My vague impression before was that yes, it was going to be more difficult to side-load an android app, but that would still be possible. Maybe just another alarming screen.
But now looking at it...looks like NO, you will only be able to install apps by "google approved" developers.
This is disturbing. What are the options? Do you have to run GrapheneOS in order to get non-Google approved apps - and will that even work?
It feels like we're being boxed in on all sides. From F-droid.org:
Whoa. Graphene OS will have to run my sanctioned banking app it seems, as it updates via side loading. The world is really going full 1984.
Well that sucks. But also not a surprise.
Speaking as one who was very intimidated by running an alternate OS on my phone, installing Graphene is really not hard, and I've only been pleased with it. It's definitely worth making the leap.
I did already. But it still really sucks for everybody else. And who knows how they're going to attack GrapheneOS?
Is this really it, I'm not misreading anything? The average user basically won't be able to side load anything?
And let's be for real...needing to have GrapheneOS installed in order to side-load an app will exclude...99% of users.
Probably more like 99.99%, if I'm being honest.
I have a feeling the group of people who side-load apps and the group of people who are willing to install a different OS are almost the same.
My wife is a case of someone who uses whatever comes on her phone. If I didn't mention it, she would not be aware that you can get apps other than via the Play store. It doesn't even enter her imagination.
So I'd say 99% of users won't even notice, because they weren't side loading in the first place.
I hope @final weighs in on this. I don't know whether the new Motorola/graphene phones have already taken into account this scenario.
I read as recently as last week that the pushback had been significant and google wasn't gonna do this.
citations: none :P
Google restricting sideloading is the predictable endgame of walled gardens. They'll frame it as security, but it's really about control and revenue. This is exactly why Bitcoin and open source matter - permissionless innovation.
This is why open source phones and alternative OSes matter. The trend is clear: both Google and Apple are moving toward locked-down ecosystems where only approved software can run. Bitcoin wallets, privacy apps, and anything that challenges the surveillance business model will eventually be pushed out. GrapheneOS today, custom hardware tomorrow.