News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Google confirms Play store will continue to function for existing Huawei phones.

Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by josteink on Monday May 20, 2019 @03:27AM (#19958201)
First Google time-bombs their Nest-devices, and now they’ve created precedent for time-bombing huge swaths of Android-devices too.

All in less than a week. You’d be crazy to invest deeply into anything Google at this point.

Edit: This clearly shows the weakness with the android software update delivery mechanism and architecture.

If you install windows on a Chinese laptop, there is no way Microsoft is going to block updates for your laptop in any way in the future.

However if you buy a Chinese android phone, there is no generic update pushed to everyone equally, but there has to be a specific update tailored for your device. And everyone (Google, vendor, telecom service providers) can block those updates from reaching you.

If Google wants Android to remain a viable platform in the future, they’ll need to fix that.

Make all devices use UEFI for ARM and boot genetic OS images made equally for everyone. Or anything else. Whatever works.

I don’t care how, they just need to fix this mess.

Edit 2: I was about to replace my iPhone SE with a Samsung Galaxy S10e (3.5mm jack, wireless charging). I'm now reconsidering and might just end up with a new iPhone instead.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by v7p1Qbt1im on Monday May 20, 2019 @03:45AM (#19958254)
It‘s not like it was their choice to make. Intel, Qualcomm, etc. are doing the same. The US and Chinese government are to blame.

Edit: Quite possibly Windows will not receive updates on Huawei laptops anymore.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by emptyfile on Monday May 20, 2019 @04:17AM (#19958396)
As a European customer I couldn't care less if Martians were to blame... simply put I won't ever put a penny in Google's pocket if they brick my phone.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by andygates on Monday May 20, 2019 @06:44AM (#19959023)
That's why they're not bricking any phones.

"No more updates" ain't bricking.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by emptyfile on Monday May 20, 2019 @07:48AM (#19959437)
If no more updates means no more up to date security patches then as far as I'm concerned they killed my phone...

I know that's not what the word "bricked" means.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by MihailBurduja on Monday May 20, 2019 @05:06AM (#19958594)
It's not Google/Intel/Qualcomm's fault.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by josteink on Monday May 20, 2019 @05:13AM (#19958627)
His point is that not a single end-user in the world is going to care about that when their $500+ Google-powered device stops working.

Ultimately, this may erode trust in US-based tech companies in general, which for the long game may play into Huawei's advantage if they manage to come up with a viable competing platform.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by qxcbr on Monday May 20, 2019 @06:26AM (#19958947)
Maybe Average Joe won't care, but he's informed about what is actually happening, and he should care and take his decision based on that. The fact that he's proud of blaming the wrong party is not something to be applauded.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by josteink on Monday May 20, 2019 @03:52AM (#19958292)
> Quite possibly Windows will not receive updates on Huawei laptops anymore.

If that is true, that will be the basis of the biggest class action lawsuit in history, against Microsoft from every single company in Europe now being left vulnerable to attacks.

Microsoft knows that, which is why they will do everything in their power to ensure this is never happening.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by MihailBurduja on Monday May 20, 2019 @05:07AM (#19958601)
It's not MS's fault if US govt is not allowing them to push the updates to Huawei devices.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by josteink on Monday May 20, 2019 @05:11AM (#19958620)
The thing about Windows updates is that Microsoft will actually have to put effort into obtaining the knowledge about what kind of devices are requesting the updates, since the updates are utterly generic. Also companies can setup their own WSUS servers, which may again serve Huawei laptops. And what is MS to do about that?

In general, Microsoft's mechanism and architecture for OS updates are clearly superior to whatever Android has, since they can be applied blindly and generically across devices and units, with stupid proxies and mirrors in between.

More important than architecture though: Microsoft has fought the US government in the past when they have tried to enforce things Microsoft has disagreed with (like US governemnt blanket access to MS-owned EU datacenters).

I'm pretty sure they'll fight this one too. Their quite significant EU business depends on it.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Google confirms Play store will continue to function for ... by rakoo on Monday May 20, 2019 @05:53AM (#19958806)
I don't really see where China has faulted here.
[ Parent | on HN ]