Years ago, on Fridays, we would share Custom ROM Friday posts that would highlight new and exciting developments in the world of custom Android ROMs. It was great times, as it seemed like the majority of our readers at the time were deep into running custom software and accessing root...
This is more or less how I feel. I haven’t rooted in years, though I have installed non-root ROMs to extend support.
Google’s SafetyNet stuff is simply unreasonable, and a shameless power-grab. I’m so tired of software and websites trying to control what I do with my own goddamn hardware and software “for my safety”.
It’s gotten to the point where the “security” features actively hamper my security, because they leave me unable to improve it. e.g. my banking app would rather I be on an unsecured wireless network than have me use a reputable VPN. Their web site would rather have me expose myself to malvertising than run an ad blocker. They’d rather have me running an outdated OS with heaps of known security vulnerabilities than run a fully patched LineageOS. They’d rather I use my carrier’s unsecured DNS than DOH. And heaven forbid I block trackers!
Nevertheless, I stick with Android because there are still lots of things I value that I still can’t do on an iPhone. No, I don’t download torrents on my phone very often, but I’ve needed to in the past and will likely need to again at some point, so I’m not going to buy a phone that doesn’t let me install benign apps just because I might use them to download things they don’t want me to download.
The whole industry is user-hostile, but Android is still less hostile than iOS.
I wish Microsoft had stayed in the mobile space. That competition might have changed things for the better.
Now we have a duopoly.
@APassenger @GenderNeutralBro I was interested in the mobile Windows 8 back in the day. So I found and bought a used cheap Nokia phone to check it out. I ended up using it as my primary for a few months. The Nokia and Windows were both fantastic! I didn’t stay with it because there were no apps. The Windows store was a stinking infested cesspool of awful and/or malicious apps so I resold it.
To be fair, Microsoft is one of the most aggressive at checking for root on Android devices. They’re not the good guys here.
Something something centrists something.
Microsoft was not an open platform at all, they seemed to be taking more inspiration from Apple when it came to customization and openness.
Losing Palm makes me much more sad.
Perfectly well said.
It’s infuriating to have to split a banking app off the VPN tunnel because they deem that secure. Or that 2FA over SMS which is inherently insecure and spoofable is acceptable and REQUIRED versus an RSA key or authenticator app.
It’s pushing me into grumpy old man territory quickly. My bank swapped to some of these requirements for their app last year so now I phone in on an international VOIP number over VPN and can do all my banking. It’s absolutely insane that’s its an acceptable form of communication over my secure device in my hand, but it’s easier to call the line like an octagenerian, give them digits off of a debit card, and be able to wire money in and out and around all my accounts. I see why scammers have such an easy time.
@TechNerdWizard42 @GenderNeutralBro “like an octogenarian” lmao!!!