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Whilst I don't agree with the reasons either, I do agree with the conclusion: I think Android is a dead-end architecturally. If we want a secure and user-frien

by geocar 9y ago

Whilst I don't agree with the reasons either, I do agree with the conclusion: I think Android is a dead-end architecturally. If we want a secure and user-friendly phone, it won't be Android. > It will be so much harder for them to create a phone that stays alive for more than an hour or two running a full linux desktop. This is of course nonsense. I've run a "full linux desktop" on 1000mAh for more than a few hours, and I did it a decade ago.

bitmapbrother 9y ago
>If we want a secure and user-friendly phone, it won't be Android. I don't think you realize what it takes to keep an operating system secure. If you really think this project is going to be more secure than Android then that's a wager I would take all day.
- davexunit 9y ago
  By using a real GNU/Linux distribution like Debian you can have up-to-date software with all known vulnerabilities patched. On Android, all the apps bundle dependencies which house tons of unknown vulnerabilities and then the phone vendor stops updating your phone when it's no longer in their business interests. Any GNU/Linux can be more secure than that terrible baseline.
  - bitmapbrother 9y ago
    And who is going to patch all of the userland exploits? The radio firmware exploits? The driver exploits? Keeping a phone secure is so much more than just downloading the latest Linux kernel security patches. Unless you have a large team of security engineers that dedicated to patching and enhancing your OS then you're going to be in for a world of hurt once your platform gains any popularity and, thus, nefarious interest. >On Android, all the apps bundle dependencies which house tons of unknown vulnerabilities and then the phone vendor stops updating your phone when it's no longer in their business interests. The same is true for any device that has been determined to be end of life by the OEM. Yes, it would be nice if devices were supported to perpetuity, but even Apple ends support for their devices after 5 years and more than 10 percent of their current install base isn't even on the latest OS version. >Any GNU/Linux can be more secure than that terrible baseline. Perhaps, but saying it and doing it are two very different things. I hope it works out because I think there's a niche for a phone that is always up to date and never written off by the OEM.
grizzles 9y ago
This won't be more user friendly than android. Google has invested a ton in ui r&d. They will have done very well if it doesn't crash frequently and you don't have to endure long waits to do stuff.

by geocar 9y ago

bitmapbrother 9y ago

>If we want a secure and user-friendly phone, it won't be Android. I don't think you realize what it takes to keep an operating system secure. If you really think this project is going to be more secure than Android then that's a wager I would take all day.

davexunit 9y ago
By using a real GNU/Linux distribution like Debian you can have up-to-date software with all known vulnerabilities patched. On Android, all the apps bundle dependencies which house tons of unknown vulnerabilities and then the phone vendor stops updating your phone when it's no longer in their business interests. Any GNU/Linux can be more secure than that terrible baseline.
- bitmapbrother 9y ago
  And who is going to patch all of the userland exploits? The radio firmware exploits? The driver exploits? Keeping a phone secure is so much more than just downloading the latest Linux kernel security patches. Unless you have a large team of security engineers that dedicated to patching and enhancing your OS then you're going to be in for a world of hurt once your platform gains any popularity and, thus, nefarious interest. >On Android, all the apps bundle dependencies which house tons of unknown vulnerabilities and then the phone vendor stops updating your phone when it's no longer in their business interests. The same is true for any device that has been determined to be end of life by the OEM. Yes, it would be nice if devices were supported to perpetuity, but even Apple ends support for their devices after 5 years and more than 10 percent of their current install base isn't even on the latest OS version. >Any GNU/Linux can be more secure than that terrible baseline. Perhaps, but saying it and doing it are two very different things. I hope it works out because I think there's a niche for a phone that is always up to date and never written off by the OEM.

grizzles 9y ago

This won't be more user friendly than android. Google has invested a ton in ui r&d. They will have done very well if it doesn't crash frequently and you don't have to endure long waits to do stuff.