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I agree with this so much. It would be so convenient if I could just flash Arch Linux or something onto a modern smartphone and be able to use all the applicati

I agree with this so much. It would be so convenient if I could just flash Arch Linux or something onto a modern smartphone and be able to use all the applications and settings and data I use on my desktop, but on my mobile phone. Android is markedly better than iOS when it comes to customization, but it's a far cry from a (real) Linux distribution. I've started getting OS-level push notification ads from Google News and other bullshit on my Samsung Note 9, and it makes me want to set the thing on fire. It also makes me pretty pessimistic when it comes to privacy. I can uninstall Windows/MacOS on my laptop, coreboot it, use FOSS/privacy-centric software, etc. but it doesn't really mean much when my phone (which is basically attached to my body 24 hours a day, and is my main conduit of communication with others) is a privacy/security nightmare.

sp332 6y ago
Notifications are pretty easy to disable though, right?
- _peeley 6y ago
  I have yet to find a satsifactory way to disable them - it's pretty easy to disable notifications from userspace apps like Instagram or Snapchat or whatever, but disabling notifications or altogether uninstalling vendor apps is a huge pain in the ass. Most advice I've gotten has been flash a custom Android kernel or a de-Googled distro. This would definitely solve my problems, but this removes the ability to install Play Store apps which are a necessity for me. Not to mention that it gives the possibility of bricking my phone, which is way outside my risk tolerance for just getting rid of some annoying ads.
  - kdrag0n 6y ago
    Universal Android Debloater can remove them without root, using ADB (Android Debug Bridge): https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater/ https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater/ In case you do want to install a custom Android distribution (ROM) to clean out the Samsung bloat more thoroughly, the risk of hard-bricking your phone is almost non-existent nowadays. The worst that can happen is usually a soft-brick which can be fixed by reinstalling the original OS. As for Play Store, most custom ROMs either include or support installing Google services and Play Store with full functionality. (disclaimer: I work on custom kernels and ROMs)
    - d3nj4l 6y ago
      Worth noting that Samsung doesn't allow the bootloader to be unlocked in most (if not all) of its flagship devices released in the US. Although, there's paid services that could unlock the bootloader.
      - robotnikman 6y ago
        And if you do unlock the bootloader, you blow the Knox E-Fuse, meaning you can't use banking or payment apps
        cute_boi 6y ago
        plus warranty is gone forever. Samsung has become so terrible that I would never purchase phone from them.
  - boring_twenties 6y ago
    It doesn't remove your ability to install apps from the Play Store. You can use the Aurora Store app to install those apps. For the apps that also require Google Play Services, microG usually suffices.
COGlory 6y ago
It's not quite a modern smartphone, but it's the best we have at the moment; have you looked into the PinePhone? I have mine running openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- westpfelia 6y ago
  How is it for daily use though? Last I knew Pinephones were still mostly just for developers to work on to one day make it a daily driver.
  - 29083011397778 6y ago
    Some people will tell you that the Pinephone is daily-driver ready. They're right, but only in the sense that using a feature phone is daily-driver ready. It's only feasible if your lifestyle permits it, if you're willing to go without sometimes, if leading by example, and voting with not just your wallet, but whatever you value (be it time, money, or uncertainty) is a deal you're happy to make. I love my Pinephone. It is undoubtedly my own, with no strings or trillion-dollar corporation helping steer. It's lots of fun to play with, but unless people already half-jokingly compare you to RMS due to your extremism, it's not ready. Android circa 2009 would be a reasonable comparison: the potential is clear, the software is rapidly evolving, and there's a benevolent dictator at the helm. And that's enough for me to be happy with it :)
    - HideousKojima 6y ago
      I'm really heartbroken that I can't use a Pinephone as a daily driver because of the simple fact that it doesn't have a 5ghz wifi antenna. Where I currently live there's just too much interference on 2.4ghz. It's literally the one feature I need. As soon as they come out with a model that has 5ghz wifi I'm happy to jump right on board, especially since they're coming out with a keyboard attachment.
      - fsflover 6y ago
        Librem 5 has 5ghz wifi.
smichel17 6y ago
> a far cry from a (real) Linux distribution. They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree GNUseum..
- pbourke 6y ago
  And they charged the people a dollar and a half to C them
coupdejarnac 6y ago
I've been wanting to cobble together a phone using a microcontroller hooked up to a 4g/5g module. Anyone have a module recommendation? I think everything currently available on sparkfun and adafruit won't work for me.
- megous 6y ago
  Many 4g/5g modules are basically stripped down/headless smartphones in themselves, running Linux + modem firmware, etc. You don't need the microcontroller, you just need to patch the firmware.
  - coupdejarnac 6y ago
    Yes. I was looking for an answer along the lines of a particular model from Telit/whoever. I'd rather use the external micro to control the module with AT commands.
krmboya 6y ago
Have you taken a look at Ubuntu touch? I came across it while researching for my next device. From what I recall, it gives you a full Ubuntu environment on your phone. Didn't go that route though because of the unavailability of the supported models where I'm at
- necovek 6y ago
  Ubuntu touch is not a full Ubuntu in your phone. Canonical supported versions were based on snaps-predating app framework (click packages). There were a couple of phones released with it out of the factory (bq aquarius 4.5 and meizu mx4) and a bq tablet, but rest of the supported phones use android kernels for hw enablement. Ubutouch has forked the software when Canonical pulled out and even runs an app store, but I think the best hw you can get is Oneplus 6t and then mx4. I used mx4 as my daily driver for years prior to switching to Android for the first time 3 years ago. While not the fastest phone, mx4 was usable (things I hated most were sharp edges and how it would register touches in my pocket, and then get locked for 10 mins because of wrong passcode). To be honest, I quite prefer the Ubuntu Touch over Android (and Nokia Meego/Maemo is up there too, but Palm Pre WebOS takes the cake as the best basic phone UX I've experienced). I think Mobian has the biggest potential to be the pure GNU/Linux system in your pocket, so I am hoping it'd get Unity included too.
  - krmboya 6y ago
    Indeed you are right, Ubuntu touch is not a full Ubuntu. I don't know how I got that impression. First time I've heard of Mobian, looks really interesting. Will keep an eye on it
wantguns 6y ago
I would suggest looking into Sharkbait[1]. Although full-disclaimer, I like to say that I am a part of the team and we are lazily trying to self-host Android. [1] https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Android/SharkBait https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Android/SharkBait

sp332 6y ago

Notifications are pretty easy to disable though, right?

_peeley 6y ago
I have yet to find a satsifactory way to disable them - it's pretty easy to disable notifications from userspace apps like Instagram or Snapchat or whatever, but disabling notifications or altogether uninstalling vendor apps is a huge pain in the ass. Most advice I've gotten has been flash a custom Android kernel or a de-Googled distro. This would definitely solve my problems, but this removes the ability to install Play Store apps which are a necessity for me. Not to mention that it gives the possibility of bricking my phone, which is way outside my risk tolerance for just getting rid of some annoying ads.
- kdrag0n 6y ago
  Universal Android Debloater can remove them without root, using ADB (Android Debug Bridge): https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater/ https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater/ In case you do want to install a custom Android distribution (ROM) to clean out the Samsung bloat more thoroughly, the risk of hard-bricking your phone is almost non-existent nowadays. The worst that can happen is usually a soft-brick which can be fixed by reinstalling the original OS. As for Play Store, most custom ROMs either include or support installing Google services and Play Store with full functionality. (disclaimer: I work on custom kernels and ROMs)
  - d3nj4l 6y ago
    Worth noting that Samsung doesn't allow the bootloader to be unlocked in most (if not all) of its flagship devices released in the US. Although, there's paid services that could unlock the bootloader.
    - robotnikman 6y ago
      And if you do unlock the bootloader, you blow the Knox E-Fuse, meaning you can't use banking or payment apps
      - cute_boi 6y ago
        plus warranty is gone forever. Samsung has become so terrible that I would never purchase phone from them.
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  It doesn't remove your ability to install apps from the Play Store. You can use the Aurora Store app to install those apps. For the apps that also require Google Play Services, microG usually suffices.

COGlory 6y ago

It's not quite a modern smartphone, but it's the best we have at the moment; have you looked into the PinePhone? I have mine running openSUSE Tumbleweed.

westpfelia 6y ago
How is it for daily use though? Last I knew Pinephones were still mostly just for developers to work on to one day make it a daily driver.
- 29083011397778 6y ago
  Some people will tell you that the Pinephone is daily-driver ready. They're right, but only in the sense that using a feature phone is daily-driver ready. It's only feasible if your lifestyle permits it, if you're willing to go without sometimes, if leading by example, and voting with not just your wallet, but whatever you value (be it time, money, or uncertainty) is a deal you're happy to make. I love my Pinephone. It is undoubtedly my own, with no strings or trillion-dollar corporation helping steer. It's lots of fun to play with, but unless people already half-jokingly compare you to RMS due to your extremism, it's not ready. Android circa 2009 would be a reasonable comparison: the potential is clear, the software is rapidly evolving, and there's a benevolent dictator at the helm. And that's enough for me to be happy with it :)
  - HideousKojima 6y ago
    I'm really heartbroken that I can't use a Pinephone as a daily driver because of the simple fact that it doesn't have a 5ghz wifi antenna. Where I currently live there's just too much interference on 2.4ghz. It's literally the one feature I need. As soon as they come out with a model that has 5ghz wifi I'm happy to jump right on board, especially since they're coming out with a keyboard attachment.
    - fsflover 6y ago
      Librem 5 has 5ghz wifi.

smichel17 6y ago

> a far cry from a (real) Linux distribution. They took all the trees, and put 'em in a tree GNUseum..

pbourke 6y ago
And they charged the people a dollar and a half to C them

coupdejarnac 6y ago

I've been wanting to cobble together a phone using a microcontroller hooked up to a 4g/5g module. Anyone have a module recommendation? I think everything currently available on sparkfun and adafruit won't work for me.

megous 6y ago
Many 4g/5g modules are basically stripped down/headless smartphones in themselves, running Linux + modem firmware, etc. You don't need the microcontroller, you just need to patch the firmware.
- coupdejarnac 6y ago
  Yes. I was looking for an answer along the lines of a particular model from Telit/whoever. I'd rather use the external micro to control the module with AT commands.

krmboya 6y ago

Have you taken a look at Ubuntu touch? I came across it while researching for my next device. From what I recall, it gives you a full Ubuntu environment on your phone. Didn't go that route though because of the unavailability of the supported models where I'm at

necovek 6y ago
Ubuntu touch is not a full Ubuntu in your phone. Canonical supported versions were based on snaps-predating app framework (click packages). There were a couple of phones released with it out of the factory (bq aquarius 4.5 and meizu mx4) and a bq tablet, but rest of the supported phones use android kernels for hw enablement. Ubutouch has forked the software when Canonical pulled out and even runs an app store, but I think the best hw you can get is Oneplus 6t and then mx4. I used mx4 as my daily driver for years prior to switching to Android for the first time 3 years ago. While not the fastest phone, mx4 was usable (things I hated most were sharp edges and how it would register touches in my pocket, and then get locked for 10 mins because of wrong passcode). To be honest, I quite prefer the Ubuntu Touch over Android (and Nokia Meego/Maemo is up there too, but Palm Pre WebOS takes the cake as the best basic phone UX I've experienced). I think Mobian has the biggest potential to be the pure GNU/Linux system in your pocket, so I am hoping it'd get Unity included too.
- krmboya 6y ago
  Indeed you are right, Ubuntu touch is not a full Ubuntu. I don't know how I got that impression. First time I've heard of Mobian, looks really interesting. Will keep an eye on it

wantguns 6y ago

I would suggest looking into Sharkbait[1]. Although full-disclaimer, I like to say that I am a part of the team and we are lazily trying to self-host Android. [1] https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Android/SharkBait https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Android/SharkBait