It’s a big question. I know.

But given that we have the source code to Android (AOSP) and the community to collaborate with, couldn’t we just create an entire ROM filled with the necessary applications and utilities, all open source, and with modern UI?

It’ll take a shit load of time, and effort. Definitely. But maybe if we banded together? A unified OS running only open source software, with the option for Google Services via something like MicroG, so that we don’t need to worry.

I’m no expert. I’m just floating an idea. But I’d love to know if this is possible, step-by-step…

Edit: I know custom ROMs are a thing. I use one. I’m just saying, what if we go ahead and make an open source ecosystem that runs under the same project, so that there’s a set of services and apps that are free, open source and non-corporate.

Edit2: I forgot the Lineage project exists. Nevermind 🤦🏻‍♂️. Let’s just try to support it. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

  • QuikxSpec@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    Would be great for open source infotainment systems. Hard to get away from Android auto or Carplay

  • Apeeksiht@lemdro.idEnglish
    4·
    1 year ago

    Running project zephyrus as my daily driver it is based on CLO project.

    Better apps

    Chromite - google chrome

    Mull - firefox

    YouTube revanced - stock youtube app

    Sadly can’t replace whatsapp with anything.

    • iesou@lemm.ee
      2·
      1 year ago

      Beeper is free now and it’s native chat is Matrix, but it also supports whatsapp, iMessage, and Signal along with Google RCS. It doesn’t get rid of your WhatsApp entirely (unless you can switch your friends to Matrix) but it does seem like a good solution to at least consolidate all that stuff.

      • Apeeksiht@lemdro.idEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Interesting I’ll look into this. Thanks. WhatsApp became a necessity here in my country almost everyone uses it.

  • june 🌿@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    This would be easier if more hardware was easier to put custom OSs on. For example, my phone is dumb and doesn’t have an unlockable bootloader, so i’m stuck with android forever on it. For devices you can actually work on, lineage and graphene are cool projects that i’d love to see embrace the sort of holistic experience you’re talking about~

  • coolin@beehaw.org
    2·
    1 year ago

    Only thing really missing is Wallet and NFC support. Other than that I think Graphene and Lineage OS cover it all

    • pimento64@sopuli.xyz
      1·
      1 year ago

      Only thing really missing is Wallet and NFC support

      It’s for this reason I keep having to temper my recommendation of degoogled Android, because I often forget most people don’t consider that a feature.

        • ReversalHatchery@beehaw.org
          0·
          1 year ago

          It can never work, because most (if not all) payment related apps check in with google safetynet to see if your phone runs approved software and if it is locked down from your access.

          Actually, there are workarounds… but that either involves installing closed source system mods (because they rely on security through obscucity to avoid their ways being patched), or always patching banking apps themselves to not actually check for it… until that’s not enough anymore.

      • trident_burger@mander.xyz
        0·
        1 year ago

        It would be nice if Wallet worked. A workaround for probably a pretty small subset of Graphene/degoogled users is to use a Garmin watch compatible with Garmin Pay.

  • Sina@beehaw.org
    21·
    1 year ago

    The problem is manufactures are doing everything to sabotage users running custom roms on their devices. Frankly everything you highlight exists already, though there are very difficult problems on the image processing front. Personally I would much rather use a full Linux distribution on a phone, than AOSP without the play store.

    Also micro G is not a solution. Having a desktop browser to access drive, docs and photos could be, especially if there were some unique rendering options for those things. (microG is bad, because Google can break it at their leisure)

    • MazonnaCara89@lemmy.ml
      1·
      1 year ago

      Not gonna lie microg is not that bad, as everything as it’s downsides, in my experience, indeed I’m writing this comment with a phone that has lineageos and microg installed.

      Thing like gps are not the best not the worst either, bur every app I use work without any problem! And in the list there is even the app for my credit card.

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    At this point, I’d be more than willing to use a Linux based distro that’s a full-on desktop distro scaled down for the size of a phone screen and made to work with a variety of phone hardware and just use something like Waydroid or whatever would be better for the few games and apps I actually use daily.

    Though I feel we are very far away from that since the closest we have that I know of is Ubuntu Touch, which I don’t know whether it’s even still worked on or not. I’d definitely devote time or funds if I had either the know-how to make the dream a reality or disposable income to help fund it, though.

    Sure there are AOSP ROMs that provide privacy and that do their best to remove all traces of gøøgl€ exist, but at this point I feel like we need more options like a desktop distro like experience for mobile. That’s just my unimportant 2¢ on the subject, though.

    • CalcProgrammer1@lemmy.ml
      1·
      1 year ago

      Typing this from my OnePlus 6T running postmarketOS. I have Waydroid installed. It works quite well. The Linux phone experience is getting consistently better all the time, but I have been keeping a spare Android phone around for calls as calls still have issues with Linux phone (missing audio sometimes, no Bluetooth handsfree support).