **for reasons that aren't entirely clear beyond aesthetics and bragging rights**. It's been years since I've heard anyone complain about how thick a phone is, if not a decade or more. Complaints have trended in the opposite direction, I'd say -- without a case, some phones can be so thin and slippery that they're hard to grip securely. Even my wife's OnePlus 9 5G has that issue. A few foldables, like Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold , are so thin when open that they feel like they might bend or snap.

I know that most customizability features that were once exclusive to custom roms are available for use right out of the box these days. In the case of manufacturers like Samsung, I think,there are still no official builds of lineageOS for the newer phones after the galaxy s10 series. I'm aware that GSI roms are available. My experience with GSI's have been kinda bad. Most of the time they lack a lot of features which makes the phone not viable anymore. Then there are also the random UI bugs, which frustrate the hell out of the user. I miss the old days when there were lots of custom roms, even for budget devices. I used to flash them when my phones were out of warranty. I could use my phone however I saw fit. Is there no way to bring back these good times ? Or will the whole custom ROM community just shrink to the pixels and a select few devices ?

All the other discussions I found on Lemmy dismiss it because they find the idea of a second phone ridiculous. Or because they don't buy into the "dumb phone" concept. But I think it makes a compelling phone on it's own, and you wouldn't need a second. But really look into it. By every indication it appears designed to be a fully featured main phone. It has some compromises made to fit the keyboard first philosophy, but it has everything you'd need and more. Dual SIM (eSIM+physical), a headphone jack, micro SD Card support, a 50mp camera with OIS (I know megapixels don't mean much but I think it shows it's not gonna be the cheapest crap camera), NFC/Google Pay support, Android Auto, Qi2... That doesn't read "second phone" to me. It's just.... phone. They have now said that it will have an unlockable bootloader too. I'm not finding much to dislike here. 8GB of RAM is somewhat low but should be fine. The processor is still a question mark but honesty as long as it's not bottom of the barrel it should be perfectly fine. I have always gone for flagship phones but honestly I've started analyzing what I actually do on my phone and I pretty much never push the hardware. I like knowing I have the top of the line but I basically just web browse, message, read email, scroll Lemmy, and listen to music/podcasts. Very occasionally watch some YouTube but that's usually on my TV or PC. No gaming or anything. I should be able to do all of that on this device, some of it won't be as good on that screen obviously but it should still be doable. I need the camera to at least be decent. Not great just not garbage. Like it's fine if the low light performance is meh and the video isn't the best. But I don't want to look at my photos and regret taking it with that device, so we'll see. I don't want a dumb phone, and I don't think this is one. You should be able to do everything any other phone can. I don't think it's a second phone either. I think they're just leaning into that for marketing reasons, so that when anyone points out the tradeoffs of this form factor they can just wave it away as a secondary device. It appeals to me because it's a small phone. Seriously nobody makes one worth using. Unihertz sure, if you want a bad software experience with no updates ever. But otherwise you just have the non-plus sized iPhone/Galaxy S. Those are considered small. Or maybe the flip-foldables. It also appeals to me because it has major character and (imo) style. I'm bored of glass and metal sandwiches. Give me this! A plastic device with a swappable back that has a (vegan?) leather option? Hell yeah.

I wonder if there is something subpar about whoever Google is getting the batteries from for the A series phones.

The author 's reference to incremental improvements remind of entry level Samsung Phones (A Series). They often don't change much (though the newer ones get as high as six years of software support, IIRC). This phone lacks wireless charging which the previous version had, an odd choice (though I had personally they had increased the wired charging speeds).

We are writing to inform you about changes to your Google Pay experience. As we continue to provide safe and seamless payments to users around the world, we are also simplifying the app experience in the U.S. For years, Google Wallet has been the primary place to securely store payment cards used for tap and pay in stores, alongside your other digital items like transit cards, driver’s license or state IDs, and more. While in-store and online payments via Google Pay are unchanged, the U.S. version of the standalone Google Pay app will no longer be available for use starting June 4, 2024. Anywhere you normally use Google Pay — from checking out online to tapping and paying in stores — remains the same. If you use your Android phone to shop in stores where Google Pay is accepted, you can continue to tap to pay in stores with the Google Wallet app. Learn more about Google Wallet. Here are the key changes and important dates: • As of today you will no longer be able to view or activate deals in the app. If you previously activated a deal, and are still waiting for cash back, regular reward timelines apply. We know finding the best deal is important when shopping, which is why we launched a new deals destination on Search. • Changes to peer-to-peer payments: As of June 4, 2024, you will no longer be able to send money to, request, or receive money from others through the U.S. version of the Google Pay app. • Manage your Google Pay balance from the Google Pay app until June 4, 2024: You can use the U.S. version of the Google Pay app until June 4, 2024 to view and transfer your Google Pay balance to your bank account. You can continue to view and transfer your funds to your bank account after June 4, 2024 from the Google Pay website. Learn more about transferring money out of Google Pay. Source: email update [Edit: post title and source]

Sorry for the all caps, but its the video title.

Cross-posted from ["Release 2026.01.24 is out"](https://sopuli.xyz/post/40180848) by @[email protected] in [email protected] --- Release 2026.01.24 is now out on all distribution channels! Beyond fresh OpenStreetMap data, it includes adding road outlines for better readability, renaming of the "Bookmarks & Tracks" to the clearer "Favorites" and many more updates: https://codeberg.org/comaps/comaps/releases/tag/v2026.01.24-5

The phone gets 0 major Android upgrades though Moto isn't the only OEM to indulge in these shenanigans. I had personally a phone from little known *Techno* (popular in South East Asia). Decent hardware for the price but it never went above the Android 12 it shipped with.

Funny, that my blackberry key2 has a indicator LED, 3.5mm jack, sd card, a special app for all messages incoming, a fingerprint sensor in the spacebar, touch sensetive keys etc... I think the communicator will my phone after the key2

Hello there, basically the header. My big speaker on the bottom on the phone is dead, and thats fine, i didnt need it anyway. Is there a possibility, as the speaker for phone calls at the top of the phone is working, to play all sounds from this speaker? Phone: - Blackberry Key2 Android: - 8.1

Which is a better phone and why?

> Google Chrome for Android can finally open PDF files on its own without needing a third-party app, and you can try this feature now.

> Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 redesigns the Settings app with some Material You tweaks and better organization.

> Google Messages is working on adding privacy options to its Profiles feature for profile discovery. Check out the upcoming options!

I updated my Pixel 10 Pro with the latest Pixel software (BP4A.260105.004.E1) and noticed that notifications for things like Signal, news alerts, discord, etc. even though the notifications are there when I pull down the notification bar. I initially thought it was the new notification "groups" but turned that off. I don't have "Do Not Disturb" set since my phone is perpetually turned on silent. The odd thing is that they selectively show up throughout the day. Some conversations show while others don't. This seems like a setting something I need to change so that I see the icons. Does else have this problem?

Does anyone know this company? I hope it's Nova launchers saving grace.

Google Pixel 8 (128GB): $699 / €799 / £699 Google Pixel 8 Pro (128GB): $999 / €1,099 / £999

Hello everyone, I’ve been working on a simple 3D maze game for Android. The main idea is a daily maze: everyone plays the same maze each day and competes on a global leaderboard. It’s designed to be quick and casual. Wordle-style sessions you can finish in a few minutes. Features: - Daily Maze: same maze for everyone, resets daily, global leaderboard - Random Mode: no competition, solution button available - Duels: real-time 1v1 races on a randomly generated maze I’d really appreciate feedback, especially on what features or modes would be interesting to add. The app isn’t public yet because Google requires a testing phase, but testing is open. You just need to join a Google Group and then use the Play Store link below. Google group: (It may show "you don't have access to this content" but if you login you can request access. It's unfortunately a necessary step for the App links below to work.) https://groups.google.com/g/maze-trials-3d-closed-testing App links: Web: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.mazegame3d.app Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mazegame3d.app (The App links above will only be available after joining the group. I'm very sorry, those are google requirements.) Thanks!

Screenshot from The Verge: