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Google’s Gemini team is apparently sending out emails about an upcoming change to how Gemini interacts with apps on Android devices. The email informs users that, come July 7, 2025, Gemini will be able to “help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” Naturally, this has raised some privacy concerns among those who’ve received the email and those using the AI assistant on their Android devices.

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[-] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 224 points 1 month ago

Linux has become good enough to replace desktop operating systems.

Now, we are back at square one. I’ll be the first to inaccurately declare, “This will be the year of the Linux phone.”

[-] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 73 points 1 month ago

All I need is a good enough emulation of android apps to fool them (eg for banking).

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 37 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Sailfish OS has it.

Unfortunately the project has some closed source bits which, imho, aren't an issue when you look closer (some parts of the UI). Maybe I'm naive but I trust this EU company.

I use it as my daily driver. It certainly is frugal compared to recent Android versions, but fully functional.

It's an actual Linux OS (as opposed to any Android version). Things work the same way they do on my laptop & server.

[-] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 14 points 1 month ago

I used Maemo on my N900 <3.

I don't wanna use Sailfish bcs of the phone support tho, I'm shallow af & I need my hardware :(.
(I also have a few other Sailfish issues, the source code/availability/package, the licencing - but I feel like all of those could/would change with some growth.)

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I understand. But I think it's right that they concentrate on a few devices. There's also something about SONY openly providing firmware and encouraging unlocking, something "Open Devices" iirc.

Ah, the N900...

[-] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

Yes, I agree.
But Sony has drivers out there for a few more devices.

[-] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

Sadly, SailfishOS is region locked. Being from North America, I can't purchase their phones, or use the trial/emulation option, which really sucks because I like a lot of what I'm seeing there.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

There are a few happy US users on the forums. Maybe check out what they have to say.

I'm sure the company is perfectly happy with having these users. AFAIR the reason they don't sell licenses outside EU is that it would add hassle, mostly sales legalities.

I didn't know you cannot buy the C2 in the USA, but I would recommend an Xperia X10 II or X10 III anyhow.

[-] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago

Do you by chance know if WeChat and Facebook messenger work on it?

Those apps are critical for my work.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 2 points 1 month ago

Check the forums.

FWIW, Signal works perfectly, WA too.

[-] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 14 points 1 month ago

Can you get by with web access? That's what I do and it's fine.

[-] IronKrill@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

Depends who you bank with. Some desktop websites suck on mobile and some don't even allow certain actions on desktop. For some ungodly reason Wealthsimple requires me to do almost everything via app. It's one of the reasons I barely utilise their services.

[-] TheLastOfHisName@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Yup. I use my bank's website on my phone. Works plenty fine for me.

[-] hcbxzz@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Not for depositing checks

[-] rakeshmondal@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 month ago

Unfortunately banking apps are only going to get harder to run on software uncertified by Google.

[-] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 7 points 1 month ago

Just monopoly things.

[-] zqps@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago

"Hello there." - Play Integrity API

[-] pfr@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 1 month ago
[-] cenzorrll@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago

That looks far too polished with locked in specs for them to not have any prototype. I'd trust companies that have actually made a product that has a janky Linux implementation that's improving, than one that doesn't exist yet relying on crowdfunding.

[-] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 1 month ago

Isn't Android using a Linux kernel already?

[-] loutr@sh.itjust.works 25 points 1 month ago

Yes, but everything above it (including drivers) is custom-made and tightly controlled by Google.

[-] balder1991@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Yeah, but the kernel is a low-level module that handles hardware, memory, and processes—it’s not what users interact with directly, so sharing the same kernel doesn’t make it all that similar as you’d think.

What makes Linux feel like ‘Linux’ to users is the stuff on top: the userland—bash, coreutils, package managers, X11/Wayland, etc. Android replaces almost all of that, so even though it uses the Linux kernel, it doesn’t feel like Linux.

[-] GreenMartian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 month ago

Yes. IIRC it's based on latest LTS kernel with Google patches. So it's been "year of the Linux phone" for a while now.

It's unfortunate that the slop they put on top of it is such a privacy nightmare. PostmarketOS is trying to change that and supports Plasma, Gnome, etc. But it's early days yet and still rough around the edges from what I've been reading.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 8 points 1 month ago

This is my fourth comment shilling SFOS here, but it just might be what you're looking for. It is my daily driver.

[-] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 month ago

That’s pretty cool, I’m working now, but I’m checking out its Android app compatibility.

If it can run my work stuff, I’ll be so happy.

[-] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago

The forum has a thread specifically about banking apps.

[-] pfr@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 month ago

Wish it was supported in more countries.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago

I use Linux since debian 3.0 and I don't think Linux is ready to replace desktop os yet. The universe has come up with bigger and more powerful idiots.

[-] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

Linux had reached idiot parity with windows at least. Idiot proof OS is a fable that cannot be reached.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

Maybe in "appliances" like the steam deck. There are still driver and software support issues. There's a big "familiarity" gap. There's a lack of pre-installed systems. We are not at parity yet.

[-] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

You think there aren't driver and software support issues in windows 11?

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago
[-] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

What you said only makes sense if you believe that to be true.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago
[-] BotsRuinedEverything@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Android... is a Linux phone..?

[-] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 month ago
this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
857 points (100.0% liked)

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