Just factory reset my FP3 . . . and realised how tied into Google Android is

[maoq]

I just factory reset my FP3 . . . and realised (UK spelling)!
How tied into Google Android is and how Google must fear the rise of an open operating system for phones . . . When the “choose” your home screen / browser search engine app reappeared on my phone . Lets not get into why the app that lets you choose your search engine don’t work, that’s obvious i think!
How hard must they be working against a FOSS option for phones and surly “don’t call me Shirley” that must be against some sort of monopolies legislation?

[AnotherElk]

@maoq

Lets not get into why the app that lets you choose your search engine don’t work, that’s obvious i think!

It’s obvious that it is probably intended to work from March 2020 on? I’m impressed with your clairvoyance .

@theyaman

According to a website I found when looking for what the search engine selector was intended to be, I found that it may only work from March 1 2020

[grumpy]

Actually it does not take too much effort for Google. Just making it a lot of effort to use an alternative is enough to keep the masses locked into its services. People are lazy and usually don’t care too much as long as it is convenient. To be fair though, most people have other important things to focus their attention to.

[maoq]

So you have to live with the “very annoying” drop down till then or disable the app, which invalidates the app and it’s purpose when it starts too work.
I wish I could get away with this sort of thing in real life…

[teezeh]

Here is some background about what is going on:

DuckDuckGo is the big winner of Google's Europe Android auction

[QuiaAbsurdum]

Great link! Thanks @teezeh

[Erica_Hollis]

I reluctantly changed my old Firefox OS phone for an FP3 because that opensource phone operating system was obsolete and no longer getting updates so few to no apps worked. I knew Google would annoy me no end (and it does) but what were the options? Apple with its slave labour or microsoft - all as bad.

[AnotherElk]

@Erica_Hollis

I knew Google would annoy me no end (and it does) but what were the options?

Android is the right choice in that sense, because at least it offers ways to let Google annoy you less, see this topic for a start …

Google Apps keep reinstalling/ reactivating

Here’s my current take … I try to walk a line between de-Google-ing the phone while keeping the basic Google Mobile Services (GMS, for OTA updates of the OS and some Play Store Apps I still have as APKs for installing) and the Play Store itself (for updates of remaining Google components) from breaking, even if I try not to use my Google account for now. I’m not a big fan of installing downloaded APKs from some website without an automatic update possibility which stores like e.g. F-Droid prov…

… and feel free to explore more hardcore stuff like Custom ROMs in this forum if you want to.

[Freeker47]

Don’t know if this is interesting for you all but I though I’d share this nonetheless:

Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary

It’s a rather old article, updated in 2018, and still relevant today. Actually quite worrisome but judge for yourself

[PatrickSudlow]

Strange, no mention of Ecosia, a German search engine, I use, that is a charity.

[Johannes]

@PatrickSudlow

Strange, no mention of Ecosia

The article reproduces part of Kroll’s statement on the reason Ecosia did not participate in the auction, so they definitely got a mention!

[PatrickSudlow]

Sorry, I obviously did not read the article properly.