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The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

blog.emacsen.net

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Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#61

Post by coopsmoss »

kgarten wrote: post #26

Switched to GrapheneOS with the Pixel 5. Email/Calendar integration works fine (K-9 Mail). Signal as instant messenger. Organic Maps as Map application. Replaced Apple Watch with GadgetBridge and a Mi 6 band (cheaper and I have easy access to all data, you need to sync once with their app after you get the key you can delete it ... did the setup on the iphone and copied out the key with a commandline python script fr…

My favourite thing about the pixel 5 is the camera. I understand that they do a fair amount of software processing to make it so good. And most other apps don't let me use the wide lens. Is the experience as good on Graphene?

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#62

Post by akc3n »

Where /e/ shines in terms of easy of use, and Graphene shines in terms of security, Calyx has made wonderful choices in terms of privacy.

"GrapheneOS is focused on substance rather than branding and marketing. It doesn't take the typical approach of piling on a bunch of insecure features depending on the adversaries not knowing about them and regressing actual privacy/security. It's a very technical project building privacy and security into the OS rather than including assorted unhelpful frills or bundling subjective third party apps choices."

More info: https://grapheneos.org/features

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#63

Post by fractalf »

cycomanic wrote: post #53

I wonder about SailfishOS, has anyone tried it recently? I used to own a Nokia N9 and it was the best mobile OS I've ever used, but unfortunately the N9 just stopped charging one day. I've always been thinking about trying Sailfish out again, but have not had a phone that was compatible for a while, so am wondering if I should just get a compatible device just to try.

I tried it on the PinePhone and instantly loved the UX. Unfortunately, like boudin said, it's not fully FOSS which is sad cause I really wished the "future" mobile alternative to Android/iOS would be something like this.

Sailfish should open up their code fully, it would probably benefit them in the long rum

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#64

Post by tholdem »

cookiengineer wrote: post #23
neilv wrote: post #3

Like the author, I've tried a ton of open source handheld platforms, and I've recently moved to CalyxOS for my daily driver. (And about to sell a box o' devices to help cost-justify buying a second Pixel for a backup CalyxOS device.) As Android devices go, CalyxOS seems a good choice, if you're willing to not have all the Google service conveniences. I actually found some of the UX smoother than on iPhone, and e-mail…

Honestly, I don't understand the selling point of CalyxOS over LineageOS. Can you explain the differences? The website just seems to be a little mumble about Privacy without explaining the technological differences. As a daily driver, I'd recommend a setup of an official LineageOS device, combined with a set of Apps to increase the level of privacy: - AppWarden to check for trackers and loggers - RethinkDNS as a VPN…

By far the most important difference is that with CalyxOS, you can relock the bootloader. This means that probably one of the most important security features, verified boot, works on CalyxOS, but not on Lineage.

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#65

Post by lormayna »

Apocryphon wrote: post #39
emacsen wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only evaluated Free/Libre OSes, even if they have binary blob drivers. LuneOS is defunct as far as I can tell. It would have been great if the whole Firefox OS thing had worked out, but it didn't :(

I believe KaiOS is meant to succeed Firefox OS, but admittedly it is aimed at a less-than-smartphone category.

I am wondering about a KaiOS phone with physical keyboard. This would be the crack for my use case.

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#66

Post by Kbelicius »

cycomanic wrote: post #53

I wonder about SailfishOS, has anyone tried it recently? I used to own a Nokia N9 and it was the best mobile OS I've ever used, but unfortunately the N9 just stopped charging one day. I've always been thinking about trying Sailfish out again, but have not had a phone that was compatible for a while, so am wondering if I should just get a compatible device just to try.

I use it as a daily driver for about 2 years now. I've never used any other mobile OS so I can't make any comparisons. I run it on Sony Xperia XA2 with android app support. Its been stable, no issues so far. Updates are regular with UI improvements and new features.

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#67

Post by Apocryphon »

jcelerier wrote: post #51
chrisseaton wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Sailfish OS? Tizen? Those projects were a bizarre affair. There was I think Maemo, Moblin, LImo, SLP, Bada, Leste, MeeGo, Mer, Tizen, Sailfish, Nemo... all forks, merges, reforks of the same thing. They seemed to spend all their time and energy continually rebranding, forming and disbanding consortiums, creating new websites and logos. They never just got on with it. Ridiculous wasted effort when the market was pos…

Eh, I used my Jolla phone for 5 years and I still regret it to this day

Ha, why?

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#68

Post by sphinxcdi »

coopsmoss wrote: post #61
kgarten wrote: post #26

Switched to GrapheneOS with the Pixel 5. Email/Calendar integration works fine (K-9 Mail). Signal as instant messenger. Organic Maps as Map application. Replaced Apple Watch with GadgetBridge and a Mi 6 band (cheaper and I have easy access to all data, you need to sync once with their app after you get the key you can delete it ... did the setup on the iphone and copied out the key with a commandline python script fr…

My favourite thing about the pixel 5 is the camera. I understand that they do a fair amount of software processing to make it so good. And most other apps don't let me use the wide lens. Is the experience as good on Graphene?

https://grapheneos.org/usage#camera

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#69

Post by NexRebular »

Apocryphon wrote: post #13

What about some other projects beyond Android and Linux? Sailfish OS? Tizen? KaiOS? Technically even WebOS was open-sourced and still around as LuneOS, but its last update was Halloween 2019, so it's likely defunct.

Sadly it seems that everything is based on linux beyond Android. Wish there were more choices kernel-wise.

Re: The Search for a Free/Open Source Mobile Operating System

#70

Post by usr1106 »

cycomanic wrote: post #53

I wonder about SailfishOS, has anyone tried it recently? I used to own a Nokia N9 and it was the best mobile OS I've ever used, but unfortunately the N9 just stopped charging one day. I've always been thinking about trying Sailfish out again, but have not had a phone that was compatible for a while, so am wondering if I should just get a compatible device just to try.

I use it. You can feel their severe development resource constraints everwhere. The browser is years behind. Native apps are rather limited. I bought the newest supported hardware 3.5 years ago. It is stuck at Android 4.4, which is supported by fewer and fewer apps.

Whenever they support new HW, it takes quite a while to stabilize. Not sure what is the situation right now. My guess would be the newest supported HW is getting obsolete already and nothing new has been announced.

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