Yes, the steam deck has ignited the usecase for the portable linux machine for the normal user. Now we just need great linux on arm support and then I can run a version claude code on a portable arm device and have it control my whole device for me all day. I hope this happens sometime soon!!!
Linux phones are more important now than ever
41–50 of 515 posts
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#42Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I absolutely hate that government and bank apps are only available on the Play Store. You are legally required to have a Google account and accept their ToS to use them. I am aware of Aurora, but some banking apps check their origin and refuse to run if not downloaded from the Play Store.
I had to deal with this for government apps specifically related to immigration. I don't mind banks requiring it, I don't have to use that bank. I do mind governments requiring it if my only recourse is having to leave the country entirely.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#43Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#44The only thing that keeps me on Pixel is Google's astrophotography mode. Put the same quality camera (app and hardware), and I'm there. I'll get there faster if there is an Ektachrome and Tri-X film emulation setting. I miss the colors of film, but do not miss the chemistry or expense.
Throw in Velvia emulation for an even three wishes
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#45The only thing that keeps me on Pixel is Google's astrophotography mode. Put the same quality camera (app and hardware), and I'm there. I'll get there faster if there is an Ektachrome and Tri-X film emulation setting. I miss the colors of film, but do not miss the chemistry or expense.
I'm sure I sound like and ass, but if astrophotography is the only thing tying you to your phone, why not gear for that?
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#46I have made people mad by saying it, but it remains true: Every developer hour wasted on an Android ROM is an hour not invested in a platform free of Google's control. Google likes Android ROMs because they pacify the developer community from working on real competitors, while not presenting any meaningful threat to their control of the majority of Android devices. The MADA that prevented OEMs from shipping AOSP is p…
> Every developer hour wasted on an Android ROM is an hour not invested in a platform free of Google's control.
As it stands, and the way things are devoloping, accurate. But as the relevant systems are an integration of hard- and software, significant work needs to be done on the former as well. And I've yet to come across a Linux phone (or phone-like pocket computer) that ticks most of the neccessary boxes.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#47I deeply want the equivalent of Debian on a phone.
Rock solid. Every few year feature updates, only security fixes otherwise.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#48Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I don't agree. They're useless until they can call, text, and do video / camera reliably. With enough adoption, the rest will come, but they won't ever get adoption without nailing those basics.
Adoption will come only and only with essential apps people use every day.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#49Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I've heard this argument before and yet I've never understood it.
What government apps do people run? Why do you need to access your bank account on your phone? Is this some payments model that's just not common in my country where we still use physical credit cards for everything?
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#50My Android phone prevents me from taking screenshots if an app author doesn't want me to. My Android phone prevents me from recording phone calls at the request of my carrier, even though it's totally legal for me to do so in my jurisdiction. I'm not loving where this is all going.
Only your carrier is supposed to record the calls. Edit: apparently the /s is obligatory on this one
Absolute lies, where I live it is one party consent. I can still record with another device on speakerphone.