> you will not have access to FB Messenger, Whatsapp, Instagram, etc.
Actually you can access Facebook, Instagram and Twitter messages through their respective websites (and you can get notifications from the site if the browser supports it), but no WhatsApp nor Snapchat -- though Anbox might just fix this problem.
"A Pinephone will never support all the proprietary apps (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Fortnite, etc)."
That sounds like a feature I'm excited about :).
Re:PinePhone Manjaro Community Edition
by blendergeek on Wednesday September 02, 2020 @10:16AM
(#24353474)
So am I.
Re:PinePhone Manjaro Community Edition
by squeezingswirls on Monday August 31, 2020 @10:01AM
(#24331518)
You're mostly right but there's the Anbox project to somewhat fill that gap.
> 1) Is a Pinephone a viable alternative either iOS or Android?
A Pinephone will never support all the proprietary apps (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Fortnite, etc). In order to be viable, I would say a phone needs to support phone calls, SMS, MMS, camera, GPS/Navigation, and have a fast and snappy web browser. Currently the Pinephone supports everything except MMS (which is necessary for "texting" pictures and groups). Because you will not have access to FB Messenger, Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat, etc on a Pinephone, you will have to you SMS/MMS for communication if you want to interoperate with people from the mainstream.
2) For T-Mobile based carriers in the US, you just stick in the simcard.