this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2025
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Google’s Gemini team is apparently sending out emails about an upcoming change to how Gemini interacts with apps on Android devices. The email informs users that, come July 7, 2025, Gemini will be able to “help you use Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities on your phone, whether your Gemini Apps Activity is on or off.” Naturally, this has raised some privacy concerns among those who’ve received the email and those using the AI assistant on their Android devices.

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[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 63 points 23 hours ago (4 children)

All I need is a good enough emulation of android apps to fool them (eg for banking).

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 32 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (3 children)

Sailfish OS has it.

Unfortunately the project has some closed source bits which, imho, aren't an issue when you look closer (some parts of the UI). Maybe I'm naive but I trust this EU company.

I use it as my daily driver. It certainly is frugal compared to recent Android versions, but fully functional.

It's an actual Linux OS (as opposed to any Android version). Things work the same way they do on my laptop & server.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 11 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I used Maemo on my N900 <3.

I don't wanna use Sailfish bcs of the phone support tho, I'm shallow af & I need my hardware :(.
(I also have a few other Sailfish issues, the source code/availability/package, the licencing - but I feel like all of those could/would change with some growth.)

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 7 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

I understand. But I think it's right that they concentrate on a few devices. There's also something about SONY openly providing firmware and encouraging unlocking, something "Open Devices" iirc.

Ah, the N900...

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 1 points 19 hours ago

Yes, I agree.
But Sony has drivers out there for a few more devices.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 6 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Sadly, SailfishOS is region locked. Being from North America, I can't purchase their phones, or use the trial/emulation option, which really sucks because I like a lot of what I'm seeing there.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Us here in NA finally get to see what its like on the other side of the region locking coin haha.

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, I'd be happy if they had an unsupported version, but I get that could cause negative publicity for those who couldn't accept that unsupported means exactly that.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 1 points 7 minutes ago

Fwiw I use a phone imported from the UK (Nothing Phone 1) in NA without problems so who knows why they won't do this.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 17 minutes ago

There are a few happy US users on the forums. Maybe check out what they have to say.

I'm sure the company is perfectly happy with having these users. AFAIR the reason they don't sell outside EU is that it would add hassle, mostly sales legalities.

I didn't know you cannot buy the C2 in the USA, but I would recommend an Xperia X10 II or X10 III anyhow.

[–] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Do you by chance know if WeChat and Facebook messenger work on it?

Those apps are critical for my work.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 points 7 minutes ago

Check the forums.

FWIW, Signal works perfectly, WA too.

[–] sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works 11 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

Can you get by with web access? That's what I do and it's fine.

[–] IronKrill@lemmy.ca 3 points 15 hours ago

Depends who you bank with. Some desktop websites suck on mobile and some don't even allow certain actions on desktop. For some ungodly reason Wealthsimple requires me to do almost everything via app. It's one of the reasons I barely utilise their services.

[–] hcbxzz@lemmy.world 2 points 15 hours ago

Not for depositing checks

[–] TheLastOfHisName@lemmy.world 1 points 17 hours ago

Yup. I use my bank's website on my phone. Works plenty fine for me.

[–] rakeshmondal@lemmy.zip 9 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Unfortunately banking apps are only going to get harder to run on software uncertified by Google.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 7 points 17 hours ago

Just monopoly things.

[–] zqps@sh.itjust.works 6 points 16 hours ago

"Hello there." - Play Integrity API