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1 • the /e/ phone (by TuxRaider on 2020-02-17 00:26:51 GMT from United States)
i would like to see them make a solid and stable niche in the smartphone market first, and several popular distros have images built to flash on them, and the /e/ phone to be resilient to flashing images on it and recovery so i dont end up bricking an expensive phone, so if something goes wrong i can re-flash the image and recover the use of the phone, come up with a dependable phone like that and is 100% FOSS and you got a customer for life, i would love to put my android phone on a shelf to collect dust as a relic of the past
2 • /e/ phone (by Stefan on 2020-02-17 00:40:16 GMT from Brazil)
I'm getting sick of smartphones, Both Android and iOS totally suck. The upcoming "5G" will be a cancer fest for the humankind. Even worse than H1N1/nCov/SARS/MERS and other sh*ts.
No "/e/ phone" for me. The day I retire will be the last day I use a mobile device!
PERIOD.
3 • MX-19.1 (by M Xavier on 2020-02-17 00:56:42 GMT from Canada)
Surprisingly, antiX repo is missing MX-19.1 latest release.
However, antiX and MX are in fact two different things.
4 • Slackware Pam and NetBSD (by chec on 2020-02-17 00:57:40 GMT from Spain)
For now Pat said wont move PAM to current in Slackware, so I suspect and I wish Slackware 15 its near to be released.
This week Im too happy because NetBSD released 9.0. Really its a big milestone, it comes full of features, new architectures, bug fixes, top quality and code correcteness.
Good live to NetBSD project!
5 • /e/ phone (by bruce davidson on 2020-02-17 02:04:13 GMT from United States)
Like many people, there are several smart phone apps that I am dependent on - such as my credit union and payment apps. To me the big challenge to any kind of open source phone is that unless they can provide access to the Play Store, or provide an alternative for commerce based apps like Cube and banking apps, they are basically doomed from the start. I'd love a Linux phone, but I'm not going to carry 2 phones around so that I can access my credit union and pay people - I'll have to stick with Android or iPhone.
6 • Banking app (by Freao on 2020-02-17 02:34:25 GMT from United States)
Every bank has a mobile website that can be used instead of their spyware apps that track where you go when you are not using them.
7 • /e/ phone (by Ted on 2020-02-17 02:34:59 GMT from Australia)
I already have LineageOS installed on my current phone and plan to be using that for at least another 3 years.
8 • @6 Re Banking Apps (by Rev_Don on 2020-02-17 02:54:51 GMT from United States)
"Every bank has a mobile website that can be used instead of their spyware apps that track where you go when you are not using them. "
Yes, but the websites don't offer some of the services that the app will.
9 • Calculate Linux Review (by David on 2020-02-17 03:15:35 GMT from United States)
"...using emerge and the built-in GUI updater for CLD took much longer than I was used to. An update after about two weeks, of only 52 packages, took way too much time to complete."
You do realize that "emerge" is compiling software updates from source, don't you? Of course, its going to be much slower than downloading/installing binaries.
10 • @3 MX19-1 (by jonathon on 2020-02-17 04:58:09 GMT from Australia)
Hi M Xavier, hope this helps explain..
"The reason is to allow maximum flexibility for both antiX and MX to develop special versions of packages without stepping on each other’s toes. The relationship between antiX and MX has not changed in any way"
from
https://mxlinux.org/blog/changes-to-mx-default-apt-sources-coming-soon/
11 • e phone (by hank on 2020-02-17 07:43:49 GMT from Germany)
As I have a phone with google removed as far as possible, netguard git keeping it quiet no need for another. Getting apps has never been a problem, either from developers or F droid and other reliable free stores.
The big issue is that on any normal phone the baseband chipset and software is out of control, except by certain authority's, as long as that is the case the phone is insecure.
12 • Branding fail (by Kai on 2020-02-17 07:53:26 GMT from Finland)
Reminder that /e/ is the ecchi board of 4chan (soft porn). Big branding fail.
13 • smartphones are a disease (by fonz on 2020-02-17 08:07:17 GMT from Indonesia)
agreed with @2, i personally hate how society view smartphones > pc. since the dawn of all these smartphones, im honestly seeing the fall of humanity. how often has there been news of people dying just because of their phones? has that ever happened with pcs?
hell, recently i thought people getting 'mentally unstable' due to phone games was just a joke, turns out its real yeah. me, ive been playing games since 95, p2w since y2k (and still do), no signs of me going mentally unstable. wonder how much ive lost over 20 years yeah..?
thankfully my kids are alright with their feature(less) phones and raspberry pi, im glad theyre not being swept by waves, but instead make their own waves...
14 • E phone (by Gown on 2020-02-17 08:50:47 GMT from Germany)
Nice review.... but does it make phone calls? Receive texts? How is the sound quality? Is it compatible with all normal carriers? The reviewer talk so much about the phone's GOS but not it's ability to be s phone! Ty.
15 • Android with Google or not (by OstroL on 2020-02-17 08:51:30 GMT from Poland)
I am using a Nexus 6 with Colt OS, which is derived from Android 9 Pie. I am also using the lowest possible Google apps from open source GAPPS Nano. I need Google Maps for GPS. The rest is voluntary. When I bought the Nexus 6, it was still new from a store lot (lying in the store without being sold) at a very low price. Originally manufactured in 2015-16. Still doing very well. Hoping the guys would manage to get Android 10 on it.
I also have a Nexus 5 with UBports Ubuntu Touch. Also doing well. Has open source maps, which is quite accurate. Calls, sms etc works quite well.
Of course, wouldn't mind a Samsung S9 with Ubuntu touch, but no one appears to able to port it, sadly!
16 • I'm on the bus/train/plane (by Smartguy on 2020-02-17 09:33:17 GMT from United Kingdom)
Got to agree with '2' and '13'. So far, I've not damaged my personage bumping into a lamp-post whilst squinting at a tiny piece of plastic. Many years ago in the era of 'bricks', an executive friend of mine pointed out important people don't need a mobile, they have a secretary in the office and an answerphone at home. My watch tells me the time and I know where I am/going (most of the time!). I trust my family and friends are competent at running their own lives and can call on neighbours, doctors, ambulance, fire brigade in emergencies. [I didn't mention police as they don't work these days.]
My landline is as secure as possible in this age and my PC is more or less locked down with Linux + settings, including a very secure email client.
So, yes, I fear for our young folk. Perhaps brain implants will solve future instant connection issues?
17 • @Android with Google or not (by OstroL (by zcatav on 2020-02-17 10:34:13 GMT from Turkey)
@15
You can use LineageOS for microG (https://lineage.microg.org/). Maps works without GAPPS and microg brings Full Play Services compatibility.
LineageOS for microG has a wide device compatiblity. And everthing works as expected on LineageOS. You can use F-Droid and/or apkmirror as application sources.
18 • Smartphones (by Friar Tux on 2020-02-17 13:41:57 GMT from Canada)
I'm with @16 (Smartguy) on this for exactly the same reasoning. In fact, I don't even HAVE a smart (?) phone and don't plan to get one. I use a PC, which stays home and gets used when I need it. I carry an old fashioned 'day-timer' agenda and pen in my back pocket - period. It has served me well for forty years. Doesn't need recharging or batteries, it's always ready, and the only 'updating/upgrading it needs is once a year I change the calendar. My PC, however, is everything. It is my library (books), newspaper, magazine, technical journal, recipe box, encyclopedia, writer's tool (stories, poems, article, etc.), graphic artist's tool (painting, drawing, 'needle-work' - yup, you read that right), and much, much more. I usually spend about 10-16 hours a day on it. This has helped to declutter/downsize the amount of stuff I would have had to cram into my, now, small apartment (780 sq. ft.).
I do realize that some folks need smart phones to run their business - my son can't be without his as it affords him 24/7 contact with his clients and employees. (I'm proud of that boy. He's quite successful, self-employed, and doing from his own home. Most of his employees work from their homes, also, all thanks to smart phone connectivity.)
19 • I Liked Calculate Linux - But ... (by Lawrence on 2020-02-17 14:11:55 GMT from United States)
Last year I tried Calculate Linux on one of my computers and I found that I liked it very much. I had always wanted to try a Gentoo-based distro. I had no trouble at all with the installation (I read their Wiki before installing and also before doing anything else; the instructions written there are complete and easy to understand) and, though updating takes somewhat longer than with most other distributions (due to everything being compiled from source), if you update every day or so, the process's length is not inordinate.
Then why did I stop using this distro? Frankly, because some of the programs which are essential to me are not offered by Calculate. The most important program that I could not find was HandBrake. There were others too. Plus their forum is mostly written in Russian; English-speakers do not get answers to questions quickly enough to suit me.
I am not sophisticated enough to manually compile a program from source so, regrettably, Calculate Linux had to go. I am now using EndeavourOS (Arch-based) and I am completely satisfied with that distro.
20 • @14 (by brad on 2020-02-17 14:14:42 GMT from United States)
I have the same question, but wanted to see if anyone else noticed - I don't see a review of the phone for use as a phone.
I also agree with some of the other posters here - my phone is not used (in general) to surf the web, or use many specialised apps (certainly *not* to access my bank or investment house - much too insecure!)
21 • /e/ phone (by sananab on 2020-02-17 14:34:40 GMT from Canada)
I'm concerned about using phone whose name is a regular expression.
22 • CLD (by Christian on 2020-02-17 15:20:24 GMT from Canada)
I'm sorry your experience with CLD wasn't great.
It's currently my favorite distro and I've been using it for a while without any major problem.
Yes, emerge is not as fast as dnf, apt, , zypper, pacman, etc., but it's not that much slower. BTW, at @9, although using emerge, (AFAIK) CLD is using binary packages, so there's no compiling when installing or updating software.
When running "cl-update", the system is actually doing lots of tasks (https://old.calculate-linux.org/main/en/system_update_guide).
The installer could also be improved, but it gets the job done (and yes, some experience is required).
On the other hand, emerge is very powerfull and the repositories usually have more than one version of a package available (and the packages available are quite extensive and up to date).
And if you're not very fond of CLI for managing packages, you can try Porthole.
23 • Experience with /e/ OS (by Ben on 2020-02-17 16:07:07 GMT from United Kingdom)
Hello, hope this post will answer some questions I saw in other comments.
I installed /e/ on my OnePlus 6 a few months ago, before that I tried LineageOS for microG and a couple other custom ROMs found on xda-developers on which I had manually added microG services.
Basically, the way I see /e/ is: LineageOS for microG + a selection of great open source apps configured and installed by default + a custom interface (that looks a bit like iOS) + cloud services (email, calendar, contacts, files, etc...)
I chose /e/ over the other ROMs I tried because: LineageOS (the basis of /e/) is one of the most professional Google-free Android based ROM, the microG services are well integrated, I really liked the choice of default apps which I found very polished and on par quality-wise with commercial apps (I was pleasantly surprised with "Maps" and used it for car navigation last summer), setting up a calendar synchronization proved rather complicated on other ROMs whereas it worked out of the box on /e/, and OS updates are painless.
Since it is based on LineageOS, everything that works on LineageOS will also work on /e/, and conversely if it doesn't work on LineageOS it is unlikely to work on /e/. I had similar experiences with the 2 systems, here are a few examples I can list:
WORKING:
- phone calls, text messages, data (I used the phone with 2 different operators in the UK)
- the vast majority of Android apps
- including: banking apps (HSBC, Revolut), Amazon Music, baby camera, Netflix, Synology apps, WhatsApp, Telegram
- Possibility to install alternative appstores (F-Droid, Aurora, etc..)
WORKAROUND NEEDED:
Some games (especially the most sophisticated ones) won't work if installed from the default "Apps" or "Aurora" stores, those deliver a partial APK which then needs to download additional content (probably from Google Play) when starting the game, which fails. For these games I installed another store, "APKPure", which delivers XAPKs including all necessary files.
NOT WORKING:
- an app to manage my home security alarm: I receive all notifications (alarm turned on, off, triggered, etc...) but I cannot log in to actually manage the alarm when away from home. This is the only such example I have.
- I still haven't found a way to install paid apps despite following instructions as advertised on Aurora's github page
Ben
24 • Phone review (by Barnabyh on 2020-02-17 16:21:09 GMT from Germany)
Jesse, please try F-Droid on the /e/ and see whether there are any conflicts or issues. Thanks.
25 • Calculate Linux (by Germany)
What does Calculate Linux provide me with that Debian or Ubuntu lacks?
26 • /e/ OS (by macsmister on 2020-02-17 17:27:02 GMT from United States)
Looks interesting, but the biggest issue I have is the inability to use a contactless payment method. I use (and love) Apple Pay on my iPhone, and I have the feeling this feature will be the hardest one to implement in an open source phone OS such as UBPorts or /e/ or Lineage.
One thing I'm hoping will happen some day... when the folks at KDEConnect reverse engineer what Dell was able to accomplish with Dell Mobile Connect for iOS: https://www.onmsft.com/videos/hands-on-with-dell-mobile-connect-why-its-better-than-microsoft-your-phone-on-windows-10. I want to switch to Linux full time but I gotta be able to copy and paste from/to my iPhone, and use text messaging from my computer.
27 • About "Technology Review (by Jesse Smith)" (by Yuri on 2020-02-17 17:46:16 GMT from Russia)
Hi, Jesse.
Thank you for review.
Couple of questions...
1. What about energy optimisation (eat battery)?
2. What about root access?
3. What about OS updates (major versions)? You can update OS to analog Android ver.9 and ver.10?
28 • Linux phone (by Cheker on 2020-02-17 18:32:18 GMT from Portugal)
It's extremely likely that I'll buy a PinePhone one of these days, but I haven't decided on the OS yet. Considering /e/ looks to be just Google-less Android, it probably won't be my pick as I want to try something different. Not having access to the Play Store isn't a major loss, not like there's anything good there as it is.
@12 I went through the entire review and that didn't even occur to me. Wonder what shows up if you google /e/. Oh Christ, lmao.
29 • mobile phone (by greenpossum on 2020-02-17 21:42:25 GMT from Australia)
@16 and @18: You obviously don't travel. A smartphone is a vade mecum. I once listed all the things a smartphone displaced in my packing list for older trips: guide book, compass, dictionaries, maps, cards (to some extent), magnifying glass, diary, contact list, note pad, camera, music player, laptop (to some extent). I didn't always take the full list on every trip, but longer trips, up to 3 months, would use most of that list. And being a phone of course.
30 • Calculate Linux Review (by Ariel on 2020-02-17 22:27:36 GMT from Argentina)
Thanks for making a review about Calculate Linux. I would like to point out that yes indeed it's a distro with a quite sharp slope of learning, I use it in all my systems even at work as a LAMP server, it took me few months to get used to, but once you know how to deal with emerge you can do basically everything that come up to your mind, it's a true meta distro since you can define the way you want the dependeces to be made a build a system as you want by setting up flags, on the other hand you have a lot of binary packages so you can save time compiling, by far the portage system with the overlays is the most advanced package manager you can possible deal with, If you like to learn how things work I think it's a very good distro. Since I moved from Debian to Calculate about 3 yrs ago my distrohope syndrome has gone away, since I have always something new to learn tweak and discover running an hybrid calculate+gentoo system on my rigs. Thanks for another great DWN. byeee
31 • @ #27 (by M Xavier on 2020-02-17 23:35:35 GMT from Canada)
@ #27
Jesse Thanks for review.
In line with #27,
Only one more question:
How many sensors are stuffed-in that end-user(s) hardly use?
32 • sensors (by Jesse on 2020-02-18 00:39:10 GMT from Canada)
@31: "How many sensors are stuffed-in that end-user(s) hardly use?"
What sort of sensors are you thinking of? I linked to the phone's specs and features in the article if you're looking for a hardware overview.
33 • @ #32 Sensors (by M Xavier on 2020-02-18 02:02:10 GMT from Canada)
Thanks Jesse,
Indeed you reviewed nicely.
I hope DW should charge nice bucks for tech review of any products.
Anyway, Galaxy S9 is stuffed with following sensors:
Sensors
Iris sensor
Fingerprint sensor
HR sensor
Pressure sensor
Gyro sensor
Proximity sensor
Accelerometer
Geomagnetic sensor
RGB Light sensor
Barometer
Hall sensor
+ Face Recognization
34 • The "ONLY" case, I would buy Samsung Galaxy S9 (by M Xavier on 2020-02-18 02:15:35 GMT from Canada)
The "ONLY" case, I would buy Samsung Galaxy S9,
if and only if,
The factory-sealed box of Samsung Galaxy S9 contains the certificate from Samsung that none of the above sensors are stuffed-in (of course at heavy price reduction, bcoz no extra-charges for sensors which are not stuffed-in.). Plus no facial recognization and no finger-printing.
As in I am not a believer of security features.
35 • Why would I throw-in my money? (by M xavier on 2020-02-18 02:38:08 GMT from Canada)
Why would I throw-in my hard-earned money every 18 month approximately where battery is simply not replace-able, where as, I DO NOT USE any of following features:
Biometrics : iris scanner, fingerprint scanner, face recognition
Intelligent scan: Combines iris scan and face recognition for convenient unlocking and in some cases provides enhanced security for certain authentication services. And, Voice assistant Color lens Mono audio Voice label.
36 • /e/phone (by Sum1 on 2020-02-18 04:51:21 GMT from Indonesia)
Nah, I had enough for smartphones. I won't buy it anymore, I'm happy with Debian Noroot .apk on my Android Pie phone. Another smartphone? Not meh.
37 • @2, About OSes (by RJA on 2020-02-18 07:11:42 GMT from United States)
At least, I never had Android updates fail for no good reason, AFAIK.
In my experience, Windows 10 on laptops and desktops, gives me more of a hard time than Android ever did! Especially Windows 10 before 1909.
Heck, even iOS looks more consistent than Windows 10, update-wise.
And I do want to try /e/, but I risk borking the phone! (if not bricking it) Have they even tested the camera functionality? I was thinking of trying /e/ on my 2014 Samsung Galaxy S5, which has Android Marshmallow on it, IIRC.
I'm currently very happy with my Galaxy S10+, (probably 2019) which I got on July 26, 2019, IIRC. It came with Android 9 and was successfully updated to Android 10, IIRC. I think the original Android code name is "Pie". I think I got "Q" now.
38 • /e/rom (by /e/may on 2020-02-18 11:10:07 GMT from Norway)
its nice to see more open roms like https://replicant.us and /e/,
I do build a custom slim AOSP rom with microG for a Sony device, and it achieves more or less 12h screen time on good days. But then again I dont want a smart phone but a tiny portable computer, therefore Pinephone or Librem 5 is the future choice for me and as allways with a custom slim linux/gnu os;)
39 • Won't trust my data with ch/e/aters (by N/e/ver again on 2020-02-18 11:39:38 GMT from United States)
They cheated Wikipedia with sock and meat puppets. They don't encrypt your data with keys only you control. Their app store is run by a shadow organization (info.cleanapk.org). See reviews at infosec-handbook.eu. I tried it, then went back to Lineage in a heartbeat. Replicant is better if you're serious about deGoogling. I would recommend taking advantage of their free 5 GB storage accounts, using throwaway emails to register, and always first encrypting your uploads yourself.
40 • /e/ (by Arthur on 2020-02-18 13:00:29 GMT from Australia)
I've been using a cheap Android phone (LeEco 2) for the last year or so with /e/ on it, and it's been pretty much a smooth experience the entire time. I've found the entire experience of installing it and using it as a daily phone to be great. I don't consider that it's not the standard Android experience as it's been so seamless. The only issues I've had have been:
- video recording and calls: works for most things, except WhatsApp (yes, hypocrisy for a privacy-focused OS, but I also live in the real world).
- issues with the camera: once I moved to a camera app that uses the newer API, the issue went away
- phone encryption: didn't work for ages, then I discovered that TWRP was the underlying issue, not /e/. Once I shrunk the data partition size by 4 blocks, it worked perfectly.
When I come across websites that block my phone because they can't serve me the adverts they want to, and my data seems to be secure and under my control, I'm reminded of why I installed it. Sure, I'm no phone addict. But I like my privacy.
41 • /e/ phone and OS (by OstroL on 2020-02-18 15:12:32 GMT from Poland)
This /e/ OS is pretty old, from around 2 and half years old. Android 8.1 was introduced in August 2017, and this is February 2020. It should be an OS derived from Android X, at least.
42 • Calculate Review (by Tony on 2020-02-18 15:23:46 GMT from Bulgaria)
Mr. Sanders puts too much personal opinion in that review and it looks like he had a negative opinion about the distro before trying it. When trying a new OS, especially so different since it's based on Gentoo, you have to be prepared for big changes, be it the installer, package manager or other things. I do understand that it's not nice not to have the NVIDIA up and running, and that waiting for package compilation consumes a lot time. A deeper look in things would be much better, like Mr. Smith does in his reviews. I do believe that the NVIDIA issue he had is solvable in some way. Thank you for the review Sanders and take a look at the documentation next time, please.
43 • @38--Why you don't have a computer in your pocket...yet. (by R. Cain on 2020-02-18 15:23:50 GMT from United States)
@ 38 --
".. But then again I dont want a smart phone but a tiny portable computer..."
I've been "into" computers for a very long time, from back in the days of H-P, GE, DEC (et. al.) MINIcomputers; and every peripheral was a device NOT made for a computer, along with a 'one-off' assembly-language driver for the device (I remember having to modify the hardware and write the software to be able to use a Kennedy reel-to-reel mag tape machine with a MAC-16 mini).
The point is this: I've long known--as most of us should have--that the device most of you carry around in your pocket has FAR more computing power than what was available as short a time ago as ten years. We also (should) know that almost ALL THAT POWER is completely unavailable for our general use--it is totally and completely "locked up"--due strictly to being hobbled by the machinations of the two companies which are responsible for what passes for an 'operating system' for almost 100% of these devices.
I absolutely agree with /e/may:
I want all this computing power--which has been artificially withheld for far too long--to be available to me, and I will buy a Linux PinePhone, with its bootable MicroSD slot when the time is right.
For a list of the PinePhone's features, see
https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
For a well-thought-out article on the current state of the PinePhone, and his (not inconsiderable good) points, see Jack Wallen's excellent article:
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/why-the-150-pinephone-is-not-ready-to-replace-my-android-device/
44 • @43 (by Bob on 2020-02-18 17:11:18 GMT from Austria)
In terms of computing power Intel, AMD and ARM are more or less comparable since many years for similar cores. There is no such thing as superior power in the mobile devices other than their advantage in terms of power consumption. You won't be able to match the computing power of the top of the line Intel or AMD desktop CPUs with your mobile device in your pocket without burning a hole in it (that's why mobile CPUs are throttled).
45 • Calculate Linux Review (by Gary on 2020-02-18 18:37:52 GMT from United States)
I have used several earlier versions Of Calculate. Only had a little trouble installing them and they worked well. However the newest versions will not install on my older computers. Once they take over the entire HD, they lock up on reboot and I cannot log in. Granted Calculate takes longer to install or update, but it was a rock solid system.
Note: I was never able to get it to install on a Lenovo laptop, then or now.
46 • Matching the computing power of top-of-the-line desktop CPUs? Where did that co (by R. Cain on 2020-02-18 18:45:25 GMT from United States)
@ 44 --
"...There is no such thing as superior power in the mobile devices..."
"...You won't be able to match the computing power of the top of the line Intel or AMD desktop CPUs...without burning a hole..."
Where (and why) did these comments come from? What do they remotely have to do with the observations made in @ 43?
Did you even comprehend the message of the comment? The comments you made are what is known as "red herrings".
How about trying again, and this time, please give us all the benefit of your answer--as well as the benefit of, I'm sure, your considerable experience--to the statement, "...the device most of you carry around in your pocket has FAR more computing power than what was available as short a time ago as ten years...".
If you have a problem with THIS statement, then please address IT, along with your very serious, technically factual reasoning.
'Red herrings' have no place in a (hopefully) logical discourse.
**************************************************************************
"Reading comprehension is a big problem in open-source"
Updated: February 24, 2016
https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/linux-reading-comprehension.html
47 • some concerns about /e/ phone (by dmacleo on 2020-02-18 21:10:45 GMT from United States)
first...that foolish name.
next we'll be calling it // the phone formerly known as prince...I mean /e/
misreading phone models depending on screen is a little odd. also they really need to make sure when they start the swap process to tell people to not send them carrier phones, s9 bought at newegg and one bought from verizon/att are very different. carrier s9+ like my verizon one locked and even people at xda have not rooted it from what I saw as little as 10 days ago when looking.
48 • @46 (by Bob on 2020-02-19 01:08:31 GMT from Austria)
I have to admit that I did not read your post carefully enough before commenting, but I probably still don't get these remarks:
"... POWER is completely unavailable for our general use ..."
"... has been artificially withheld for far too long ..."
It is beyond me why someone might think that computing power of mobile devices is unavailable for general use. Android Studio and a zillion of apps come to mind. But I guess I'll stop this before we are talking way past each other. Good luck with your PinePhone!
49 • @43 (by zcatav on 2020-02-19 06:58:08 GMT from Turkey)
"I want all this computing power--which has been artificially withheld for far too long--to be available to me, and I will buy a Linux PinePhone, with its bootable MicroSD slot when the time is right."
Until then, you can install and use Termux on your smartphone.
50 • /e/ what (by MrCircle on 2020-02-19 15:59:35 GMT from Mexico)
So, the revolutionary /e/ phone uses Lineagos and runs on a Samsung Galazy S9 phone. That is not revolutionary.
I can buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 for $150 on Amazon and put on Lineagos for free.
Why would I pay /e/ $300 for the same thing? https://e.foundation/e-pre-installed-refurbished-smartphones/
In the even that a person couldn't install the new ROM themselves, and they paid a mobile repair shop to flash their phone that would still be less than the advertised $300 for a pre-installed /e/ phone. And this product is only available in limited areas?
Strange business model.
51 • Installing /e/ (by Jesse on 2020-02-19 16:05:44 GMT from Canada)
@50: "I can buy an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 for $150 on Amazon and put on Lineagos for free. Why would I pay /e/ $300 for the same thing?"
You wouldn't. You'd purchase the phone you want for $150 and then download and install /e/ onto it for free. The sold/refurbished phones the e Foundation sells is for people who don't already have a compatible phone or don't want to deal with flashing the OS.
52 • Anarchy Linux (by Julian Cardich on 2020-02-19 17:49:41 GMT from Greece)
Anarchy is a political system and/or philosophy. In my opinion, the association of an operating system with politics is an extreme absurdity. I think this extraneous object should have no place in this and any other non-political site.
53 • @ #52 Anarchy Linnux (by M Xavier on 2020-02-19 22:44:52 GMT from Canada)
While taking about "Anarchy" Linux, one should realize the facts down-to-the-earth that every distro is biased to one or to an another one. And, kernel itself is biased to some.
54 • Mobiles and anarchy (by Rufus on 2020-02-20 09:30:03 GMT from Singapore)
@52, Judging is fine, but it should be done from knowledge. Anarchy in its broad sense is the absence of order or authority. It is not a belief or a philosophy, only a description of a state/event. It can be said of nature ("not manicured plots but a wild anarchy of nature" -Israel Shenker) or of a grouping or society which all interaction is voluntary. (Hands-On Nature Anarchy Zone; See link below)
https://ithacachildrensgarden.org/visit-the-garden/about-the-garden/hands-on-nature-anarchy-zone/
Mobiles: At my advanced age, I still manage the daily use of smartphones without running into lamp-posts or falling of cliffs. (So far.) I find them near-indispensable. I've been interested in UBPorts, just to try it, but looking at the hardware list, the only unit I'd consider is the Nexus 5. Now I can get a Nexus 5 (new leftovers) from China for under USD200, but I can get a new large screen, Chinese branded (Vivo, Oppo) with up to date, decent specs and features, running the latest Android, for around USD150. So far it remains a maybe. For Android phones where the updates have stopped, LIneage, or variants of it will do fine. I don't have a Google aversion, so access to the store is needed.
55 • @52 Jukian Cardich: (by dragonmouth on 2020-02-20 13:37:40 GMT from United States)
Don't be getting hung up on a word.
What is worse, an innocuous operating system with a name you do not happen to like or an operating system with a innocuous name (Windows, OS/X) that is, in effect, a dictatorship?
Don't be a Political Correctness prig.
56 • 52 • Anarchy Linux (by Julian Cardich on 2020-02-19 17:49:41 GMT from Greece) (by zcatav on 2020-02-20 13:38:21 GMT from Turkey)
@52
And what about 'anticapitalista' he is maintainer of antiX and MX Linux from Greece?
57 • Could have been worse (by CS on 2020-02-20 15:29:29 GMT from United States)
At least they didn't call it the /b/ phone
58 • Three Thoughts (by Richard Siegrist on 2020-02-20 16:07:23 GMT from United States)
1. The button that does nothing previously called up Bixby the Android version of Siri. This button is a real pain as it is always being accidently hit.
2. I am a speed freak when it comes to my computing equipment. Having to push extra buttons in an attempt to reach a location in the system would drive me crazy. My Android S9 is bad enough.
3. Lastly, not having an accurate, functioning gps system grinds everything to a halt. I use phone gps in my personal vehicle and when riding my off road motorcycle in remote locations. Since this is a
wifi based system it wouldn't be available where I need it anyhow.
59 • @52 (by Jay on 2020-02-20 18:08:17 GMT from United States)
I'm not a fan of the name either. However, the creator may see it as a clever pun. If you read it as "An Arch-y (Arch-Like) Linux" then I get it. However, it would be difficult for me to promote/encourage its use to most people given the name. Out of context it is off-putting. The same is true with the BSD devil. I have enough trouble being associated with a fat penguin.
60 • /e/ phone, underwhelmed (by Richard Palmer on 2020-02-21 10:06:38 GMT from France)
I've been running an equivalent system of my very first smartphone (HTC Desire) for over a year so I'm a little bemused by the /e/phone notion.
I soon discovered that due to the memory limitations of the Desire (Bravo) I was limited to running a custom rom (BeanStalk-4.4.4065-20151211-bravo). I quickly found that installing Google Apps was guaranteed to cause major operational problems because of the phone's low CPU power and memory, so I installed F-Droid and found equivalent open-source Apps to those provided by Google.
Now my old HTC is a perfectly functional device that allows communications (phone, WhatsApp, sms, email) browsing (mBrowser) mapping (Maps.me) audio visual (VLC, internet radio, podcasts, remote for "Clementine" and "Squeezebox", Newpipe for Youtube access, Google agenda sync via Etar,
Without the clutter of Google the device has again become very useable. I can port its sound output to a bluetooth speaker, and connect a bluetooth external keyboard should I wish to do any serious typing on the device.
My advice, recycle, save resources and use your intellect not your wallet.
Number of Comments: 60
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