Progress on /e/, the de-Googled Android fork(itsfoss.com) |
Progress on /e/, the de-Googled Android fork(itsfoss.com) |
Why do phones require device-specific builds and ROM flashing just to install a different OS? Why isn't there a phone out there with a normal boot loader that allows me to install whatever OS I want like I can on a PC?
I have a perfectly good phone, but I know I'm going to have to buy a new one eventually just because the manufacturer will stop supporting the hardware. Meanwhile, I have decades-old PCs that are running just fine.
Privacy is important. Removing Google from the picture is great. But I don't see this, LineageOS, or anything else taking off until we have a more accessible solution for installing mobile operating systems. An application that streamlines the flashing process is nice, but I don't think that's enough.
Unlocked bootloaders aren't terribly common though outside of Google's devices.
A few reasons:
1. Proprietary drivers are the norm for mobile devices, whereas (with a few exceptions) this is not the case for desktops/laptops.
2. Even when the drivers are free, standard practice among device manufacturers seems to be forking the kernel for each device and working off that fork. These things don’t and can’t run on mainline Linux/Android.
See the Librem 5 and PinePhone for what are probably the only two devices attempting to fix the above problems. And even if you fixed those:
3. ARM devices typically don’t have the same device enumeration capabilities as x86 PCs, meaning you need a separate device tree for each one. I believe there are also efforts underway to improve this situation, but that’s where we are at the moment.
It's like the days of when Linux didnt support ACPI well, but now everything is behind ACPI tables instead of PCI config space.
Capitalism. And reasons that Google/Apple want you locked to their operating system, their hardware.
Prove me wrong.
It's good that they set up microG for you; that's one of the hurdles with using Lineage this way.
I'm very curious about their Maps app. That was one of the very biggest problems when I tried to use Google-free Android a couple years ago. The open-source options at the time were bad. If they've made a decent alternative, that would truly be a game-changer.
One other random thought: the name "/e/" is terrible. Hard to search for, hard to meaningfully verbalize, hard to interpret.
I think I read somewhere that this is a deliberately-obscure temporary codename pre-proper-branding, during initial unstable development.
That said, they've used it a lot in their branding, so I'm not sure...
> Why this weird, inconvenient /e/ name?
> ...
> It’s the current project codename, we will probably introduce a new and more convenient name for our mobile ROM in few months.
Haven't heard of "Here". I did end up using Google Maps in the browser sometimes, although it felt like a compromise (and obviously didn't have a stellar user-experience itself).
Also, it uses a Nextcloud fork which isn't even open source as a replacement for Google cloud service, and same as another reply, why trust /e/ over Google?
As that it's mostly stolen work in some sorts(Earn money with OSS devs effort? Seriously what a disgrace.), instead, please support LineageOS for microG[1]
Good to know; a word that's more easily duckduckgoable may help with branding.
Not a thing.
Duckable might be better?
> ensure that you have an /e/ account (for /e/ online services such as mail, drive, calendar…). You can register for a free /e/ acount here
right - and I should trust E over Google why?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/volla/volla-phone-desig...
What about the TPM and keystore?
The problem is that the device trees are half assed since they run against a hacked up kernel, not that they exist in the first place.
Could I just say "Communism" and thereby prove you wrong?
Well, do they not? Locking you to their product, forcing you to use their product for their own gain.
Apple won't even let you repair your phone unless you go via their own dealers.
You could call communism, but there isn't any communism element to it. It's all capitalism to answer OP's question to "Why can't I install any operating system" because you can, there is nothing stopping you apart from the companies that control the product.
Personally, I'm hoping that some states grow a pair and actually pass meaningful right to repair legislation, then a lot of things will tumble. There are plenty of Libertarian and Capitalist supporters who do not like the corporatist status quo. That doesn't mean that Capitalism itself is the issue.
If it weren't for IP protections, there would be more interoperability most likely, or better service/support. Sharing communication breaks, and offering run-alike chip and interface replacements would be less of an issue. Not to mention, it's Corporatist IP protections that keep out competitive upstarts.
Also, Apple happens to make most of their devices in a Communist country, so how does that stand?
Yes, a stable interface is another potential solution. It's unlikely to happen[0], but it would solve the issue.
(Quite honestly, though, I'm glad we don't have to deal with manufacturers pulling stuff like this in the Linux world: https://twitter.com/Foone/status/1172237142485078016)
[0] https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/process/stable-api-...
It's completely orthogonal.