Uncertified device = no Google messenger

[slitherjef]

Welp, Google taking more steps to be anti root. Most of my last few devices have been uncertified in the app store, some apps like netflix won't work because of this. That's okay. Don't watch netflix on my handsets.

Ran across a couple headlines that now Google is going to block it's messaging app on uncertified devices soon.

Google Messages may stop working on 'uncertified' Android devices in March

It seems that later this year, Google intends for its Messages app to stop working on "uncertified" Android devices.

9to5google.com

This is a load. Wonder if hangouts is next (it barely exists).

Well, if I can't root android, or a pixel device what's the point of using Android anymore? 🤨

 

[ian87w]

Not sure why this is an issue.
I only used Google Messages because of RCS, and that's not critically necessary either. Plenty of alternative or even stock SMS app. I can understand not supporting rooted devices. One feature of RCS is encryption, so Google is probably trying to prevent potential middle-man attack since anything can happen on rooted phones.

It also makes sense for Netflix to not support rooted phones. Netflix has to make sure their copy protection are working.

I used to play around rooting my old Android phones. That's mostly to get updated security patch/Android update since most OEMs didn't bother with updates back then. Nowadays, I guess personally I don't really see the point of rooting. Unlike iPhones, one can sideload apps to any non-rooted Android phones. If the developer doesn't want to support rooted phones, there's probably a reason for it (copy protection, afraid of piracy, security, etc). I think as a user, we should respect that, and find alternatives (which are aplenty on Android).

I mean if we rooted our phones due to our preferences, then we should respect the preference of developers not wanting to support rooted phones for whatever reasons, including Google themselves. Android is open source, so plenty of alternative ways to do things.