Next year's Huawei phones: Android without snooping?
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Next year's Huawei phones: Android without snooping?
It struck me that if Huawei does it half right, next year's Huawei phones could offer the Holy Grail of an Android phone without Big Brother Google knowing your every move. Personally, I don't care if it tells Beijing, I'm not likely to be there anytime soon. I don't believe it does tell Beijing, btw. But I would be rid of the persistent logging of every minute detail. If I break wind, google wants to know so it can advertise all appropriate medications :-/.
I don't really think Huawei is working on their own Android version. It claims to be "Android Compatible". Android is open-source but it is still "Google Owned". They would need to create they're own OS to get rid of Google.
I think the Android/iPhone monopoly is about over. Librem 5 is not much of a worry yet. But the PinePhone sure could be. The mobile Linux operating system development is really accelerating fast recently.
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Originally Posted by business_kid
It struck me that if Huawei does it half right, next year's Huawei phones could offer the Holy Grail of an Android phone without Big Brother Google knowing your every move. Personally, I don't care if it tells Beijing, I'm not likely to be there anytime soon. I don't believe it does tell Beijing, btw. But I would be rid of the persistent logging of every minute detail. If I break wind, google wants to know so it can advertise all appropriate medications :-/.
must admit that, while I have another brand of phone in mind as my next (who offer dual-boot Linux) I think along similar lines. I distrust my own and the US government more than I worry about Beijing even noticing me.
Well, Android may be Google owned but if you have the source and are willing to go to the effort no reason why you could not "roll your own" non spy version.
The Nexus 5 (which I still use as a second phone running Lineage) was a Google phone made by Huawei ....
The damn thing probably got confused sending all my data all over the globe ....
Well, Android may be Google owned but if you have the source and are willing to go to the effort no reason why you could not "roll your own" non spy version.
I can think of two good reasons: Lack of programming expertise and inertia. The fact that one hand disqualifies me from the Home_Volume_Power button press to reprogram the thing. It's theoretically possible but I haven't managed it.
Besides, I like Android's software suite, and if I break compatibility with that, things like WhatsApp goes.
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Originally Posted by business_kid
I can think of two good reasons: Lack of programming expertise and inertia. The fact that one hand disqualifies me from the Home_Volume_Power button press to reprogram the thing. It's theoretically possible but I haven't managed it.
Besides, I like Android's software suite, and if I break compatibility with that, things like WhatsApp goes.
my apologies, perhaps I ought to have used "one" rather than "you" or, indeed I should have used "they".
I see no reason why rebuffed manufacturers in countries which excel in tech could not produce a version of Android not made for the purpose of making Google shareholders rich and giving US(etc,) governments a way in to anything they want.
So I'll await next year's Huawei offerings with interest. My S7 Edge will still fetch money, Huawei will probably be realistically priced, and Beijing will hardly be as intrusive as Google
Sure, as long as you don't say anything about Tibet, Tiananmen Square, Hong Kong, etc, Beijing won't care about you. I heard from a friend, who visited as a tourist, that you get an immediate notification on your phone when you jaywalk, thanks to the ubiquitous cameras. So if you think Google is intrusive, make sure never to visit China.
Don't worry, I won't be visiting. I have a son who spent a few weeks in Northern China. He was visiting his friend who has been 10 years helping in a seriously banned religion there. As foreigners, they'd just be thrown out if caught, but the locals are looking at lengthy jail terms. We're pretty re-education proof, so I'm sure they have tried that & given up. It's one of the places we get no news about. We don't even officially acknowledge we have any presence there. But there is a list of 45 countries where our work is banned & reports are incomplete. China is in there.
Thanks, but no thanks. Funny though. Everything is made in China when it comes to phones. Go figure. Probably more going on than I know of. So I may just spouting from a keyboard. Ignorant like.
Chinese security officers detained Michael Kovrig, our North East Asia Advisor, on 10 December in Beijing.
[...]
A former Canadian diplomat who works full-time for us, Michael has not been allowed to see a lawyer or anyone in his family. He only has periodic consular visits. We are deeply concerned for his health and well-being in detention.
Michael has not been charged with any offense. We do not understand the unspecified allegations that he has “endangered Chinese security”.
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Originally Posted by ntubski
Sure, as long as you don't say anything about Tibet, Tiananmen Square, Hong Kong, etc, Beijing won't care about you. I heard from a friend, who visited as a tourist, that you get an immediate notification on your phone when you jaywalk, thanks to the ubiquitous cameras. So if you think Google is intrusive, make sure never to visit China.
while it's possible I doubt they'd bother trying to extradite you for anything though. The US, however...
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