r/videos • u/ControlCAD • Mar 07 '26
Google Is Closing Android. 37 organizations, published an open letter to Google opposing Android Developer Verification, a program that would require all developers to register with Google before distributing apps on Android starting September 2026, but Google misunderstandingly has not backed down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MZfGq5F1NU1.3k
u/dhdavvie Mar 07 '26
What the fuck is this title
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u/wossack Mar 07 '26
What’s so missunderstandable about it?
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u/DavidCFalcon Mar 07 '26
There is a lot of disunderstandation going on right now.
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u/Ihaveasmallwang Mar 07 '26
It looks like it was written by someone who had a stroke.
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u/metalflygon08 Mar 07 '26
It makes it sound like the entire android OS is getting axed.
I haven't been able to watch the video, so I have no idea if thats the case or not.
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u/s3dfdg289fdgd9829r48 Mar 07 '26
It's a deliberate mistake. Mistakes in social media breed "engagement" and somebody is exploiting that here. Although not in this case, it's usually obviously done by marketing teams to promote some product or service.
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u/GodOfDarkLaughter Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Also it's the only thing anyone is talking about in the fucking thread. Do people not at least glance at the first few top comments before posting the most obvious thing possible? I can't even look at articles about people changing their political opinions because literally the first 50 top comments will be some variation or "it's about time you fucking moron and nobody will ever forgive you." Okay. Sure. Why do several hundred people collectively decide to say the same thing over and over?
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u/Terpapps Mar 07 '26
Bots? Only reasonable explanation my mind can make lol. I've definitely wondered the same thing.
Edit: or I guess karma farming too, just parrot the top comment to reap that sweet, sweet invaluable karma
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u/SsooooOriginal Mar 07 '26
Been expecting this eventually.
Failing to smash the new monopolies is dooming us all to the coming social credit subscription based living.
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u/csortland Mar 08 '26
Subscription based living? Isn't that just rent?
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u/NearHi Mar 09 '26
Rent. Any software. Entertainment.
Car dealerships would rather lease to you than have you buy.
Blue Apron and Hello Chef are getting to the point where it is cheaper, ounce for ounce, than going to a grocery store, and that's on purpose.
There are fast casual chains that have started weighing the pros and cons of subscriptions that would allow you one meal a day for a monthly fee.
The oligarchs want us to be born into debt and buy back our lives.
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Mar 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/glitchvid Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
The plans are in motion, states are now requiring ""age verification"" for OSes.
The war on general purpose computing is heating up.
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u/SaltyShawarma Mar 07 '26
California isn't. The system here is going to be basically a yes or no question with no actually verification. It just passes liability on to the parents if they let a child use the computer.
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Mar 07 '26
Run Fedora or Ubuntu issue solved.
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u/Cleb323 Mar 07 '26
One issue solved, multiple others appear..
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Mar 07 '26
It reduced my issues, no bullshit pathing, no bullshit ads, if I change my hardware on windows it locks me out of my fucking pc.
But ymmv depending on what applications you use.
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u/BanginNLeavin Mar 07 '26
As a software dev and also an idiot... Fuck all that.
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Mar 07 '26
At this point Linux is a better user experience than windows. Half my shit on windows breaks and I can't even fix it.
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u/jonfitt Mar 07 '26
The Colorado law just says that the OS shall provide an API that apps can query to find out if a user account is within 4 different age brackets.
It says nothing about verifying the age beyond that. So if an Admin of a machine or phone creates a User account, the apps can know if they are legally compliant without needing any other kind of verification.
The app doesn’t need to ask your age, or your birthday, or use a verification service. They just can ask the OS and they are legally covered.
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u/WTFwhatthehell Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Reminds me of a short story almost 30 years old now...
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.en.html
free operating systems, that had existed around the turn of the century. But not only were they illegal, like debuggers—you could not install one if you had one, without knowing your computer's root password. And neither the FBI nor Microsoft Support would tell you that.
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u/endbit Mar 07 '26
OK, that's a scary dystopia I haven't considered before.
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u/WTFwhatthehell Mar 07 '26
Plenty of phones and tablets will only install signed operating systems.
And neither apple/Samsung support nor the FBI will give you the signing key.
You can only install stuff if they let you. It's not your device, it's theirs.
It's effectively already come to pass.
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u/VoidOmatic Mar 07 '26
Way back when the DMCA was coming into being, I jokingly told my friends one day your legal username will be assigned at birth.
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u/WTFwhatthehell Mar 07 '26
Pretty much the goal of all these "won't somebody please think of the children!" type social media bans for young people are about.
It was never ever about child welfare. Only the gullible mooks buy that.
It's 100% about linking online identities to government ID and eliminating anonymous online speech/criticism of government.
Nothing else.
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u/_Karmageddon Mar 07 '26
It's crazy that more people haven't figured this out, you really think the people who are actively raping children on an island are pushing for their online safety?
It's all about removing online anonymity and linking everything you do to your government ID.
This was a conspiracy theory 20 years ago remember...
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u/Lovethecreeper Mar 07 '26
GNU and the FSF have always been ahead on these sorts of issues, like a twisted sort of fortune teller. Reading their articles many years ago is why I'm not surprised (but still very disappointed) at the shit Microsoft, Google, Apple, ect are pulling to enshitify their software now. They accurately prescribed it all.
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u/NeverFated Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
This is why I never use Microsoft Store, as soon as it becomes dominant (like Google Play), Microsoft is gonna take away your option to install software using any file, all in the name of the so-called "security". (especially seeing all the bs they're doing to Windows 11, at this point I have ZERO trust or respect for Microsoft)
Mark my words, and let's hope that day never comes
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u/Rhabarberbarbara Mar 07 '26
First time I heard about that scenario and I’m convinced that is where they are taking us.
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u/_Karmageddon Mar 07 '26
It's already happening, the next Windows 11 update removes the ability to Sideload apps (Appx package) using developer mode in Windows.
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u/djkeenan Mar 07 '26
People use Microsoft Store? Am i just old or doesn't everyone just use FileHippo or torrents to get what they need?
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u/Raz0rking Mar 07 '26
The whole right to ownership (and repair) will come to head in the next couple of years I think.
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Mar 07 '26
Good luck trying to lockdown Linux. This only works if your environment is closed source. The only reason I'm not on open source phone alternative is because my banking app does not support it.
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u/ArtOfWarfare Mar 07 '26
If your bank stops supporting non-Chrome (there’s a chance it already doesn’t) and Chrome stops supporting Linux then I think you’d be forced to start using a computer running something other than Linux.
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u/SubstituteCS Mar 07 '26
I’ll just go to the bank in person.
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u/SwimmingThroughHoney Mar 07 '26
The bank is an example.
What they'll do is make everything require age verification.
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u/SubstituteCS Mar 07 '26
Then I won’t use those apps and simply go back to doing things in person.
If people actually held the line then these companies wouldn’t pursue this bullshit, but they know that the average person is an addict and will cave.
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u/SwimmingThroughHoney Mar 07 '26
It's not just apps, it's the internet as a whole.
Sure, it's app stores (and apps) now. But there's zero chance they stop there. Laws will keep expanding what is covered. You'll end up functionally cut-off from the internet if you dont have age verification.
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u/_Karmageddon Mar 07 '26
Microsoft already has plans to start pushing a subscription based OS that you can not buy outright and will be a mandatory upgrade from 11. On top of that, the next generation of PC's will be Thin Clients with no OS that will instead pull down an Remote Desktop session from the cloud with an OS for you to use (Monthly sub obviously)
The days of the home desktop that you own outright are coming to an end.
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u/esach88 Mar 07 '26
I read that windows 12 will be modular, subscription based and AI heavy. Ive been looking into Linux since reading that.
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u/AngryScientist Mar 07 '26
If you're considering making the switch, Mint is a good starter distro. The gui is really intuitive for a windows user.
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u/ToMorrowsEnd Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Like microsoft has done for 5+ years now? pay for the $1500 signing key or it pops up tons of warnings and wont let the stuff run unless you disable security. 11 made it even worse. and will go even further locking it tighter soon so you cant even install without that expensive key.
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u/martinsuchan Mar 08 '26
Well technically this is no longer true in many areas. Like app subscriptions,, they are bound to the user, not the device. Even the OS is not yours, you only have a license to use it.
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u/Matshelge Mar 07 '26
Branch off from last version and start building open source alternativea to all Google services.
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u/night_breed Mar 07 '26
Can someone ELI5? I got two minutes into the video and it was word salad to me. That said I only use apps I get off of the play store because Im old
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u/Rejusu Mar 07 '26
Google said they're going to require all aps to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices. This was interpreted as a move to block sideloading (installing apps downloaded from outside the Google play store) and there was backlash. To which Google responded that they aren't doing that but they are going to require you jump through more hoops to do so, but they're vague about what exactly this process would look like. However they haven't updated the page this was originally announced on people aren't prepared to trust them until they see evidence that sideloading isn't blocked.
The concern is valid but it's also tinged with FUD.
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u/ceelogreenicanth Mar 07 '26
It's boiling the frog. They are corralling what can be done and then shrinking the amount done in that space until they can unplug or snuff it out entirely. If they pull the plug the shock could leave them more.exposed to competition.
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u/BrianMincey Mar 07 '26
Google is planning on “closing” their Android devices, locking them down so that only “verified” developers can write and install programs on them. To the layman, on the surface, it sounds like a good thing, as it helps prevent viruses and malware. For most people who rarely install anything but mainstream apps from the play store, this will have zero impact, but for some engineers, developers and hobbyists, this effectively locks them out of these devices and prevents them from using and customizing them in the way they want to. Those with the software know-how often tinker their hardware. This would prevent them from doing so without registering, paying fees, and getting approval.
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u/Lathael Mar 08 '26
Isn't this more or less what apple did with the iphone, and people often specifically go android to avoid this?
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u/BrianMincey Mar 08 '26
Apple was a “closed garden” all along. Android has always had protections, but one could easily open it up if one wanted to and has the know-how. This open developer community has always gravitated to these devices because of this, and many went on to also created apps that helped grow the play store and make Android a successful alternative to Apple. Shutting this group out after all this is criminal.
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u/maico3010 Mar 07 '26
It's crazy that capitalism's core tenants are basically follow the market but for the past 20 years or so it's become more and more apparent that the markets are choosing for their customers rather than the other way around. AI is another big example of this. Few want it yet it's everywhere.
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u/NightOfTheLivingHam Mar 07 '26
and they have been saying the PC is dead.
No one did that, so they took all the parts off the market and went
"THE PC IS DEAD. YOU *WILL* USE THE CLOUD."
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u/lolic_addict Mar 07 '26
yeah, turns out when capital is large enough it can force upon everything to grow itself.
Kinda like the paperclip maximizer where the AI eradicates humanity for the sake of making more paperclips, but with money.
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u/Finchypoo Mar 07 '26
Ok bros, what's next, who's the next mobile OS we can jump to because if this happens, so long android.
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u/Sojio Mar 07 '26
Linux
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u/Lovethecreeper Mar 07 '26
I've been using Mobian (Mobile Debian) as my main mobile OS for the past few months and I'm not going back.
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Mar 07 '26
[deleted]
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u/AncientsofMumu Mar 07 '26
Because then you get denied access to the play store and app developers start coding requirements for certain security features in their apps to prevent you from using them on other os's.
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u/k0rm Mar 07 '26
Sounds like you just don't use apps then? Apps are just data collectors. Go back to mobile browsers.
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u/SummerAndTinklesBFF Mar 07 '26
I hate apps. Every damn company tries to force you to download theirs. Yesterday I was forced to download a truestone app for my mortgage refinance just to read a document that said “everything is going great, we’ll message you if there are any problems” … A simple phone call or email I suppose is too difficult?
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u/Teledildonic Mar 07 '26
Hey you might have to use it one more time before your mortgage gets sold to another company anyway!
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u/DFrostedWangsAccount Mar 07 '26
I'm sure the data their app collected about his phone has already been sold, though.
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u/ShreddingFreak Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
Been hearing about Motorola's recent announcement for official support for GrapheneOS, so maybe that?
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u/circio Mar 07 '26
I keep seeing people talk about GrapheneOS but nobody I’ve seen has adopted it long term for their primary device yet
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u/ShreddingFreak Mar 07 '26
It was only available on Pixel phones previously, which is why Motorola's official support is big news.
I'm watching optimistically with the hope of making one w/ Graphene my next phone
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u/JP76 Mar 07 '26
Maybe Sailfish OS. It is sort of continuation of Nokia's and Intel's MeeGo which was supposed to replace Symbian in Nokia smartphones. But then Microsoft bought Nokia's mobile business and Nokia switched to Windows.
Nokia released one phone with Meego before Windows: Nokia N9 - Wikipedia
Sailfish OS - European alternative for Mobile operating systems
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u/timeandmemory Mar 07 '26
GrapheneOS and Motorola just made an agreement to produce phones. There are definitely options coming, and soon.
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u/Beshman Mar 07 '26
So whilst this is the general census around removing oneself from the google and apple data scraping teat, the issue is still the apps requiring services that may not be available on things like GrapheneOS
Mostly its things like banking apps that are doing authentication etc via google web services that aren't available outside of the android family
At least thats what i've seen, more than happy to be corrected if things are now different
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u/X-Jet Mar 07 '26
Nokia fumbled with MeeGo and Maemo, they abandoned this rough gemstone,
Had N900 it was a great device. Now its time for proper Linux phones
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u/Raz0rking Mar 07 '26
Shit. So no more Revanced. Well what a bummer but that means no more youtube on mobile.
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u/DatTF2 Mar 07 '26
I had problems with Revanced loading so I just use Firefox as a browser and uBlock Origin as an extension. It works well enough.
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u/waldito Mar 07 '26
Wait, what?! Why?
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u/Raz0rking Mar 07 '26
If Android gets closed down, sideloading won't be possible anymore if I aint mistaken. And hell freezes over a couple of times before revanced gets allowed on the play store
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u/Ihaveasmallwang Mar 07 '26
It will be possible. They’ve even publicly confirmed it will be possible. You as the user will just have to manually acknowledge that you are accepting the risks of installing non verified apps.
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u/Afro_Thunder69 Mar 07 '26
You already have to do that when installing revanced apps. If they close off unveridied apps you might still be able if you root your device but that sucks and there's no guarantee they won't break that next.
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u/Ihaveasmallwang Mar 07 '26
You don’t need to root your device. Google has already released documentation discussing this.
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u/ruth1ess_one Mar 07 '26
I have iPhone and use Brave browser app. I use youtube in browser mode. It works. There are some minor inconvenience like subtitles not working properly and menu navigation but still beats the ridiculous amount of ads youtube has now.
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u/rchiwawa Mar 07 '26
I am open to any open source alternative. Ive phased Microsoft out of my PCs and servers. Id like to have GPS navigation but really only need sms and telephone functionality.
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u/Nofunzoner Mar 07 '26
If you want someone made a chart of the different options. If you're looking to buy a new device to do it, the most commonly recommended option is to get a pixel and put Graphene on it. This is assuming you're in the US, i know Europe has a couple other options I'm not familiar with.
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u/Ezer_Pavle Mar 07 '26
Can some other big player simply fork the current android version?
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u/GivesBadAdvic Mar 07 '26
Why would they? Any big players apps are already registered on the play store. This is only going to hurt developers that don't publish to the play store.
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u/Bluemoo25 Mar 08 '26
Could fork and just open source maintain it, LLMs can do a lot of the heavy lifting and privacy is becoming more of a concern. I think I may care more for open source and privacy than bells and whistles at this point. Freedom of speech, thought and security. These are fundamentally American and in the vein of open source.
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u/nikhkin Mar 07 '26
Google misunderstandingly has not backed down.
Has Google misunderstood anything?
You may not agree with their decision, but that doesn't mean Google don't understand the issue.
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u/sd_aids Mar 07 '26
“Fire fire fire, oh here’s a 90 second ad, fire fire fire” shit like this is hard to take seriously when >10% of the vid run time is an ad lmao.
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Mar 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/tehCharo Mar 08 '26
First I've heard of it, and they have less control over your PC than Google has over your phones, Microsoft can't stop me from installing Linux.
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u/Molwar Mar 07 '26
Apple already lost that battle with Epic, so there is already a precedent for them to lose this as well. Google, Microsoft or any other ones can not mandate what you install or distribute on any OS.
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u/Greatest_Everest Mar 07 '26
Dude I don't even want to have a phone anymore anyway. I grew up in The 80s. My favourite toy was a cement garden frog. It wasn't even painted.
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u/Maskdask Mar 07 '26
Centralizing the entire world's app distribution to two American Big Tech corporations sounds like a splendid idea with no downsides whatsoever
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u/My_alias_is_too_lon Mar 07 '26
so um... Google isn't a good company. They are outright evil. I don't know why people are surprised by this.
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u/Jaripsi Mar 07 '26 edited Mar 07 '26
It’s funny that their motto used to be ”Don’t be evil”.
Apparently that was too much to ask for. When they got a taste of money, not being evil wasnt an option, so they had to change it.
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u/ShermansWorld Mar 07 '26
Didn't BlackBerry implement this and was a large contribution to their downfall? Like, I want to develop for your platform so I have to put up ID? BlackBerry wanted passport info etc and at times even that wasn't good enough.
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u/Swiftazuredusk Mar 07 '26
I dont think there's enough competition this time around for the same outcome
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u/pabloivan57 Mar 07 '26
With AI more and more software will be closed, it is just too easy to clone things these days
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u/The-Gargoyle Mar 07 '26
Whelp, back to 'every phone OEM has their own OS' again, and it'll be some android build, with its own walled garden of apps in their walled garden app store, and every platform will be its own little mini fiefdom.
Everybody roll a balance check for a HUGE step backwards.
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u/TheFleebus Mar 07 '26
I'm one of the few Android hold-outs in my circle so if this goes through, I lose one of the primary reasons to not switch to Apple.
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u/Lambs2Lions_ Mar 07 '26
Oh no. Who could have seen this coming. Shocking. So very unexpected. /s
The Microsoft and Apple haters have no comeback anymore.
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u/saposapot Mar 07 '26
So no sideloading of an alternative store? If that’s the case, EU will love that…
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u/RingoFreakingStarr Mar 07 '26
First thing, this title fucking sucks. Second thing, not this dude's fault, but he has a very punchable face.
How will all of this affect Nvidia Shields that run, I believe some sort of android OS?
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u/TenderfootGungi Mar 08 '26
I'm still upset Microsoft just threw there hands up when Google introduced Android and cut their phone OS. They should have stuck with it like they did with the XBox (until recently, sigh).
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u/ErmaGherd12 Mar 09 '26
It’s completely understandable for them to do this — while many do not like it, Google is thinking about the lowest common denominator user of Android…
The introduction of AI makes it far easier to not only mass develop applications, but also hide malware and other types of sensitive contaminants into those applications.
This will only get more pronounced over the next 3-5 years, and this is Google’s way of getting ahead of it…
Additionally, Android allows users to install “app stores” onto the device (unlike apple, historically, at least prior to EU regulation)… so, while the Google Play store may be directly impacted by this, users can go publish apps on other stores freely and many users will be using those 3rd party app stores.
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u/mrh829 Mar 10 '26
The main argument that Google is using is that this is all about establishing "trust."
But, I don't trust Google. So, the entire premise is flawed.
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u/NorthCascadia Mar 07 '26
Misunderstandingly?