But Graphene doesn’t mean anything to the general public. People aren’t buying “an iOS device”, they are buying iPhones. People aren’t buying “an Android phone”, they are buying “a Samsung/Galaxy” or a “Pixel”.
Mind you, when I say people, I mean the general population. Not those actually interested in these subjects.
My point is: people don’t care about these specifics, people care about having a frictionless experience (or as close to frictionless as possible). Having to explain what Graphene even is is friction enough for most people to not even bother listening to your explanation.
Well, they kinda do. Apps are available on Android and iOS. They are not "available on Android, iPhone, iPad and Apple watch". iOS is actually used and recognized by the general public.
No. They are available on the “Play Store” and the “App Store”. OSs are rarely mentioned. Store tags only feature store logos and store names, for device specific ones you get the device itself. The OS remains irrelevant in this scenario.
>GrapheneOS is not made for nerds, it is made for normal people.
There is also no statistics resulting from surveys, studies, reports, etc., that would indicate such a conclusion about user demographics.
People have more than enough brain power to reason about this. "There are several distributions, I recommend this one" is not exactly rocket science.
We really need to stop treating people like they have an IQ of 30 and only 5 minutes of free time per day, or we'll never defeat Google et al that purposefully maintain us in this belief.
And I don't see how the name "GrapheneOS" is any worse than "Android". Really, the biggest barriers to adoption are:
- No phones come with it pre-installed (yet)
- They only work with Pixel phones (for now)
- Some apps like certain banking apps don't work
Pixels are currently the only devices providing the required updates and hardware security features. There will be at least one Motorola flagship with GrapheneOS support in 2027 meeting the same requirements. It will expand to more Motorola devices from there. iOS only runs on iPhones but that's hardly a barrier to adoption for it. Pixels aren't quite broadly available enough and it will take time before we can support lower end Motorola devices in the same price range as an 'a' series Pixel.
The vast majority of Android apps do work. Banking apps are a special case where around 10% don't work due to banning using a non-Google-certified OS. Most banking apps definitely work on GrapheneOS.
By your own definition, is it meant to make the mainstream?
Great way to demonstrate you don't know the general public and think and speak only nerd.
That being said people DO buy Google Pixel for GrapheneOS and they WILL buy Motorola for GrapheneOS too.
That is the power of GrapheneOS that all the other BingaBoingoKonohaOS can only wish for.
What a weird angle to have a pop over.
We (yes, "we," not hiding who I am, check my bio) have seen many users from all walks of life asking for assistance. For example, I remember multiple times newcomers in our community asking for help self-identified as old, or retired, or grandparents switching to GrapheneOS. It's not hard to use, and we have a fairly large community of people who are happy to help others learn the ropes.
GrapheneOS is easy to use, just ask the grandparents rocking it. Our userbase will only continue to increase as we continue to deliver features that people want, with the latest being Secure Paste. Many of users are very excited about the feature. More are planned.
As for the complaint about the name, okay? GrapheneOS is open source. You can change the name everywhere and build it yourself.
Things will keep as is for as long as they keep making these OSs FOR the tech nerds.
Downvote me all you want. You know it’s true. An OS made for nerds and by nerds will never reach mainstream and will not, ever, move the needle anywhere. Tech is no longer a hobbyist’s game.