When Android was initially announced in 2007 by the Open Handset Alliance (headed by Google) their flagship project was billed as an "open…
  • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏@lemmy.one
    161·
    2 years ago

    On my last android device I didn’t need root at all, but on my current one Google has gimped the OS so much that root access is the only way to have any kind of ownership of the device.

    Even just the fact that Google’s “backup” system (which does not handle app data the last time I checked) depends on the cloud, instead of iTunes that has been able to do a full system backup to your own computer for YEARS (in addition to icloud), is honestly a big joke in my eyes.

    Everything that has happened since has only cemented my opinion that Android is not actually an open platform. I do see many of the changes as potentially valuable security measures for the masses, but I wish that it wasn’t quite so difficult for a power user to use the power of the little computer we carry in our pockets.

    I feel exactly the same way

    • Domi@lemmy.secnd.me
      8·
      2 years ago

      Their backup system does handle app data, but only if the app does not opt out of it. Which is an incredibly stupid system. It’s my phone, if I tell it to backup up my data it better back up everything. I don’t care if some banking app thinks it’s too good to be backed up.

      However, as a long time rooted phone user I know that the rooting community is always 2 steps ahead of Google so most likely nothing will change.

      • alr@programming.dev
        1·
        2 years ago

        I’m not sure I want my banking apps to store anything on my phone in the first place. But maybe that’s just me. I don’t even use banking apps.