How else do you expect they get your device on a surveillance list? Or do people honestly believe that the 0.001% of mobile phone users that unlock their bootloader for custom operating systems are not subject to additional scrutiny by big brother? NSA flagged Linux Journal as an "extremist forum" and flagged readers for extra surveillance - and that was a decade ago.
Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
221–230 of 359 posts
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#222Honestly be glad that google still allows bootloader unlocking. And the WiFi requirement is very small, and the article is overblowing it.
Yeah, I can see where this isn't ideal in principle, but in practice it's completely insignificant for 99.99% of users. I unlocked my Pixel phone first thing and I never even noticed this requirement. It's not like you were planning to buy a flagship smartphone and then not connect it to the internet.
If you're really worried about Google installing something sinister, it's already too late--the made they thing, they could have installed whatever they want at the factory. Anyway if you're installing a custom OS it's trivial to wipe on install.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#223I'm a little confused that people think they are free to use the software of their choice and that there is some built in right to use the software of your preference on a given hardware.
Sure, if you're so smart, you can do it and it's up to you to try to dance around whatever the manufacturer wants to throw your way. Don't like it, don't buy it.
Nothing says that any manufacturer is required to sell general purpose hardware. They can restrict it however they want, no?
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#224How else do you expect they get your device on a surveillance list? Or do people honestly believe that the 0.001% of mobile phone users that unlock their bootloader for custom operating systems are not subject to additional scrutiny by big brother? NSA flagged Linux Journal as an "extremist forum" and flagged readers for extra surveillance - and that was a decade ago.
I think at this point Big Brother has the processing power to scrutinize everyone all the time anyway. It's naive to think that you were in any way off their radar before you unlocked your phone.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#225I'm a little confused that people think they are free to use the software of their choice and that there is some built in right to use the software of your preference on a given hardware. Sure, if you're so smart, you can do it and it's up to you to try to dance around whatever the manufacturer wants to throw your way. Don't like it, don't buy it. Nothing says that any manufacturer is required to sell general purpose…
>I'm a little confused that people think they are free to use the software of their choice and that there is some built in right to use the software of your preference on a given hardware
I'm a little confused as to how you're confused? I bought it, I should be free to set up whatever software I please with it. It's mine.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#226I'm a little confused that people think they are free to use the software of their choice and that there is some built in right to use the software of your preference on a given hardware. Sure, if you're so smart, you can do it and it's up to you to try to dance around whatever the manufacturer wants to throw your way. Don't like it, don't buy it. Nothing says that any manufacturer is required to sell general purpose…
Nobody is claiming there currently exists some inherent legal right to have general purpose hardware, they're complaining that they're being sold something intentionally designed to not behave the way a consumer would want. It's the same way people complain about any poorly designed product. If I bought some furniture and it used a custom screw head to incentivize repairs from the manufacturer, I would complain about that too, not because they did something illegal, but because it's a bad product.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#227If I wanted to buy a new phone that I could root, install a custom ROM on, and use without voiding the warranty, what's the current best bet? One Plus used to be pretty good, but they've gone down in freedoms and up in price. Samsung are an obvious no. The entire design of the iPhone is specifically aimed at keeping the user out of it. Linux phones aren't usable yet. The shop on the /e/ foundation website seems to be…
Can you elaborate on your OnePlus comment about less freedom? Last I checked you could still unlock the bootloader and flash LineageOS right away.
I bought the 9 Pro instead of the 10 Pro, because there is no (even unofficial) Lineage build yet. Apparently they stopped supporting a tool that was needed for ROM development.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#228I'm a little confused that people think they are free to use the software of their choice and that there is some built in right to use the software of your preference on a given hardware. Sure, if you're so smart, you can do it and it's up to you to try to dance around whatever the manufacturer wants to throw your way. Don't like it, don't buy it. Nothing says that any manufacturer is required to sell general purpose…
I mean, clearly it's the case that there is_ no legal right to use your own hardware as you see fit. The argument is that there is a moral right to use your own hardware as you see fit. It'd be nice if legalities and moralities were the same thing, and in the mean time we're allowed to be upset about it? I don't know what you're confused by.
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#229[deleted]
Re: Pixel phones are sold with bootloader unlocking disabled
#230macOS installs now lean towards forcing you to connect to internet. Heh