TL;DR

  • Google has made it harder to build custom Android ROMs for Pixel phones by omitting their device trees and driver binaries from the latest AOSP release.

  • The company says this is because it’s shifting its AOSP reference target from Pixel hardware to a virtual device called “Cuttlefish” to be more neutral.

  • While Google insists AOSP isn’t going away, developers must now reverse-engineer changes, making the process for supporting Pixel devices more difficult.

  • Quik@infosec.pub
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    2 days ago

    Now more than ever we need more work on PostmarketOS, Mobian, Gnome Mobile etc…

    Bummer that it’s still so hard to find a somewhat modern, affordable phone that is Linux compatible

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Yeah, I’d totally buy a phone running one of those provided it does all the phone things properly: SMS/MMS, reliable calls, all day battery, etc. I don’t need fancy apps, I just need a working phone.

      If I can get that, I could probably donate some time porting apps.

      • Quik@infosec.pub
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        15 hours ago

        It’s so crazy (technically understandable, but still crazy) to me that reliably receiving calls is still such a major issue

      • timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        I really want to give furios phone a shot. It’s apparently close to supporting my carrier.

        That and a sailfish phone. The community one though didn’t support my carrier (think it’s mainly EU specced only.)

        What I find missing most of the time though is any esim support. Makes me wonder if the hardware one that you can program an esim on works.

      • interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml
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        1 day ago

        I want a phone with only cellular data, no calling, no sms, just an open source browser capable of webasm and webrtc

        • Ibuthyr@lemmy.wtf
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          1 day ago

          We had those, they were called Pocket PCs. I too want them back. I loved the Dell Axim x51v. A tablet does the job, but it’s the same shitty OS.

            • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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              21 hours ago

              There are some 7-8" tablets that could probably fit in a pocket, but finding the perfect mix of Linux compatibility and cell chip is going to be difficult.

              However, I see a few Linux tablets out there that have to be all runs, because Linux tablets are a pretty small niche, so it might not be that expensive to build one yourself.

    • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      I know someone at a company that built and sold a Linux phone 19 years ago.

      You’re not upset you can’t find a Linux phone: you’re upset you can’t find one anymore.