I didn't know syncthing-android had been discontinued. I use that app heavily. (Linked from the post: https://forum.syncthing.net/t/discontinuing-syncthing-androi... )
Use syncthing fork on fdroid
Linux phones are more important now than ever
31–40 of 515 posts
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've had the same (US) bank for 20 years, it's a small one, they have a nice web interface (and I can deposit checks through it on my laptop) but I've never run into a situation where I needed to have some smartphone app to do my banking. (I also don't have a smartphone.) Is this common with major banks? Do they not have web interfaces anymore?
Outside US lots of banks use apps to generate a token and authenticate website transactions.
custom apps, that allow no alternative.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#33Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I absolutely hate that government and bank apps are only available on the Play Store. You are legally required to have a Google account and accept their ToS to use them. I am aware of Aurora, but some banking apps check their origin and refuse to run if not downloaded from the Play Store.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#34Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
In giant font at the top of the linked post: > apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate. Please don’t be one of the 34 people that replied to tell me Linux is not ready.
Linux is ready, what is not ready is the ecosystem.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#35Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I've had the same (US) bank for 20 years, it's a small one, they have a nice web interface (and I can deposit checks through it on my laptop) but I've never run into a situation where I needed to have some smartphone app to do my banking. (I also don't have a smartphone.) Is this common with major banks? Do they not have web interfaces anymore?
A lot of major banks worldwide have apps, and they usually require un-rooted phones.
People here seem to think this is some sort of Orwellian attempt to control them, but the reasons are more mundane and technical - many of them (mine included, from two countries) use security facilities on the phone to secure your accounts.
For example, my HSBC UK app has replaced the little calculator thing they used to ship, and uses iOS face recognition to secure the generation of log-on codes which you need in order to use the web interface, as well as for secure access to the banking app directly.
With a rooted phone they don't have the guarantees that these aren't being exfiltrated, or the app being subverted in novel ways, so they don't want to support it.
You may not consider this a good enough reason, and I have heard it said on HN that 'the banks shouldn't get to control what I do on my computing device!', and that attitude is absolutely fine, but then you'll most likely end up with either less secure banking (meaning more fraud, higher fees etc) or going back to having to have a dedicated security device.
> I can deposit checks through it on my laptop
American-like banking detected... who uses checks in 2025?! :)
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#36My Android phone prevents me from taking screenshots if an app author doesn't want me to. My Android phone prevents me from recording phone calls at the request of my carrier, even though it's totally legal for me to do so in my jurisdiction. I'm not loving where this is all going.
Only your carrier is supposed to record the calls.
Edit: apparently the /s is obligatory on this one
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
In giant font at the top of the linked post: > apparently it needs to be said that I am not suggesting you switch to Linux on your phone today; just that development needs to accelerate. Please don’t be one of the 34 people that replied to tell me Linux is not ready.
Linux is ready, what is not ready is the ecosystem.
Exactly. The kernel more or less doesn't matter, it's "the stuff on top."
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#38Linux phones are useless for common people until they can run government and bank apps.
I've had the same (US) bank for 20 years, it's a small one, they have a nice web interface (and I can deposit checks through it on my laptop) but I've never run into a situation where I needed to have some smartphone app to do my banking. (I also don't have a smartphone.) Is this common with major banks? Do they not have web interfaces anymore?
They do, but some seem to be gradually removing functionality (like check deposit via scan + upload) in favor of using their amazingly convenient (/s) app.
Re: Linux phones are more important now than ever
#39The only thing that keeps me on Pixel is Google's astrophotography mode. Put the same quality camera (app and hardware), and I'm there. I'll get there faster if there is an Ektachrome and Tri-X film emulation setting. I miss the colors of film, but do not miss the chemistry or expense.