You can still very easily use macOS without an Apple ID or iCloud account, actually. You lose out on iMessage, FaceTime and the App Store, basically. But that’s about it. And they don’t nag you about it ever again unless you try to send an iMessage or what have you.
On iOS and Android it’s effectively a requirement though, because App Store / Google Play. Phone is not too useful if you can’t install any apps.
Agree. On iOS, if you don’t login with an Apple ID, you can’t really install apps. On Android though you can just use F-Droid to install apps just fine.
True, but realistically for most people the lack of Google Play is a non starter. Unless you’re really technical and committed to FOSS, you’re going to need every day apps in there.
IMO the biggest issue on mobile is not even the stores but the fact that both platforms are so tightly integrated with the cloud and the account signed into the OS. Again, if you’re an ordinary user, you can barely do anything without it being tied to your Google account or whatever. Everything from maps to notes to music, it’s all tied up in that.
Yeah, its fucking absurd. Closest option is probably a fairphone right now. They allow a bunch of degoglified options of android and a few linux options too.
My mobile OS of choice is currently Lineageos for Microg. Makes all my apps work and protects me from google as good as possible.
Fairphone works in Europe, but in the US, for example, only Tmobile allows fairphones, the other carriers, while there nothing technological that prevents them fron working, the carriers being being really shit about it. And Tmovile could also become hostile with a flip of a switch. So yea, that’s a huge issue, unless you want a wifi-only device.
I fear in the future, devices will be more strictly locked down because of “terrorism” “scams” “fraud” or “criminial activity” that allows the authorities, worldwide, to control devices even more. Perhaps, computers could also face such lockdowns.
I mean, look at drones. One harmless crash on the US whitehouse lawn triggered a lot of laws restricting them, inclusing the infamous DJI Geo-locking. One terrorisr using encrypted messaging apps to coordinate would allow governments to control our communications even further. All locked bootloaders. Perhaps even locked BIOS/UEFIs. Imagine such a future.
The future looks bleak. It’s not even like 1984, the reality of dystopia is more subtle. People are being stalked by the government, while there are parties are happening all around, that is what dystopia looks like.
China turned QR codes red to restrict people’s movements on the pretenses of Covid. The US trump admin could do the same with QR code IDs to “prove you are a citizen” with checkpoints throughout the country.
(Sorry if it kinda got offtopic, but still kinda relevent)
Apple does this.
Microsoft is now doing this.
I wonder how long until Google start doing it with Android 🤔
This future is so fucking dystopian
You can still very easily use macOS without an Apple ID or iCloud account, actually. You lose out on iMessage, FaceTime and the App Store, basically. But that’s about it. And they don’t nag you about it ever again unless you try to send an iMessage or what have you.
On iOS and Android it’s effectively a requirement though, because App Store / Google Play. Phone is not too useful if you can’t install any apps.
Agree. On iOS, if you don’t login with an Apple ID, you can’t really install apps. On Android though you can just use F-Droid to install apps just fine.
True, but realistically for most people the lack of Google Play is a non starter. Unless you’re really technical and committed to FOSS, you’re going to need every day apps in there.
IMO the biggest issue on mobile is not even the stores but the fact that both platforms are so tightly integrated with the cloud and the account signed into the OS. Again, if you’re an ordinary user, you can barely do anything without it being tied to your Google account or whatever. Everything from maps to notes to music, it’s all tied up in that.
The future is bright on Linux
Sadly, no linux phones that are actually usable.
Yeah, its fucking absurd. Closest option is probably a fairphone right now. They allow a bunch of degoglified options of android and a few linux options too.
My mobile OS of choice is currently Lineageos for Microg. Makes all my apps work and protects me from google as good as possible.
Fairphone works in Europe, but in the US, for example, only Tmobile allows fairphones, the other carriers, while there nothing technological that prevents them fron working, the carriers being being really shit about it. And Tmovile could also become hostile with a flip of a switch. So yea, that’s a huge issue, unless you want a wifi-only device.
I fear in the future, devices will be more strictly locked down because of “terrorism” “scams” “fraud” or “criminial activity” that allows the authorities, worldwide, to control devices even more. Perhaps, computers could also face such lockdowns.
I mean, look at drones. One harmless crash on the US whitehouse lawn triggered a lot of laws restricting them, inclusing the infamous DJI Geo-locking. One terrorisr using encrypted messaging apps to coordinate would allow governments to control our communications even further. All locked bootloaders. Perhaps even locked BIOS/UEFIs. Imagine such a future.
The future looks bleak. It’s not even like 1984, the reality of dystopia is more subtle. People are being stalked by the government, while there are parties are happening all around, that is what dystopia looks like.
China turned QR codes red to restrict people’s movements on the pretenses of Covid. The US trump admin could do the same with QR code IDs to “prove you are a citizen” with checkpoints throughout the country.
(Sorry if it kinda got offtopic, but still kinda relevent)
Amen. Not a non-Android one, at least.
LightPhone is your best bet for a Linux phone if anyone is interested.
Hmmm
I skimmed the webpage and seems like some minimalist phone, which cannot adequetely replace many functions of a modern smartphone.
Arent they already for official OEM ROMs?
No
Really?
I’ve used Samsung and Motorola Android phones, I can set them up offline.
I assume every other OEM is the same.
Well tbh. I never tried to bother circumventing the semi-mandatory google account.
Would be interesting if it is so or not