Did Google backtrack on their decision to lock out custom ROMs?

sbarnard86

I ask because I saw a post on reddit containing a link to an Italian tech article mentioning they'd reversed their decision. But wanted to ask here instead of trusting something off reddit. Thanks in advance and thanks for what y'all do!

raccoondad

sbarnard86 Google has not locked out custom ROM operations at all for the Pixel series.

Blastoidea

Good thing to ask here.

Getting your information from Reddit is not the best way to stay informed.

aurocha

But they didn't publish devices trees for the A16 release, which is kind of a bummer and requires extra effort get the firmware. It's kind of a betrayal to AOSP, since Pixels were the 'de facto' standard target to build Android but apparently they are in the process of locking their devices further.

And everyone is trying to figure out what's going to happen with the next Pixel 10 release. I hear there's a chance of them stopping the bootloader unlock altogether.

Let's wait and see. It's all speculation at this point. GrapheneOS devs are working extra hard to deliver A16 upgrade while making an effort to prepare for future releases.

Kudos to them.

grayway2

aurocha not publishing device trees is the first step. In the future we will probably have pixels with a fully locked bootloader.

aurocha

grayway2 if that actually becomes the case, I'll end up having to buy other devices, like Samsung's S we series or even an Iphone. Tensor chips are subpar when compared to other offerings.

schklom

Btw, here is the article in question https://www.dday.it/redazione/53363/google-dara-il-codice-sorgente-dei-pixel-agli-sviluppatori-che-lo-chiedono

fid02

schklom That article unhelpfully doesn't link to the form that it's referring to. I'm sure that if Google actually made the necessary component source code available that we would see it in an announcement by the GrapheneOS project on their social media accounts and on this forum, but there hasn't been any announcement about that. The article is useless when it doesn't cite a source. Also not clear if it's just referring to kernel source code or something more.

schklom

fid02 Agreed on not providing the link being a major mistake, but it does refer to the Pixel's device tree being available upon request (maybe for a fee) if you obtained that Pixel in the last 3 years. I'd be surprised if it was fake, but it could be.

FlipSid

Personally I try to avoid reading articles on the Internet altogether.

Most of them are just text, for the sake of somebody producing text to dump out on the Internet.

So, be careful what articles you put in your brain.

As far as I understand A16 will be shipped by GrapheneOS, the rest is unimportant (for me) until A17 turnes up.

Just my 2c

spl4tt

FlipSid You're right that we're "safe" until A17 rolls around, but if the Pixel 10 series won't be unlockable, the future could get very uncertain. If GOS doesn't have a device to put their OS on, why would they continue?

As of now, we're safe. Development "just" takes longer, and is more painful.

FlipSid

spl4tt Pixel 10 comes around August 2025. At least that's what a quick search reveals.
I f it's completely locked we still have Pixels of the 9th generation and below.
How long was the support of GrapheneOS for theses devices?
Which puts us back at worries about it when Android 17 comes around.
And who's knows what will happen until then?

r134a

FlipSid How long was the support of GrapheneOS for theses devices?

Till EOL of those devices, i don't think they intend to do extended support anymore if the situation stays as is.

spl4tt

FlipSid Yes, we all know when Pixels are released, and yes, we indeed will have all older devices then, with the slower development, but still, the future is very uncertain at that point.

Even if we have support until around 2030/2031, my pixel 8 pro is already slowing down quite a bit. it'll probably be fine for two more years, but what if it breaks? We know that it's getting harder to find old devices when newer ones come out.
The future is just uncertain right now. We know more when P10 series come out. Until then it's alls speculation

raccoondad

I want to remind people there is no indication of the Pixel series removing the OEM unlocking feature in future generations.

All we know is Android moved the primary development platform from Pixels to Cuttlefish.

This is probably due to the fact Android may be required to separate from Google, in which case Google would want to keep the Pixel series as their property.

OEM unlocking doesn't effect potential rights issues, pixels be 'the' android platform may.

Regardless, we won't know anything until its released.

vaic

Well, I am enthusiastic, even things will get harder, but not impossible I guess thanks to the community!
it is the hacking perspective. When they close the main door, that doesn't prevent getting in through the window!!
If we "the community" do a massive support, each one with 5$, maybe that will accelerate things (time being=money?).
I just love GOS, it is even a better "in terms of security" than a linux desktop that is not even hardened by default (except for QubesOS?).
Reverse Engineering with AI could help/accelerate alot these days!