Google is systematically dismantling the open Android ecosystem: forcing all developers to register with Google, slowing AOSP releases, and effectively turning Android into a walled garden. Here is what is at stake.
I find the big one is communication platforms. A lot of people use stuff like Slack or Discord, and if you need to use these platforms you’re kinda screwed.
I’ve used the discord web client on graphene quite a lot. It has fewer features than the app but I feel better about it. Same with my bank- I can just log into the website via my phone’s browser.
For one, they’re not guaranteed to work all the time since these are closed protocols and the companies change them as they please. I’m not saying that workarounds aren’t possible, just that it’s not the same as having official clients if you actually need to use these apps reliably for work for example.
If your workplace requires proprietary slop apps and won’t offer you a phone and you’re doing your best to make it work on your phone, then it seems like their problem if it’s still an issue to them
it’s not the same as having official clients if you actually need to use these apps reliably for work for example.
The web versions are official clients though and they seem pretty reliable IMO
You do realize that most people don’t care about this sort of moralizing. A small niche of users will jump through hoops to avoid platform lock in, most will not. Shaming people for using popular tools achieves absolutely nothing.
If people aren’t going to put effort into avoiding proprietary platforms, then the duopoly won’t change and nothing gets achieved there either
EDIT: Also this is about functionality not morality, proprietary platforms are functionally restrictive which is what makes them problematic in this situation
People aren’t going to put the effort in. We have abundant evidence of that given that most people still use proprietary platforms like Facebook and Twitter while the Fediverse remains niche. Unless people building alternatives are able to match the user experience, majority of people aren’t going to bother. That’s the reality.
You don’t have to convince me that they’re problematic, I’m merely pointing out that telling people to use something with reduced functionality doesn’t generally work.
I find the big one is communication platforms. A lot of people use stuff like Slack or Discord, and if you need to use these platforms you’re kinda screwed.
I’ve used the discord web client on graphene quite a lot. It has fewer features than the app but I feel better about it. Same with my bank- I can just log into the website via my phone’s browser.
It’s ok, but not quite the same as having actual apps unfortunately.
Why not use Revenge for Discord? Or on Linux Equibop and Slacky
For one, they’re not guaranteed to work all the time since these are closed protocols and the companies change them as they please. I’m not saying that workarounds aren’t possible, just that it’s not the same as having official clients if you actually need to use these apps reliably for work for example.
If your workplace requires proprietary slop apps and won’t offer you a phone and you’re doing your best to make it work on your phone, then it seems like their problem if it’s still an issue to them
The web versions are official clients though and they seem pretty reliable IMO
You do realize that most people don’t care about this sort of moralizing. A small niche of users will jump through hoops to avoid platform lock in, most will not. Shaming people for using popular tools achieves absolutely nothing.
If people aren’t going to put effort into avoiding proprietary platforms, then the duopoly won’t change and nothing gets achieved there either
EDIT: Also this is about functionality not morality, proprietary platforms are functionally restrictive which is what makes them problematic in this situation
My locked down legacy device thanks you. Please buy me a better one so I can migrate.
People aren’t going to put the effort in. We have abundant evidence of that given that most people still use proprietary platforms like Facebook and Twitter while the Fediverse remains niche. Unless people building alternatives are able to match the user experience, majority of people aren’t going to bother. That’s the reality.
You don’t have to convince me that they’re problematic, I’m merely pointing out that telling people to use something with reduced functionality doesn’t generally work.