I don’t know what opinion to form. The openness of Android is constantly abused, but Google seems to be overcorrecting by locking it down more than iOS in certain cases and reducing choices for users to use/customize their device as they like. I can’t backup my damn Minecraft worlds without paying Microsoft $4/month for a server to act as an intermediary, or I have to download an unvetted third-party Minecraft addon. On iOS, the “walled garden”, you can use the Files app or connect to your computer and backup.
Would decoupling Android from Google help Android’s long-term future? Let some non-profit organization with different goals take over? With that said, it’ll be a big challenge for them to figure out licensing, funding, development, etc.
I’m on a Pixel 6a running Android 14. Material You has grown on me. I still dislike gesture navigation. Would love to see more lockscreen customization.