Forgive me for this stupid question. I just transitioned from iPhone to Pixel (GrapheneOS) and I’m curious why there isn’t a built in PDF viewer like on iPhone? It feels like you have to open things externally pretty often, but I figure there’s a reason for that. I haven’t used Android in many years and I recently developed an interest for the technical aspects of things, so again, do forgive this beginners question.

Cheers y’all!

  • woelkchen@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    4 months ago

    Retail Android ships with Google’s proprietary PDF viewer. GrapheneOS isn’t the default experience.

  • m-p{3}@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    Easier to maintain and update when the reader is an app not part of the core OS.

    • redcalcium@lemmy.instituteEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      Pdf has a mind-bogging array of features, which make it so entrenched in the corporate world with no viable replacements at the moment. Things like forms where users can fill them out and submit (surprisingly a popular feature), cryptographic signing to prevent tampering, DRM, etc. Heck, I think you can even add JavaScript code to a pdf.

  • ililiililiililiilili@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    GrapheneOS actually has a built in PDF reader. Open the “Apps” app if it isn’t installed. Look for “PDF Reader” and make sure its installed.

    • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOPEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      I think I might be using the wrong terminology, forgive me. What I mean is, in my case, why does the PDF have to open in PDF reader instead of directly in the browser (like on iPhone)? That’s what I mean when I say “opening things externally.”