News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:GrapheneOS – A privacy and security-focused mobile OS wit... by markstos on Monday June 10, 2019 @04:36PM (#20150556)
I hope Librem remains viable. As someone who needs some specific apps for work, I won't be able to switch for practical considerations unless those services work well enough on the device. For example, Slack.

I could carry a second device for personal use, but am unlikely to.

Re:GrapheneOS – A privacy and security-focused mobile OS wit... by wowtip on Tuesday June 11, 2019 @05:03AM (#20153876)
Exactly. How much I like the idea of a truly open phone platform there are some obstacles:

- Decent hardware available at competitive price

-- While I could make do with some degraded performance for a truly open phone concept, most people would not, especially if price point is similar to, or higher, than established closed platform brands

- Must have apps available - needed for wide acceptance

-- My personal examples of must have apps:

-- BankID (Swedish e-id, needed for banks, taxes, government sites, payments)

-- Swish - Swedish app for personal micro transactions

-- Public transportation apps (tickets/timetable)

-- Bank application

-- Signal

Without these apps, a open platform phone would be next to useless to me. And I am a big proponent of open platforms.

And looking at how reluctant BankID were to even support older version android phones, I am not optimistic to them adding a completely new platform to support.

I know people who were forced to upgrade from "old" phones because BankID no longer supported their Android version, and phones would not get newer Android version.

Re:GrapheneOS – A privacy and security-focused mobile OS wit... by ocdtrekkie on Monday June 10, 2019 @05:35PM (#20151118)
Specific app needs have killed dozens of potential third party mobile OSes. I suspect that PWAs may finally help with that.