Amazon Building its Own Linux-Based OS to Replace Android - eviltoast
    • Semperverus@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      https://pine64.com/product-category/pinephone/

      https://pine64.com/product-category/smartphones/pinephone-pro/

      There is already something in the works (that you can technically buy right now if you wanted), and it actively respects your freedom. Granted, as with everything in this ecosystem, its a very slow burn, so it’ll be a while before the software is actually good, but it’s already made massive strides from where it started.

      I would say wait a bit and take a look at this later, but i do have one friend daily driving one now to some success (this wasn’t possible a year ago).

      • droans@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That would be great, but you can buy a $20 burner from a gas station that’s more powerful than those phones.

        The regular version uses the Allwinner A64 chip which retailed for $5 when it was released… Back in 2015.

        The Pro version uses the RK3399S, which is a custom lower binned version of the RK3399. Neither chip was made available retail, but the SK3399 was released in 2016 and only otherwise used in low-end Chromebooks and SBCs.

        • Semperverus@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Sure, but calling them out for not being a $20 burner phone doesnt make sense when you’re comparing that to a developer/development device. This phone specifically isnt meant for everyday consumers. What it is, however, is a signal that there is now a third competitor in the works, and it’s real and tangible.

    • oxjox@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      I just read an article about how they’re increasing advertising on their Fire TVs. Rest assured, an Amazon OS is an Advertising OS.

      Although, from what I’ve gathered of public opinion online, there’s LOTS of people willing to forgo their privacy in exchange for free shit.

      Edit: Oh…

      They say they expect Vega to begin shipping on Fire TVs early next year.

      And that article https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/after-luring-customers-with-low-prices-amazon-stuffs-fire-tvs-with-ads/

      • Patch@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        Android is already free software, and see how far that gets you. The kicker is that you’re tied into their services (with all the data harvesting, targeted advertising and monetisation that that involves).

          • baconicsynergy@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Yes, because it is permissively open source, not only are these companies free to build what they want - we are entitled to that same right. We therefore created LineageOS and GrapheneOS, and its really great.

            There’s also a lot of motivated people getting regular Linux distributions running on mobile devices too, so we have that as well