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Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

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Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#51

Post by kec »

Erlich_Bachman wrote: post #22
supernova87a wrote: post #16

If you're this worried about leakage from signals, cameras, etc. what about the tradeoff of security where now you need to patch and monitor for any attacks on your device, now that you're off of any normal OEM's support? What's the risk of that being done poorly by you, versus having better control over these physical switches?

> any normal OEM's support? What "normal OEM support" (like which company, for example?) has been good at regularly releasing security patches and keeping on top of various vulnerabilities? Especially past the 1-2 years after the release date of the device? Especially if you consider those companies that without any real consent from you install dozens of their own adware and spyware on each update that you can't eve…

Apple’s average full support for iPhone is trending to around 4-5 years since launch. Several times they’ve issued critical security updates years after ending official support.

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#52

Post by noisy_boy »

I get the point of low cost phone to keep the price low. I also know that there is a group that, rightfully, enjoys hacking on low-powered hardware to push it to limits. However, I wonder if there is also an opportunity to also sell high spec hardware, maybe in limited quantity. These phones are not for the masses anyway and I'm sure there is a Linux enthusiasts segment with pockets deep enough to afford the hardware - they know what they are getting into. Atleast what works will work fast and the software will only improve as we move along - which means improved overall experience. Plus it helps with the project funding too.

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#53

Post by solarkraft »

mpol wrote: post #32
prox wrote: post #3

Is anyone usimg a linux phone? Love to hear use cases. I know about the PinePhone and the Librem, don’t know if there are others.

I am using Sailfish OS on a Sony Xperia XA2. I am using it now for about 1 year. Before that I used Sailfish OS on the original Jolla 1 for 5 years. I have also used a Nokia N9 with Meego Linux, which can be considered a forerunner of Jolla/Sailfish. It uses Qt, Wayland, Systemd. The original Jolla 1 even used Btrfs, which was deemed a mistake. Sailfish OS is available on more devices, like the Pinephone, Fxtec, Cosm…

> The original Jolla 1 even used Btrfs, which was deemed a mistake.

Why is that? Was it too young or is it generally impractical on a phone?

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#54

Post by COGlory »

noisy_boy wrote: post #52

I get the point of low cost phone to keep the price low. I also know that there is a group that, rightfully, enjoys hacking on low-powered hardware to push it to limits. However, I wonder if there is also an opportunity to also sell high spec hardware, maybe in limited quantity. These phones are not for the masses anyway and I'm sure there is a Linux enthusiasts segment with pockets deep enough to afford the hardware…

When this has been brought up about the PinePhone, the answer I've heard is that high spec hardware suitable for the project doesn't exist.

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#56

Post by autisticcurio »

Cantbekhan wrote: post #15

Off-topic but IMHO what is really needed these days is a privacy feature allowing all the UIDs to be changed freely by the user (without the need for rooting and firmware thinkering). Including randomized IMEIs and randomized Android ID (In addition to the already offered randomized MAC and Ad tracking ID changes). Especially IMEIs which are commonly used by many applications and law enforcement to track users (see B…

Changing the IMEI is illegal in the UK FYI and has been since 2002. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/31/introduction

Perhaps this legislation gives you a clue about how on the ball some Govt's are when it comes to security matters?

What you are suggesting is a phone that changes its obvious identifiers, but the problem with that is some services may not work, maybe an app purchased from an app store, or the network services you get from your cell provider, like answer phone facilities when you are in a dead zone. So if your phone is acting like a character out of Scanner Darkly, just how will it operate? How will your friends know its you calling if they dont recognise your number?

To have a cellular network that allows random identifiers, you would need a system which accepts prepaid communication time, but in todays age, just like bitcoins is a public ledger how would you convince someone to build a cellular network that accepted untraceable communication time tokens?

Whether you like it or not, Science stole your privacy the day you were born and continues to steal your privacy including your thoughts. Perhaps your best bet for some privacy is to limit your contact with other entities whilst also trying to change the laws for the better but as this requires interaction with other entities, it seems like you want a paradoxical situation to exist.

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#57

Post by tpxl »

noisy_boy wrote: post #52

I get the point of low cost phone to keep the price low. I also know that there is a group that, rightfully, enjoys hacking on low-powered hardware to push it to limits. However, I wonder if there is also an opportunity to also sell high spec hardware, maybe in limited quantity. These phones are not for the masses anyway and I'm sure there is a Linux enthusiasts segment with pockets deep enough to afford the hardware…

The problem with linux phones right now is not the price, but the usefulness/software. The UB Ports edition of the phone doesn't have a working camera, and the Mobian can only use one camera at a time, with a script to switch between them. In about a year when these issues are resolved I'm going to recommend them to everyone I know and probably buy them for my family.

As far as high end goes, Librem 5 from Purism has better specs (still a lot worse than high end Androids/iPhones. That's open source firmware for you).

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#58

Post by eu »

mpol wrote: post #32
prox wrote: post #3

Is anyone usimg a linux phone? Love to hear use cases. I know about the PinePhone and the Librem, don’t know if there are others.

I am using Sailfish OS on a Sony Xperia XA2. I am using it now for about 1 year. Before that I used Sailfish OS on the original Jolla 1 for 5 years. I have also used a Nokia N9 with Meego Linux, which can be considered a forerunner of Jolla/Sailfish. It uses Qt, Wayland, Systemd. The original Jolla 1 even used Btrfs, which was deemed a mistake. Sailfish OS is available on more devices, like the Pinephone, Fxtec, Cosm…

Does Sailfish OS get updates regularly?

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#59

Post by tpxl »

blihp wrote: post #11
prox wrote: post #3

Is anyone usimg a linux phone? Love to hear use cases. I know about the PinePhone and the Librem, don’t know if there are others.

I've got a Pinephone (the UBports CE, though I'm mainly running Mobian right now) Short term, the use cases are as hacker mobile Linux devices with most of the mobile hardware working (device drivers are still a WIP, Linux text/server software works flawlessly, GUI software is hit-or-miss right now) Long term, I'm expecting them to be perfectly serviceable basic mobile handsets. But they are still a ways off from bei…

How is the battery life? On UBPorts a few weeks ago I got about 8 hours standby, which truly is atrocious. I would probably switch to it being my daily driver if I can get 3 days standby on a distro.

Re: Linux PinePhone has physical kill switches for its cameras, mic, data, BT, Wi-Fi

#60

Post by davidhyde »

noisy_boy wrote: post #52

I get the point of low cost phone to keep the price low. I also know that there is a group that, rightfully, enjoys hacking on low-powered hardware to push it to limits. However, I wonder if there is also an opportunity to also sell high spec hardware, maybe in limited quantity. These phones are not for the masses anyway and I'm sure there is a Linux enthusiasts segment with pockets deep enough to afford the hardware…

The iPhone 1.0 came out in 2007 and it ran on a single core arm cpu under clocked at 412mhz and with 120MB of ram and the scrolling was butter smooth. I remember being shocked at how responsive the touch screen was compared to other smartphones at the time. The PinePhone contains an AllWinner A64 Quad Core CPU with 2GB of Ram. Sure, its a crappy 5 year old Soc but it is MUCH faster than the original iphone. I know, modern smartphones have a much higher screen resolution, but still. I mention iPhones instead of android phones because it took quite a few years for Android phones to achieve that same butter smooth experience.

The perceived slowness of the PinePhone is due to layers upon layers of software used to draw simple 2D stuff to the screen. I think a really simple bare metal GUI would be better than running a full blown linux desktop environment like GNOME. Even if you "skin" and strip it down for mobile, it is still laggy as hell.

Linux on a smartphone => yes

Linux desktop environment on a smartphone (even with Wayland support) => no

I am less interested in the "daily driver" part of the PinePhone and more interested in the power consumption and responsiveness of the device itself. Stuff like this is exciting (extending the standby time of a PinePhone to 100 hours): https://github.com/crust-firmware/crust

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