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Some personal news:
This is my last day at Android Authority, and it also marks the end of my time posting Android news!
I've spent the past 10 years writing about Android, and I've enjoyed every moment of it. What began as a hobby in college — tinkering with custom ROMs and modding my phone — turned into a long career, one totally disconnected from my degree in Biomedical Engineering.
Rahman made an enormous contribution to covering Android.
I can understand him wanting to move on though, the whole space is nowhere near as exciting as say in 2015. In the last ~5 years it’s been mostly iterative improvement. Even phone hardware has evolved to the point that there is minimal differentiation between the mid-range and flagships other than status (outside of some types of mobile gaming).
For me personally, I am done with Android. My A73 works great, any new phone I buy will not be tied to American corporations (to the extend possible), so no Android or iOS.
While the UI Framework isn’t fully open source in SailfishOS, it think in the short to medium term it’s better fit for my use cases; running open source apps whenever possible (currently via F-Droid on Android) and avoiding any app install otherwise unless there is no other option.
Not to mention and I am done with large American companies (especially tech companies or ones that don’t have a local presence).
So that phone still runs Android apps? But not from the Play Store I imagine? Or can you get the Play Store on that phone?
I would need something that can get our e-ID app installed. We use it for everything, from logging into my bank to applying for childcare compensation, to logging into the kids’ school system. Doesn’t seem to be available via F-Droid. ☠️
I am on Android 16, the A73 might even get Android 17. Even if it doesn’t get 17, I think government/banking apps on Android 16 will be usable for another 3 years minimum.
Who knows, by that time Europe might be forced to dump Android/iOS (as opposed to “wanting” to do it).
Rahman made an enormous contribution to covering Android.
I can understand him wanting to move on though, the whole space is nowhere near as exciting as say in 2015. In the last ~5 years it’s been mostly iterative improvement. Even phone hardware has evolved to the point that there is minimal differentiation between the mid-range and flagships other than status (outside of some types of mobile gaming).
For me personally, I am done with Android. My A73 works great, any new phone I buy will not be tied to American corporations (to the extend possible), so no Android or iOS.
If you had to buy a new phone today, what would you go for?
I am thinking of getting the Jolla Phone:
https://commerce.jolla.com/products/jolla-phone-preorder
While the UI Framework isn’t fully open source in SailfishOS, it think in the short to medium term it’s better fit for my use cases; running open source apps whenever possible (currently via F-Droid on Android) and avoiding any app install otherwise unless there is no other option.
Not to mention and I am done with large American companies (especially tech companies or ones that don’t have a local presence).
So that phone still runs Android apps? But not from the Play Store I imagine? Or can you get the Play Store on that phone?
I would need something that can get our e-ID app installed. We use it for everything, from logging into my bank to applying for childcare compensation, to logging into the kids’ school system. Doesn’t seem to be available via F-Droid. ☠️
Don’t think Play Store is available, but it supposed to run APKs.
We have the same issue with our e-ID and banking apps, they are used for everything.
I doubt our e-ID and banking APKs will work on SailfishOS compatibility mode.
My plan is too keep my current phone specifically for those two apps. Not optimal, but in my case Android/iOS isn’t viable any more.
I guess that’s the only option until those apps require a higher Android version than is available on the old phone. 😬
I am on Android 16, the A73 might even get Android 17. Even if it doesn’t get 17, I think government/banking apps on Android 16 will be usable for another 3 years minimum.
Who knows, by that time Europe might be forced to dump Android/iOS (as opposed to “wanting” to do it).