Linux - MobileThis forum is for the discussion of all topics relating to Mobile Linux. This includes Android, Tizen, Sailfish OS, Replicant, Ubuntu Touch, webOS, and other similar projects and products.
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Linux mobile devices are about the use of Linux kernel-based operating systems on all sorts of mobile devices, whose primary or only Human interface device (HID) is a touchscreen.
nothing against LineageOS, but you do understand it's not the same as GNU/Linux, and it's still spawned by Google (the original Android OS, that is)?
personally, I can't wait to have a true GNU/Linux on my phone, if only to be able to access my server directly with ssh, or maybe NFS or sshfs to play media.
i came this close (pinches forefinger and thumb together) to buying a (used) fairphone2 recently, but decided not to in the end:
the specs are quite poor for 2018
the "modularity" is a joke if you still release a completely incompatible model every few years (all you're left with is a possibility to change the hardware connectors, headphones and usb, and the camera. which isn't a bad thing, because that's where most phones break first, but not enough to justify the hype of "modularity")
on the plus side, they seem to take as much care about the OS as they do about the hardware; an officially supported all-free and un-googled Android exists (sounds even better than Lineage to me).
which brings me to my point: there won't be a FP3 for a while yet, they want to concentrate on extending OS support instead.
like i said, it's a good thing in itself, but if you can't upgrade the mainboard (and have to buy a new (fair)phone instead) it's just peanuts.
Quote:
Though, according to the page for the midframe, I found out that they only make replacement parts for up to 3.5 years after the release of the phone.
i didn't even know that. ties in well with my criticism.
nevertheless, fairphone seem to have an exceptionally holistic view of device & operating system, at least it sounded like that.
________________________________________
but i'm getting more and more hyped about the librem5. like most projects of this kind, the hardware will be pretty lo-spec by the time it comes out, but you won't need too much computing power anyhow because: Real GNU/Linux! and those Kill switches!
This is a list of many Linux kernel-based operating systems used on mobile devices. They differ from one another in parts of the middleware or the entire middleware, and in that they employ individual UIs.
Android (operating system)
Replicant (operating system)
AsteroidOS
Plasma Mobile
postmarketOS
Sailfish OS
SHR (operating system)
This is a list of many Linux kernel-based operating systems used on mobile devices. They differ from one another in parts of the middleware or the entire middleware, and in that they employ individual UIs.
Android (operating system)
Replicant (operating system)
AsteroidOS
Plasma Mobile
postmarketOS
Sailfish OS
SHR (operating system)
Thanks!
Zain,
I wouldn't really count Replicant because it only works on about 20 phones, all of which are at least 5 years old. I appreciate the idea behind it, but there are too few mobile devices that can function with only "free" drivers for Replicant to be worth maintaining, let alone mention as a viable mobile operating system.
Last edited by Mr. Macintosh; 07-19-2018 at 11:29 AM.
Distribution: Ubuntu Linux 16.04, Debian 10, LineageOS 14.1
Posts: 1,572
Rep:
Has anything happened with Librem 5? I searched the internet and found that they had reached their funding goal of $1.5 million, but I can't find anything else on them.
You should take a look at their pages.
they have far over-reached the funding goal. a good sign.
so the money is there, they're just working on it now (both soft- and hardware), afaiu the shipments start early next year. https://puri.sm/posts/ https://forums.puri.sm/
Well. When most people say Linux, they really mean GNU/Linux with GNU being the most important part from a user perspective since it actually contains the tools you use on a regular basis and most functions that you need to actually use the Linux Kernel.
I've had a Busybox/Linux phone once. Although it was alot better than all the alternatives, it wasn't really "Linux" as most people think of it, since it was not GNU. It did not have the freedoms, it did not have the proper openness and several pieces of the software were "integrated" in a way that meant you could not separate them and use the pieces individually.
As far as I know, there was never really a GNU/Linux phone on the market. Perhaps Sailfish was GNU/Linux, I don't have the details about it. But I am not sure "Mer" has the full Linux Standard Base or the possibilities to install all which is required for a LSB system.
Ubuntu tried to launch a Ubuntu phone, and I am pretty sure that would have been a GNU/Linux phone if it was launched. But it never materialized. Nor do I have the details about it.
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