In a recent development, the latest update of the Pixel Camera app (version 10.x) has introduced a significant hurdle for users operating on de-Googled systems, such as GrapheneOS. The crux of the issue lies in the app’s new dependency on Google Play Services, which has resulted in crashes and an inability to launch the application altogether.
Understanding the Dependency
The root cause of this malfunction has been traced back to a seemingly innocuous missing font. According to insights from Android Authority contributor Assemble Debug, the app now requires the Google Sans Flex font, which is exclusively available through Google Play Services. A crash log shared within the GrapheneOS Telegram group revealed that the app’s new version includes a reference to this font resource ID (0x7f090013), a change not present in the previous version (9.9), which functioned seamlessly on de-Googled Android builds.
With the introduction of version 10, the Pixel Camera app’s reliance on Google Play Services as the font provider has become apparent. This dependency is the reason behind the app’s failure to operate in environments devoid of Play Services.
Potential Solutions for Users
For those affected by this issue, there are a couple of viable solutions. The most straightforward approach is to revert to the older version of the Pixel Camera app (9.9.106.773153235.19). Users will need to uninstall the current version before proceeding with the rollback and should also consider blocking future updates to avoid similar complications. Alternatively, users who have implemented sandboxed Play Services can continue utilizing the latest version of the Pixel Camera app without encountering any issues.
This minor yet impactful change underscores a growing trend: Google’s applications are increasingly intertwined with its own services, raising questions about the flexibility and accessibility of its software in diverse operating environments.
