librephone (librephone.fsf.org)
from smps@sopuli.xyz to degoogle@lemmy.ml on 17 Oct 20:43
https://sopuli.xyz/post/35347113

“This is a project to research proprietary files in Android to work towards a long-term goal of free replacements.” Meaning; to develop FOSS alternatives for the Google parts in the Android system.

#degoogle

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CodenameDarlen@lemmy.world on 17 Oct 20:56 next collapse

How would this be better than Linux mobile?

pr06lefs@lemmy.ml on 17 Oct 21:04 next collapse

Reverse engineering certain android software components might enable more phones to work under linux as well as lineage or similar. For instance if a modem requires a certain kernel module under android, that might be usable in linux as well.

confuser@lemmy.zip on 17 Oct 21:16 next collapse

That sounds useful but I thought the biggest issue was services require google certified software and hardware or something to that effect

pr06lefs@lemmy.ml on 17 Oct 21:20 collapse

I think that is the big upcoming issue, yes. I don’t quite understand the nuances but the gist seems to be they are locking it down so F-Droid can’t work anymore. Still, blobs could help linux.

yaroto98@lemmy.world on 17 Oct 22:28 collapse

And potentially make them better too. Maybe a generic wireless driver that works on almost all phones (even if slow), or it’s not uncommon for the industry to gatekeep features to newer models. OSS would likely get those features running on old hardware anyway.

That’s not even mentioning the spyware and AI garbage baked into everything. Or nerfing cpu/battery performance on devices for planned obsolescence.

non_burglar@lemmy.world on 18 Oct 00:40 next collapse

A lot of the ux and higher level HAL work is done, and the obstacles on android remain in the drivers and signed blobs.

Linux is great, but phosh, plasma and gnome mobile are pretty poor interface experiences at the moment.

CodenameDarlen@lemmy.world on 18 Oct 03:55 collapse

I wonder if you can run Waydroid on mobile linux, it’d feel like an Android phone, but you’ll have more control over it because it’s actually just a container inside your OS, easily root etc…

somerandomperson@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 18 Oct 09:27 collapse

you absolutely can

VoidJuiceConcentrate@midwest.social on 18 Oct 04:12 next collapse

oh I bet the Phosh folks will be keeping an eye on this.

smps@sopuli.xyz on 18 Oct 13:39 collapse

Access to Android app library might be considered a plus?

MrSulu@lemmy.ml on 18 Oct 13:04 collapse

I think (hope) that we will have a number of phone OS options in the near future. Android with Google elements replaced and more developed Linux phones. The Android option appears easier and so may take the lead.