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Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

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Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#281

Post by predictabl3 »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #262
Blip-A wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The only realistic way to get long term software support on Android is from Open Source. This means installing a replacement, 3rd party Open Source ROM. What ROM do you use and what level of support does it provide? I was interested in third-party ROMs until I read this part of the GrapheneOS FAQ[1]: > GrapheneOS can only fully provide security updates to a device provided that the OEM is releasing them. When an OE…

What ROM do you use and what level of support does it provide? See here: https://e.foundation/ Do they just allow older phones to run newer versions of Android, albeit without full security updates? The "full security updates" GrapheneOS references has to do with proprietary device drivers. This is an unrealistic over-reaction in my opinion. Why abandon perfectly functional hardware based on some unknown possibility…

Except that popular chipsets (ie: get community support due to device saturation) do see vulnerabilities published past the point of support. I trust Qualcomm's ability to develop their modem driver (which is an entire Linux install) very little, and I trust it's ability to stand the test of time to be even less.

I'm not sure I'm saying it's a total loss, but I feel a bit lost on what to do as well. Do I think Google will support their Tensor chips longer? Not really.

I feel like I still lean towards buying a portable hotspot, a small Android tablet, and calling it good. I already get calls over VOIP and SMS/MMS over jmp.chat so I don't really need a "cellular phone". But also, ugh, those portable hotspots are probably even more of a vendor-ware security nightmare. At least I could upgrade them independently and somewhat treat it as isolated, if I only connect over Wifi? Maybe?

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#282

Post by scarface_74 »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #275
scarface_74 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, Google just sucks at maintaining an ecosystem. Microsoft figured out how to license an OS to third party OEMs and still allow end users to update their hardware without depending on the vendor for literally decades. Heck I was able to just throw a Windows 7 CD in my old first gen Mac Mini x86 1.66Ghz Core Duo and run it for years after Apple dropped support.

>Microsoft figured out how to license an OS to third party OEMs and still allow end users to update their hardware without depending on the vendor for literally decades. You're cluelessly comparing apples to oranges. ARM smartphones, for better and for worse, are not like the Windows based IBM X86 PCs in any way when it comes to boot process, OS and drivers interactions. ARM SBCs which is what all smartphones are, ar…

The standards are only “open” because Windows browbeat OEMs decades ago to conform to its requirements via WINHEC

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Hardware_Engineering...

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#283

Post by swah »

all2 wrote: post #250
swah wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I feel like I have only one complain (camera lag) otherwise a S-line Samsung is awesome (and better than iOS for me, though I'm using an iPhone at the moment because the camera is awesome). People seem to forget how ugly it was in the Samsung S5 times...

How laggy is lag? On my S9+ the camera app typically starts up in under 1 second, though sometimes it can take longer.

Its a specific and simple "edge" case: your kids/pets photos never look sharp as your friends who carry iPhones. That lag, not the time to open the camera, not an issue for pictures of grown ups.

Its only for fast moving stuff IMO.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#284

Post by bartvk »

jqpabc123 wrote: post #102
Daegalus wrote: post #10

The Pixel is the closest. The reason you don't see long term support on Android is because of Qualcomm. Qualcomm wants manufacturers to build on new chips, so they deprecate older chips and stop support. Most manufacturers don't want to hire kernel and hardware devs. Samsung can pull off longer support because of Exynos and they have a lot of inhouse expertise to extend support on old Qualcomm chips. It's all money.…

It's all money. They don't want you keeping a phone for 5 years. Yes. Hardware vendors love Open Source. It essentially cedes all control of the market to them. They spend minimal time/money/effort on software development and updates because surprise, surprise --- it doesn't produce profits, it consumes them. Hardware is where they make all their money. The only realistic way to get long term software support on Andr…

> I just switch to the backup until the replacement arrives. Try that with your $1000 iPhone.

Do you really keep them fully sync'ed? How do you sync photos?

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#285

Post by smoldesu »

scarface_74 wrote: post #223
ajsnigrutin wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you actually block in-app ads in iOS? Like the way adaway does it, by modify /etc/hosts and thus removing 95% of the annoyances in apps?

The question I have is, why would I ever use an app that has ads? If an app has ads and I can’t pay to get rid of them, I delete it.

Apple's App Store has ads: https://searchads.apple.com/

If you really do refuse to use apps with promoted content then I guess you don't install anything to your iPhone.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#286

Post by hospitalJail »

daneel_w wrote: post #277
hospitalJail wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesnt matter what their security updates are. Those are after the fact. Bezos got his nudes leaked and Jamal Khashoggi was killed.

>"Doesnt matter what their security updates are. Those are after the fact." Of course it matters. Whether you get 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years of updates is a huge deal. Their patches' timing don't differ from that of other vendors: most vulnerabilities are fixed before disclosure, few are exploitable, even fewer are found in the wild. >"Bezos got his nudes leaked and Jamal Khashoggi was killed." What stupid, arrogan…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Bezos_phone_hacking_incid...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_Project_(investigation...

This wasnt an iCloud hack, this was Pegasus exploiting 0 click.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#287

Post by scarface_74 »

smoldesu wrote: post #285
scarface_74 wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The question I have is, why would I ever use an app that has ads? If an app has ads and I can’t pay to get rid of them, I delete it.

Apple's App Store has ads: https://searchads.apple.com/ If you really do refuse to use apps with promoted content then I guess you don't install anything to your iPhone.

You’re actually not too far off. I use to browse the App Store regularly to see what was new and interesting.

The App Store is such a shit show now, I only go there when someone links to an interesting app from a website or podcast notes.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#288

Post by hospitalJail »

daneel_w wrote: post #277
hospitalJail wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesnt matter what their security updates are. Those are after the fact. Bezos got his nudes leaked and Jamal Khashoggi was killed.

>"Doesnt matter what their security updates are. Those are after the fact." Of course it matters. Whether you get 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years of updates is a huge deal. Their patches' timing don't differ from that of other vendors: most vulnerabilities are fixed before disclosure, few are exploitable, even fewer are found in the wild. >"Bezos got his nudes leaked and Jamal Khashoggi was killed." What stupid, arrogan…

I understand that you're feeling emotional because your favorite corporation experienced a security issue. It's important to recognize that many people develop a strong sense of identity and attachment to certain corporations or brands. This emotional connection often stems from the marketing strategies and manipulative tactics employed by these companies.

Corporations invest a significant amount of effort and resources into building their brand image and cultivating a loyal customer base. Through clever marketing techniques, they create narratives and associations that resonate with individuals on a personal level. These strategies aim to evoke emotions and forge a sense of identity tied to the corporation's values, products, or services.

By fostering this emotional bond, corporations hope to maintain customer loyalty and influence consumer behavior. They want you to feel personally connected to their success, so when negative events like a security leak occur, it's natural to feel disappointed or upset.

However, it's important to keep in mind that this emotional attachment is often a result of marketing and manipulation rather than a genuine reflection of the company's character or actions. Corporations are primarily profit-driven entities, and their marketing efforts are designed to maximize their bottom line.

In moments like this, it can be helpful to take a step back and evaluate the situation from a more objective perspective. Consider the actions and decisions of the corporation separate from your personal attachment. It's possible that the security leak was a result of internal shortcomings or external factors beyond the company's control.

While it's understandable to feel emotional about such events, it's also essential to remember that the corporation is not an extension of your identity. Your values, beliefs, and self-worth should not be solely determined by your association with any particular corporation. Instead, focus on evaluating the situation critically, demanding accountability, and considering alternative options that align with your values and needs.

By recognizing the influence of marketing and manipulation, you can maintain a healthier perspective, make more informed choices, and develop a more balanced relationship with corporations and brands.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#289

Post by smoldesu »

scarface_74 wrote: post #287
smoldesu wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's App Store has ads: https://searchads.apple.com/ If you really do refuse to use apps with promoted content then I guess you don't install anything to your iPhone.

You’re actually not too far off. I use to browse the App Store regularly to see what was new and interesting. The App Store is such a shit show now, I only go there when someone links to an interesting app from a website or podcast notes.

It's probably the biggest problem in the ecosystem, for all the papercuts I piss and moan over. The existence of an F-Droid style store on iOS would go such a long ways in stimulating competition. Even if Apple defends their right to tax platform payments, the mere existence of no-cost ad-free software would force other ecosystem players to do better. It's a win for FOSS fanatics and paid software stalwarts alike.

Now, if Apple unlocked the bootloader and promised no more ownership shenanigans, I'd never badmouth Tim or his company's software ever again. This website has my word on that.

Re: Ask HN: Stock Android phone free of bloatware?

#290

Post by jqpabc123 »

predictabl3 wrote: post #281
jqpabc123 wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What ROM do you use and what level of support does it provide? See here: https://e.foundation/ Do they just allow older phones to run newer versions of Android, albeit without full security updates? The "full security updates" GrapheneOS references has to do with proprietary device drivers. This is an unrealistic over-reaction in my opinion. Why abandon perfectly functional hardware based on some unknown possibility…

Except that popular chipsets (ie: get community support due to device saturation) do see vulnerabilities published past the point of support. I trust Qualcomm's ability to develop their modem driver (which is an entire Linux install) very little, and I trust it's ability to stand the test of time to be even less. I'm not sure I'm saying it's a total loss, but I feel a bit lost on what to do as well. Do I think Google…

If the mere possibility of a bug is a show stopper, you really shouldn't use anything because this possibility always exists --- with all hardware and software.
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