Hello all,
just got my Android Phone with LineageOS installed. (Pixel 3a (LineageOS 22))

Have a question now regarding Apps needing Google Services. When Installing LineageOS i have opted out of installing any Google Apps, at least I really do think so.

However, I just installed Aurora Store to install a banking app I need. I did not do anything else and only installed Aurora Store and the Banking App without microG or other replacement. It says under compatibility that it would work with limited features if Google Play Services are not installed so I thought I give it a try and see how far I get.

Surprisingly far as it turns out. Everything works except for notifications, but that was to be expected. But now I notice two updates in the Aurora Store:

• Android System Intelligence
• Private Compute Services

Am I correct to assume that these are integral to the AOSP/LineageOS? or does Aurora Store install Google Services when missing? I kinda expected that those components would be updated through the normal LineageOS update flow and not through Aurora Store.

Hope somebody can clear those questions up.

PS: Android is so incredibly delightful btw. happy to have switched back.

EDIT: Just checked and looked for those apps in the setting and there it even states that they were installed through the Aurora Store. Now I'm extra confused :(

cross-posted from: https://piefed.world/c/tech/p/1088794/google-teases-liquid-glass-inspired-design-coming-with-the-next-material-you-design-lang

You won’t believe what’s next for Android! Tune in to the The Android Show | I/O Edition May 12 at 10 am PT for a look at the future.

Set a reminder at Android.com/io-2026 and be the first to know 🗓️

Source.

I'm looking for the algorithm details on Android versions 8.0 to 11, not on Android 13+ (12 doesn't have this feature). I tried searching the Android source code on cs.android.com but couldn't find the source code that performs this operation :-(

Edit: I found an article on this.

https://9to5google.com/2026/04/26/gmail-google-gradient-redesign/

https://www.theverge.com/tech/918852/googles-new-gradient-icon-design-is-coming-to-more-apps

ThePhotoJournal

A guide to figure out whether GrapheneOS makes sense for you and how to set up
a smartphone or tablet with Android 16, using GrapheneOS, in a privacy-focused
way.

First off, I loathe at&t. Never use them. Verizon was far superior.

Anyway, I'm now having an issue where if I send any web links they get blocked over SMS, especially to iPhone users. Very very annoying.

Not to mention group SMS/MMS being garbage now. I am not sure if it has to do with me using an esim for at&t or what. They wanted to force me into a new phone and I said no because I'll be going with a pixel and graphene after this contract is up.

Anyone else have these issues? Also their WiFi calling is garbage, not that I need it anyway.

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/48972893

Please share any knowledge or experience that you have on packet inspection using smartphones. I would like to sniff at my switch, which is switching between my (two LANs)^[I put "two LANs" within parentheses to denote that the two LANs are not being switched between.] and my ISP. For this, I have mirrored all ports that are in use to a port that is currently not in use. Can I simply buy one of those USB-C to Ethernet dongles and use tcpdump in Termux? Will Android recognize the dongle as a sniffable network interface? The phone is rooted.

I had a time-related work issue tonight and am seeking a way to guarantee it never recurs. Thanks in advance for any ideas! I have MacroDroid but I'm not sure of how to go about setting this up (namely the DND-overriding)...

I'm looking for an Android app that strips EXIF from photos before I upload them somewhere. I really care mostly about removing geolocation. I searched on F-Droid, I didn't find much. Has anybody used Scrambled Exif ?

Is there an explanation as to why exatcly update downloads are so slow from the game client in pretty much every game on Android i ever played that had such a thing. Screenshot is from magic arena but i also had this happen in fantasy war tactics and some other games ( cant really remember the games as they were more try and forget they ever existed type of thing ) By comparison the downloads from play store ale blazingly fast . Is that some Android limitation or was i just unlucky and those particular games had shitty servers. Also why are they not keeping the whole game in play store and doing this weird in game updates ( Probably it costs more but i would love confirmation ).

I'm using GrapheneOS, the default Vanadium browser works great but it doesnt block ads. I want to install a 2nd browser just for youtube and my specific Google account for youtube. I also tried Newpipe and similar apps, but they cant use my Google's playlist and comments. I need them, that is why I think to use a 2nd browser.

Is there a way to set Youtube links (youtube.com, m.youtube.com...etc) to be opened in a non default browser, say Brave or Firefox?

The alternative app store Aptoide filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google in the USA over alleged monopolization. Aptoide, provider of an alternative Android app store, accuses Google of excluding competing app stores from the market by monopolizing app distribution and billing, thus violating US antitrust law.

If this can happen, is it possible that once mandatory developer verification comes into effect, all 3rd party apps will be uninstalled at first and require a re-install?

Concerning this specific case, NFCGate is a tool on which malware (family) titled NGate by ESET is based, thus likely causing a false positive.

Oh, and no bypass is available anymore (aside from disabling play protect):

For those out of the loop:

GameNative is an open source app to play PC games on Android, it supports Steam, Epic, GOG and Amazon.

https://gamenative.app/

Get 0.9.0 here: https://downloads.gamenative.app/releases/0.9.0/gamenative-v0.9.0.apk Or on Github here: https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative/releases/download/v0.9.0/gamenative-v0.9.0.apk

Includes exciting changes like initial Pixel 10 support, Steam Workshop support, Steam branch support. Full changelog in thread 🧵

Changelog:

What's Changed

Fixes since prerelease:

Fix touchpad right-click by @Nightwalker743 in #1071
fix: remove 30s brightness blackout from ambient download overlay by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #1086
add OpenAL Soft Audio support, added presets for WINEDLLOVERRIDES for Quick Audio fixing by @Catpotatos in #1102
BCN emulation was hidden from Proton x86_x64 by @Catpotatos in #1109
Fix old installs for storage mgr by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #1111
Handle store-specific best configs by @utkarshdalal in #1115
Reduce GC pressure in CaseInsensitiveFileSystem by @jeremybernstein in #1120
Fix crash on game start on Meta Quest by @lvonasek in #1105
Don't show logged out steam splash when offline by @utkarshdalal in #1138
Hide local saves only setting by @utkarshdalal in #1139

Fixes from 0.9.0-prerelease:

Updated Wrapper - initial PowerVR (Pixel 10) GPU support - thanks to @sharpy66 and @Pipetto-crypto
Added "use known config" and automatic best configs for Epic, GOG and Amazon by @unbelievableflavour in #892
Added Steam workshop implementation by @Nightwalker743 in #977
Added support for Steam game versions/branches by @morganwalkup in #870
Added "compatibility" filter by @unbelievableflavour in #813
Added downloads & storage manager by @xXJSONDeruloXx and @eredisg in #878
Added carousel layout by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #797
Fixes for launching from frontends by @jeremybernstein
Fix Steam cloud saves for games like Cult of the Lamb and Blue Revolver - apply UFS rootoverrides for Windows save paths by @kiequoo in #839
Screensaver for download screen OLED protection by @ObfuscatedVoid in #1017
fix for games with Steam Input by @kiequoo in #1026
Samsung DeX support by @AndreVto in #793
Upload achievements in real-time & custom achievement pop-up placements by @phobos665 in #975
Fix display of game playtime by @kiequoo in #957
Preserve settings on Steam logout by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #903
Winlator ludashi effects by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #803
Improve boot splash tip readability on dark displays by @nacl-dev in #823
Launch games in the correct workingDir, fix some cloud saves and no launches by @kiequoo in #775
Reduces boot time on external storage by @giovannygb in #747
Fix CursorWindow crash on large Steam libraries by @jeremybernstein in #961
add battery temperature metric to performance HUD by @xXJSONDeruloXx in #991
Nicer amazon images by @unbelievableflavour in #1021
Nicer images for in GOG detail screens by @unbelievableflavour in #998
Reduce buggy game calculation size (eg in RE4) by @jeremybernstein in #929
Adjust color scheme of the External Display Input (on Thor-type devices) by @MayRedBeWithYou in #838