Comment by endisneigh

4 years ago

When Apple sells yet again another record amount of iPhones next quarter which device should we move to?

Fundamentally this illustrates that software has become too inherently intrusive. What’s the solution tho that could ever be mainstream?

The other issue is that software has become too complicated and too many (potentially) bad things are happening in the background. How can the layperson fight back?

21 comments

endisneigh

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n8cpdx  4 years ago

GrapheneOS on Pixel 4 has been a dream, as has Elementary OS on an XPS 13 is similarly great.

WebUSB installer for graphene is a game changer, it made the process incredibly easy. Also it seems most apps work fine without Play services.

Synology Photos is a great local icloud photos replacement.

I made the switch this past weekend. Aside from the impact on my wallet and hassle of needing to sell my Apple equipment, it was surprisingly painless.

nkozyra  4 years ago

I think this kind of defeatism really feeds the public's lax attitude toward privacy.

Yes, the iPhone and Apple products are very popular. And they will probably continue to grow. Does that mean we just accept anything they do, antithetical to one of their core promises to their customers?

Or do we make a big deal about it so everyone sees what's happening and what the implications are?

  • n8cpdx  4 years ago

    I've been making a big stink about it. I switched to Signal for my iMessage buddies and that seems to be sticking.

    The more people seen visibly taking proactive steps to create privacy, the better.

nine_k  4 years ago

Do you mean that both the state and corporations will make you a generous gift of privacy? Right when it goes against their best interest of grabbing more power and profit?

Nope.

If you want privacy, like any other rights, you will need to fight for them. Rights can only be gained by a fight; whatever is given is a privilege, which is often taken back as easily as is granted.

So be prepared to (continue to) fight for your rights: in courts, in Congress, etc, but also by choosing less convenient, less featureful, more expensive devices and software which does not violate the rights you care about. And no, the majority of the consumers won't care until you show some signs of winning.

  • weikju  4 years ago

    that's exactly correct. We have to accept discomfort NOW (to our convenience, wallets) so that everyone can benefit later.

    We cannot give up.

pope_meat  4 years ago

I was very very close to ditching my Android device for an Apple device because it seemed like Apple was on the side of privacy.

I don't feel that way anymore, and watching the FOSS projects like the PinePhone with a lot of interest.

  • mackrevinack  4 years ago

    i actually had an ipad picked out and in the basket ready to buy it! although i have been thinking of buying one for a good few months now, ive just been hesitating a lot because i was not sure if i could handle how restrictive ios is compared to android.

    the thing that really has me torn is that there is nothing else like it for simole/fun/creative music making apps (samplr, reason compact etc), which is the main reason i was going to buy one. at the same time i don't want to be part of apple's figures next quarter

alexfromapex  4 years ago

The solution is privacy-safe open standards that decouple corporations’ proprietary hold over phone network tech

mdoms  4 years ago

Apple is the only device I know of doing on-device scanning.

snuser  4 years ago

> How can the layperson fight back?

Simply not using a smartphone is fine, they aren't that great and there doesn't need to be an alternative.

it feels like we've been trained as consumers to the point where saying no isn't realistic anymore, there must be something else to buy that represents me more.. etc

swiley  4 years ago

Software must be open source by law. Apple has shown closed software is too dangerous.