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One difference being that seriously privacy-sensitive or -critical smartphone users can avoid using Google's services on their phone and create a firewall white

One difference being that seriously privacy-sensitive or -critical smartphone users can avoid using Google's services on their phone and create a firewall whitelist, or a filtering loopback VPN, to avoid leakage.[0] Not that's ideal, but it seems a lot better than Windows 10 seemingly indefatigible ways and means of sneaking data out. Ignoring hosts file and DNS responses is just rude. [0] baseband attacks are still a problem, but at that level of threat then the BIOS or management subsystem on your PC isn't trustworthy either.

kcorbitt 10y ago
"avoid using Google's services" implies using an Android build that doesn't include Google Play Services, which means you're probably going to have to download and flash it yourself. If you're willing and able to do that, you can probably handle using Linux on your desktop, which is the analogous alternative on the PC.
- lucideer 10y ago
  ... or even something as simple as blocking MS IP ranges and domains, which should be far simpler than rooting an Android phone.
- milcron 10y ago
  CopperheadOS sells preflashed phones.
  - dandelion_lover 10y ago
    As well as Tehnoetic [0]. But unfortunately those phones are not very usable. [0] https://tehnoetic.com/tehnoetic-s3-phone-replicant https://tehnoetic.com/tehnoetic-s3-phone-replicant
- dingaling 10y ago
  I agree entirely, and I'm not happy with the current state of the smartphone landscape, but I was trying to illustrate the difference between 'user hostility' in Android, for example, and downright 'user evasion' in Win 10. Not that I think Android is on a good trajectory in terms of user control, but hopefully alternatives such as Sailfish gain traction.
- dTal 10y ago
  Just because you can handle it doesn't mean you want to, instead of lazily paying a company to worry about it for you. Of course, OSX is the more popular choice for that set. I wonder why...
- ionised 10y ago
  If you're a PC gamer you're pretty much stuck with Windows. Linux and WINE have made great strides over the last few years but it's still nowhere close to becoming a full replacement.
ocdtrekkie 10y ago
I disagree with this completely. It's drastically easier to control the network environment on a desktop platform, where it goes through routers and/or firewalls to get out to the Internet in most cases, and as you can be an admin on the PC and tamper with the OS enough to block it. On the other hand, most mobile devices have locked bootloaders, actively work to prevent giving the owner root access, and speak directly out to the Internet using proprietary networking modules.

kcorbitt 10y ago

"avoid using Google's services" implies using an Android build that doesn't include Google Play Services, which means you're probably going to have to download and flash it yourself. If you're willing and able to do that, you can probably handle using Linux on your desktop, which is the analogous alternative on the PC.

lucideer 10y ago
... or even something as simple as blocking MS IP ranges and domains, which should be far simpler than rooting an Android phone.
milcron 10y ago
CopperheadOS sells preflashed phones.
- dandelion_lover 10y ago
  As well as Tehnoetic [0]. But unfortunately those phones are not very usable. [0] https://tehnoetic.com/tehnoetic-s3-phone-replicant https://tehnoetic.com/tehnoetic-s3-phone-replicant
dingaling 10y ago
I agree entirely, and I'm not happy with the current state of the smartphone landscape, but I was trying to illustrate the difference between 'user hostility' in Android, for example, and downright 'user evasion' in Win 10. Not that I think Android is on a good trajectory in terms of user control, but hopefully alternatives such as Sailfish gain traction.
dTal 10y ago
Just because you can handle it doesn't mean you want to, instead of lazily paying a company to worry about it for you. Of course, OSX is the more popular choice for that set. I wonder why...
ionised 10y ago
If you're a PC gamer you're pretty much stuck with Windows. Linux and WINE have made great strides over the last few years but it's still nowhere close to becoming a full replacement.

ocdtrekkie 10y ago

I disagree with this completely. It's drastically easier to control the network environment on a desktop platform, where it goes through routers and/or firewalls to get out to the Internet in most cases, and as you can be an admin on the PC and tamper with the OS enough to block it. On the other hand, most mobile devices have locked bootloaders, actively work to prevent giving the owner root access, and speak directly out to the Internet using proprietary networking modules.