Google Keeps Making Smartphones Worse
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Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
Two most important open source projects right now are PostmarketOS and Servo.
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Unfortunately the Android experience is getting more and more bloated and users' freedom to tinker with their phones or sideload apps is getting more and more difficult. The Play Store is riddled with more ads than useful content. Just try searching for something, and oftentimes more than half of your screen is ads.
I've been with Android since the start and I hate what Google is reducing it to. It pains me that the only viable alternative is Apple and I feel trapped.
Long term you should look out for Waydroid compatible devices. Basically linux devices (smartphones, tablets, pcs) that run android containers very close to hardware so you can run your important android apps while not having to rely on the mess that android is for everything. There is a GApps version too if you need google shitware for some reason. Ubuntu Touch (smartphone os) is one of the most prominent to implement it. Personally i hope to eventually just get rid of my phone and only have a laptop with a sim-card and waydroid.
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Fairphone just released the Fairphone 6.
Unfortunately for the EU only. -
Just because it doesn't have latest Android doesn't mean it's trash. And Fairphone also aims for 7 years support just like your Pixel example.
Not having security updates makes it effectively trash, as far as I'm concerned.
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Garmin would work and isn't iOS or Android based
I bought a Garmin to accompany my Graphene Pixel, only to discover that my bank doesn't support Garmin Pay.
So, MagSafe wallet attached my phone it is then.
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The big problem with anything not Google or Samsung is, as it's always been, software support. You get 2 or maybe 3 years of updates and then the device is trash. So you can save a buck on the short term but it will cost you more in the long run and you'll have shitty devices all the way along anyway.
You can buy a 2 year old Pixel for $2-300 and it will last you another 4-5 years (unless Google remotely nukes your battery).
All phones that are sold in the EU now have to have 5 years of updates after the phone is no longer sold.
Basically, all phones have 6+ years of updates now.
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android peaked with the pixel 2. then everyone went overboard on bezel-less displays and fast refresh rates and smart assistant services and brought the whole damn thing crashing down.
I don't think the issue with phones is the smaller bezels or better displays.
That's not what's ruining them.
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Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
I'm on hyperos and every time I have to touch anything pure Google I feel like I'm on a windows PC.
Don't get me wrong, hyperos isn't a pinnacle of freedom, but all I do with my phone is basically using Firefox and take photos (+ signal, & SMS) and use the lichess app.
It's so infuriating, they steal our data, but just needs more. I'll try a Linux FOSS system next phone.
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Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
Linux phones will hopefully fix that soon(ish)
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I really want to try a pinephone or something with Ubuntu touch. It’s likely not daily driver ready but I’m still curious at how far along it is.
Can't speak for Ubuntu Touch but tried PostMarketOS on PinePhone and PinePhone Pro.
The PP works well, good support for most things included SIM, camera, BT, etc but it's big and bulky, also IMHO not powerful enough for Waydroid so no Android apps, "just" Linux. Relying on the browser to avoid using app is rarely practical as it's too slow.
The PPPro being more powerful should cover the gap... but some lack of support, specifically the camera, makes it tricky as daily driver.
Both PP and PPPro don't have great battery and/or power management so you can go through a day of usage, barely, and you might get stuck in a cycling loop if you depleted it entirely. That means also as daily driver, if you are not very cautious, it's tricky.
So... we are nearly there but unless you have a very VERY minimum usage of your phone, basically a dumb phone with a bit of CLI to remote connect to your own server from time to time, it's probably not practical for now.
Maybe the Liberux NEXX thanks to its power would have closed the gap but the failed crowd funding campaign shows that price point does not have a market fit right now.
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Can I get a rundown of the few non-flagship phonemakers that are currently out there? I have heard of The Nothing Phone. Are there more companies that put together Androids to operate within the US?
Daily driving the cmf with /e/OS from Murena for few months now, warmly recommended.
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With the new sustainability laws in EU they have to offer 5 years of updates from the sale of their last unit.
The Ecodesign Regulation lays out minimum requirements for mobile phones, cordless phones and tablets to be sold on the EU market to ensure
- greater resistance to drops, scratches, dust and water
- use of more durable batteries, capable of at least 800 charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of their initial capacity
- clear rules on disassembly and repair, requiring manufacturers to supply key spare parts within 5-10 working days, and for at least 7 years after the product model is no longer sold in the EU
- longer availability of operating system updates, at least 5 years from the date the last unit model is sold
- fair access for professional repairers to the software or firmware needed for repairs
New EU rules for durable, energy-efficient and repairable smartphones and tablets start applying
Designed to boost the product lifespan, energy efficiency, and ease of repair, the measures will also help consumers make more informed and sustainable purchasing choices.
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu)
clear rules on disassembly and repair, requiring manufacturers to supply key spare parts within 5-10 working days, and for at least 7 years after the product model is no longer sold in the EU
Wonder how if there is an equivalent that applies to eBike. Been waiting for my CowBoy belt since February now. Do not recommend. No more "designer" eBike now, I'll only buy bikes with the most standard parts.
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Linux phones will hopefully fix that soon(ish)
It's gonna be the year of the Linux phone, I can feel it!
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I bought a Garmin to accompany my Graphene Pixel, only to discover that my bank doesn't support Garmin Pay.
So, MagSafe wallet attached my phone it is then.
I just hope the new pebble supports a Sim card soon but I'm not holding my breath. I just want talk, text, and a calendar. Music or a matrix app could be cool too so I can run beeper or similar through it. Other than that I have a tablet or laptop and tbh I'm thinking my next tablet when this one finally dies or I maybe give it away would be a remarkable or other epaper device. My coworkers are starting to think I'm a Luddite but whatever.
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All phones that are sold in the EU now have to have 5 years of updates after the phone is no longer sold.
Basically, all phones have 6+ years of updates now.
You realize there's a whole rest of the world that's not the EU?
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i hard people use a answer watch to get nfc payments working
I'm trying to make my own smart watch as a hobby experiment at the moment, and one of my most important features is NFC payments. It's a nightmare, although I understand why. Currently my plan is to buy another smart watch or smart ring and take the NFC chip from it, which is maddening, but more or less my only option due to contactless payment security.
To do contactless payments, your bank must effectively permit the specific device, otherwise go through GPay or Apple Pay, who in turn just do the permitting themselves. Anything outside of the standard ecosystem just gets overlooked.
The best workaround while avoiding these companies is to find a smart watch or ring that has compatibility with a proxy card, such as Curve. But beyond halving the price of the accessory, this is pretty much an arbitrary decision.
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Can I get a rundown of the few non-flagship phonemakers that are currently out there? I have heard of The Nothing Phone. Are there more companies that put together Androids to operate within the US?
i have oneplus12r this my first non-pixel phone, you might want to visit the oneplus sub to look for other peoples experience. if you are looking for good deal on phones, online stores like swappa is a good start. i like the battery life of it. midsize cost, if your looking for budget , you can go motorola series, i did consider it at first.
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You get 2 or maybe 3 years of updates and then the device is trash.
Yeah, I've noticed this as well...
... which is why I was surprised when I read that Nothing Phone 3 will get 5 years of updates + 2 years of security updates.
Nothing Phone 3 will get the company's best software update promise to date
The Nothing Phone 3 is confirmed to get up to seven years of software updates, including five major Android versions.
Android Authority (www.androidauthority.com)
Nothing’s Co-Founder and Head of Marketing, Akis Evangelidis, has confirmed that the upcoming Nothing Phone 3 will ship with a “5+7” software update promise. ...likely means the phone will get five years of Android version updates and seven years of security patches...
Although, you can't install GrapheneOS on Nothing phones... so,
isnt graphene mostly pixels only.
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Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
Still use my Windows Phones with Windows 10 Mobile as my daily drivers. Best OS to date.
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Yup. Motorola is Chinese Lenovo now sadly. Lenovo is absolute trash devices and support.
This is false. Lenovo has some of the highest marks for reliability, customer service, and upgradability; not to mention price.
