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| ## page was renamed from Migrated/Android | |
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| This is a wiki page that everybody can edit. Check the [[Android|history|&action=info]] for the last authorized version. If you are a [[http://fellowship.fsfe.org|Fellow of the FSFE]] you can login right now with your usual Fellowship username and password; non-fellows can [[UserGuide#Guest_accounts|create a guest account]]. | |
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| = Free Your Android! = | = About Android and this page = |
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| {{{#!html <div align="center"> <a href="http://FreeYourandroid.org"><img src="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Android?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=FreeYourAndroid.png"></a> </div> }}} |
Android is an operating system mainly developed by Google. In the time of writing it is by far the most sold operating system on mobile devices with an estimated global market share of around 75%. Unfortunately, the Android Operating System and its technical environment suffers from two main anti-features: * important parts of the default applications as well as the majoritiy of third-party applications are non-free. To put users in control of their technology, the FSFE created the '''[[https://fsfe.org/activities/android/|Free Your Android campaign]]''' as early as in 2012. * because Android is devloped by Google but mostly used by third-parties to sell their hardware (Samsung, Huawei, Sony etc.), many devices suffer from software obsolescence. To help users extending their hardware usage time and regain control, the FSFE created the '''[[https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/|Upcyling Android campaign]]'''. This page is a wiki page and as a wiki page it serves the knowledge sharing and collection of both of the aforementioned camapaigns. This wiki pages also offers the following subpages: |
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| Android is an operating system mainly developed by Google. This page collects information related to FSFE's [[http://FreeYourAndroid.org|Free Your Android Campaign]]. Please start there to get an overview. | == Upcycling Android Workshops == A '''[[https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Android/UpcyclingWorkshops/|list of Upcycling Android Workshops]]''' - future and past - and an '''[[https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Android/UpcyclingWorkshops/About|information page]]''' about how to prepare for these workshops |
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| While the [[WikiPedia:Android_Open_Source_Project#Android_Open_Source_Project|Android Open Source Project (AOSP)]] is Free Software, mostly under the Apache 2.0 license, it is mostly incomplete and cannot provide a decent user experience on devices without the addition of proprietary libraries (without them you will be unable to use your phone as a phone, the GUI will be slow, GPS and camera won't work, and so on). Android is nearly never shipped as-is on devices. | == Operating Systems == A '''[[https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Android/OperatingSystems|list of operating systems]]''' that can be used as a replacement for the default Android. Every OS is explained in short with a link to the original sources. |
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| Vendors usually use non-free libraries together with their modified version of Android, for which they usually don't release the source code because they are not required to do so under the terms of the Apache 2.0 license, nor are the sources provided for non-free applications such as those found in the [[WikiPedia:Android_market|Android market]]. Consequently, the only source code they are required to release is that of the Linux kernel they are using, and sometimes the device is even [[WikiPedia:Tivoization|"tivoized"]]. As a result, most devices sold are running non-free software and must be liberated to give the user the freedom he/she requires. | == Apps == A '''[[https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Android/Apps|list of Free Software apps]]''' that you can use on your phone - no matter what Android or alternative system you are running, including a short description and a link to the original sources. == Phones == A '''[[link|list of phones]]''' that you can buy with Free Software operating systems pre-installed. = About Upcycling Android = {{attachment:upcycling-android-banner.jpg}} Although there are already more smartphones than humans on this planet, we keep producing additional 1.5 billion new smartphones every year. About 75% of them are Android phones, most of which are replaced again and again after only short usage times. This, although the environmental costs involved in the production of a smartphone are exceptionally high in comparison to its usage time. '''[[https://fsfe.org/activities/upcyclingandroid/|"Upcycling Android"]]''' is an initiative to change our short-term and linear consumption of smartphones and start upcycling our devices So called "software obsolescence" occurs when the manufacturer of a software ends the support for a current software so that no further support is provided and the subsequent version at the same time can no longer be executed on the previous hardware. In this case, the manufacturer runs consumers into the dilemma of either buying new hardware or to live with outdated software and potential security problems. Software obsolescence is a major concern throughout the Android world. Installing an alternative Free Software operating system can solve the dilemma through enabling all users and businesses to legally use, study, share and improve the software through its publication under a Free Software license. Apart from many other benefits, this leads into the situation that there cannot be a forced end of support or lifetime of any such software that is published under a Free Software license. This is in fact the most sustainable way of preserving digital resources as outlined in our study on software sustainability. If only one third of smartphone users would extend the usage lifetime of their smartphones for one more year, we could save hundreds of millions of smartphones from being produced. To help users to help themselves we organise '''[[https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/Android/UpcyclingWorkshops/|Upcycling Android Workshops]]''' = About Free Your Android! = While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is Free Software, mostly under the Apache 2.0 license, it is mostly incomplete and cannot provide a decent user experience on devices without the addition of proprietary libraries (without them you will be unable to use your phone as a phone, the GUI will be slow, GPS and camera won't work, and so on). Android is nearly never shipped as-is on devices. Vendors usually use non-free libraries together with their modified version of Android, for which they usually don't release the source code because they are not required to do so under the terms of the Apache 2.0 license, nor are the sources provided for non-free applications such as those found in the Android market. Consequently, the only source code they are required to release is that of the Linux kernel they are using, and sometimes the device is even "tivoized". As a result, most devices sold are running non-free software and must be liberated to give the user the freedom he/she requires. |
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| More information is available in an [[http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/android-and-users-freedom.html|article]] written by Richard Stallman. = The Operating Systems = == Replicant with the Nexus S == If you have a Nexus S the more efficient way to free your device is to install Replicant on it. Replicant takes !CyanogenMod and replaces or removes the non-free libraries, shipping an Android Market alternative (named FDroid) that permits the installation of applications that are known to be Free Software. The Nexus S is currently the Android phone that respects your freedom the most if used with Replicant. There are other phones that respect or promote the principles of freedom more (such as the !OpenMoko !FreeRunner) but they are not principally designed purely to run Android. === The Good === * The modem is isolated and doesn't control the sound card nor the GPS and cannot read/write to the memory accessed by the main CPU (the one running Android). It cannot access the main CPU filesystem if used with Replicant. === The Bad === * !WiFi and Bluetooth functions depend on non-free firmware. * The bootloader is proprietary, partially signed and hard to replace. * To be able to use the modem (necessary for phone calls), firmware needs to be loaded in the modem CPU, however such firmware is already present on the storage of the phone. After the firmware is loaded, the modem cannot access the main CPU filesystem if used with Replicant. == Replicant with the HTC Dream or the Nexus One == If you have a Qualcomm device you should consider buying a Nexus S, but if you can't you should install Replicant on it. The non-free libraries present on these phones may perform a form of surveillance or spying. Installing Replicant which replaces or removes these libraries ensures that the undesirable activities of such libraries is no longer a threat. However, the modem runs non-free software and controls your "sound card" (think about the implications of non-free software controlling your microphone), your GPS, and can read/write from/to the main CPU memory. That's why it's a second-choice solution. Note that the Nexus One requires firmwares for making phone calls while the HTC Dream doesn't. The Nexus One is compatible with Replicant 2.2 and 2.3 while the HTC Dream is compatible only with Replicant 2.2 and below. == CyanogenMod == If you cannot buy a Nexus S and your phone is not supported by Replicant but is supported by !CyanogenMod you should consider installing !CyanogenMod, but without installing the Google applications, installing FDroid instead. This will ensure that only Free Software applications will run on top of !CyanogenMod which is partially free (it ships non-free libraries). Note that here is a DRM provider app that you can [[http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Barebones|remove]]. === Non-Free Parts === !CyanogenMod includes non-free firmware which is required for most of the hardware to work. For each device these non-free files [[https://github.com/CyanogenMod/android_device_semc_iyokan/blob/gingerbread/proprietary-files.txt|are known]]. We need to help !CyanogenMod so they don't need relying to rely on non-free drivers. In the meantime, we need to ensure that at least the rest of !CyanogenMod stays free. So if you know about non-free software (except drivers and firmware) added to !CyanogenMod, please let us know about it! Currently we suspect that the [[http://clockworkmod.com/|ClockworkMod App]] that ships with !CyanogenMod is not free. Also there seems to be a non-free flash-plugin shipped with the default browser. Ideally, we get !CyanogenMod to remove those non-free parts. If we don't manage, we should write some script or app that removes all those parts easily for the user. = Freeing yout Android = == High-level overview == On most phones Android operating system is spread over several partitions, most important ones being: '''/boot''' - The main system boot loader '''/system''' - Partition where Android operating system is installed '''/data''' - Partition holding all installed applications and all application data (including system data - SMSes, contacts, etc.) '''/recovery''' - Partition holding an alternate bootable system meant for recovering broken Android installation and Android upgrades The goal of liberation is to replace the proprietary device manufacturer recovery program (which accepts only manufacturer-signed OS packages) with a custom one, which will allow installation of other operating systems (in our case CyanogenMod) to the "/system" partition. The steps required for most devices are as follows: 1. Backup user data (SMS, Contacts, etc.) 2. Gain root access on the device 3. Use root access to unlock bootloader to allow changes to "/system" and "/recovery" partitions (not all devices need that) 4. Use root access to replace manufacturer recovery with an open one (e.g. ClockworkMod, Amon_Ra, etc.) 5. Reboot phone into Clockwork / Amon_Ra recovery and use it to flash CyanogenMod zip file 6. From within Clockwork/Amon_RA wipe "/data" and "/cache" partitions to prevent boot-loops and OS crashes because of application version differences |
To put users back in control, the FSFE started the '''[[https://fsfe.org/activities/android/|Free Your Android campaign]]''' as early as in 2012. |
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| = The Apps = | |
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| == FDroid == [[http://fdroid.org/|FDroid]] is easy to install and provides free applications. Note that it doesn't require root permissions and is very easy to install, even without the command line. |
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| == Apps That Still Need To Be Liberated == Please add apps here that have no free counterpart, but are important to have on a free system. People can [[https://fsfe.org/campaigns/android/help.en.html#FreeingApps|contact the authors]] of those apps and ask them why they are not Free Software. * '''Public Transport''' App ([[https://market.android.com/search?q=public+transportation&c=apps&sort=0|market search]]) * [[http://oeffi.schildbach.de/index.html|Öffi]] is a very popular app which builds upon a [[http://code.google.com/p/public-transport-enabler/|Free Software library]] by the same author. * '''Menstruation Calendar''' and Calculator ([[https://market.android.com/search?q=menstrual&c=apps&sort=0|market search]]) * [[http://www.efrac.com/calendar/|Menstruation Ovulation Period]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.efrac.Calendar2|market]]) * [[http://christian-albert-mueller.com/mydays/|My Days – Period Tracker]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.chris.mydays|market]]) * [[http://www.dr-hein.com//64/Health_Services/moblie_apps/|Menstruationskalender Lite]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.drhein.healthservices.menstruationlite|market]]) * [[http://witiz.com/apps/menstrual-calendar/|Menstrual Calendar]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.guillaumegranger.mc|market]]) * '''All-round-Backup''' (You can only [[http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Howto:_Nandroid_Backup|backup your entire flash]] with !CyanogenMod's bootloader or use [[http://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=backup|apps]] that backup only some data) * [[http://www.matrixrewriter.com/android/|Titanium Backup]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup|market]]) * [[http://www.rerware.com/Android-Backup/|MyBackup]] ([[https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackup|market]]) * '''GSM-Hacking''' * [[http://www.silentservices.de/products/android-hushsms/|HushSMS]] ([[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.silentservices.hushsms|GooglePlay]]) * [please add your candidates here] === Responses to Objections We've Heard from App Developers === We already collected objections and responses on [[https://fsfe.org/campaigns/android/help.en.html#id-responses-to-objections-weve-heard-from-app-developers|FSFE's Free Your Android Campaign]]. If you know more, please add them here. * [please add here] ---- Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the [[http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/|Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License]]. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. |
[[Category/Activities]] |
About Android and this page
Android is an operating system mainly developed by Google. In the time of writing it is by far the most sold operating system on mobile devices with an estimated global market share of around 75%. Unfortunately, the Android Operating System and its technical environment suffers from two main anti-features:
important parts of the default applications as well as the majoritiy of third-party applications are non-free. To put users in control of their technology, the FSFE created the Free Your Android campaign as early as in 2012.
because Android is devloped by Google but mostly used by third-parties to sell their hardware (Samsung, Huawei, Sony etc.), many devices suffer from software obsolescence. To help users extending their hardware usage time and regain control, the FSFE created the Upcyling Android campaign.
This page is a wiki page and as a wiki page it serves the knowledge sharing and collection of both of the aforementioned camapaigns. This wiki pages also offers the following subpages:
Upcycling Android Workshops
A list of Upcycling Android Workshops - future and past - and an information page about how to prepare for these workshops
Operating Systems
A list of operating systems that can be used as a replacement for the default Android. Every OS is explained in short with a link to the original sources.
Apps
A list of Free Software apps that you can use on your phone - no matter what Android or alternative system you are running, including a short description and a link to the original sources.
Phones
A list of phones that you can buy with Free Software operating systems pre-installed.
About Upcycling Android
Although there are already more smartphones than humans on this planet, we keep producing additional 1.5 billion new smartphones every year. About 75% of them are Android phones, most of which are replaced again and again after only short usage times. This, although the environmental costs involved in the production of a smartphone are exceptionally high in comparison to its usage time. "Upcycling Android" is an initiative to change our short-term and linear consumption of smartphones and start upcycling our devices
So called "software obsolescence" occurs when the manufacturer of a software ends the support for a current software so that no further support is provided and the subsequent version at the same time can no longer be executed on the previous hardware. In this case, the manufacturer runs consumers into the dilemma of either buying new hardware or to live with outdated software and potential security problems. Software obsolescence is a major concern throughout the Android world.
Installing an alternative Free Software operating system can solve the dilemma through enabling all users and businesses to legally use, study, share and improve the software through its publication under a Free Software license. Apart from many other benefits, this leads into the situation that there cannot be a forced end of support or lifetime of any such software that is published under a Free Software license. This is in fact the most sustainable way of preserving digital resources as outlined in our study on software sustainability.
If only one third of smartphone users would extend the usage lifetime of their smartphones for one more year, we could save hundreds of millions of smartphones from being produced. To help users to help themselves we organise Upcycling Android Workshops
About Free Your Android!
While the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is Free Software, mostly under the Apache 2.0 license, it is mostly incomplete and cannot provide a decent user experience on devices without the addition of proprietary libraries (without them you will be unable to use your phone as a phone, the GUI will be slow, GPS and camera won't work, and so on). Android is nearly never shipped as-is on devices.
Vendors usually use non-free libraries together with their modified version of Android, for which they usually don't release the source code because they are not required to do so under the terms of the Apache 2.0 license, nor are the sources provided for non-free applications such as those found in the Android market. Consequently, the only source code they are required to release is that of the Linux kernel they are using, and sometimes the device is even "tivoized". As a result, most devices sold are running non-free software and must be liberated to give the user the freedom he/she requires.
Besides all this, due to the hardware architecture of some devices using Qualcomm system-on-a-chip technology, the liberation of a device may have a very limited effect since the hardware can still spy on you: the modem (a device which communicates with the GSM infrastructure) always runs non-free software and may exert another level of control and/or surveillance over the phone.
To put users back in control, the FSFE started the Free Your Android campaign as early as in 2012.