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toastal 5 hours ago

This will become increasingly important as Google has boiled the frog too fast while trying to force its new store policies + banning sideloading; however, all of the pieces are now in place for them to try again in a year or 2, which history shows us they will. It’s certainly time to start toying with Linux phones if you haven’t already. This year I picked up an Xperia 10 to flash Sailfish OS on—which has rough edges (many of the hardware issues should be fixed in the next release), but Android App support bridges some of the gaps in application support.

24t 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> sideloading

It's called installing. Language matters and I see no reason to concede this point in Google's favour.

griffzhowl 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I agree with the ethos but "banning installing" wouldn't have been correct here.

There should be terminology for installing from the source of your choice which doesn't carry the marginal or sinister connotations of "sideloading" though.

"Freeloading" would have been a good one but... yeah

cbolton 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can also install through the Play store. Sideloading is more specific.

geokon 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Doesn't feel like any conspiracy.. Isn't sideloading installing through adb instead of from the system itself? (by clicking on an APK or using an app Store like Xiaomi/Googled/Huawei/Fdroid)

"Side" being.. from your computer

tapia 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I just bought a second Fairphone 4 just to play a bit with pmOS. I'm really surprised by the state it is. It's not fully usable as a daily driver yet, but with some work it can get there. Waydroid works also pretty good. Of course, the major problem are banking apps and similar. I hope that some progress can be done in this direction. And, who needs working audio, if you can have python and git in your phone!? :P

pbmonster 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> Waydroid works also pretty good.

Did you test apps that need sensors and notifications? If I want to run an OpenStreetmaps apk (there's no good way to run OMS on Linux natively), do I get GPS and compass heading? Do I get turn-by-turn navigation? Even if the app is in the background?

toastal 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I made a partition for Nix on mine so I have all the tools I need while not relying on Jolla to package things (the installable package list is quite barren). My audio works from the speakers, but the patches to make the headphone jack (something you Fairphone users no longer know of :P) work won’t come til the next release. For banks, I just use cash or log into the website on my laptop if required—while I will refuse goods/services that require an apps to the fullest extent possible (couldn’t get around TicketMaster which was a real blood-boiler beyond just the “phone required” aspect).

palata 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

What I never get is: why not prepare to fork AOSP? I like the security model of AOSP :-).

realusername 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Some people (like myself) prefer the desktop userland which is more familiar and works like you would expect as opposed to the android quirks.

eOS is basically what you are looking for for most phones or GrapheneOS (pixel only)

charcircuit 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That's already happening today.

https://grapheneos.org/

But for the reason an antiquated os like postmarketos are suggested is that the project is being opportunistic thinking this is a chance they can be relevant. Additionally, the population of HN has more sentimental view on these legacy operating systems and view it as a chance to go back to the past and use software they are familiar with.