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CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

copperhead.co

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Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#51

Post by ausjke »

ninjin wrote: post #4
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #2

"It will not support devices outside of the Nexus and Pixel lines." This is really sad to me. :/ As far as we've come, everything mobile is still irritatingly device-specific.

"Devices will be supported until Google drops support from the Android Open Source Project. Google guarantees major version updates for at least two years after launch. Security updates are guaranteed for three years after launch along with 1.5 years after the last device is sold." As someone that is still using a phone from 2012, this is problematic since I have no intention of getting a new phone that often. Is the…

This is also the biggest concern to put Android into non-phone/non-tablet(i.e. no consumer devices) embedded products, which can run for years.

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#53

Post by dogma1138 »

ausjke wrote: post #50

How does this compare to CyanogenMod? Security is definitely important but how much should I trust this OS? Both CyanogenMod and CopperheadOS should be able to run smoothly withoug google-specific apps I believe, which is nice for some.

The problem is the vast majority of applications actually require Google services to run on Android devices. Running an Android device without GApps is pretty much pointless unless you are really using it for a very very specific purpose.

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#54

Post by ywecur »

dogma1138 wrote: post #53
ausjke wrote: post #50

How does this compare to CyanogenMod? Security is definitely important but how much should I trust this OS? Both CyanogenMod and CopperheadOS should be able to run smoothly withoug google-specific apps I believe, which is nice for some.

The problem is the vast majority of applications actually require Google services to run on Android devices. Running an Android device without GApps is pretty much pointless unless you are really using it for a very very specific purpose.

F-droid apps disagree

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#55

Post by ForHackernews »

dogma1138 wrote: post #53
ausjke wrote: post #50

How does this compare to CyanogenMod? Security is definitely important but how much should I trust this OS? Both CyanogenMod and CopperheadOS should be able to run smoothly withoug google-specific apps I believe, which is nice for some.

The problem is the vast majority of applications actually require Google services to run on Android devices. Running an Android device without GApps is pretty much pointless unless you are really using it for a very very specific purpose.

It would be (relatively) easy to put together another suite of utilities offering the same API as the standard GApps, in order to allow 3rd party apps that depend on that API to function. Rumor has it Samsung has just such a project in the works, in case they need to punch the eject button on their relationship with Google: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsungs-secret-mission-...

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#56

Post by superskierpat »

akerro wrote: post #10
fweespee_ch wrote: post #8

This project seems interesting but largely impractical until a truly independent FOSS app store exists with a wide selection + security track record as good as Google Play or iTunes. I don't see how it gets there with such a narrow hardware selection.

https://guardianproject.info/2016/03/28/copperhead-guardian-... There you go!

This makes the project alot more interesting to me.

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#57

Post by carkje9 »

ForHackernews wrote: post #55
dogma1138 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is the vast majority of applications actually require Google services to run on Android devices. Running an Android device without GApps is pretty much pointless unless you are really using it for a very very specific purpose.

It would be (relatively) easy to put together another suite of utilities offering the same API as the standard GApps, in order to allow 3rd party apps that depend on that API to function. Rumor has it Samsung has just such a project in the works, in case they need to punch the eject button on their relationship with Google: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsungs-secret-mission-...

It's in progress.

https://microg.org/

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#58

Post by carkje9 »

ninjin wrote: post #4
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #2

"It will not support devices outside of the Nexus and Pixel lines." This is really sad to me. :/ As far as we've come, everything mobile is still irritatingly device-specific.

"Devices will be supported until Google drops support from the Android Open Source Project. Google guarantees major version updates for at least two years after launch. Security updates are guaranteed for three years after launch along with 1.5 years after the last device is sold." As someone that is still using a phone from 2012, this is problematic since I have no intention of getting a new phone that often. Is the…

Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your device is lucky enough to have support it can last you a long time.

[0]https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxy...

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#59

Post by e12e »

carkje9 wrote: post #58
ninjin wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Devices will be supported until Google drops support from the Android Open Source Project. Google guarantees major version updates for at least two years after launch. Security updates are guaranteed for three years after launch along with 1.5 years after the last device is sold." As someone that is still using a phone from 2012, this is problematic since I have no intention of getting a new phone that often. Is the…

Cyanogenmod still supports security updates for the Galaxy S, a model released in 2010.[0] Is it still worth using a six-year-old phone? Maybe not, but if your device is lucky enough to have support it can last you a long time. [0] https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?type=nightly&device=galaxy...

I recently lost my Note 3, subsequently bricked my HTC "Pico" explorer - bought as a dev phone and GPS device due to the notorious GPS issues on my first Android; a Galaxy S. So now I'm back (typing this in Firefox) on my ancient Galaxy S, running a recent cyanogen build [Ed: 11 nightly, based on Android 4.4.4 kitkat. I believe I tried 12 - but it failed to install].

It kinda works. Had to force a move from dalvik to art, and force HW rendering - there are quite a few stalls. I haven't tried encrypting the device; it's already slow enough.

Ironically(?) Firefox works better than Chrome. Signal seems to work OK (only for sms so far due to missing network effect; I don't message anyone with signal installed).

I'm considering just getting a new battery (replaceable battery, yay!) - as it is cheaper than getting an LG g3, nexus 5 (no memory card slot, bleh) or a Sony xperia z3 (waterproof). I wouldn't really say it's usable - but a g2 or 3 might be OK. [Ed:The low RAM on the early devices appear to me to be the worst issue. I wouldn't recommend buying a device with less than a gig of ram. the Galaxy S has ~384mb.]

Re: CopperheadOS: A hardened open-source operating system based on Android

#60

Post by hackuser »

ausjke wrote: post #50

How does this compare to CyanogenMod? Security is definitely important but how much should I trust this OS? Both CyanogenMod and CopperheadOS should be able to run smoothly withoug google-specific apps I believe, which is nice for some.

CyanogenMod's priority is not security; it prioritizes things like stability, compatibility, non-technical end-user experience, and relationships with developers. For example:[1]

Rule #1 of CM is "Don't break apps".

We recognize that there are nefarious apps out there, and many of our users would actually understand how to use permission controls (and the implications of using them). With our huge userbase, we have a responsibility to ensure that applications aren't running in a hostile environment, and work as designed.

We are all privacy advocates at CM, but I am not willing to compromise our good relationship with application developers in order to implement features like this.

Much more here:

https://plus.google.com/+SteveKondik/posts/iLrvqH8tbce

[1] See Kondik's 29 May 2013 message in https://jira.cyanogenmod.org/browse/CYAN-28?page=com.atlassi...

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