Google is the only one implementing the full spec for bootloader relocking with custom keys, so as far as I’m concerned they’re the only viable manufacturer now (RIP OnePlus, you used to be good).
The default UX on most phones just plain outright sucks. I keep hearing Samsung is better, IMO modern OneUI sucks just as much as TouchWiz sucked. Everyone tries to differentiate themselves by how much bloatware they load up on the phone so customers go wow it’s got so many features! Lately they’re all in on the AI fad as well, and subscriptions, and their own store.
Been a custom ROM user forever, and I have no intention of letting go of that. My phone is almost 5 years old now, and it still runs better than the out of the box experience of any phones on display at the stores. Raw hardware performance is utterly useless if the stock OS immediately wastes it all and some more.
So I’m not excited about the Pixels but they’re also the only viable option.
Do wallet/banking apps still work on a custom rom?
Do you lose out on anything?
Wallet no. For banking apps it depends on the app. For me about 80 percent work
I want a phone for $0, which Koodo (or other) will offer this phone for within 15 months.
I’ll contain my excitement until then.That being said, I am liking the Pixel line, in general, so I’m sure either my wife or I will have one eventually.
Also, I haven’t known anyone to have genuine phone excitement since the blackberry (c. 2009), though I often detect iphone smugness (if only they knew).
I do miss “back in the day” when I was a kid, where every phone had its own OS and apps, and it was exciting to go through every single option and button on the phone
These days, bar a few small hardware differences, every iphone is the same as the next, and every android is the same as the next.
I much prefer a standardised OS (android,iOS,whatever) but its not exciting anymore
I tend to get a new phone every other year. I bought a phone last year so I will probably be excited to see the Pixel 10 next year!
I have a pixel 8, and a pixel 6 before that. The same bugs have followed me the whole time. I guess PiP, keyboard, bubbles, and graphical issues just aren’t being worked on. I’m waiting on Apple sideloading updates before I’m upgrading, but this is a piece of shit. I would try another OS, but I am afraid of getting banking apps and Google Fi working.
Personally, I gave up on google as a whole
Pixels are the best degoogle phone thanks to GrapheneOS…
ok?
What a dumbass edit. It’s probably because “ok?” Adds literally nothing and you could’ve just said nothing instead. But noooo must be fanboys down voting you right? 🙄
k
Same. I have come to trust Apple’s commitment and attitude towards user privacy substantially more than Google. I actually know a person that works in a fairly high middle management position in a technical department at the fruit company, and he told me that even their internal handling of user data is incredibly restrictive, even when it makes their jobs harder. I don’t think Apple is perfect, but better than the alternative.
Apple’s commitment to privacy is just marketing:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/sep/23/apple-user-data-law-enforcement-falling-short
https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/privacyhub/apple-privacy-violations/
Not saying Google is any better, but Apple is much worse than they paint in adverts
I’m well aware of the risks inherent to not running calyx or graphene, but my threat model doesn’t justify sacrificing a lot of the functionality that I enjoy on an iPhone. If my threat model required it, I’d have an unactivated burner and a pixel device running calyx in addition to my iPhone. I’m happy settling for “better than google” based on my needs. I also have a couple PCs running Linux, with steps I can take to ensure some level of privacy if needed.
Thanks for posting some good reading though, it’s all shit I’m generally aware of.
Apple is a locked in ecosystem what is based entirely on proprietary software. I’m not sure how that is good for privacy. They can and are collecting your data. You also can’t get apps outside of the App store which limits your options.
AOSP based Android Like Lineage OS is the only way.
yes I’m surprised at the lack of FOSS apps on IOS.
Yeah we should start our own FOSS app store for iOS.
Oh wait, you can’t…
I’m not
The App store is very restrictive and the OS is locked down
Okay
I haven’t been “excited” about any phones or really much of any technology at all in years. There’s just been very little practical progress and a whole lot of regress. What does P9 bring to the table that’s new? Fucking useless AI trash?
Will not touch Apple, Samsung or Google HW. Apple & Samsung too expensive. Google because … SQUIRREL … what the fuck, cancel it.
I was always a cheap Nexus/Pixel A guy that traded up when the new budget phones went for sale on the Play store. I got my 6A for like 150 bucks brand new. When the 8A was announced for 500 dollars and barely better than the 6A I jumped to a refurbished 7 Pro and I’ll probably just keep this phone until something really special comes out or I just abandon carrying a cellphone all together [most likely.]
Google Fi and every banking app ive tried work fine on Graphene, Android auto as well. The only thing that definitely does not work is google pay
I use google pay as much as humanly possible so that’s not an option for me unfortunately.
Just use a credit card…
Then I have to carry one. Plus you can be far more anonymous.
The pixel 8 was exciting because it was the 1st android smartphone which broke the usual 5 years of update cycle and jumped to 7 years. Making other OEMs like Samsung and OnePlus to play catchup.
Pixel 9 appears like a minor improvement in comparison. Hopefully, the SOC provides improved battery life due to better modem, and modern ARM cortex cores.
The pixel 8 was exciting because it was the 1st android smartphone which broke the usual 5 years of update cycle and jumped to 7 years.
The Pixel 8 also has MTE support.
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are ARMv9 devices supporting hardware memory tagging…Hardware memory tagging is going to provide a massive increase to protection against remote exploitation for GrapheneOS users. It’s the biggest security feature we’ll be shipping since we started in 2014.
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/8439-mte-support-status-for-grapheneos
I’m still waiting for a reason to upgrade my 6, so I might skip 9. I think I’d upgrade if we get 20-40x optical zoom. Otherwise, I’m not sure what a more powerful phone will do for me.
Pixel is the only game in town for anyone who wants a secure and privacy friendly smartphone as they’re the only ones that run GrapheneOS.
I do like the look of the 9, especially finally being able to get a smaller Pro model but the prices are getting silly and my 7 Pro is still working fine. Maybe the 10 or 11.
I’m also keeping an eye on Fairphone but they need to add all the hardware GrapheneOS needs to support them for me to be interested. And it’d help if they weren’t launching with last gen specs. Fairphone 5 came out after my P7P but is inferior in most ways, I just can’t justify paying for a downgrade as much as I support the mission.
And it’d help if they weren’t launching with last gen specs. Fairphone 5 came out after my P7P but is inferior in most ways, I just can’t justify paying for a downgrade as much as I support the mission
Right? I like the idea of Fair phone and Linux phones as well, but they always seem to slap in mediocre hardware at best.
Even the latest Fairphone 5, like you said, comes with a Qualcomm QCM6490 from late 2021. It wasn’t designed for phones and can’t even compete against the Tensor G2, a processor already widely regarded as crap
Neither? I am more wary after the launch of 6 and the issues, but I also say ‘neither’ because I’m simply not in the market for a new device.
I’ve been wanting to buy a Pixel for a while now (for GrapheneOS), but there’s always something that bothers me too much.
This time around, the Pixel 9 pro sounds like it will be great, but I’ll be waiting to see Google’s custom SoC using TSMC for the Pixel 10.
I could always just get the 9 later at a lower price or used.Pixel phones have been too big for me for a while. They won’t fit in my pockets comfortably and I don’t want to have to stretch to reach the top of the screen. Come out with something 5.75" tall or less and I’ll re-engage.
Yes. My Zenfone 8 is “small” but I want it even more compact. My old Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact is the perfect size!
Yes, I am still on my pixel 5 for that reason but I really need a new one
I held on to mine for so long, but after they stopped getting updates, I bailed since the S22 wasn’t massively larger.
Yes, nur then there is so much Samsung stuff on it. Maybe I’ll have to do it like you and modify it then
What are you using now?
Galaxy S22 with Nova launcher getting rid of the Samsung UI and making it note pixel-like.
You might be interested in finding an alternative to Nova, they got aquired a couple years ago
You can still lock down privacy stuff to a fair degree. I’m keeping an eye on it
That’s not too big?
It’s the smallest option, so doesn’t really matter.
It’s 5.75" tall, so no. It’s as big as I want to go. I’d love something a bit smaller to be sure
They run GrapheneOS Wonderfully…
