The Google Sevices and Pixel did serve a fundemental purpose, well beyond just locking into Google's ecosystem. The Pixel in particular was the answer to the sub-par Android experience, in that it...
The Google Sevices and Pixel did serve a fundemental purpose, well beyond just locking into Google's ecosystem.
The Pixel in particular was the answer to the sub-par Android experience, in that it set a baseline experience for what Android should be, the iphone equivalent while still leaving open for other vendors. A way to push to a less-bloated future. Plus, the ones from Google had an unlocked bootloader, one of the best at doing so.
The services were pitched as a way to avoid the security nightmare of unpatched systems, drawing the most security-critical services out of cell-provider/manufacturer control.
All that said, I definitely agree that being so dependant on Google Play Sevices is a major issue. Pixel features can be replaced if needed, but the huge number of 3rd party apps dependant on Google Services means it's nearly impossible to go Google-free anymore.
I hope that Linux phones manage to gain some genuine traction, because that's kinda the last hope. Locked bootloaders are killing software freedom.
The Google Sevices and Pixel did serve a fundemental purpose, well beyond just locking into Google's ecosystem.
The Pixel in particular was the answer to the sub-par Android experience, in that it set a baseline experience for what Android should be, the iphone equivalent while still leaving open for other vendors. A way to push to a less-bloated future. Plus, the ones from Google had an unlocked bootloader, one of the best at doing so.
The services were pitched as a way to avoid the security nightmare of unpatched systems, drawing the most security-critical services out of cell-provider/manufacturer control.
All that said, I definitely agree that being so dependant on Google Play Sevices is a major issue. Pixel features can be replaced if needed, but the huge number of 3rd party apps dependant on Google Services means it's nearly impossible to go Google-free anymore.
I hope that Linux phones manage to gain some genuine traction, because that's kinda the last hope. Locked bootloaders are killing software freedom.