Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device • Hacker News Board

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#31

Post by freehunter » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 4:54 PM UTC

Paul_O_Meany_Jr wrote: post #28

sbt wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. I regret buying a Samsung S4 because it is loaded with so much crap. First, Google preloads their crap onto it, then Samsung preloads their crap ontop of that. THEN, AT&T decides that it should also provide you with messaging apps etc, so it preloads it crap ontop of that too. I am re-asked every god damn day if I want to connect the Samsung whatever the fuck (tm) to Facebook, and I refuse, EVERY DAY. I have no…

Installing a custom rom like Cyanogenmod or AOKP would likely solve a lot of your problems. Both are available for your device and require little more work than establishing root, installing safe strap (or another recovery depending on whether your bootloader is locked or not), and then installing the rom. You'll still need to download and install the Google Apps package if you want access to the app store, but it cu…

Here's a problem: I'm looking for a phone that can do T-Mobile wifi calling, which means I need a T-Mobile phone and a T-Mobile ROM, and I'm struggling to find a T-Mobile phone that has the least amount of crapware on it. If you use T-Mobile wifi calling, you can't flash a new ROM.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#32

Post by sbt » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 4:56 PM UTC

Paul_O_Meany_Jr wrote: post #28

sbt wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. I regret buying a Samsung S4 because it is loaded with so much crap. First, Google preloads their crap onto it, then Samsung preloads their crap ontop of that. THEN, AT&T decides that it should also provide you with messaging apps etc, so it preloads it crap ontop of that too. I am re-asked every god damn day if I want to connect the Samsung whatever the fuck (tm) to Facebook, and I refuse, EVERY DAY. I have no…

Installing a custom rom like Cyanogenmod or AOKP would likely solve a lot of your problems. Both are available for your device and require little more work than establishing root, installing safe strap (or another recovery depending on whether your bootloader is locked or not), and then installing the rom. You'll still need to download and install the Google Apps package if you want access to the app store, but it cu…

Oh I would totally do that if it didn't void the warranty. Employer pays for the phone. In retrospect, an iPhone may have been less annoying.

I felt so blessed running Linux on my Thinkpad while all the other civilians got their Windows laden HP laptops from BestBuy, loaded with boatware, and by virtue of being a Windows box, susceptible to Ask-toolbars in IE and other half-legal and fully-illegal software. Hell, I am sure I am not the only one who is doing semi annual spyware removal exorcisms for family and friends PCs.

But now I feel like the sucker, having bought this S4 from AT&T. Maybe I should just allow Samsung MusicHub to connect to Facebook so I can see what it wants to do, probably virally market itself to all my friends.

Good luck Jolla!

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#33

Post by da_n » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 4:57 PM UTC

I've already decided looking at 4.4 that I will do as much as possible to avoid Android for my next phone. I am interested in Jolla, but not as convinced about them being truly open as Mozilla is etc, they need to convince me better of their real motives and philosophy. Google have become very clear, now that they have decided to close almost everything on Android, no more SMS app, Google Now baked into the launcher, everything is G+ now, gallery app is on deathwatch. I feel like a peasant to Google, while they battle with the OEMs, Samsung, carriers, social networks etc they simply force feed their services down users throats, there is little point having an Android phone if you do not want to live 100% Google. Google are acting as feudal lords, they command us the peasants to do their bidding. Well I am moving out, I left iOS for a reason, I want my freedom.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#34

Post by Paul_O_Meany_Jr » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:01 PM UTC

freehunter wrote: post #31

Paul_O_Meany_Jr wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Installing a custom rom like Cyanogenmod or AOKP would likely solve a lot of your problems. Both are available for your device and require little more work than establishing root, installing safe strap (or another recovery depending on whether your bootloader is locked or not), and then installing the rom. You'll still need to download and install the Google Apps package if you want access to the app store, but it cu…

Here's a problem: I'm looking for a phone that can do T-Mobile wifi calling, which means I need a T-Mobile phone and a T-Mobile ROM, and I'm struggling to find a T-Mobile phone that has the least amount of crapware on it. If you use T-Mobile wifi calling, you can't flash a new ROM.

Is there any particular reason it has to be T-Mobile Wi-Fi calling? There are lots of free apps that let you do Wi-Fi calling through Google Voice (so you can still use your current number).

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#35

Post by donatzsky » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:15 PM UTC

salient wrote: post #12

gmuslera wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People reflashing devices is not "all users", and that leaves open a few possibilities. For users, a far better user interface (still prefer the user interface of the N9 over android one), a new app ecosystem (work most android apps, plus jolla native/meego/mer ones, maybe will be a compatibility layer to run ubuntu touch/tizen ones, and as it is based on qt/qml, probably will be easy to port BB10 ones too. And of co…

But the Jolla phone doesn't actually use the N9 interface, does it? I personally think it's a pretty ugly and outdated interface, but each to their own. I like Ubuntu Touch more at least aesthetics wise. Android KitKat is prettier than both.

Not directly, no. But it's still clearly inspired by it.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#36

Post by Nursie » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:35 PM UTC

sbt wrote: post #27

hablahaha wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh man the Samsung version is the epitome of a train wreck. At some point, without my knowledge, NFL Mobile got installed on my phone and now every time I try to open a link, it completely ignores my preferences and asks me what program to open it with, one of which is NFL Mobile. It's just so nonsensical it's laughable. Nonstock Android is worse than Windows vendor bloatware.

This. I regret buying a Samsung S4 because it is loaded with so much crap. First, Google preloads their crap onto it, then Samsung preloads their crap ontop of that. THEN, AT&T decides that it should also provide you with messaging apps etc, so it preloads it crap ontop of that too. I am re-asked every god damn day if I want to connect the Samsung whatever the fuck (tm) to Facebook, and I refuse, EVERY DAY. I have no…

Root it, use something like SDMaid to lock out the annoying apps. Done.

No idea if this voids your warranty, but I buy phones upfront and unsubsidised anyway so it's less of a concern.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#37

Post by mildtrepidation » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:39 PM UTC

rwmj wrote: post #30

pessimizer wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably because of the obvious answer: Because the CEO of Jolla thinks that Jolla's operating system is better than others, and the option to switch to something that may be better is a good thing, whether or not you choose to take it.

Sure, it would be good for my ego if people installed "rwmjOS". But how does it help his company? That is to say, financially? Jolla's apparent killer feature is that it runs Android apps, like, erm, Android. It's not really any more open or cheaper than AOSP.

How is anyone going to buy your devices if no one has heard of them?

The best chance they have to gain traction is to attract users. You can buy marketing until your budget is gone, but that only goes so far; word of mouth is almost certainly the best chance they have to expand their user base, improving their brand awareness, drawing new buyers.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#38

Post by devcpp » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:57 PM UTC

da_n wrote: post #33

I've already decided looking at 4.4 that I will do as much as possible to avoid Android for my next phone. I am interested in Jolla, but not as convinced about them being truly open as Mozilla is etc, they need to convince me better of their real motives and philosophy. Google have become very clear, now that they have decided to close almost everything on Android, no more SMS app, Google Now baked into the launcher,…

Very legitimate concern. Jolla is a company that strives for profit, unlike Mozilla. And as such we can't expect them to have the same motives to keep their platform free.

However, Mozilla also doesn't have the same influence, because of that, and makes pretty weak phones.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#39

Post by eropple » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 5:58 PM UTC

da_n wrote: post #33

I've already decided looking at 4.4 that I will do as much as possible to avoid Android for my next phone. I am interested in Jolla, but not as convinced about them being truly open as Mozilla is etc, they need to convince me better of their real motives and philosophy. Google have become very clear, now that they have decided to close almost everything on Android, no more SMS app, Google Now baked into the launcher,…

I'm curious how Android's choice of default applications implies less "freedom". Don't like SMS being folded into Hangouts? Use Handcent--it's better anyway. Will the Gallery app disappear? Use QuickPic--it's better anyway. Don't like the new launcher? There's Nova and Apex and Smart and a dozen other really good choices. (They're better anyway, too!)

And if that's not enough for you, sure, go try something else, but the dramatics don't really help make your case.

Re: Jolla CEO: You will soon be able turn your Android device into a Sailfish device

#40

Post by berdario » Sat, Nov 30, 2013, 6:17 PM UTC

eropple wrote: post #39

da_n wrote: post #33

I've already decided looking at 4.4 that I will do as much as possible to avoid Android for my next phone. I am interested in Jolla, but not as convinced about them being truly open as Mozilla is etc, they need to convince me better of their real motives and philosophy. Google have become very clear, now that they have decided to close almost everything on Android, no more SMS app, Google Now baked into the launcher,…

I'm curious how Android's choice of default applications implies less "freedom". Don't like SMS being folded into Hangouts? Use Handcent--it's better anyway. Will the Gallery app disappear? Use QuickPic--it's better anyway. Don't like the new launcher? There's Nova and Apex and Smart and a dozen other really good choices. (They're better anyway, too!) And if that's not enough for you, sure, go try something else, but…

You have a different idea of "freedom" than we do

The problem is not bundling in closed-source applications... the problem is removing (and thus stopping development) of the previously-default open source applications

Are Nova, Apex and Smart OSS? I looked at their web pages, but I don't see any link to the sources

basically: you still have freedom 0 (and possibly freedom 2, if you're willing to go against the EULA)... but, concerning freedom 1 and freedom 3, Android (as in AOSP) is stuck to something like version "4.*"