What is the advantage of a Linux phone over something like LineageOS?
You can run normal linux desktop and server programs with no limitations. The development and driver support is not guided by google.
Linux phones are more important now than ever
61–70 of 515 posts
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#62My 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.
> prevents me from taking screenshots if an app author doesn't want me to
The most frustrating part about this "feature" is that you don't know it's enabled until the screenshot is taken and you're left with a picture of nothing.
That and some app authors thinking they're protecting you with this (referring to banking apps in particular)
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
> I don't mind banks requiring it, I don't have to use that bank.
What if all banks require it?
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#64Linux 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?
My bank doesn't yet require the mobile app (quite), but all interactions are significantly more annoying without the app. My 2FA options all require a phone, either for the insecure method of texting me the code, or else an app-only option (they don't allow generic 2FA apps, but instead require a specific app, that almost definitely won't exist for a linux phone). Even verifying my identity on the phone is better with the app (the app generates a code that they just accept, it can be done without but it's slower and more inconvenient).
So no, my everyday interactions don't require the phone app. But any interaction that is novel enough to require direct communication with the bank has been rendered annoying without the phone app.
I'm someone for whom I'd probably be willing to deal with all these inconveniences to make my statement about ownership over my hardware and software, but I doubt that very many average consumers would.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#65Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
Linux can emulate android. Most banks have websites, and the only real blocker for banking apps I've seen is the photo verification due to hardware issues connecting to the emulated android system.
> Linux can emulate android.
It can't emulate hardware attestation though, which most bank apps now require, so good luck with that.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#66Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but what would be the advantage of running straight Linux versus an AOSP-based mobile OS? Like, why not just keep the great apps that do run on there and ignore the Play Integrity ones that don't. Does it have to do mainly with just the governance of AOSP (i.e. Google)?
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#67Linux 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?
> What government apps do people run?
There are a bunch of them here in Australia, and there were several in the UK.
Here there's a secure ID app for government services which is used as 2FA on the web interface, and various apps to access state and national government services directly. There's a tax one that allows you to scan receipts to collect them up for your annual tax return. In the UK I had an NHS app, can't remember what else.
They aren't mandatory, you can live without them, but they are often convenient.
> Why do you need to access your bank account on your phone?
Because it's many people's primary computing device? Why would you not want to access your bank accounts on your phone?
And because if you want to log on to some banks websites you need to have a 2FA security code which can either be generated by a dedicated security device, which has become less common now, or by an app on the phone which is then usually biometrically protected. There is sometimes a second code-generation method for higher value transfers.
So it is convenient to be able to send payments in the bank app, though less common than using my phone instead of the physical card through apple/google pay (those don't require the bank app to be installed).
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#68Linux 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?
I work for a bank. There is a strategic focus on the mobile banking app over the web app. Younger generations are doing everything through their phones. Including applying for home loans. Many banks are moving towards being digital only as contactless payments means people are using cash a lot less to the point that physical bank branches don't make sense anymore.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
> I don't mind banks requiring it, I don't have to use that bank. What if all banks require it?
Banks aren't required. Its ridiculously inconvenient today to not have a bank account, but you aren't required to have one.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Yes this was sarcastic, I should have put a /s
I also live in a one party consent state.