5 ms·

I'm curious, what phone do you use?

by chroem 13y ago

freehunter 13y ago
Android fits the bill for what he's described. It's doubtful that everything in a SteamBox is completely open source (including graphics drivers and firmware on various hardware), so even though Android isn't 100% open source, it's roughly on par with the openness of a common Linux desktop.
- Arelius 13y ago
  Android may be roughly on par with the openness of SteamOS. But you'd be hard pressed to argue that Android is roughly on par with the openness of the common Linux desktop.
  - freehunter 13y ago
    Open source Linux core where installed software may or may not be open source, with an increasing reliance on closed-source cloud applications? Closed source graphics drivers, network firmware, etc? I don't have any statistics obviously, but I would be willing to wager at least 50% of Linux desktops have some closed source installed or some reliance on a cloud provider. Even if it's Flash for watching YouTube videos.
    - chongli 13y ago
      That's still not even close. How easy is it to side-load on Android? Browse the file system? Obtain root access? Recompile and update the kernel? Replace the window manager? Android may be a lot more open than iOS but it's not even close to a Linux desktop.
      - sprokolopolis 13y ago
        How easy is it to side-load on Android?: Very Easy out of the box. Just open the apk and the installer will install it. Browse the file system? Very easy. There are many free and paid file managers. You can also use a terminal emulator. Obtain root access? OEM unlock bootloader, throw su on the phone and you are set. Recompile and update the kernel? I has never built my own kernel, but there are many custom kernels popping up all the time. Replace the window manager? To change the desktop environment, most people just install a different "launcher". That changes how the desktop, windowing, and general interface operate. If you really wanted to have the full freedom of Linux, you can install something like Debian on an android device with a dual boot setup or run it on top of android through a VNC client.
    - Arelius 13y ago
      That sounds a lot better then pretty much 100% of Android systems come with proprietary software from day one.
lambda 13y ago
A Nexus 4. As I said, my criteria are that I can run my own software on it without having to go through some intermediary, and I am able to replace the operating system if I would like. I would prefer a fully free software stack, but I realize that that's not always possible, so I like to support the next best thing. Traditional consoles have always been so hacking unfriendly that I have refused to buy them. Just so you know, a Nexus One was the first cell phone I ever bought; it was the first that I considered free enough (and capable enough; the Dream/G1 was just a little too clunky for me to consider it particularly useful).

I'm curious, what phone do you use?

by chroem 13y ago

I'm curious, what phone do you use?

Android fits the bill for what he's described. It's doubtful that everything in a SteamBox is completely open source (including graphics drivers and firmware on various hardware), so even though Android isn't 100% open source, it's roughly on par with the openness of a common Linux desktop.

Arelius 13y ago
Android may be roughly on par with the openness of SteamOS. But you'd be hard pressed to argue that Android is roughly on par with the openness of the common Linux desktop.
- freehunter 13y ago
  Open source Linux core where installed software may or may not be open source, with an increasing reliance on closed-source cloud applications? Closed source graphics drivers, network firmware, etc? I don't have any statistics obviously, but I would be willing to wager at least 50% of Linux desktops have some closed source installed or some reliance on a cloud provider. Even if it's Flash for watching YouTube videos.
  - chongli 13y ago
    That's still not even close. How easy is it to side-load on Android? Browse the file system? Obtain root access? Recompile and update the kernel? Replace the window manager? Android may be a lot more open than iOS but it's not even close to a Linux desktop.
    - sprokolopolis 13y ago
      How easy is it to side-load on Android?: Very Easy out of the box. Just open the apk and the installer will install it. Browse the file system? Very easy. There are many free and paid file managers. You can also use a terminal emulator. Obtain root access? OEM unlock bootloader, throw su on the phone and you are set. Recompile and update the kernel? I has never built my own kernel, but there are many custom kernels popping up all the time. Replace the window manager? To change the desktop environment, most people just install a different "launcher". That changes how the desktop, windowing, and general interface operate. If you really wanted to have the full freedom of Linux, you can install something like Debian on an android device with a dual boot setup or run it on top of android through a VNC client.
  - Arelius 13y ago
    That sounds a lot better then pretty much 100% of Android systems come with proprietary software from day one.

lambda 13y ago

A Nexus 4. As I said, my criteria are that I can run my own software on it without having to go through some intermediary, and I am able to replace the operating system if I would like. I would prefer a fully free software stack, but I realize that that's not always possible, so I like to support the next best thing. Traditional consoles have always been so hacking unfriendly that I have refused to buy them. Just so you know, a Nexus One was the first cell phone I ever bought; it was the first that I considered free enough (and capable enough; the Dream/G1 was just a little too clunky for me to consider it particularly useful).