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I keep hearing this and it's totally wrong. Desktop Linux has a huge app ecosystem and arguably has more high quality software than Android does. All of this wo

by swiley 6y ago

I keep hearing this and it's totally wrong. Desktop Linux has a huge app ecosystem and arguably has more high quality software than Android does. All of this works on the pinephone and other similar devices.

arp242 6y ago
Okay, so how can I chat to my friends or companies with WhatsApp on Linux? How can I order food similar to Grab or Gojek on Linux? How can I get a date on Linux like Tinder? You can't. Sure, there are technological solutions to all of those, but in the real world that alone is pretty much useless.
- ta9999 6y ago
  Tinder does have a web interface, so does doordash (I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too.) I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you?
  - arp242 6y ago
    > I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too. You imagine wrong. > I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you? The web interface is just a proxy to the phone app. The other "similar apps" don't have all my contacts on it.
- Vrondi 6y ago
  You can use Watshapp multiple ways on Linux, including the web browser version [https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/ https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/]. Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise.
  - arp242 6y ago
    And you still need the phone app for that Linux client; everything is routed through that. Good grief, I keep bloody repeating this. Do you people actually read anything? > Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise. I'm a normal human being who values social contact and doesn't want to pester all my friends in using some other app, and a lot of businesses use WhatsApp here too. I am neither "ignorant" nor "stupid". This is literally the worst of HN right here. Do you even listen to what people have to say and consider perspectives outside of your own?
    - ogurechny 6y ago
      I can't help but notice that it's not a “Linux”'s job to do something about WhatsApp demanding this and that from you. It's a problem (let's not belittle it), and it's yours (well, you share it with others). Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends. Tell them that you still use MySpace (wearing a Myspace T-shirt), or prefer WeChat (a billion of users can't be wrong), and see how it goes.
      - arp242 6y ago
        > Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends. I'm in touch with many people, most of whom are not close friends. To break up a social contact just over this is too high a price to pay (and acquittances can be upgraded to close friends over the years, too, but not if you start by badgering them in to using some other app).
  - ribosometronome 6y ago
    I think many would argue that thinking Facebook doesn't have your phone number is either massively ignorant or stupid. After all, it only takes one person you know signing up and allowing access to contacts. That said, I am considerably less concerned about Facebook having my phone number versus Facebook being able to mine all my conversations to create a pretty complete profile of who I am and what I do.
- fsflover 6y ago
  You can use Anbox if you really need some Android app.

by swiley 6y ago

arp242 6y ago

Okay, so how can I chat to my friends or companies with WhatsApp on Linux? How can I order food similar to Grab or Gojek on Linux? How can I get a date on Linux like Tinder? You can't. Sure, there are technological solutions to all of those, but in the real world that alone is pretty much useless.

ta9999 6y ago
Tinder does have a web interface, so does doordash (I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too.) I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you?
- arp242 6y ago
  > I've never head of Gojek but I'd imagine it does too. You imagine wrong. > I thought WhatsApp also had a web interface but I wouldn't use it anyway and there are similar chat apps that do so why would you? The web interface is just a proxy to the phone app. The other "similar apps" don't have all my contacts on it.
Vrondi 6y ago
You can use Watshapp multiple ways on Linux, including the web browser version [https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/ https://itsfoss.com/whatsapp-linux-desktop/]. Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise.
- arp242 6y ago
  And you still need the phone app for that Linux client; everything is routed through that. Good grief, I keep bloody repeating this. Do you people actually read anything? > Although, if you're using Whatsapp at all you're either massively ignorant or stupid. I mean, giving Facebook your phone number is just not wise. I'm a normal human being who values social contact and doesn't want to pester all my friends in using some other app, and a lot of businesses use WhatsApp here too. I am neither "ignorant" nor "stupid". This is literally the worst of HN right here. Do you even listen to what people have to say and consider perspectives outside of your own?
  - ogurechny 6y ago
    I can't help but notice that it's not a “Linux”'s job to do something about WhatsApp demanding this and that from you. It's a problem (let's not belittle it), and it's yours (well, you share it with others). Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends. Tell them that you still use MySpace (wearing a Myspace T-shirt), or prefer WeChat (a billion of users can't be wrong), and see how it goes.
    - arp242 6y ago
      > Also, people who can't get in touch with you because you don't use some fad-of-the-year app are not your real friends. I'm in touch with many people, most of whom are not close friends. To break up a social contact just over this is too high a price to pay (and acquittances can be upgraded to close friends over the years, too, but not if you start by badgering them in to using some other app).
- ribosometronome 6y ago
  I think many would argue that thinking Facebook doesn't have your phone number is either massively ignorant or stupid. After all, it only takes one person you know signing up and allowing access to contacts. That said, I am considerably less concerned about Facebook having my phone number versus Facebook being able to mine all my conversations to create a pretty complete profile of who I am and what I do.
fsflover 6y ago
You can use Anbox if you really need some Android app.