NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
51–60 of 71 posts
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#52If you're in the market for such a phone may I ask, without judgement, why? I'm very interested in whether this is aimed particularly at certain professions, if more and more people fear violation of personal privacy, etc. Again, no judgement or preconception - I'm asking in good faith.
1. I don't want my data used against me politically - there are legitimate reasons to shield your personal data to protect yourself from political persecution from ordinary people to the government. E.g. A gay man may fear his homophobic colleagues will bully him, a migrant may fear that his right-wing boss may fire him if he knows his origins, a muslim may prefer to not grow a beard or a Sikh not wear turban to hide his identity to safeguard himself from unwanted hostile attention from strangers etc. etc. E.g. 2 - The United State government now demands that you tell them about all your email and social media accounts when you apply for a US visa.
2. I don't want my data used against me commercially - BigTech want more and more data about us to determine how to influence our behaviour. Preventing them access to my personal data protects and allows me to make rational purchase decisions, rather than those based on impulses influenced by BigTech overt or covert advertising.
Denying corporates access to our personal data does both, because BigTech now also sell our data to government agencies. Since the government is one of their target customer base with a big purse, BigTech have now also started using our personal data to try and influence us politically.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#53Serious question; not trying to be snarky. Other than just personal privacy preferences what would are some practical reasons for why someone would use this phone?
In terms of user experience, it's pretty obvious that GrapheneOS suffers by comparison. For example, the camera app isn't as amazing as it is on Pixel with full Google Android, and it probably never will be . You can install apps from the Google pay store with Aurora -- even things like Google maps and Gboard for swipe typing, but you will probably prefer them to be more secure and so you'll lock them down as much as…
I haven't used Graphene but I assume most users do what most Calyx users do, which is extract the gcam apk before flashing, install it, and completely block its internet access with the firewall. We can and do use the stock camera, and it's great.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#54For those wondering why you'd want this - I use Graphene OS on an old Pixel 3 and battery lasts 2-3 days easily. I dont have to constantly fight all anti-patterns in modern day Android, but I can still chat, email, text, browse and watch videos...
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#55LineageOS, CalyxOS, /e/ and other Android distributions essentially rely on the standard Android which only comes with its own selection of apps. GrapheneOS, on the other hand, is an elaborately hardened Android and should therefore be seen as its own operating system. In addition, security updates are often provided late by the distributions mentioned at the beginning."
Pretty low to call out other Android projects in a marketing release but falls directly in line with how the GrapheneOS project treats the community. Won't be buying this or recommending it.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#56Easy to offer 4.5 years of software updates, but will the company be around in 4.5 years?
Using a five year old phone isn't an issue anymore, they are fast enough that it doesn't matter.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#57"Comparison With e.g. LineageOS, CalyxOS, /e/ LineageOS, CalyxOS, /e/ and other Android distributions essentially rely on the standard Android which only comes with its own selection of apps. GrapheneOS, on the other hand, is an elaborately hardened Android and should therefore be seen as its own operating system. In addition, security updates are often provided late by the distributions mentioned at the beginning."…
Second of all, the only accusation I see is on your part.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#58Why are they advertising 4.5 years of software updates? Is it because Android phones usually have an even shorter compat period than 4.5 years? How many years should I expect if I got the same model otherwise (Pixel?)?
Yes, most of them. But the Pixel is an exception with 4 years of software and 5 years of security updates promised directly by Google.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#59What a scam. Something like Pine phone which allows you to customize the OS to your liking seems much more reasonable. I also would prefer a hard switch for things like cams and mics, removing them seems lazy.
Re: NitroPhone 2/Pro with 4.5 years of software updates
#60"Comparison With e.g. LineageOS, CalyxOS, /e/ LineageOS, CalyxOS, /e/ and other Android distributions essentially rely on the standard Android which only comes with its own selection of apps. GrapheneOS, on the other hand, is an elaborately hardened Android and should therefore be seen as its own operating system. In addition, security updates are often provided late by the distributions mentioned at the beginning."…
First of all, I am fairly sure GrapheneOS is in no way affiliated to NitroPhone which just packages their work and sells it with no work done by themselves. Second of all, the only accusation I see is on your part.
joemazerino has been spreading misinformation about GrapheneOS including personal attacks and libel targeting our developers for years. You can see a bunch of it in their comment history among other gems like https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26974901. They've been regularly promoting a proprietary fork of GrapheneOS which falsely pretends to be the original project. It's barely maintained with the last release in September and almost zero development since they forked our project in 2018. That product is pure grift and very openly scamming people. It's unfortunate that a product depending on our work has invested substantial effort into harming us but that's the reality for us. A small number of people got duped by that and it snowballed into further attacks on the project which are worse than ever thanks to the help of an certain faux 'privacy activist' charlatan on YouTube. joemazerino made sure to spread a 1 hour hit piece with a whole bunch of fabrications about myself and the GrapheneOS project from that person. We're used to this and it comes with the territory in an industry with more scammers than people doing useful work.