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Keep Android Open

keepandroidopen.org

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Re: Keep Android Open

#561

Post by utopiah »

microtonal wrote: post #64
theK wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you check the stuff murena has on offer? Most if not all of their phones come with an unlockable bootloader and the OS they come with isn't that bad to start with either.

They are pretty bad when it comes to security: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm

Does it? If it looks equivalent to "stock" Android but you can do what you want with is, including removing bloatware, then it's arguably more secure and thus a better alternative than most. It might not be the most secure but it's already a step.

Re: Keep Android Open

#562

Post by utopiah »

theK wrote: post #61
codedokode wrote: post #29

Before buying a smartphone I tried to find an inexpensive model that supports open source OS, but I couldn't. What open OS support is ether expensive Pixels, or outdated models. The solution, I think, would be a regulation that forbids manufacturers of any chip or device CPU from making obstacles to reprogramming the device (using fuses, digital signatures, encryption etc). So if you buy a device with CPU and writabl…

Did you check the stuff murena has on offer? Most if not all of their phones come with an unlockable bootloader and the OS they come with isn't that bad to start with either.

Indeed, and starting at 360€ for a CMF Phone 1 with OS already installed, no tinkering, feels relatively affordable and easy to try.

Re: Keep Android Open

#564

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

microtonal wrote: post #64
theK wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you check the stuff murena has on offer? Most if not all of their phones come with an unlockable bootloader and the OS they come with isn't that bad to start with either.

They are pretty bad when it comes to security: https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm

I'm going to echo the sibling comment that this comparison conveniently centers on GrapheneOS while conveniently ignoring anything they don't do; for example, a firewall using root is useful, but since they've decided user's can't be trusted with control of their devices that's right out.

Re: Keep Android Open

#565

Post by edm0nd »

codedokode wrote: post #29

Before buying a smartphone I tried to find an inexpensive model that supports open source OS, but I couldn't. What open OS support is ether expensive Pixels, or outdated models. The solution, I think, would be a regulation that forbids manufacturers of any chip or device CPU from making obstacles to reprogramming the device (using fuses, digital signatures, encryption etc). So if you buy a device with CPU and writabl…

fyi you can buy refurb'd pixel 7's off eBay for like ~$170

great for playing around with or if you want to install something like GrapheneOS.

Re: Keep Android Open

#566

Post by edm0nd »

gf000 wrote: post #271
andrepd wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Before buying a smartphone I tried to find an inexpensive model that supports open source OS, but I couldn't. What open OS support is ether expensive Pixels, or outdated models. You can buy a refurbished Pixel 5 for less than 200$. Great screen, great camera, 5G, the works. It's definitely not an "outdated" device, and it runs Graphene or Lineage with minimal hassle.

You can get a new Pixel 8 for ~500$, I would say that has a very decent price to value, and will be supported for longer.

you can also snag refurb'd Pixel 7s for $170 off eBay atm

Re: Keep Android Open

#567

Post by davisr »

dns_snek wrote: post #366
MarsIronPI wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The era when people paid an affordable fee for software they could use however they wanted was much better. But it got squeezed out by free software on the one side and serf-ware on the other. Charging for free and open-source software is not only possible, but encouraged Stallman himself.

Yes but how do you build a consumer software business on top of a licensing scheme that legally allows anyone to share their copy of the software with anyone else, and allows other businesses to resell your software at half the price?

I charge for copies of free software I wrote, an AGPLv3+ desktop application, and earn about $2k MRR from it. Most people don't care about your choice of license, they just want software that conveniently solves their problem(s). If they want to share it, that's fine. They're giving it to people who wouldn't have bought it anyway. If those grantees ever want an official copy, with updates and support, they come back to me.

You see the same effect mirrored in illicit distribution of copyrighted works. Sharing movies increases box office revenue. Sharing albums increases music sales.

The people who get a copy for no charge weren't going to buy a copy in the first place. When you expose them to the product, some percent go on to become fans, advertising the work, and perhaps giving money to support it.

Read through my past comments from last year to find more info.

Re: Keep Android Open

#568

Post by micahdeath »

TeMPOraL wrote: post #376
state_less wrote: post #356

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back in '99 Linux didn't run Excel/Word/Powerpoint or most games, but I ran it anyway. What others call showstoppers are for me inconveniences. I have a motorolla edge 2024 that I'll load whatever open source phone OS will work well enough to place calls and browse the web. I'll keep another phone for the rare times some corporate/government overlord requires it. Many folks who refuse to use smartphones, similarly ow…

Technology has a ratchet effect at scale - as a solution becomes widely adopted, it switches from being a convenience to being a necessity, because people start building more stuff on top of it. It's as true of to-the-minute accurate clocks as it is of smartphone banking. You can still run a version of Word from 2004. It's fine, if all you need is to write some thoughts down for yourself. But the moment you need to c…

Social Outcast here... It's pretty good.

Re: Keep Android Open

#569

Post by ksec »

liendolucas wrote: post #283

I'm going to say something that probably will get me down votes: Why do we have to beg Google to keep Android open? Seriously. So many open source projects have risen out of real and concrete needs and successfully made their way into our every day lives. A new platform needs to rise that breaks out completely from Google. I've given PostmarketOS a go (with a PinePhone) and while today I can't say it isn't a daily dr…

I also don't think it is right for Goverment to force companies give up their properties, in this case it is like forcing Google to continue to fund Android.

May be Goverment world wide could all fund the same OSS OS which benefits everyone. But right now I see zero incentives for any government to do it.

Re: Keep Android Open

#570

Post by ivanmontillam »

viktorcode wrote: post #507
TeMPOraL wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Answer: bank/financial apps, enterprise apps, government apps and copyrighted media (music, video, games, books, ...). Those are the players that demand excessive control over end-user devices, and thus the ultimate driver behind the problem we're discussing. It's not that a new mobile platform couldn't possibly succeed. It's an open platform that cannot, because aforementioned players don't want it, and without them…

> Answer: bank/financial apps, enterprise apps, government apps and copyrighted media (music, video, games, books, ...). Those are the players that demand excessive control over end-user devices, and thus the ultimate driver behind the problem we're discussing. Those work perfectly via a browser, on any platform where the browser can run. As long as a hypothetical open OS has a browser capable with bog standard moder…

You're getting downvoted because that's not the point.

You are technically right, we still have access to these services via a web browser today. It doesn't mean we'll have it forever.

With the advent of AI browsers and AI agents, it's not hard to think of a future where LLM chat interfaces and mobile apps are the future, and web apps start getting disregarded as legacy and eventually, discontinued.

Try ordering some food via mobile application and then again via web app. You'll instantly feel the downgrade on the web app. Bugs, glitches, slow experience.

The desktop web is already the 2nd-class citizen for modern startups.

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