"I then have 100% control over that device and the hardware maker, the retailer, and the OS maker have a combined 0% control."
the problem is transaction not done once you own the device, you must use the ecosystem
Google and Apple create this ecosystem and they own it, so even if you have 100% control of your device but you cant live without their ecosystem
OS is just "half the battle", if its so easy Microsoft would not let windows mobile died
Right, so that's what needs to change.
well, we need a platform competitor like Huawei doing for the past years
but Open Ecosystem/Platform
which is likely never happen tbh, since the amount of resources that required is a lot and would need monetization which would end up like at position like this
> well, we need a platform competitor like Huawei
You mean, GNU/Linux phones, Librem 5 and Pinephone?
"You mean, GNU/Linux phones, Librem 5 and Pinephone?"
not yet to diminish them who is build these Amazing tools/devices but I need to see it yet in real life
hell even if you want to buy them, they literally often stock out in certain areas
and we not counting technical expertise to operate the devices
Librem 5 is in stock, and it's my daily driver. These phones are niche, because in discussion like this one, everyone is constantly saying that it's impossible to escape the duopoly and we're doomed.
these phone is not niche because they are niche, but because they are sucks
if there are alternative that magically better than Google/Apple ecosystem. people would instantly switch
You don't need told people to switch, just need to prove it
They're not comparable to an iPhone but good enough to be a daily driver for technical people like the HN audience. Yet the latter never even mentions it saying there are no options, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45589096
> good enough to be a daily driver
Are they, though? I don’t think I’m the most demanding user [1], but a $2000 phone with 4 & 128 GB, a 720×1440 TFT, and no NFC? I guess I don't want my freedom that much. (Although USB 3.0 w/ DP is a very nice addition.) That’s not to mention the general bulkiness and the fact that, afaiu, the software doesn't support either Bluetooth or GPS — which are the most important functions my phone provides.
P.S.: writing this whine, I've realised Purism is not far off from the point where I'd make a happy switch — if they offered something smaller [2, 3] with an OLED display of at least 300 PPI [4], I’d buy it asap.
[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44590665
[2]: 5–5.5 inches diagonal and up to 10 mm thick.
[3]: I understand why the current models are so bulky, but personally I don't really care for modularity and hardware switches. I'd gladly trade those for optimised dimensions and weight of the device — compare how often I have to repair the device vs. how often I do handle it.
[4]: My current iPhone 12 mini is almost 500 PPI, and it's gorgeous, but I admit that's probably overkill.
I also would prefer a smaller phone. However
> I understand why the current models are so bulky, but personally I don't really care for modularity and hardware switches
These aren't the main reasons. It's more because of the chosen SoC, which came from automotive industry and was the only choice for running free software.
Oh, I didn’t consider that aspect. Is the SoC physically bigger, does it require a bunch of additional components, or is it simply power hungry?
I guess it's all of those. WiFi and modem had to be added separately, too.
I've spent the day revisiting this issue, and, after some research, I think my next phone will be Fairphone 5 with Ubuntu Touch. It's not perfect — too big for my taste and not waterproof — and I'll need a couple of weeks of trial use before fully committing. However, I really believe it could be not just my phone for the next five years but also an ad-hoc mobile workstation running a more or less usable Linux.
If anyone has experience with this setup, ideas, or suggestions, I would be glad to hear you out (if you are here after the comment section is closed, drop me an email, address is in the bio).
A quad-core ARM A53 just isn't doing that device any favors, even for a Linux phone. If only they had included at least a couple of ARM A76 cores or something.
https://puri.sm/posts/the-danger-of-focusing-on-specs/
GNU/kReactOS phones.
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