New OS versions feel like threats.
Poor Seang Chau. They wrote this blog post in a total of three paragraphs, but Google was still like “WOULD YOU LIKE AN AI SUMMARY?” at the top.
Literally took me about 45 seconds to read all of the features, but Google is over here burning down another rainforest to process an AI summary of a three paragraph blog post with three pictures.
Nothing really useful. What I would like to see is better battery life and truly Open Source Android which can be easily degoogled and customized and works on many different devices. An entire ecosystem of Android mods, like me have for Linux. Yeah, that would be nice.
I heard they are adding a desktop mode to android 16, curious if it would be possible to use phone and have a similar experience to an actual PC by connecting monitor and mouse/keyboard, well just using a browser, at the very least.
EDIT: found it
Future updates will also bring even more productivity enhancements to Android, allowing you to connect tablets and phones to an external display for an expanded desktop experience
I connected android phone to external monitor using USB-C like a year ago. I’m not sure what’s new here.
GrapheneOS. No need to even degoogle.
I’m talking about an ecosystem and you listed one mod. I use graphene OS, it’s great overall but I would like to have a choice. Maybe I don’t want to use a Pixel phone? Maybe I want different set of features?
I also use LineageOS, which also comes sans Google as a flavour, but it’s far less secure and much rougher about the edges than GrapheneOS. I choose hardware by alternative OS support. If you want a new tablet the only option is Pixel.
Mhh, the System Update page for 16 on my Pixel is dedicated to AI bullshit, nothing actually useful… Nice
They really need to take more time with major updates, what good is releasing a new version every year when it’s just new AI slop?
Its all soo boring now. The two major changes I got literally yesterday was to lock out pages in te app drawer and only have a scroll and to separate quick actions and notifications…both of which were new features years ago
Yeah, so far i noticed two “new” features in Android 16; the Contacts app now lists local weather info and birthdays which is nice I guess and Themed Icons are finally not listed as being in beta anymore…
The rest is AI stuff and features that are of no use to me (which doesn’t mean everything’s bad but it doesn’t feel like a major upgrade; more like a Pixel Feature Drop).
These are all app features, not OS features.
Everything in Android is an app tbh, even the launcher is a completely normal app.
The launcher is, but not everything new in Android 16 could be just an app. The new desktop mode, for example likely requires much deeper integration with the OS.
I mean yeah, you’re right about the desktop mode, but 90% of new user facing features are going to be in one app or another generally.
Technically the desktop mode itself might also be an app, though a window manager or desktop environment isn’t something we conventionally think of as an app.
No idea when I’ll get to touch a new enough Android to play with it. My old Oneplus is on shaky custom rom support and my daily driver is an iPhone (which will likely get much longer software support and is newer to begin with)
I suppose the distinctions between the OS and “just an app” are blurred on any OS. One might argue anything that isn’t the kernel is just userland software on conventional Linux.
On Android, anything a third party could deliver without system or root privileges is “just an app”. That includes keyboards, launchers, messaging apps, image editors, and smarthome device managers, but not direct management of network connections, notifications, or direct interaction with other apps (i.e. outside of intents or over the network).
If you’ve used an Android device with root access, you’ve seen things that fail this test. Anything that needs root to work can’t be delivered to most Android users unless it’s part of the OS or a system app.
I feel like Android and Linux (being that it’s what Android itself is based on) do the whole “everything is an app” much better than, say, Windows. On Windows, generally speaking, your entire desktop experience is built-in and so tightly coupled that it’s hard to switch it out. On Linux, you don’t NEED a GUI at all, but if you want one, you’ll have a display server, a window manager, etc. On Android, at least without the desktop mode, the base GUI is the launcher, which is just an app.
System apps that require root access are still apps. Of course the kernel isn’t really an app and I don’t think Google Play Services fits most people’s definitions of an app. System libraries aren’t apps. So those are the parts that you could consider true “OS updates” as opposed to “app updates”, but since the “apps” part of the system (if you include system apps) is so much more visible to the user, an OS update will seem like it’s mostly a bunch of app updates.
Now to wait 10 months for samsung to update.
And here i am with my phone still stuck on 14… I know it was a short time between 15 and 16, but still, catch up a little bit! Honestly, my only complaint about Android. I am not a fan of the pixel series either.
Edit: Never mind! I decided to check for an update and found it was ready as of early May, but for some reason, my phone didn’t check. Installing now. Now to wait another 8 months for 16.
IMO the only problem with using older version are security updates, or better, lack of them.
I so don’t regret saying fuck Google this year and getting an iPhone.
I have considered it, I used to be an.amdroid fanboy but I detest the privacy invasion concerns and AI.
That said iphones look shit not and are too locked down. Considering linux
I’ve been an Android fanboy since 2009. Flashed roms and all that shit. I’ve always stated that Android is a better OS than iOS. Still do to an extent.
But I can’t personally look past Sundar Pichai being directly at Trump’s inauguration in the front row or how fast Google immediately caved with erasure of DEI practices.
I’ve had issues with Google since Pichai took over, but this year was just too much for me here. Yeah Tim Cook is an ass. And Apple like everyone else threw Trump bribe money to not be targeted.
Yeah Apple runs Chinese sweat shops and their products are overpriced as fuck. But with the way things are at this time, Apple is the lesser of the two evils and I can’t go against my morals and support Google anymore.
Times like these make me wish Samsung went all in on Tizen and made it actually good.
I have hated Samsung for so long too though, they are just mini google. I want Android spun off
But youre getting liquid ▶️ass. As if that’s a better option.
Liquid ass that just works.
My guy. Nothing has ever just works™ now with ios. Their quality has been dropping hard. Riddled with bugs. Notifications is still shit, cant even seperate ringtone, alert and alarm sound, moving icon on homescreen is still infuriating mess, useless app library. That is just on top of my head. I dont remember what else since i dropped ios. Now this, you can bet some liquid gonna come out of people ass.
Dont get me wrong. A16 is equally shit. Blurry mess everywhere. Thank fuck i went with graphene.
graphene gang rise up
I have both. One for work. Use both everyday. I genuinely don’t get this argument. iPhones don’t work better. In any single way (this new update exclude, idk about that yet)
IPhones are way buggier than they used to be.
The one thing you’ll get to look forward to is any features Android is getting right now you’ll get in 5 years.
For the low low price of supporting a sell out company that is willingly collaborating with the Trump regime, I’ll get Android 16.
Loves me some Samsung, but am too disgusted with Google.
Use whatever you like, but don’t pretend Apple is a better company than Google.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Apple_Inc.
Besides, Cook also threw money at Trump.
Capitalisms loyalty is to capitalism, not a political party. You talk as if Apple isn’t doing the same thing.
Anyone with money is in bed with Donald.
