crosspost from Enshitification@slrpnk.net
this post was submitted on 03 Jan 2025
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Imagine thinking that there are no modern Services or Communication besides Apple and Google
My point is that you're buying a branded device specifically because it has ease of use features but then you're replacing them all with custom services that you now need to upkeep manually and tend like a garden. It's over complicating the purchase.
A perfect interpretation by somebody staring out over the walls of their own garden. "Pah, look at those peasants out there, putting effort into their freedom. How stupid can you be?"
What do you mean? Just buy a phone that doesn't include tracking features if you want a phone without tracking features...? Like why buy a Mazda CX5 if you are going to modify it and replace the engine and body to turn it into a Honda Civic?
I get why people would want to privacy proof their phone but it's going overboard to basically undo everything that makes a flagship device a flagship device.
Ah yes, the market will surely regulate itself. So what phone would you recommend if I want flagship hardware (nice screen, fast processor etc.) but don't want to be tracked? You make it sound like I'd have a bunch of phones to choose from.
That's a false equivalency. You're not replacing the engine but replacing what controls the engine. No-one is ripping out the hardware of their phones in this picture. It's the software being replaced.
Privacy conscious people buy flagship phones for the hardware. The screens are better, the performance is better, they have more connections and whatnot (some higher wifi version, some higher bluetooth version, etc.).
Such as?
I've looked, and I can't find one. The best I found are:
I went with a Google Pixel 8 w/ GrapheneOS. I don't have any of fancy AI features that Google advertises because they all rely on Google Play services (no thanks), but it works competently as a phone, has 7+ years of promised SW support, and gets a decent repair score (not perfect, but everything important seems serviceable).
I'm coincidentally looking at buying a newer car, and everything has spyware, so I'll definitely be ripping out whatever phone home devices they have. This means no remote start, probably no navigation (though navigation doesn't need to phone home), and a bunch of other modern features won't work. But I don't get the option to get one w/o it w/o getting an older car, so I guess that's what I need to do. So I plan to rip apart the car to remove the SIM or antennas, or at least remove their power.
I wish there were actual privacy-respecting options available, but I guess this is the world we live in now...
No one likes the option, but Tesla uniquely will let you opt out of all car <-> Tesla communications. Don't buy full self driving as I don't think that works opted out. Definitely don't subscribe to premium connectivity as opting out disables connectivity.
Is there a guarantee that works? As in, there's no way to locate my car if stolen? Because that's what I want.
If there's a way for Tesla to access my car remotely after opting out, there's a way for them to change the terms of the sale and require phoning home. I want technical guarantees, not promises backed by a mutable service agreement.
Reporters seemed to believe them. It's not at all common though so I don't know if it has been tested to a convincing point.