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goldenarm 12 hours ago

There are more OSS devs active on Android ROMs than OSS devs working on independent mobile OSes. We are running out of time, and we are misallocating ressources.

It's like bailing out water from the Titanic. We should prepare the lifeboats instead.

Vinnl 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

And there are even more devs working on Windows. It's like we're actively drilling a hole into the Titanic.

The thing is that those people aren't "resources" that you can just "reallocate". And even if they were, two extra buckets weren't going to save the Titanic.

goldenarm 5 hours ago | parent [-]

Most engineers agree that Windows 11 is a Titanic situation.

And yes, people reallocate all the time, it's called a cultural shift, and it's healthy discussion to have.

fsflover 11 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

(GNU/)Linux on mobile is the true sustanable, independent OS. It relies on the existing, strong Linux development, natively runs existing Linux apps and guarantees you lifetime updates. What else do you need?

Sent from my Librem 5.

mft_ 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

According to the website[0] I’d need 20+ hrs idle time, video recording, Bluetooth, and GPS.

I’m being gently snarky, of course, but the goal shouldn’t be an MVP that nerds who are deeply into privacy or FOSS or hate Google can tolerate - it should be something that disinterested normies could seamlessly and happily use.

[0] https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/

seba_dos1 10 hours ago | parent [-]

Well, it idles for about 22 hours, can record videos, does multi-constellation GNSS and both classic and LE Bluetooth.

The way to make disinterested normies able to use it is to have lots of nerds capable of fixing various papercuts themselves switch already and contribute rather than complain.

abustamam 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Thanks for sharing! I hadn't heard of this before. IMO any competition in this space is good competition.

But the reality is that it's not quite that straightforward. Linux desktop is a perfect example of that. We have tons of nerds working on the Linux ecosystem. Many on distros meant to ease transition from Mac/Windows to Linux (like Pop OS).

But if I were to tell my mom to install Pop OS, she would look at me like I'm crazy.

In some ways, Linux has become "cool" — Steam Machine and Steam Deck run Linux, and they're popular. Unfortunately, they're popular within a niche, and even then, they're popular for only a slice of digital life. People don't do work on a Steam Deck and I can't imagine many doing work on a Steam Machine.

Mobile phones are completely different though because most people have one phone. And that phone needs to do everything they need it to do. It needs to run the apps they need. It needs to play the games they want. It needs to integrate into everything. And it also needs to look trendy, because smartphones have become a bit of a status symbol of sorts.

So, while I agree that us nerds must become part of the solution than the problem, it's not enough. We need buy-in from major service providers. We need marketing. That's all stuff that the typical nerd can't/won't do.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent [-]

> But if I were to tell my mom to install Pop OS, she would look at me like I'm crazy.

What would she say if you asked her to install Windows? It doesn't matter. Normal people should either buy preinstalled or ask technical people for help. Using GNU/Linux desktop is as simple as Windows. It will be the same with phones one day, if we push it.

abustamam 5 hours ago | parent [-]

If I told her to install Windows, she'd at least know what to tell the technician in the event that I'm not around.

If I install Pop OS on her computer she will just tell the technician she has a laptop because she doesn't know the difference. I would hope that the technician does know the difference, and moreover, knows how to use it (which I assume someone calling themselves a technician would know how to troubleshoot basic stuff on a foreign operating system, but I've been wrong on lighter assumptions)

mft_ 9 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Maybe I should file an issue to update the website then ;)

mghackerlady 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

>fsflover

Username checks out (I kid, I'm also a fan of their work).

Also, if you're using PureOS, what's that like? Have they updated to a debian 13 base yet? Pretty much the only thing stopping me from at least trying it out is the super old version of GNOME

chopin 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I configured my user to run Cinnamon as desktop which works ok'ish.

I am not a great fan of the GNOME desktop, though.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Also, if you're using PureOS, what's that like?

I gave a couple of links to my reviews in another comment here.

> Have they updated to a debian 13 base yet?

No, but they're advancing, https://forums.puri.sm/t/when-and-how-to-jump-to-crimson/300...

> fan of their work

Thanks!

goldenarm 10 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm considering to switch to your device and start contributing to gnome mobile soon! I'm interested in your experience, what do you like and dislike the most on it?

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent [-]

I wrote a bit here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45276516 and here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39461180

RGamma 10 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

How well do communication apps work on it (Whatsapp, Signal, Discord)? Backups? Media (not as important)?

Increasingly thinking of relegating my iPhone to 2FA and maybe banking only.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent [-]

> Backups?

Everything that works on desktop GNU/Linux should work on the phone, too. I use Pika Backup app.

> communication

AFAIK none of the apps you listed officially support Linux ARM, so you have to go through some configuration unfortunately. I do not use any of them, I use Matrix.

> Signal

https://forums.puri.sm/t/signal-app-now-usable-in-portrait-m...

https://framapiaf.org/@lolgzs/113010288224110061

> Whatsapp ... Discord

https://forums.puri.sm/t/how-to-install-whatsapp-and-discord...

https://forums.puri.sm/t/librem-5-web-whatsapp-com-not-worki...

https://source.puri.sm/libremos/tasking/-/issues/1

> Media

Are you talking about watching videos and listening to music? It works fine.

RGamma 8 hours ago | parent [-]

Guess I'll have a look myself soon when I'm ready for some fiddliness. Sounds promising enough.

codethief 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> What else do you need?

A proper app sandboxing and permissions system?

yjftsjthsd-h 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Then use flatpak

fsflover 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

The parent wasn't speaking of a perfectly secure OS but about "preparing the lifeboats". Also, GNU/Linux somehow sufficiently secure on desktop, especially if you rely on the apps from the FLOSS repos.

malka1986 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I need my bank app to run on it.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent [-]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47216763

malka1986 8 hours ago | parent [-]

I have exactly 0 choice of banks app that would run on a mobile OS that is neither android or google.

At the end of the day, I need a bank account, and access to it, would it only be for buying food, or paying my mortgage.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent [-]

If you're in Europe, I saw quite a few comments here saying that banks not requiring the duopoly do exist. Otherwise, a dedicated banking phone might be the way.

bornfreddy 6 hours ago | parent [-]

Actually, a dedicated banking phone is a good idea for security reasons too. No sure how many people are willing to carry around 2 phones though.

Too bad dual boot is not an option, or VMs.

jaggs 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

If mobile Linux runs through the same kind of tortuous adoption and rejection cycle that desktop Linux is still doing, then it's a non starter before it begins.

seba_dos1 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I've been happily using it on several phones since 2008 (and writing this on one of them right now), only two years shorter than on my desktops/laptops. "Non-starter" is in the eye of the beholder.

fsflover 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> that desktop Linux is still doing

What are you even talking about? My non-technical relatives have been using Debian for many years already.

jaggs 7 hours ago | parent [-]

:) Regrettably, that's not the mass adoption we were all hoping for.

trelliumD 12 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

True, SailfishOS :-)