Apple folded way too easily to authoritarian demands and gives us no option to circumvent their walled garden. I've been a long time iPhone user (since the first one) and I'm not going to be purchasing another one.
But I'm also thinking a lot about the impact on ordinary non-tech-literate folks. They really don't have great options. I think we need some serious technical focus into FOSS and freedom-respecting alternatives
Reach out and let's talk.
If Google forcibly revoked the signature of the app, Android users can still build and access versions of Android with the app. Alternative app stores are a huge boon, but the real coup-de-grace is an Open Source OS.
Google has been squeezing custom roms for the past 10 years. They barely work, and this is both on purpose and unavoidable. Google shoves DRM anywhere they can get their grubby little hands into.
Also, AOSP doesn't even run on any devices. Anywhere. You need mountains of supplemental proprietary blobs and Google systems to get it onto a phone.
Also, Google is trying to kill all apps outside the play store anyway.
Its an open source software right? Free for anyone to do anything. Were you expecting a highly polished, it-just-works with free software? Isnt that being a little entitled?
Yes, I am entitled. No, I don't really care that Google has to put in more effort.
If it were up to me, we would enforce it by law. The consequences of a completely locked down mobile ecosystem are dire for humanity.
Yes, thats the level of things were talking about here. There's those who take the threat seriously, and those who don't. As each year passes by, it becomes more difficult to justify a state of apathy.
Why should others work for free for you?
If it makes you feel better, I do pay many hundreds of dollars a year for open source software. All donations.
I'm not saying that to brag or anything, but since we want to start making moral arguments, I think it's likely I'm much less of a freeloader than you. Um, ouch.
The admin would effectively achieve their goals if they took the user base down to the 6 people willing to do this for ICEBlock