6 ms·

So they're charging a premium (you can buy these phones in mint condition on swappa for nearly $150 less) for a refurbished 3 year old phone because it's preloa

by fuzxi 6y ago

So they're charging a premium (you can buy these phones in mint condition on swappa for nearly $150 less) for a refurbished 3 year old phone because it's preloaded with a ROM for enthusiasts. Who would buy this? I can't imagine any of the people who know or care enough to use /e/ are the kind of people who'd pay someone else $150 to flash a ROM for them.

geogra4 6y ago
I think /e/ needs the Exynos version, which is much harder to come by in the US. Either way, when I'm ready for my next phone i'm going to strongly consider /e/
- fuzxi 6y ago
  Yes, there's no root exploit or rootless bootloader unlock that I know of on the Snapdragon versions. I'm seeing similar prices on the Exynos versions, though.
npteljes 6y ago
I don't know either but I wish them luck. I'd really like it if it would take off, along with Fairphone, Pinephone and Librem.
websites2323 6y ago
I've flashed ROMs before. I don't get a kick out of it, and my hourly rate is more than $150. I'll probably buy one.
- BoorishBears 6y ago
  W... what? Could you find someone to pay you more than $150 an hour to flash a rom? Do you have to sit there the entire time you're setting up a phone with a new rom? The comment you replied to is making a great point, generally people running custom roms without Google's services do so because they are enthusiasts. An Android device without Google is going to require avoiding very common apps and using workarounds that are already going to be time consuming whether you flash the device or not. Meanwhile people who aren't enthusiasts probably don't care about Google's hooks into Android via GPS. - People who apparently think... their hourly rate... is too high to flash a rom (something mostly automated anyways...) but also want to flash a rom and deal with a phone that is missing the core services that normally define an Android device on an outdated device and want to pay a 2x premium for a privilege may just be a sample size of you lol
  - extropy 6y ago
    GP is saying that there is market for preflashed custom device even if it's 150 markup. And I agree flashing is no fun. It takes time to find a rom that supports your device well, realize you need to root/unlock bootloader first, etc etc. Most of the time for casual flashing is spent finding the right tools and setting up.
    - BoorishBears 6y ago
      Flashing is one thing, flashing without Google's services is another. My point is if you think flashing is no fun, working around the fact Google has moved more and more functionality to Google Play Services every year is going to be even less fun. This is a product that only enthusiasts will find fun flashing or not, so why even bother paying extra for obsolete hardware? - Edit because people don't like when you point out the obvious and now I'm rate-limited: Privacy concerned smartphone "normies" have Apple. By definition "normies" are not concerned with Stallmanistic posturing about how Apple locks down their very secure devices. If you have an ideological opposition to them that somehow doesn't apply to the large manufacturers making the phones these guys flash I'd love to know it
      - websites2323 6y ago
        I’m a time strapped, privacy concerned smartphone normie who would love to find a good alternative to Apple / Google to recommend to friends. I use three apps: messaging, web browser, and camera. Seems like those apps are covered in this one.
        177tcca 6y ago
        Carrier unlocked Pixel 3+ on Swappa.com, GrapheneOS.org. Web install takes moments these days, can be done by any 8th grader with a GrapheneOS phone, or PC with any major browser and a USB C cable.
        websites2323 6y ago
- smbullet 6y ago
  Agreed, I'd probably pick one up if my pinephone wasn't already in the mail.
177tcca 6y ago
Do these phones even have boot security?

by fuzxi 6y ago

geogra4 6y ago

I think /e/ needs the Exynos version, which is much harder to come by in the US. Either way, when I'm ready for my next phone i'm going to strongly consider /e/

fuzxi 6y ago
Yes, there's no root exploit or rootless bootloader unlock that I know of on the Snapdragon versions. I'm seeing similar prices on the Exynos versions, though.

npteljes 6y ago

I don't know either but I wish them luck. I'd really like it if it would take off, along with Fairphone, Pinephone and Librem.

websites2323 6y ago

I've flashed ROMs before. I don't get a kick out of it, and my hourly rate is more than $150. I'll probably buy one.

BoorishBears 6y ago
W... what? Could you find someone to pay you more than $150 an hour to flash a rom? Do you have to sit there the entire time you're setting up a phone with a new rom? The comment you replied to is making a great point, generally people running custom roms without Google's services do so because they are enthusiasts. An Android device without Google is going to require avoiding very common apps and using workarounds that are already going to be time consuming whether you flash the device or not. Meanwhile people who aren't enthusiasts probably don't care about Google's hooks into Android via GPS. - People who apparently think... their hourly rate... is too high to flash a rom (something mostly automated anyways...) but also want to flash a rom and deal with a phone that is missing the core services that normally define an Android device on an outdated device and want to pay a 2x premium for a privilege may just be a sample size of you lol
- extropy 6y ago
  GP is saying that there is market for preflashed custom device even if it's 150 markup. And I agree flashing is no fun. It takes time to find a rom that supports your device well, realize you need to root/unlock bootloader first, etc etc. Most of the time for casual flashing is spent finding the right tools and setting up.
  - BoorishBears 6y ago
    Flashing is one thing, flashing without Google's services is another. My point is if you think flashing is no fun, working around the fact Google has moved more and more functionality to Google Play Services every year is going to be even less fun. This is a product that only enthusiasts will find fun flashing or not, so why even bother paying extra for obsolete hardware? - Edit because people don't like when you point out the obvious and now I'm rate-limited: Privacy concerned smartphone "normies" have Apple. By definition "normies" are not concerned with Stallmanistic posturing about how Apple locks down their very secure devices. If you have an ideological opposition to them that somehow doesn't apply to the large manufacturers making the phones these guys flash I'd love to know it
    - websites2323 6y ago
      I’m a time strapped, privacy concerned smartphone normie who would love to find a good alternative to Apple / Google to recommend to friends. I use three apps: messaging, web browser, and camera. Seems like those apps are covered in this one.
      - 177tcca 6y ago
        Carrier unlocked Pixel 3+ on Swappa.com, GrapheneOS.org. Web install takes moments these days, can be done by any 8th grader with a GrapheneOS phone, or PC with any major browser and a USB C cable.
        websites2323 6y ago
smbullet 6y ago
Agreed, I'd probably pick one up if my pinephone wasn't already in the mail.

177tcca 6y ago

Do these phones even have boot security?