The thought of a closed source firmware phone in this day and age is so much a non-starter. I won't touch a phone without an unlockable bootloader, at least unofficial support for one of the AOSP variants, and optimally a relockable bootloader. Bonus points for EDL support.
They don't share their EDL keys. Without that, you can still lock yourself out via an AFU flash.
They are also really hard to get in 'Murica.
It's a great attempt, but they fail to stick the landing.
^^THIS^^
No mod points to give, sorry. Just like Mozilla/Thunderbird... too many religious wars to "advance" to something new, even if "new" is less functional than its predecessors.
But yeah, wish someone would back-port OAuth2 et al. Y'know, like actually ADDING new stuff as the world demands it.
If you want a cell phone that supports US cell bands (meaning, no internationals that only do like 1 out of 5 a US carrier may use) and has an easily unlockable bootloader, there aren't a lot of options. The Google phones, OnePlus, and *SOME* Motorolas are all I know of other than some very rare and expensive outliers (like the Asus ROG).
Most of the phones still have proprietary radio code and other hidden partitions of unknown makeup (other than to maybe government agencies) that even a AOSP overwrite won't fix... and running without security updates to those can be... concerning.
If you want it FOSS, try Koler off of F-Droid. I like it better than Simple tools.
You can get a network contract with an EU provider instead of one in the states
For those of us too lazy to spend half the day looking, do you have a recommendation for one of these that allows a US address, reasonable SMS, voice and data while "roaming" on US carriers? In my travels in Europe, most countries wanted a passport or similar absurd amount of paperwork to associate with a SIM- the Netherlands was the only one where EUR20 got a sim card from a vending machine in the airport with no questions asked.
The most important question is, of course, if it comes with an unlocked or unlockable (without any drama) bootloader. Everything else is water under the bridge without that.
No big deal. Plenty of space in the physical pipeline between refinery and consumption that the electricity replaces to put a HV powerline. Just replace the refinery with whatever, and the end of the pipeline with an electric substation.
I have a 1+ 6. Unlockable bootloader, with NO drama. (And, hence, easily rootable). First phone with dual sim, nice for overseas travel. Great coverage of the LTE bands, pretty much everything other than Verizon, who hates customers anyway.
The only other real candidate for a drama-less unlock is Google (Pixel)... and they don't have expandable storage or removable battery either. Came from a LG G6, with plenty of firmware bugs... never going back to them as they cherry pick what they will let you unlock. If I'm paying for the hardware, it better not be crippled.
I'd rather have the Chinese listen to me [effortlessly] than the rest of the world.
Whoops... looks like LG joined the non-removable battery train with the V30. Sad.
I might find myself getting a S8+ or an LG V30 over the Pixel 2 XL, which will end my multiple-years of buying a phone directly from Google and having stock android.
Get the EU version of the LG's (try an EU version of Amazon).... stock android, no carrier lock, and unlockable bootloader. Plus, as you know, a replaceable battery and SD slot.
From 'Murica, probably not. I bought my last phone- a LG G4- from British Amazon, and got the unlockable EU version. Unlocked SIM to start, with NO spyware apps, just a vanilla android install. Enter a (legally obtainable) dev code, poof, unlocked boot loader, and the rest is easy. Often times (not sure if this is still the case today) you also get a phone with the capability to use more bands than the just-US ones the carriers sell, so they can save $.05 while they overcharge you. Also +1 for removable/replaceable battery. LG FTW.
To all those older PCs (and their owners) that still do what the owners need them to just fine, but want to keep getting needed security updates, not handing over HD streaming telemetry and everything that happens in their houses, etc...
Welcome to Linux.
Absolutely worst thing ever. I'd take a 8 track player over it. Hopefully their developers die a slow and painful death.
I very quickly found out that the last update that was pushed to my phone
LOL, you left OTA updates on. Bet you won't do that again!
Statistics are no substitute for judgement. -- Henry Clay
