this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2024
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Privacy

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TLDR: i complain about samsung's flagship and newer android.

I use samsung flagship phone and it's crazy, how unable I am to use full potential of my phone, just because I don't want to log in to google neither to samsung. I try to use F-droid and Aurora Store whenever possible, but its so bad experience...for maps I use Organic Maps, but google forces it to be installed specifically from Google Play Store to work with Android Auto, so I have to log in every time there is an update. Most of games won't work, because they require being signed-in to google, and thats actually kinda weird..before my phone now I had an old Galaxy S5 Android 6.0 and games there didn't complain that much as here on Android 14 (so the newer android the less privacy you get, while them all companies "focus on privacy", bullshit liars), samsung requires signing-in to usd like 1/10 of the flagship features..It's so sad, as I love samsung's quality, phone is really outstanding, overall all samsung products are very good quality, but pushing these fucking accounts is convincing me not to buy samsung's flagship anymore. We need to finally unite and make some alternative to those close-sourced bloatware, as phone industry is nowhere near to being as free as desktop industry. I feel more free using Windoze than those fucking " smart"phones. Really if you have to buy new smartphone and are into privacy, think twice before you buy samsung..phone itself is great, but software side is a nightmare.

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[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 week ago (6 children)

That's only as long as you have money for a Pixel (and most people don't).

[–] QuazarOmega@lemy.lol 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The a series is pretty good bang for your buck, if you can't afford that and neither used ones, then maybe you could settle for one of the cheaper Asian ones supported by Divest OS

[–] GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago

Exactly - I'm still very happy with my 4a. A used 5, 6 or 7a would be very cheap and very usable.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I've bought used phones since 2013. The most I've ever paid is $150, and that was recently for a Pixel.

You can pickup a Pixel 4 for about $100.

Surely "most people" are paying far more for their phones.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 week ago

Old second hand Pixels are pretty cheap but they don't receive Graphene updates for very long.

[–] j4k3@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Pixel 4 is past EOL with Graphene (and google)

[–] JustARegularNerd@aussie.zone 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Genuine question because I've been out of the loop on this. I had a Galaxy S5 that only got one major upgrade from Samsung (4.4 to 5.x I believe) but CyanogenMod and later LineageOS took that thing right up to Android 11.

Why can't the same be done with modern phones today? What changed between that old S5 and the Pixel 4a I ultimately sold for going EOL on GrapheneOS?

Edit: apparently I shouldn't compare apples to oranges without so much as quickly checking support for the Pixel 4a..

[–] j4k3@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

The kernel started moving faster, but also the kernel for these devices are orphans. They can never be updated properly because the source code for the kernel modules is not available. The way the phones get updated in ROMs is by back porting changes from the present back to the old orphan. It requires someone super familiar with both kernels to do so. Eventually it becomes untenable. The whole scheme of Android is centered around this source code/orphan kernel scheme. Everything is setup so that hardware manufacturers never have to add their source to the mainline kernel meaning you can never own the device. There is not a single phone or mobile device that you can completely own and running on mainline with available source code. The pixel is all about the TPM chip.

[–] djsaskdja@reddthat.com 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I got a refurbished Pixel 7A for $220 just to mess around with GrapheneOS. It’s a very affordable phone.

[–] eleitl@lemm.ee 1 points 1 week ago

335 eur new on Amazon.

[–] zingo@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

The biggest problem is the scarce availability outside the US.

Or should I say, that the biggest problem is software (OS) compatibility with other devices than the Pixel?

My money is on the latter.

[–] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Most people have no problem paying more for an iPhone.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 week ago (3 children)
[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Rich?

So only the half of the US that buys iPhone's is rich?

Or is it they don't know what they're paying because it's part of the monthly bill?

Most of the iPhone users I know are in their 20's and make less than half of what I do... And I'm far from rich.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 week ago

So only the half of the US that buys iPhone's is rich?

Yes. A lot of people worldwide are much less rich than that.

[–] Umbrias@beehaw.org -1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

or want a pixel, or want to buy a new phone. the insistence on pixel support only is frustrating.

[–] GolfNovemberUniform@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

Graphene doesn't have an advantage over other options if it doesn't get newest security patches so support is mandatory.