I want a Linux phone - what are my options?

Huw

Huw

Huw

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My contract's up for renewal in a couple of months and I can't find a suitable replacement! I currently have a Blackberry which, to be honest, I love - but with the future of the company in doubt I'm hesitant to get another one for the next two years.

I won't buy an Android phone, iPhone or Windows phone because I neither trust nor like those companies. What I really want is a phone that runs Linux. The only possibilities I'm aware of is the Jolla phone, which is intriguing but probably never going to be available on contract in the UK, or a Firefox mobile - but apparently they're only entry-level phones and not available anyway!

Is it too much to ask to have a phone that runs entirely on free software that I can trust?!
 
if it makes your decision any easier, technically Android is free software and based on Linux.

If you so wish, you could buy any compatible hardware, and cook your own Android distro (the kernel is available for download).

if that's no good to you, then you may well be struggling to find a phone that specifically ships with a non Android version of the Linux kernel.

Perhaps one option is buy an Android phone and then look into something like: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zpwebsites.linuxonandroid&hl=en, though things aren't that easy.

Alternatively, what about the newly released Firefox OS? The phone it ships on (available in eBay I believe) is not that powerful, but what you are asking for is never going to be on a top end device as you have ruled out the major OSs.
 
This thread is silly.

1) Why not trust/like Apple, Android or Microsoft?
2) Even without trust why think they have anything to gain from you?
3) Why is Linux or Jolla (or presumably Blackberry) more trustworthy than these companies?

Then you post a strange question:
Is it too much to ask to have a phone that runs entirely on free software that I can trust?!

As if no phones can be trusted? As far as I am aware there has never been any kind of leak of data from Apple, or Microsoft or Android. Android is free software but why is that a requisite? If you are willing to spend money on decent hardware then surely hardware can be worth something too.

TBH I'd advise you to get a Nokie 3210 and a tinfoil hat.
 
foster grant said:
Does Cyanogenmod run on any Android handset ?...so if i took a mind instal it...., is it easy to instal and if i was to not really get on with it , can it be easily uninstalled please ?
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That would depend on your definition of 'easy':

CyanogenMod can't run on any phone, but it does run on a lot of phones but to a varying level of stability. A lot of proprietary features sometimes aren't supported because closed source binaries and/or poor documentation.

For example, Samsung's Exynos SoCs are widely criticised because Samsung provide poor developer documentation for that platform.

To install CyanogenMod, you'll need to boot or install a custom recovery. How easy this is depends on the phone because of varying levels of bootloader policies and security. Some methods may wipe your phone, so backing up via Helium backup (found on Google Play) is recommended.

Once you have a recovery installed, you can create a Nandroid backup of your current phone install (think of it as a ghost image of your hard drive). If you don't get on with CyanogenMod, you can just restore the Nandroid backup.
 
Hamish - you are a ****ing idiot. Stay out of my thread. Thanks.

Everyone else: Ta for the Cyanogenmod suggestion. It isn't a particularly compelling choice but my options are slim, so I'll consider it at least. Ubuntu...you'll facepalm at this but they're another company pretty much on my blacklist! I'll take it if there's nothing else available, but...we'll see I guess.

I really want that Jolla phone. I wish they'd hurry up and partner with Orange or Three.
 
Huw said:
Hamish - you are a ****ing idiot. Stay out of my thread. Thanks.

Everyone else: Ta for the Cyanogenmod suggestion. It isn't a particularly compelling choice but my options are slim, so I'll consider it at least. Ubuntu...you'll facepalm at this but they're another company pretty much on my blacklist! I'll take it if there's nothing else available, but...we'll see I guess.

I really want that Jolla phone. I wish they'd hurry up and partner with Orange or Three.
Click to expand...

He's simply pointing out how ridiculous this is sounding. Now Ubuntu too? Do you just not like established products / companies or something?
 
Wait for a Jolla or Ubuntu Phone to be properly finished. Everything I've seen of both looks markedly superior to iOS / Android / WP / QNX.

I'll definitely be going one of those 2 paths.
 
Chives said:
How cringeworthy, he has made a perfectly valid point. The only person who is coming across as an idiot is you.
Click to expand...

+1. With the exception that I don't think it's a silly thread as suggested by Hamish. He'd like a Linux phone so help him get there :-) There are always companies that we as individuals don't like, regardless of our views.

However... do you use google OP? Do you use ANY of the applications such as maps/you tube etc that are provided by google?

Good luck with your search, I think the only realistic option at present is installing an Ubuntu rom onto an existing phone.
 
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