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Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

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21–30 of 67 posts

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#22
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very amusing idea, but: > Take a phone that has pretty good hardware support for postmarketOS The first problem with this is finding a phone with postmarketOS that can both use the camera and take phone calls properly. I'd settle for that without the iOS/Android emulation...

Ah yes. It appears that nothing has changed in the last decade for the Android ROM community. Still the same experience as downloading a custom ROM from "XDA Developers" for your HTC phone in 2016 and then finding out that it can't make phone calls and is bugged beyond comprehension.

Well, to be fair, postmarketOS isn't Android. For Android I've had tons of custom ROMs with no obvious hardware issues, mostly CyanogenMod variants, over the years. postmarketOS, though, tries to run stock Linux. It's a different ballgame.

The alternate approach is actually to utilize the fact that Android is relatively better supported and wrap Android components into a standard Linux userland, using a compatibility layer like libhybris with patched vendor kernels. It's pretty ugly but if you want Linux on phone now it's your best shot at a flagship experience.

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#23
post #12

What would it take for Apple to embrace multiplatform iOS development?

Apple will never consider doing that. Their actions speak to the exact opposite: total control of their devices and ecosystem, non-cooperation with other companies on standards, stringent app store controls. They gain nothing, in their eyes, to allow that development model.

Which is sad because a lot more people might consider buying their products if one was able to try the products with non-ecosystem devices.

Their devices are well designed and generally last for a long time. They also retain their value in case you want to resell them.

Instead, I’m constantly weighing the lock-in from their walled garden - should I go all in or should remain in control over my devices.

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#24
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Very amusing idea, but: > Take a phone that has pretty good hardware support for postmarketOS The first problem with this is finding a phone with postmarketOS that can both use the camera and take phone calls properly. I'd settle for that without the iOS/Android emulation...

Ah yes. It appears that nothing has changed in the last decade for the Android ROM community. Still the same experience as downloading a custom ROM from "XDA Developers" for your HTC phone in 2016 and then finding out that it can't make phone calls and is bugged beyond comprehension.

I'm running a custom ROM on a Galaxy S8 (so without project treble) and I've been pleasantly surprised!

Even something as niche as the swipe on fingerprint sensor to pull notifications drawer down still works!

Everything from phone calls, camera, fingerprint, all the essentials work pretty much flawlessly.

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#25
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah yes. It appears that nothing has changed in the last decade for the Android ROM community. Still the same experience as downloading a custom ROM from "XDA Developers" for your HTC phone in 2016 and then finding out that it can't make phone calls and is bugged beyond comprehension.

Well, to be fair, postmarketOS isn't Android. For Android I've had tons of custom ROMs with no obvious hardware issues, mostly CyanogenMod variants, over the years. postmarketOS, though, tries to run stock Linux. It's a different ballgame. The alternate approach is actually to utilize the fact that Android is relatively better supported and wrap Android components into a standard Linux userland, using a compatibility…

> it's your best shot at a flagship experience.

Is the Librem 5 really that far behind still?

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#28
post #23
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple will never consider doing that. Their actions speak to the exact opposite: total control of their devices and ecosystem, non-cooperation with other companies on standards, stringent app store controls. They gain nothing, in their eyes, to allow that development model.

Which is sad because a lot more people might consider buying their products if one was able to try the products with non-ecosystem devices. Their devices are well designed and generally last for a long time. They also retain their value in case you want to resell them. Instead, I’m constantly weighing the lock-in from their walled garden - should I go all in or should remain in control over my devices.

I actually later like Apple hardware, especially since their model brought Apple-arm development that is completely awesome!

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#29
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, to be fair, postmarketOS isn't Android. For Android I've had tons of custom ROMs with no obvious hardware issues, mostly CyanogenMod variants, over the years. postmarketOS, though, tries to run stock Linux. It's a different ballgame. The alternate approach is actually to utilize the fact that Android is relatively better supported and wrap Android components into a standard Linux userland, using a compatibility…

> it's your best shot at a flagship experience. Is the Librem 5 really that far behind still?

Well, I don't have one, so I can't say with great certainty. I did, however, have a Pinephone Pro, and the experience wasn't great for a few different reasons. The Librem 5 is apparently faster, but it seems like it's not that much faster, so even if the experience is better I'd suspect it's not ready for most people. I think that's a real shame because it feels close and the target they're chasing (usable daily driver) isn't really moving as fast as it once was, but compared to a very cheap Android phone, the relatively-expensive Librem 5 is weak in almost every dimension. I considered buying it anyways... but I know damn well I can't daily drive it yet.

Re: Emulating an iPhone in QEMU

#30

What would it take for Apple to embrace multiplatform iOS development?

Apple uses its software to sell its hardware. That's why iMessage for Android never happened. Apple would need to see the world differently for this to happen. It'd be about as big as when as when Microsoft halfway embraced Linux with WSL and .NET for Linux.
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