Ok, I poked through that thread and a few other linked threads…

Big yikes. It definitely took a turn downhill. And posting what is essentially a “cease and desist” on nel0x’s repo over the name without actually trying to do things properly.

I’ll start using nel0x’s fork instead one he starts putting up non-gplay builds.

No, it’s not Syncthing itself. That’s owned and maintained by a completely different team. This is regarding Syncthing-Fork, which packages Syncthing into a neat Android app.

Or they’re just autistic and not good at communication.

Shit happens, and while the initial transfer was sketchy, everything I read from the new maintainer appeared to be in good faith.

Imagine working under Daniel Micay… Fucking yikes.

I’m convinced that battery life is intentionally nerfed to one day on every single smartphone. Because every single year manufacturers come out with this same bullshit “don’t worry, this year’s model will get you that multi-day battery life you want without compromise!”

It’s just a carrot on a stick to get people to buy the newest device.

This lets you root while keeping the bootloader locked.

Wait, what? That’s a pretty big deal!

Oh boy, Daniel is off his meds again.

Valid, I can respect that choice. I prefer having full access available, but that’s just how I do.

I don’t need root, but there is something about a company trying to tell me “no you can’t” that makes me really want to prove them wrong.

I’ve rooted every single one of my Android devices over the last 15 years. I have no plans to stop. I paid for the device, therefore it is mine, and I will do what I damn well please with it.

In their EU store, Fairphone already sells degoogled Fairphones with /e/OS next to their regular Fairphones with Google.

Is this what you mean with

from the factory

?

Exactly what I mean. With Fairphone bringing the brand to the US, I’m hoping that option carries over.

I’m aware. It’s why I said this:

from the factory.

I would do it anyway, but a degoogled ROM with factory support would be nice.

Oh, fun.

They’re bringing the actual brand to the US? I suppose that’s something. Murena has been selling Fairphone devices here for several years now.

For what it’s worth, Fairphone handsets are currently sold in the US via partner Murena. These particular phones come pre-installed with Murena’s /e/OS Android software, which promises a deGoogled experience. However, Fairphone devices elsewhere come with Google services out of the box. So US consumers would finally be able to get their hands on a Fairphone handset with Google integration.

Well. That’s certainly a choice. Hopefully we have the option of not using Google services from the factory.

I’ve had call recording for the better part of a decade. But I use Skvalex’s app, and recordings actually stay on my device.

The last time I used bluetooth to send files from device to device was in high school in the 2000s. It was painfully slow then, too.

These days I use KDE Connect to link my PC and phone.

What’s your specific use case?

That is incredibly stupid.

That sounds extremely inconvenient. Individual apps for 2FA? No thanks. I’m good with KeePass and Aegis, both open source, encrypted, and don’t require any extra hardware.

Hence “most” haha

I’d venture a guess that most people who know what Graphene OS is probably own a PC of some sort.

and I’m given to understand eOS is insecure AF.

This is not entirely accurate. People involved with Graphene have been caught spreading misinformation about /e/ and Calyx many times. The head dev himself is severely paranoid, to the point he makes wild accusations against anyone who doesn’t agree with him.

https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/53385640

That is quite possibly the stupidest argument against updating.

How old are you?

not to mention unexpendable storage and lack of customization

You can install Lineage OS on older devices. I have two devices from 2015 (Nexus 6P) and 2016 (Pixel XL). One runs LOS22 (Android 16), the other runs LOS20 (Android 14), both of which are more than capable of running modern apps.

Or just installing an apk directly from a file manager. I haven’t installed an application with adb sideload since… Shit I don’t even remember. Been using Android since 2010.

Not FOSS though.

I used it for a while and really liked it, but the not-FOSS aspect didn’t sit well, especially since I’m starting to migrate off of proprietary services - including Play services.

I don’t think you even can deny apps network permission on most Android builds anymore. Didn’t Google kill that option years ago for the sake of ads?

The solution to this is rooting your phone. Root allows you to get around those arbitrary blocks.

As an added bonus it mines crypto in the background without your knowledge.

FTFY.

Use Firefox with uBlock Origin. Same thing, but not made by a company led by a total wackjob.

Youtube Vanced: very nice app, you have everything: adblock, PiP, Google account sign in, background play.

Youtube Vanced has been dead for years.

You want Youtube ReVanced.

The downsides are you install YT Vanced from Vanced Manager

This is much easier than people make it out to be. You don’t even need root. Just download the specific APK version from APK Mirror (there’s a link within ReVanced Manager that opens a list of search results for you), patch the APK via ReVanced Manager’s local storage method, then install the patched APK (just use the “Regular” method for installing).

Make sure you uninstall the stock Youtube app (or at least disable it within Android Settings).

there is a lot of fake sites with fake Vanced Manager apk

Or just go straight to their Github page.

In addition, I also get a lot of frozen videos and have to relaunch the app - not sure it it’s adblock problem or anything similar.

I’ve been using Revanced since back when it was still “Vanced”. The only time I ever had that issue, it ended up being nothing more than a single toggle in Settings. I forget which setting it was, it’s been a few years since then. Something about spoofing? IDK anymore. I’ve updated a few versions since then and it’s not been an issue.

Root it and keep finding workarounds, like I’ve always done.

It’s a lot easier when you just drop apps/services that actively try to detect rooted devices. I don’t miss any of the “Pixel exclusive” AI bullshit they keep trying to shove down our throats, because they don’t allow rooted devices to run most of it. Oh no! Anyway…

I’ve tried K9 multiple times, as recent as 6 months ago. I want to like it, but almost every time I use it for an extended period of time, it’ll occasionally give me a “new email” notification about some random email from last year, even if it’s already marked as “read”. That email will sit in K9’s inbox with the “new” date as if it was always a new email. It drives me nuts.

Jacks are holes where dust and water come in, making it harder to make devices resistant and as durable as they can be.

IDK, Samsung seemed to figure that out a decade ago with the S5 Active; it had a headphone jack and removable battery. Had one as my work phone for a bit, I even took a video washing it off in the sink for some remote coworkers. Good fun. Solid phone.

How old are you? Should you be in class or something?

/e/ is a degoogled fork of Android, just like Calyx or Graphene.

Doesn’t unlocking the bootloader on an Xperia wipe some proprietary camera thing or something?

The server is the main purpose - it’s a replacement for Google Photos. The app is an extension of the server.

But yes, the frustration is real. I have the infrastructure set up at home to handle this stuff; but for the layperson who doesn’t do this stuff, I can imagine it’s really irritating to come across Immich in the app store, download it, then suddenly get prompted to point it to a server that doesn’t exist.

I avoid the play store as much as reasonably possible. F-Droid, Github/lab/etc, and FOSS alternatives are my first choices before venturing into that cesspit.

Immich. But it requires a server (that you need to set up) to do the processing.

I do. I’ve rooted every phone I owned on day 0.

Aren’t the pixel line the ones that have the bad batteries?

Where did you hear that? Only one Pixel model has had a legit battery issue (4a I think).