Technology

What does this mean for GrapheneOS and similar degoogled android versions?

The only response I've seen so far from F-Droid is that they've put up a banner to Keep Android Open. Has there been any kind of plan for next steps?

In the meantime port linux OSs to be easilly installable on Android devices

Not sure how I should feel about this, if I should support the cause to keep android "open" (when it's everything but), or if I should be happy that this piece of shit OS finally shows it's true colours and people (including me) will finally be forced to find an alternative or stop using this trashware all together.

And hopefully developers finally get serious about GNU/Linux phones.

Sorry to piss off all the Apple shills on here, but sounds like an opportunity to me. I think there's enough of us that want something better and some traction with Graphene and some Linux options. This should be a spark to ignite some fires. I'm disappointed but unsurpised by this news, but also a little excited about the window of motivation and opportunity this opens.

Feels a lot more interesting to just pick up a feature phone, and use it as a hotspot modem for a laptop.

I have F-Droid on my Android phone. Iike having a marketplace where I can download floss apps.

!linuxphones@lemmy.ca

They aren't competitive with Android or iOS phones presently

don't have the scale of userbase

but there's only one way that that's going to change, and that's people starting to use them.

("Linux" here as in "GNU/Linux", as opposed to "the Linux kernel", which Android phones also use.)

EDIT: Another option is to try to shift software use off of mobile devices as far as is practical, if you're willing to carry a second, larger device like a laptop. Just use the smartphone as a phone and as a modem for Internet access via tethering. I've generally been aiming to do that myself. I realize that that's not practical for everyone.

That approach does have some perks

you can get your audio jack, because the space constraints of a phone go away. You aren't dependent upon your hardware manufacturer for N years of updates before your hardware is forced to become out-of-date software-wise. The devices are generally a lot more capable and upgradeable. The hardware is more modular, and there are considerably more options. You can run whatever software you want.

But...it's bigger, the software library isn't generally optimized for small touchscreen use, so one-handed use while waiting in line isn't generally ideal, and it consumes more power. You can run some Android software via stuff like Waydroid, but I'm sure that software that requires a trusted hardware stack won't accept that.

Gonna have to wing Ubuntu touch and figure it out as i go. Fuck this shit. Access the boot loader while you can