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Linux phones are more important now than ever. (feddit.org)
submitted 12 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) by Ulrich@feddit.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml
159 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

E: apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate.

Android has always been a fairly open platform, especially if you were deliberate about getting it that way, but we've seen in recent months an extremely rapid devolution of the Android ecosystem:

  1. The closing of development of an increasing number of components in AOSP.
  2. Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus have removed the option of bootloader unlocking on all of their devices. I suspect Google is not far behind.
  3. Google implementing Play Integrity API and encouraging developers to implement it. Notably the EU's own identity verification wallet requires this, in stark contrast to their own laws and policies, despite the protest of hundreds on Github.
  4. And finally, the mandatory implementation of developer verification across Android systems. Yes, if you're running a 3rd-party OS like GOS you won't be directly affected by this, but it will impact 99.9% of devices, and I foresee many open source developers just opting out of developing apps for Android entirely as a result. We've already seen SyncThing simply discontinue development for this reason, citing issues with Google Play Store. They've also repeatedly denied updates for NextCloud with no explanation, only restoring it after mass outcry. And we've already seen Google targeting any software intended to circumvent ads, labeling them in the system as "dangerous" and "untrusted". This will most certainly carry into their new "verification" system.

Google once competed with Apple for customers. But in a world where Google walks away from the biggest antitrust trial since 1998 with yet another slap on the wrist, competition is dead, and Google is taking notes from Apple about what they can legally get away with.

Android as we know it is dead. And/or will be dead very soon. We need an open replacement.

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[–] Zink@programming.dev 4 points 29 minutes ago (2 children)

Smart phones are simultaneously such a wonder of human engineering and have become such a disappointment of human greed.

This whole situation has made me just care less about my phone, and use it less in my life while I use Linux PCs much more.

I don't see my phone as a "computer" at this point, really. It's more of a communication appliance. If I'm launching an app that's not texting, calling, GPS, or music, it's probably a replacement for a website I'd normally use on a PC.

Linux phones could change this though. The idea of your PC being your docked phone would work great for most use cases. Unfortunately though, even though I would love it I don't really see the general public jumping at the chance to get back to the desktop experience. I could maybe see a little traction in the business world.

[–] fading_person@lemmy.zip 1 points 9 minutes ago (1 children)

I found myself using my phone less and less too, and to be honest, I'm even feeling healthier mentally. Portable devices were supposed to improve our life, not make it worse. Big tech did something really terrible to phones :(

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 minutes ago

Well, you came to realize that the smart devices made by big tech are now designed to manipulate the user. Not benefit them. Think about it. The phones come all preloaded with social media crap. So, it's just a tap away. And it's all so the big tech companies can monetize their attention; never letting go of them.

Gradually, more people are realizing this. And, I, for one, am happy they are pulling the smartphones out of the schools. The younger people just can't function anymore, and it shows.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 13 minutes ago

As for me, I just went back to a flip phone. So much less of a headache.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (2 children)

My solution? Giving up the smartphone. They are too fragile and are high maintenance. I've simply had enough. So, I went with a Sonim XP3Plus flip phone. Mainly because the screen on the Pixel 3, the phone I went through the trouble of putting a custom ROM on and setting up just right, broke somehow inside.

Yeah, the flip phone runs Android, but it comes as a scaled down version of Android (no Google crap, or extra apps, like any app store; just the basics), so I don't have to do any modding. And I just keep my plan cheap for unlimited calling with very little data (I keep the data off anyways, so I don't care).

Basically, I've gone old school to solve a modern problem (for music, I went with an old school MP3 player). And if people can't be bothered to pick up the phone, I move on. This is where I stand now. I've had enough.

I feel like I finally have peace again after 10 years of using the smart phone. Being disconnected while outside is great.

Best part? The flip phone can last about 2 weeks on a full charge.

PS: Being completely off Google; even YouTube? Feels amazing. I've turned to Odysee, Peertube and B-chute and use those with RSS feeds. No algorithms.

This is how I solved the modern tech problem.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 4 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

I went with a Sonim XP3Plus flip phone

This is how I solved the modern tech problem.

You didn't solve any problems, you just opted out of a whole bunch of features.

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 minutes ago

He did solve a problem, his problem. What's the deal with thinking everything that applies to you applies to others?

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Features that I really didn't give a crap about in the end. Also, my point still stands; smartphones are way too fragile and high maintenance.

So, I did solve the problem; by choosing not to bother with it. For the sake of my sanity. It was the only sane choice to make, given how stupid (and exploitative) modern smartphones have become. All this has done is set people back, wasting more time for absolutely nothing. Rather than being present, people are walking down the street with a phone in their face. It's a sad future for society. Thankfully, I was born long before smartphones were a thing. So, I know how to live without one.

At least I can say this; I am not crying about why Google or Microsoft is doing "this" or "that" to me all the time in a constant cycle. That's no solution at all. Cutting out the problem was the solution.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

I did solve the problem; by choosing not to bother with it

Walking away does not solve the problem. It just makes it no longer your problem. Everyone else still has to deal with it. Not everyone has that privilege.

[–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

If we all stopped the world would adapt. The council let the street signs rot because everyone is on gmaps, restaurants stopped having menus just qr codes, places in England were you get kicked out if you insist to pay by cash.

All of it would be reversed if.. we reversed A pipe dream but weirder things happened

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Kicked out for using cash? You are serious? That is so backwards... What about old people who don't use smartphones and use the old school landline? And if a restaurant didn't have a paper menu, and wouldn't offer me one, I would just walk right out. Clearly, they don't want people's business. It should be accessible to anyone who is willing to pay. Not just smartphone users. What kind of dystopian fate is this? That's like discrimination for not owning... an algorithmic pushing slot machine. lol

Plus, people use their smartphones everywhere. Even in the bathroom. Then they bring it to the dinner table? That's so gross. Horribly unsanitary.

[–] jnod4@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

They did reverse the cash ting at the pub, every day a different customer would have a proper argument about it. Don't ask why I was there everyday tho

[–] jjlinux@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 minutes ago

It's a pub. I think there should be no questions 🤣

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 hour ago

For observing the chaos over that poor decision? 😂

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

If we all stopped

Okay well let me know when you get everyone to stop. Until then...

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

You keep on supporting it, then it will never change. Just like supporting the smartphone ecosystem still. It has way too much power over people's lives. Sorry, it's not healthy.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

People can change things if they really want to. The real issue is that most don’t want to because they are tied to a bunch of mainstream junk on their phones; thanks to those manipulative algorithms. And that is what you need to realize. Until then, you'll never be free.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

Yes and no. Some of us actually need our phones to accomplish things. Work, primarily. As people mentioned elsewhere, simple things like accessing their banking accounts. I wish we didn't, but we do.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

I’d never do banking on a smartphone; not in a million years. One theft or hack in public, and all your money and data are at risk. Beyond that, people put far too much of their lives into their phones, and that’s the bigger problem. And that's the aspect you want to keep avoiding.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I’d never do banking on a smartphone; not in a million years.

They're not doing it by choice. The phone is used as mandatory authentication to access the account.

One theft or hack in public, and all your money and data are at risk

...and how do you suppose your laptop is immune from this? Or your desktop, even?

that's the aspect you want to keep avoiding.

I'm not avoiding anything. What you fail to understand is that not everyone's situation is the same as yours. For some of us, these things are outside of our control.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 0 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

  1. I have a separate flip phone with a number to get a verification code to access my bank account at home. It's only used for getting codes (and nothing else). So, no chance of a SIM swapping.

  2. I just said I do my online banking at home (with a local only encrypted password manager; KeePassXC). Why would I do online banking in public in general when I do my online banking at home? In public, that's taking a huge risk; regardless of the device you use. I just couldn’t dream of doing anything confidential in public; cafes, trains, anywhere. It’s a huge unnecessary risk, and I choose to avoid it entirely.

  3. And you are avoiding everything I am telling you, choosing to continue to make excuses for yourself. That's why you will forever be where you are.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

no chance of a SIM swapping

I don't think you understand how SIM swapping works but that's an irrelevant tangent, so I digress.

You are still not understanding what I'm saying: Many banks require an app to be installed on a mobile device (that is, iOS or Android) for account verification in order to access your account. Nothing at all to do with your SIM. You cannot access your account without this app being installed on a mobile device.

I just said I do my online banking at home.

Who said anything about doing banking in public?

you are avoiding everything I am telling you

No. You are.

We're done here.

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 45 minutes ago)

Keep on avoiding the issue then, and keep up the good fight with the smartphone ecosystem. It will never end for you. For as long as you defend the smartphone ecosystem, and that you want to avoid the fact that the smartphone controls your life. This is what I mean; tech, like the smartphone isn't serving the user anymore. Instead, the smartphone has become your master. And you, its slave.

Just look around; people walking down the street with their heads buried in their phones. It tells you all you need to know about who is the master and who is the slave.

PS: Use a different bank if they force you to only use an app. Just a thought? Just like restaurants forcing QR codes; walk away. You can make the choice any time you like. 🙂

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

😬 I'm writing this on my pixel 3... What happened??

[–] dreaper@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 hour ago

Screen broke inside somehow. So, screen wouldn't turn on. Touch worked I didn't know where I was tapping and accidentally called 911. So, since I wasn't using the phone for anything else than calling, I said to heck with it and went back to the flip phone.

[–] AbsolutePain@lemmy.world 8 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I'll consider a Linux phone as long as the following are met:

  • Battery life is decent (for me this means a minimum of 24 hours of light use and no mystery drains).
  • Reliable enough to not fear for my life when traveling.
  • UX is polished enough to not be painful.
  • Email notifications and communication apps work correctly (Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp).

If these are met, I'll buy whatever is available in a year or two.

[–] fading_person@lemmy.zip 1 points 6 minutes ago

UX is polished enough to not be painful

This one requirement I believe to be already met. Mobile kde, for one, is pretty nice. I believe the bottleneck of linux phones are really in the hardware

[–] AdrianTheFrog@lemmy.world 9 points 3 hours ago

Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus have removed the option of bootloader unlocking on all of their devices.

Got me worried (bc i have a newish oneplus phone) but apparently OnePlus is only doing that in China for now. Still not a good sign for the future...

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Imagine if vendors like Anbernic started shipping devices that had phone hardware supported with open software. That would be so rad. They already run android and Linux and have a vibrant community.

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 2 hours ago

This thing looks like it has all the hardware you need to make a cheap cell phone...

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

xiaomi is doing something like motorola, in which they drop support for unlocking older devices.

pretty slimy move considering those are the ones that need it the most. very disappointed in a manufacturer that otherwise makes great hardware.

[–] Hack3900@lemy.lol 14 points 5 hours ago

Ubuntu Touch has a planned release for September 24th! Eager to see what devices have a full compatibility rating to know what I'll buy next

[–] eskuero@lemmy.fromshado.ws 11 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I have a Pixel 9 Pro which is supposed to get security updates until 2031 but at the pace Google is closing Android down I wonder if it will even be viable to stay on an AOSP degoogled ROM until then.

I feel like the future is leading us to a place where we will have to reduce our mobile computing to a trusted but slow and unreliable main phone while keeping a secondary mainstream device for banking/government apps.

[–] ninth_plane@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

I also think disconnecting the concepts of "pocket computer" and "always-on two way radio with location tracking and internet connectivity" are things you could put in different physical devices.

[–] wiki_me@lemmy.ml 7 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Have you looked at the state of how open source smartphone os projects are funded? Seems like not enough people think it is currently important. i saw no bump in funding since the announcement. I would say the best bet is trying to help one of these projects with fundraising and trying to educate or convince enough people it is worth investing in. and obviously donate if you can. Although to be honest even i don't do that (i think i invest enough in FOSS).

Once i bought a phone i tried to pick one that is friendly for FOSS projects and went with a pixel (which grapheneos recommended). so voting or signaling with your wallet is an option.

I also think something like codeberg. where anyone can be a member if he pays fees that help fund the organisation and democratically elect a board that decides what to fund could be helpful. codeberg has a pretty good organic growth so that is encouraging but i don't know if there is enough interest in that.

[–] swelter_spark@reddthat.com 55 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

My next phone is definitely going to be a Linux phone. I don't care if it's ready. I'm ready.

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