11–20 of 34 posts
Unfortunately, I don't believe your device is supported by GrapheneOS: https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices Install LineageOS on it, if it's supported? https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#motorola But read this about LineageOS, et al to understand the risks: https://madaidans-insecurities.github.io/android.html
I have had some issues with GPS accuracy and Bluetooth connections from the S4 to a certain device occasionally dropping out, but I haven't done careful before/after tests so these may be hardware problems. I would recommend giving the LineageOS a try, at least before replacing the phone, if that's the path you want to take.
If you prefer Android devices, always seek out phones whose bootloader can be unlocked so that you can install another OS on it. This way, you can be assured of Android fork / ports being available for the phone even if the manufacturer stops releasing updates. I highly recommend Sony Open Devices - https://static.developer.sony.com/develop/open-devices/get-s... ... Or checkout the list of supported devices that can…
The problem with custom ROMs is that a lot of banking apps try to detect if the phone's bootloader is unlocked or it's rooted, and these apps then refuse to work. There are workarounds but they're not bulletproof.
From my experience (which isn't worth much but I have had similar thoughts about this) I went with a used iPhone 8 last year for around $180 because I thought it was going to get iOS 16, which it did. It's good until September next year (when the next iOS probably comes out) and at that point I will probably get a newer iPhone albeit probably a used one to save money. On custom ROMS, a security researcher named 'mada…
The keyboard kind of sucks.
Assuming you are unwilling to use google location services, GPS is flaky. As a consequence, Camera image location tagging is flaky. Most apps that use map views are broken. (Third party map apps like Here WeGo and Organic Maps and are generally fine, oddly enough.)
Backup is non-existent. (There is a thing. It does not work.)
Unless you want to sync documents through google or some other untrustworthy third party, there aren't any competitive "keep a text document synced between N devices" programs. (Standard Notes is the closest on this front.)
Phone calls and notifications work. Google Camera can be coerced into working (but geotags are iffy).
Google services that normally support anonymous users (especially Meet) aggressively detect android and refuse to work if you are not logged in.
Battery life is OK (as advertised) if you install google services in a sandbox. Stellar without them.
The pixel wireless fast charger has settings that cannot be changed through graphene. The charger setting app requires kernel level permissions for some reason.
Bluetooth support is the best I've seen.
No kernel panics, or strange battery drains, in my experience.
Always on VPN seems to work.
Performance is good.
My next phone will not be an android.
The tire fire caused by not allowing google location services is the main reason. App ecosystem is number two. Lack of working backup is three. The system keyboard is number four. The over processed aesthetic of the camera is number 5 (this last one comes down to taste).
Edit: I shouldn't have said app ecosystem. I meant the lack of non-privacy-invading apps that provide functionality that should be built in: Open PDF/docx/etc, scan + OCR to PDF from camera, print without granting randos permission to send documents to third parties, note sync, photo search, health data, etc...
Hope this helps!
From my experience (which isn't worth much but I have had similar thoughts about this) I went with a used iPhone 8 last year for around $180 because I thought it was going to get iOS 16, which it did. It's good until September next year (when the next iOS probably comes out) and at that point I will probably get a newer iPhone albeit probably a used one to save money. On custom ROMS, a security researcher named 'mada…
GrapheneOS is OK. The keyboard kind of sucks. Assuming you are unwilling to use google location services, GPS is flaky. As a consequence, Camera image location tagging is flaky. Most apps that use map views are broken. (Third party map apps like Here WeGo and Organic Maps and are generally fine, oddly enough.) Backup is non-existent. (There is a thing. It does not work.) Unless you want to sync documents through goog…
You can also change to use Google's geolocation if you like, cf. https://grapheneos.org/usage
Unfortunately, I don't believe your device is supported by GrapheneOS: https://grapheneos.org/faq#supported-devices Install LineageOS on it, if it's supported? https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/#motorola But read this about LineageOS, et al to understand the risks: https://madaidans-insecurities.github.io/android.html
>The default updater even allows you to downgrade versions yourself.
I think this has changed as I do not see this anymore in my own install. I've read this article in the past and the date is updated but the content may not be?
#u€k these handset manufacturers like Moto whose lack of mainline support feeds our trash heaps - they know exactly what they're doing.