I probably can’t get a new phone super soon, but it’s been quite frustrating how little support there is for iOS versions of open source software I’ve been slowing moving towards or investigating. I absolutely get why though!
I have the capability to understand complex topics but it takes me quite a few tries to really get it, so I’d like some help or recommendations of things that aren’t “just use linux”. (I am slowly dipping my toes by using WSL for things, though.) I am always searching for software, but I’ve never been active enough in communities to ask for personal recommendations and be warned of short comings. Obviously if you find recommendations, they want to look the best to you and hide their faults. I do try and research as much as possible, but like I said, I can get confused or not understand the drawbacks or full level of manual work/environments needed to operate at times.
Mostly I’m looking for day to day things that I can operate from my windows computer, but can also connect to my phone, assuming I get an android next. (Librem phones looks cool, but switching carrier providers is not feasible for me at the moment.) The boring things, like calendar, email, notes (I do use obsidian already). But if you’d like to gush about your daily drivers, I’m all ears!
I use a Pixel with GrapheneOS, it has been a perfect OS for me, honestly way less janky than iOS, which I didn’t expect. For example, Airpods autoconnect works every single time without fail on Graphene, whereas half the time on iOS it wouldn’t connect and id have to go into the menus. GrapheneOS also has additional security and privacy features other Android OS’s do not.
Also seconding GrapheneOS. My last two phones have been Pixels specifically so I could use it and I have zero regrets.
+1 for graphene
I love it when it still allows me to use some google apps (e.g. Gboard) but I can completely neuter its tracking capabilities by removing network permission
Yes! Even better is the ability to isolate Google Play Services to a separate User Account. The beauty of GrapheneOS is even if you install play services on a user account, the play services are sandboxed just like any other application, so you take a lesser risk even if its your main account.
+1 for pixel with grapheneos. Runs sooooooo smooth without all the garbage on it
And, (unless you decide to install a large number of apps running the background) Graphene strips out a lot of Google bloat and gives more control to the user, which allows me to use a minimal setup that greatly improves battery life.
ooh that’s two different OSes for me to look at! I will have to compare them
+1 to this comment here. Currently rocking a Samsung A32 but when it breaks I’ll be replacing it with the grapheneOS + Pixel combo