Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source capacity over the last decade.

Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.

Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.

  • UlrichEnglish
    19•12 days ago

    The big problem with anything not Google or Samsung is, as it’s always been, software support. You get 2 or maybe 3 years of updates and then the device is trash. So you can save a buck on the short term but it will cost you more in the long run and you’ll have shitty devices all the way along anyway.

    You can buy a 2 year old Pixel for $2-300 and it will last you another 4-5 years (unless Google remotely nukes your battery).

    • GibibitEnglish
      6•12 days ago

      Just because it doesn’t have latest Android doesn’t mean it’s trash. And Fairphone also aims for 7 years support just like your Pixel example.

      • @hikaru755@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6•12 days ago

        It doesn’t need to be the latest android version per se, but I wouldn’t want to use a phone that’s not getting security patches anymore

      • UlrichEnglish
        4•12 days ago

        Not having security updates makes it effectively trash, as far as I’m concerned.

    • @paequ2@lemmy.todayEnglish
      3•12 days ago

      You get 2 or maybe 3 years of updates and then the device is trash.

      Yeah, I’ve noticed this as well…

      … which is why I was surprised when I read that Nothing Phone 3 will get 5 years of updates + 2 years of security updates.

      https://www.androidauthority.com/nothing-phone-3-software-updates-3568533/

      Nothing’s Co-Founder and Head of Marketing, Akis Evangelidis, has confirmed that the upcoming Nothing Phone 3 will ship with a “5+7” software update promise. …likely means the phone will get five years of Android version updates and seven years of security patches…

      Although, you can’t install GrapheneOS on Nothing phones… so, 🤷

      • @anamethatisnt@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        6•12 days ago

        With the new sustainability laws in EU they have to offer 5 years of updates from the sale of their last unit.

        The Ecodesign Regulation lays out minimum requirements for mobile phones, cordless phones and tablets to be sold on the EU market to ensure

        • greater resistance to drops, scratches, dust and water
        • use of more durable batteries, capable of at least 800 charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
        • clear rules on disassembly and repair, requiring manufacturers to supply key spare parts within 5-10 working days, and for at least 7 years after the product model is no longer sold in the EU
        • longer availability of operating system updates, at least 5 years from the date the last unit model is sold
        • fair access for professional repairers to the software or firmware needed for repairs

        https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-durable-energy-efficient-and-repairable-smartphones-and-tablets-start-applying-2025-06-20_en

        • @utopiah@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1•12 days ago

          clear rules on disassembly and repair, requiring manufacturers to supply key spare parts within 5-10 working days, and for at least 7 years after the product model is no longer sold in the EU

          Wonder how if there is an equivalent that applies to eBike. Been waiting for my CowBoy belt since February now. Do not recommend. No more “designer” eBike now, I’ll only buy bikes with the most standard parts.

      • UlrichEnglish
        2•12 days ago

        Yeah that’s great news. Esp. considering it’s an $800+ phone.

    • @TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1•12 days ago

      All phones that are sold in the EU now have to have 5 years of updates after the phone is no longer sold.

      Basically, all phones have 6+ years of updates now.

      • UlrichEnglish
        1•12 days ago

        You realize there’s a whole rest of the world that’s not the EU?

        • @TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1•12 days ago

          Oh my fucking god, really?!

          You’re so smart, that never occurred to me. I thought that there was only 27 countries in the world, and all of them were in one continent!

          Yes, I do realise that, genius. I’m not from an EU country myself.

          However, I engaged my brain cells and quickly realised that most phones that exist are sold in the EU, and therefore the OEM has to make and test these updates anyway. In virtually all cases they will then release these worldwide.

          Like how the EU mandated USB-C and now it’s worldwide. The EU has quietly become the market that sets international standards over the past 20 years.

          I know it seems like I’m being mean in this comment, but fuck me it’s the most Reddit comment ever. A pointless comment just begging to start a pointless argument. Nobody can be bothered with that trolling shit. Do better.