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. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

  • june 🌿@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    3·
    10 months 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~

  • Sina@beehaw.org
    2·
    10 months 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)

  • Apeeksiht@lemdro.idEnglish
    2·
    10 months 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
      1·
      10 months 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
        1·
        10 months ago

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

  • coolin@beehaw.org
    1·
    10 months 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
      0·
      10 months 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.

      • trident_burger@mander.xyz
        0·
        10 months 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.