Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Honest question: is it simply the fact you can't use a Gecko engine on iOS that makes it useless to you? No plugins/add-ons effectively.
Because you need plugins on a mobile browser?
Adblock?
I want a computer that I own
381–390 of 668 posts
Re: I want a computer that I own
#382This is literally something that NEVER crosses the mind of the average consumer. We should have a HackerNews version of "first world problems" and call it "HackerNews Problems". You now have a computer that is 10,000 times faster than one you had 30 yrs ago at half the price. Oh and it fits in your pocket. A lot of time and money went into creating that. Those people need to get paid. And yes you pay for it with some…
You're right; freedom of computing is a non-issue for most people.
What I don't agree upon is that "NOBODY" would want open platforms; there's probably a larger market for that than there was a personal computing market in the 70's. There's businesses like Raptor that sell fairly open workstations, and they simply wouldn't if there wasn't a market for it.
The main issue is the disconnect between engineers/programmers and users. If there's growing amount of people who won't use the products they build themselves, then the idea of a war on general computing might snowball into a self-fulfilling prophecy where average users no longer has access to general computing through normal consumer devices.
Re: I want a computer that I own
#383Re: I want a computer that I own
#384Earlier quoted context omitted.
> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…
> Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". Android has had full system backup capabilities through `adb backup` for years. It does not require removing carrier locks or rooting and has been available since Android 2.x iirc. I've used this to transfer all of my apps, app settings, and system settings between all of my Android phones: Nexus One -> Galaxy Nexus -> Note 3 -> Galaxy S6 ->…
Many apps opt out of including their state in "adb backup" or act oddly when restored. Maybe this changed in the past few years, but it is still nowhere as complete as any automated or manual iOS backup.
Re: I want a computer that I own
#385Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". Android has had full system backup capabilities through `adb backup` for years. It does not require removing carrier locks or rooting and has been available since Android 2.x iirc. I've used this to transfer all of my apps, app settings, and system settings between all of my Android phones: Nexus One -> Galaxy Nexus -> Note 3 -> Galaxy S6 ->…
Does it automatically run when I leave my phone on the charger for the night?
It can if you charge from your PC and set up some very convoluted scripts (not recommended).
I use `adb backup` solely as a means of transferring my settings & app library between devices.
These are full system backups including potentially gigabytes of APKs, so I wouldn't want to run it every night. It is possible to use `adb backup` to only backup settings (no app files) if you want a lighter backup, but those backups aren't as useful for my purposes.
Re: I want a computer that I own
#386Earlier quoted context omitted.
> since a lot of normal interactions such as banking almost requires you to have such a phone. I can get by without carrying a microphone-and-camera equipped computer controlled by someone else around, and so I don't; but, if I want to return something I bought on the Internet, I don't get a receipt; and, if I want to go to a bar, there's a risk I won't be allowed to pay. (There is a law against the latter problem, b…
> and, if I want to go to a bar, there's a risk I won't be allowed to pay. Are there situations where paying without a smartphone is not practically possible? In the Netherlands people sometimes pay with smartphones, but these use the same infrastructure as the ubiquitous debit cards, so it is not an issue here. (Cash on the other hand…)
In Norway, some businesses use Corona as a pretext and say that credit cards are dirty too. What's the cash situation in the Netherlands? Aren't businesses legally bound to accept cash?
Re: I want a computer that I own
#387Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll play the (intentional) Devil's Advocate here to present an alternative viewpoint. I like iOS, but not Android. Let me explain why. I personally love Linux, Unix philosophy (I'm even sometimes an old beardy zealot about POSIX standards and the old way ), and inherent customization possibilities. On the other hand, I don't want to manage my phone like a desktop or laptop computer, or a server because of a plethora…
> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…
Yes, I was going to say the same thing. My samsung galaxy s10+ has a cracked screen and I need to take it to repair but the thought of the work needed to backup everything stops me from doing so.
I have very little trust in Google so I don't want to backup to google cloud (I just researched and it seems they do provide end to end backup encryption without Google having the key anywhere since Android 9, is that really the case now?)
Re: I want a computer that I own
#388Earlier quoted context omitted.
> iOS takes all of these away. Complete backups are built-in (I know android has it, but I don't know how bulletproof is this) Not to burn you down, but to burn Android down: no, Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". The only backups that are made are forced to Google cloud and only backs-up apps that where downloaded through Google Play and app settings for Google stuff. It is an…
> Android does not allow you to take complete backups. Let alone "built-in". Android has had full system backup capabilities through `adb backup` for years. It does not require removing carrier locks or rooting and has been available since Android 2.x iirc. I've used this to transfer all of my apps, app settings, and system settings between all of my Android phones: Nexus One -> Galaxy Nexus -> Note 3 -> Galaxy S6 ->…
When I last tried, a lot of apps opted out of adb backups rendering it pretty much useless.
Re: I want a computer that I own
#389I have a similar feeling, but with modern smartphones. Owning my computer is still relatively possible. I can build a computer from parts which I can choose, and have a choice in which operating system to install on them. Laptops are slightly more closed, but even on those I can choose the OS myself. Modern smartphones however, seem like walled gardens in which I have no control at all. I cannot choose any of the par…
> I cannot choose any of the parts, and even doing simple reparation tasks like replacing a battery is a nightmare these days.
There is the https://www.fairphone.com/en/ which is a modular and easy to repair smartphone. They also make it easy to install alternative operating systems like Sailfish or an OSS version of Android.
Re: I want a computer that I own
#390Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll go further: when have you ever been able to communicate with guaranteed privacy? Telephone? Nope. Ham radio? Nope. Letters sent through the mail? Nope.
Letters sent with homing pigeons were mostly private...
But a pidgeon leaves a trail of metadata on the ground as it carries your message, so this communication channel is still vulnerable to bulk network analysis by some Advanced Persistent Threat.