Web will be locked down too, via secureboot stack browser integration (not -s, it's already actually monopolised to chrome only, as FF lives on full life support from Google).
Very sad how it was allowed to happen so easily.
Well, I fear that loophole is quickly closing with little fanfare.
Pixels (barelly) running a binary-blob-heavy port of android is far from what is being discussed here. In fact, that is intended as a misdirection and you fell for it by bringing it in here.
The companies selling you the devices make 1/3 (appl) to 3/4 (alphabet) of their entire revenue on Advertising.
Owning the indentity layer ensures they get fully addressable ads, which is the difference of $12 per impression instead of $.0001 per thousand impressions. But nobody is ready for this conversation.
That is how a free market works, however it doesn't really cover the "I need to function in society and there are no good options for this device type that have the features I care about" problem.
When your choice is between the NutPuncher 9000 and the BallCrusher 17, it's something of a false choice.
I’m not ok with it being the only option.
A great deal of people don't even understand the concept of installing software if it's not via the App Store, nor do they understand what's involved in the process. Explaining the issues of having a central authority is one degree further.
Instead, call them. Insist to talk to a human. Corporate really doesn't like call center calls, and they usually have monitoring set up to track why people are calling.
If I insisted on not using my phone, perhaps, I could... mmmm... hire a lawyer? to get the bank's attention... otherwise I'm completely at their mercy.
At my non-existent bank branch?
Any bank I'd actually want to associate with? No.
Imagine traveling somewhere, and run through the things you'll need to work without tinkering. Camera, eSIM, GPS/maps, more "exotic" messaging apps that for some reason people use instead of Whatsapp.
It seems like most Linux phones are barely suitable for someone that just goes home to work 99.999% of the time.
I really hate modern Google.
There isn't even an option to say "I know what I am doing and if a hacker takes all my money I won't cry to the bank". Probably the banks prefer that no emulators can snoop and see how exploitable their apps are.
It's unfortunate that democracies foster a system of corporate corruption here.
I notice this often when I try to, say, use firefox and my bank says, sort of "nah, use chrome only". And they only ever assume people to use either OSX or windows; Linux is kind of forbidden in the sense of "won't support it". But often it does not need any support, those browser or OS checks are wrong to begin with.
Also, you can use the bank's website for most tasks.
I think most non-techies could happily do this.
I've read somewhere that some banks will let you use their SMS 2FA as long as you haven't already used their mobile app.
Like, because of a disability, or because you don't have a smartphone? In the latter case, would it work to just go to the bank with a dumb phone?
They also have a different "Talk Device" that is specifically meant for people with disabilities and such, which is supposedly free to get once (80€ for replacements), but the page doesn't specify who can order it.
I used their App previously, and can just switch back to using the website, after authenticating via both sms and e-mail.
For example my phone provider has really overpriced international fees ($10 / day) so instead I use an eSIM which usually only comes with data. That means I lose the ability to use text messages or phone calls for any form of verification. A number of banks and other sites also block Google Voice / VoIP numbers.
I feel the same way about ISP modems (not routers). As long as I get an Ethernet port and the modem isn't doing anything untoward, I don't see any problem with letting the ISP's network termination equipment exist inside my house. Some people think there should be a right to hand off the connection as DSL or fiber and buy your own modem, and I think you should be allowed to do that at your own risk, but I don't think the ISP should have to support it. Particularly with PON fiber or CATV, it's actually a bit dangerous to let the customer use random modems as it's a shared medium with half your street and you wouldn't want to jam them.
says everyone, using chrome. sigh.