5 ms·

Out of curiosity, what GNU/Linux phone would you recommend? Most of the ones I have read about are still fairly alpha-level products, particularly for the phon

Out of curiosity, what GNU/Linux phone would you recommend? Most of the ones I have read about are still fairly alpha-level products, particularly for the phone software and app ecosystem. I would love to have a fully-functional phone running GNU/Linux that I can use as a phone and carry around in my pocket and then plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a "good enough" computer for basic office and programming capabilities.

fsflover 6y ago
I recommend Librem 5: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5 https://puri.sm/products/librem-5. The company develops both hardware and software respecting the users. Upd: Video showing Librem 5 used as desktop: https://puri.sm/posts/a-librem-5-video-made-on-a-librem-5/ https://puri.sm/posts/a-librem-5-video-made-on-a-librem-5/
- sneak 6y ago
  I want one, but it says it doesn't ship for 6 months. I think it's important to stick to things that exist today. The Librem 5 is cool, but it's still vaporware. Hopefully that changes.
  - fsflover 6y ago
    It technically should start shipping in November, but the preorder queue is so long that new orders have to wait for about 6 months.
- thesuperbigfrog 6y ago
  Thank you for the recommendation. I will definitely put it on my list of possible candidates for my next phone.
- heavyset_go 6y ago
  Does anyone have experience running Android apps in Anbox on this phone or the PinePhone?
  - fsflover 6y ago
    https://puri.sm/posts/anbox-on-the-librem-5/ https://puri.sm/posts/anbox-on-the-librem-5/ https://linmob.net/2020/08/15/anbox-on-the-pinephone.html https://linmob.net/2020/08/15/anbox-on-the-pinephone.html (both could already be outdated with the fast development rate).
    - heavyset_go 6y ago
      Cool, thanks for the resources. I'm also looking for anecdotes from users, because the last time I tried Anbox on Linux, I couldn't run much, and I'm wondering if it's any better now.
      - fsflover 6y ago
        https://social.librem.one/@dos/105119691527269967 https://social.librem.one/@dos/105119691527269967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sha3R4PKSs&t=285s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sha3R4PKSs&t=285s
rektide 6y ago
I have seen some happy & successful users of the PinePhone[1] on my social network feeds. The price is great, capabilities are all there & supported, the community has been doing a good job scratching-their-own-itches & furthering support. The only thing that's held me back from fully adopting it is that the main camera is 5MP, and I have been feeling a little short with even the 12MP camera on my Samsung S series daily driver. [1] https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/ https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
dheera 6y ago
> I would love to have a fully-functional phone running GNU/Linux that I can use as a phone and carry around in my pocket and then plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a "good enough" computer for basic office and programming capabilities. As much as I like the idea of 100% FOSS in my pocket, it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps. If you're in the same boat, a very realistic alternative would be to just carry around a Raspberry Pi.
- thesuperbigfrog 6y ago
  >> it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps. That is currently where I am as well. Termux has been a wonderful way to get simple programming tasks done on the go because I can just plug in an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a command line, text editors, compilers, etc. I am concerned about how Android 10's limitations will impact Termux since I would hate to lose such a useful tool. Seeing what GNU/Linux phones are out there at least provides some other options about where I might want to go next once my current phone ages out.
cstross 6y ago
I'd like to note that Termux is totally amazeballs on a Cosmo Communicator: https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator Having a proper fold-out QWERTY hardware keyboard makes for an eccentric Android experience, but Termux (or, alternatively, their dual-boot Linux solution) makes a huge difference.
- opan 6y ago
  Shame about the keyboard problems, though. They rushed it out before fixing them when the Gemini had them. A common issue is that alt-tab activates caps lock because alt is adjacent to fn, and fn-tab is caps lock. I'm not an engineer, but I assume it's poorly designed. I have the Gemini PDA and will never give that company my money again.
  - Wildgoose 6y ago
    I have the Gemini PDA and love it. (I don't use it as my 'phone though, even though it has cellular). I've ordered the AstroSlide and will be using that as my 'phone when it arrives.

fsflover 6y ago

I recommend Librem 5: https://puri.sm/products/librem-5 https://puri.sm/products/librem-5. The company develops both hardware and software respecting the users. Upd: Video showing Librem 5 used as desktop: https://puri.sm/posts/a-librem-5-video-made-on-a-librem-5/ https://puri.sm/posts/a-librem-5-video-made-on-a-librem-5/

sneak 6y ago
I want one, but it says it doesn't ship for 6 months. I think it's important to stick to things that exist today. The Librem 5 is cool, but it's still vaporware. Hopefully that changes.
- fsflover 6y ago
  It technically should start shipping in November, but the preorder queue is so long that new orders have to wait for about 6 months.
thesuperbigfrog 6y ago
Thank you for the recommendation. I will definitely put it on my list of possible candidates for my next phone.
heavyset_go 6y ago
Does anyone have experience running Android apps in Anbox on this phone or the PinePhone?
- fsflover 6y ago
  https://puri.sm/posts/anbox-on-the-librem-5/ https://puri.sm/posts/anbox-on-the-librem-5/ https://linmob.net/2020/08/15/anbox-on-the-pinephone.html https://linmob.net/2020/08/15/anbox-on-the-pinephone.html (both could already be outdated with the fast development rate).
  - heavyset_go 6y ago
    Cool, thanks for the resources. I'm also looking for anecdotes from users, because the last time I tried Anbox on Linux, I couldn't run much, and I'm wondering if it's any better now.
    - fsflover 6y ago
      https://social.librem.one/@dos/105119691527269967 https://social.librem.one/@dos/105119691527269967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sha3R4PKSs&t=285s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sha3R4PKSs&t=285s

rektide 6y ago

I have seen some happy & successful users of the PinePhone[1] on my social network feeds. The price is great, capabilities are all there & supported, the community has been doing a good job scratching-their-own-itches & furthering support. The only thing that's held me back from fully adopting it is that the main camera is 5MP, and I have been feeling a little short with even the 12MP camera on my Samsung S series daily driver. [1] https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/ https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/

dheera 6y ago

> I would love to have a fully-functional phone running GNU/Linux that I can use as a phone and carry around in my pocket and then plug in a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a "good enough" computer for basic office and programming capabilities. As much as I like the idea of 100% FOSS in my pocket, it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps. If you're in the same boat, a very realistic alternative would be to just carry around a Raspberry Pi.

thesuperbigfrog 6y ago
>> it's simply not practical because I need to use Android apps to hail rides and contact friends who often use only closed-source messenger apps. That is currently where I am as well. Termux has been a wonderful way to get simple programming tasks done on the go because I can just plug in an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor and have a command line, text editors, compilers, etc. I am concerned about how Android 10's limitations will impact Termux since I would hate to lose such a useful tool. Seeing what GNU/Linux phones are out there at least provides some other options about where I might want to go next once my current phone ages out.

cstross 6y ago

I'd like to note that Termux is totally amazeballs on a Cosmo Communicator: https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator https://www.www3.planetcom.co.uk/cosmo-communicator Having a proper fold-out QWERTY hardware keyboard makes for an eccentric Android experience, but Termux (or, alternatively, their dual-boot Linux solution) makes a huge difference.

opan 6y ago
Shame about the keyboard problems, though. They rushed it out before fixing them when the Gemini had them. A common issue is that alt-tab activates caps lock because alt is adjacent to fn, and fn-tab is caps lock. I'm not an engineer, but I assume it's poorly designed. I have the Gemini PDA and will never give that company my money again.
- Wildgoose 6y ago
  I have the Gemini PDA and love it. (I don't use it as my 'phone though, even though it has cellular). I've ordered the AstroSlide and will be using that as my 'phone when it arrives.