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The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

mjg59.dreamwidth.org

121–130 of 137 posts

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Such as?

They are out there, and they aren't necessarily related to crypto [1] [2] Seriously though, blockchain is an interesting technology. It's a shame it has got such a bad rap because of its ties to cryptocurrency. [1] https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/use-cases/ [2] https://www.hyperledger.org/learn/case-studies

I had a skim of both links (sorry but just dumping a list isnt exactly proof), and taking the first example [0], I really dont see what a blockchain brings you over a database. When you have a private blockchain, or a managed blockchain by an entity, you inherently have centralisation. What happens in the automotive case if the blockchain is forked? Which chain do I trust?

Every single use case (I have yet to see a single one, and I am) has been a use case for an append only ledger, not a decentralised ledger, and in every one of those use cases the problems that a blockchain actually solved and the advantages of a blockchain are immaterial. Can you provide one example in the two lists (which you've claimed are good examples) where the properties of a blockchain are wanted, not the properties of an append only ledger? Because if you want an append only ledger, a SQL database (or even a nosql database) is a simpler solution that will perform orders of magnitude better than 500 transactions per second.

[0] https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/renault/

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#122
post #90

Since you can't trust any company, and you're not going to build your own device from first principles, best to avoid mobile devices alltogether. Get an old pre-owned Nokia for phone calls and use laptop-based messaging if you need it. I wrote a messaging app based on one-time pad encryption but ended up not using it due to poor-quality random numbers available to me (you can buy external random devices but I don't t…

We live in 2022. Eschewing modern inventions and "returning to the wilderness" is a rhetorical cop out.

The problem has nothing to do with taking a "since you can't trust any company" approach is you avoid the reality of the situation -- which is that certain companies index lower than others.

The company making this phone seems a little dubious.

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#123
post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an observation I would note that all marketing I have come across for this device has aimed at people concerned about privacy. I am concerned when privacy and freedom have somehow turned into a right wing signal.

"freedom" has long been associated with the right in the US. Concern about large companies asserting their outsize influence being associated with the right is a new development, as is the right's focus on privacy and security.

Not too long. The left used to care about freedom until they owned the academia, the entertainment and most of the major press, and then they decided the freedom is no longer required. It happened not so long ago. Then the woke movement rose where expressing thoughts diverging from the dogma is equated to violence, and this of course doesn't need any freedom.

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#125

I find it amusing their options actually repeat themselves. So I am assuming this was mocked up in photoshop and not even double checked. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0588/5385/1291/files/say-h...

70% restocking fee too.

Rererences 3G radios, but do any providers even support that anymore? No 5G mentioned. Of course. :p

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#126

I find it amusing their options actually repeat themselves. So I am assuming this was mocked up in photoshop and not even double checked. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0588/5385/1291/files/say-h...

And this just feels weird. https://www.clear.co.com/leadership-team

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reality overcame the Onion when somebody actually built and shipped a seven blade razor. I wish I were making this up.

They went full circle and now Gillette is selling a premium razor for sensitive skin… with two blades. No kidding: https://gillette.com/en-us/products/razors-trimmers-and-blad...

I think this also happened years ago in a whole different context when some marketing genius invented the "shampoo without balm".

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#128
post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reminds me of the cooler company Blue Coolers, whose entire business model is that they source from China to compete on price against USA made Yeti coolers. The company almost didn't make it, until they had their big break selling thousands of coolers at a trucker rally. The truckers loved the cheap coolers, even though they are only cheap because they are undercutting USA made coolers with Chinese ones. False consci…

This is interesting and thanks for sharing. I don’t think it’s accurate to describe Yeti coolers as USA made though: https://www.allamericanmade.com/where-are-yeti-coolers-made/ For USA made, I found Cordova, which I recommend especially because they use a denser foam, so you get more storage capacity for the same exterior dimensions: https://shop.cordovaoutdoors.com/48-qt-adventurer/

Oh thanks! Yeah all I know about this situation is what was in that youtube video, but this is good to know.

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

Not trying to excuse it, but at least they were free .

A lot of things are free these days; the Facebook business model has become moderately popular. Doesn't mean that you should use those products.

Re: The Freedom Phone is not great at privacy

#130

I find it amusing their options actually repeat themselves. So I am assuming this was mocked up in photoshop and not even double checked. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0588/5385/1291/files/say-h...

70% restocking fee too. Rererences 3G radios, but do any providers even support that anymore? No 5G mentioned. Of course. :p

It sounds like the SKU is really old then, if it doesn't even support 4G.
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