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The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

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Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#111

Post by foresto »

mikece wrote: post #2

Why LineageOS and not GrapheneOS? I have a Pixel 4a with GrapheneOS and really like it. The lack of Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google's push notifications service) isn't an issue for personal usage; for work I still use an iPhone because I don't want to put things like MS Teams on Graphene OS. As for PinePhone: it's interesting that this article puts LineageOS and PinePhone together since the latter cannot run the for…

> Why LineageOS and not GrapheneOS?

One problem with GrapheneOS is that it only supports a tiny handful of devices, and only for few years (at best) per device. A lot of people can't afford to keep buying Pixel phones on that schedule, and some who can afford it find the e-waste unappealing.

This isn't exactly the project's fault. It's more a side effect of an industry that prevents customers from securely installing an OS on their own hardware, and/or refuses to provide firmware security updates beyond a rather short time frame.

I hope that changes. I love what GrapheneOS attempts to do, but at the moment, I think using it is unreasonably hard on the budget and the environment.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#112

Post by elzbardico »

Kerrick wrote: post #58

> Don't smartphones... kind of suck? How many times have you had to replace a phone in the past 10 years? Do you have a drawer of random crap with a growing pile of phones? I simply cannot relate with this hook. > Don't smartphones... kind of suck? No, smartphones are kinda magical. They take better snapshots than my first DSLR, they play games at higher fidelity than my first gaming PC, and they’re general purpose c…

The same here. Bought a 12 Pro Max last year, expect to still be using it by 2024/25

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#113

Post by elzbardico »

asciimov wrote: post #88

The only solution to the e-waste problem is legislation. First we need to pass laws that force repair ability on these devices. Like being able to replace a battery easily, think slipping the back cover off easy. Force the unification of a charging standard. Finally we need to nickle and dime these companies for not making the devices more reusable.

Good luck expecting a capitalistic government to do that.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#114

Post by 0rdinant »

nabaraz wrote: post #18
mikece wrote: post #2

Why LineageOS and not GrapheneOS? I have a Pixel 4a with GrapheneOS and really like it. The lack of Firebase Cloud Messaging (Google's push notifications service) isn't an issue for personal usage; for work I still use an iPhone because I don't want to put things like MS Teams on Graphene OS. As for PinePhone: it's interesting that this article puts LineageOS and PinePhone together since the latter cannot run the for…

The choice is between GrapheneOS + Sandboxed Google play vs LineageOS + MicroG. If you care too much about privacy, GrapheneOS is the way to go. If you want a balance between privacy and usability, LineageOS is the way to go. Also, GrapheneOS only supports Pixel phones. I have tried CalyxOS but there are too many issues.

Sanboxed Play Services nets more app compatibility than LineageOS+MicroG, I don't understand your usability argument.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#115

Post by elzbardico »

hrbf wrote: post #16

Just like the Linux desktop, alternative smartphones will forever remain a tiny niche market for highly technical people. Mainstream adoption can and will never happen given the current state of hardware design and manufacturing.

And highly technical people with time to spare in an expensive hobby.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#116

Post by throw7 »

The pixel 2 was the first smart phone I was completely happy with. In fact, it's still my main phone right now. And I'm someone who had a neo freerunner so I get what the OP is saying, but at the end of day I need something that "Just Works".

The main current problems are 1. support life 2. repairability 3. non-competitive/closed software platform.

I feel like Google had a chance at some point to "open" phone hardware similar to the IBM PC situation... but I suppose, realistically, the telecoms and qualcomm held those cards too close to the vest. oh well.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#118

Post by hrbf »

fartcannon wrote: post #35
hrbf wrote: post #16

Just like the Linux desktop, alternative smartphones will forever remain a tiny niche market for highly technical people. Mainstream adoption can and will never happen given the current state of hardware design and manufacturing.

Please elaborate on how the current state of hardware design and manufacturing ensures that mainstream adoption will can and will never happen.

> You need a greedy corporation that is incentivized to make a friction-free experience for the end user. Too many well-meaning, but way too smart for their own good developers think everyone else thinks like them.

That goes for software as well as hardware. Plus, hardware needs a certain quality and price point, both of which are in short supply. Everyone who’s tried designing and shipping a quality hardware product at a reasonable price in a reasonable time frame has experienced that. Even if you magically could solve one of the issues, you’d never be able to ship the sheer volume to satisfy demand. And that’s all before even attempting to create a smooth and complete software experience, not to speak of software quality and security issues.

Also, don’t underestimate the novelty factor in mainstream products, which is directly at odds with the goals of open source hardware and software developers.

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#119

Post by [deleted] »

Kerrick wrote: post #58

> Don't smartphones... kind of suck? How many times have you had to replace a phone in the past 10 years? Do you have a drawer of random crap with a growing pile of phones? I simply cannot relate with this hook. > Don't smartphones... kind of suck? No, smartphones are kinda magical. They take better snapshots than my first DSLR, they play games at higher fidelity than my first gaming PC, and they’re general purpose c…

[deleted]

Re: The case for LineageOS and the PinePhone

#120

Post by IanCal »

usrn wrote: post #105
yjftsjthsd-h wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just editing fucking textfiles and copying it back to a normal PC (that isn't a mac) is a real bitch. Especially if you don't have an internet connection. It's almost as bad as a ti84+ honestly. If you're on Android, I suggest looking at F-Droid; there exist decent text editors and file managers, and failing all else Termux manages to drag a decent amount of sanity in.

I had an Android. Every update made Termux less and less capable (IIRC exec is very complex or impossible in a recent one.) Now I have a Pinephone running a normal X11 DE and I don't have to tolerate an ounce of stupidity. Sure there are legitimate good faith defects in the software but nothing is intentionally broken just for the sake of it. ssh just works (the phone shipped with it preinstalled) vim just works scp…

On the other hand, my android phone works reliably for ... I don't know weeks? Months? I only restart for major update. My Ubuntu laptop after a straight install didn't turn off properly, my Ubuntu desktop regularly has chrome crash and fails to wake up the screen. I've had so many issues with basic Linux setups that I absolutely do not want that on my phone. I don't want a browser that's described as just "usable". I don't want zoom that goes absolutely nuts or a webcam that loves to decide some ports aren't OK.

My phone works. I open it and it works. I've never been in a position where trying to fix the underlying OS was required nor could I picture it being something worth time I'd have to trade away from my family.

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