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Also let's not forget security updates in relation to Android phones...A two year old phone today, two years down the line may well not be receiving them

robocat 7y ago
1. New Android phones are different: Android 9 was redesigned to make security updates by Google a lot easier. I have been buying Nokia which are getting good security upgrades/updates (and cost a few hundred USD). 2. Browsing on Android remains secure e.g. Android 4.4 is still getting Chrome updates (I think Chrome is generally more secure than Safari anyway). iPhones become insecure to use when they stop getting updates because the browser is not updated.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  The problem with HMD-Nokia is that most have a perma-locked bootloader. Otherwise, very nice phones.
  - robocat 7y ago
    Yeah - I used to only buy phones with an unlockable bootloader. But I found that I didn't actually ever install open source firmware (I have, but I don't trust the security). Aside: the Android 9 security update feature is Project Treble. However apparently it doesn't make that much difference for many brands/networks because Google doesn't control the updates directly: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3306443/what-is-project-treble-android-upgrade-fix-explained.html https://www.computerworld.com/article/3306443/what-is-projec... However, my Nokia has been getting security updates quickly enough for me. And I love dual SIM when travelling.
- robocat 7y ago
  Note: nice recent article "Google can’t fix the Android update problem" https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20847758/google-android-update-problem-pie-q-treble-mainline https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20847758/google-android-up... I didn't know: "starting with Android 10, a new initiative called “Project Mainline” will mean some of the plumbing inside Android can be updated directly via the Play Store." Nice graph showing that Nokia is really good at updating their devices (and also shows how abysmal most Android manufacturers are at updating versions!). That said, I haven't got Android 10 yet (although I might get it since it is a Nokia and I am still within the 2 year upgrade window).

robocat 7y ago

1. New Android phones are different: Android 9 was redesigned to make security updates by Google a lot easier. I have been buying Nokia which are getting good security upgrades/updates (and cost a few hundred USD). 2. Browsing on Android remains secure e.g. Android 4.4 is still getting Chrome updates (I think Chrome is generally more secure than Safari anyway). iPhones become insecure to use when they stop getting updates because the browser is not updated.

kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
The problem with HMD-Nokia is that most have a perma-locked bootloader. Otherwise, very nice phones.
- robocat 7y ago
  Yeah - I used to only buy phones with an unlockable bootloader. But I found that I didn't actually ever install open source firmware (I have, but I don't trust the security). Aside: the Android 9 security update feature is Project Treble. However apparently it doesn't make that much difference for many brands/networks because Google doesn't control the updates directly: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3306443/what-is-project-treble-android-upgrade-fix-explained.html https://www.computerworld.com/article/3306443/what-is-projec... However, my Nokia has been getting security updates quickly enough for me. And I love dual SIM when travelling.
robocat 7y ago
Note: nice recent article "Google can’t fix the Android update problem" https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20847758/google-android-update-problem-pie-q-treble-mainline https://www.theverge.com/2019/9/4/20847758/google-android-up... I didn't know: "starting with Android 10, a new initiative called “Project Mainline” will mean some of the plumbing inside Android can be updated directly via the Play Store." Nice graph showing that Nokia is really good at updating their devices (and also shows how abysmal most Android manufacturers are at updating versions!). That said, I haven't got Android 10 yet (although I might get it since it is a Nokia and I am still within the 2 year upgrade window).