It sure needs a large enough push from one of few big companies (with their explicit backing) that can bring businesses to support other app store(s). But imho that has to happen in a way that it doesn't create a need to write and publish apps in yet another language to yet another platform. Because if businesses have to do that as well that will be a good way to ensuring it becomes a DoA effort.
replyI've a feeling companies like Meta, Amazon, Steam are well placed to do this (esp. Meta and Steam). But not sure it will be helpful to them in any way, besides they'd want to ensure their own control and locks.
Does the Brax Phone fit?
replyIf you mean GNU/Linux phones, they already exist and can be used as daily drivers by technical people. Sent from my Librem 5.
replyYes, but a popular one that's usable by regular people and with a very wealthy organization behind it.
replyHow do you expect things to be popular without a company with self-interest? Producing a linux phone that people want requires immense capital, they're not just spending that and then releasing as open source forever.
replyBy the time the product becomes "popular", it's then just one more platform that needs to follow investor interest and laws.
Why GNU? I get the appeal of Linux, but Android has that angle covered. What makes GNU a better userspace than Android for phone use? I actually think the Andoid userspace is very good for what it is. If Google's influence were magically removed, Android would be more or less the ideal OS, at least for me.
replyIt's not GNU itself that's appealing, it's the fact that it's not controlled by a company.
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replyThis can be achieved if more people support the effort. If you expect megacorps to offer you a device respecting your freedom, think again.
replyI miss my blackberry
replyIt's not the same, it does not run BBOS10, and de-Googled LineageOS will have to do for now (for me).
replyBut at least we can get updated internals for the Q20 (and soon the Passport). It'll be the closest we can get to carrying a BlackBerry for some time, if ever, and I'm happy enough with mine that I picked up a spare mainboard
They exist but they need more polish and support from device vendors to be a viable alternative to the duopoly. It should be just as easy for the average phone buyer to get and use a 'Linux phone' as it is to get an Android or fruit phone. This is more or less true now for Linux distributions no matter what the naysayers keep on repeating, the next step is to make it true for mobile devices. There will still be naysayers but... who cares? Let them listen to themselves in their echo chambers like they've been doing w.r.t. 'Linux on the desktop'.
replyWake me when they get modern hardware.
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