[ale] [OT] Cell phones

Jim Kinney jim.kinney at gmail.com
Thu Aug 18 11:47:44 EDT 2016


<total snark mode rant>

apple is like a never ending proctology visit with a lot of lube and
very slim, tiny middle finger at first. At a later point when it won't
do what you want or they drop support for your hardware is when you
realize the proctologist has inserted both arms past the elbow, 2
assistants and a small boat with oars.

Microsoft was blatant about their world domination plans. So is Linus
Torvalds. Apple sells a mix of heroin, crack, lsd and meth to hipsters
who don't want to think about what they are buying.

Linux kicked the other *NIX systems until they died (AIX needs to die).
Linux kicked back at Microsoft until they had to capitulate and back
down. But Apple has managed to do the "embrace and extend and
extinguish" far better that Microsoft ever did. I often wonder how wel
the developers of FreeBSD sleep at night knowing that Apple usurped
their work, made billions, and won't support it. Google does the same
but at least they pay lip service to "giving back" (GSoC and several
notable kernel enhancements and many tools they've made available).
 Apple is open-sourcing some stuff (swift most recently) but only to
attract developers (away from android). Apple did fight the decryption
order but from a business standpoint and not from a purely logical (all
backdoors will get p0wned) and ethical standpoint (users own their
stuff, 5th amendment, etc). 

I am not a fan. I use Linux. I use Fedora and CentOS systems and have
for over a decade. I can do anything I want to. My hardware belongs to
ME. My software is vetted by people I trust (and know some personally)
and I can see all of it and participate in the direction of the
development. 

I've used GPL/FLOSS tools for 25+ years and can't understand why anyone
would want to use the lesser quality tools that only exist to suck out
information about the user for later resell and use the funds from
users to strip away rights from those same users until the only thing a
user is is a cash spigot.

</end rant mode>

OK. I feel better. Not attacking anyone's choice of tools as people
need a workflow they are comfortable with. Just really loath all things
apple. Even their logo is missing a byte.

On Thu, 2016-08-18 at 10:49 -0400, Ted W. wrote:
> > If you're considering switching your main system to a Mac, there's
more
> incentive to be on iPhone than not. Even if you're on Linux, I would
> > argue that the iPhone is a better all around device. I've been on
iPhone for
> 5 years now. My reasons are:
> 
>  * Better security OOB than an Android phone
> >  * Works better under Linux than any Android phone I've owned
previously
>  * Better build quality than any Android phone I've owned previously
>  * Better battery life than any Android phone I've owned previously
> 
> > I'm sure plenty of people with disagree with my points above but
after
> using an iPhone and Android side-by-side for a year at my previous
> > employer, that was my experience. When I left that company and it
came time
> > to replace the company provided phone, I stuck with Apple and bought
a
> refurbished, unlocked, iPhone 6 off Ebay for the same price as a new,
> unlocked, Nexus phone.
> 
> I will add the caveat that my last experience with Android was over 4
> years ago. I've heard thing have improved but have no first hand
> experience to speak from.
> 
> These are my $0.02,
> Ted
> 
> On Thu, Aug 18, 2016 at 10:17:02AM -0400, Leam Hall wrote:
> > > > My current Galaxy S3 from Verizon hasn't been OS patched in a while
and has
> > > > been dropped more than once. A replacement might be good. Looking
at the
> > > > Verizon pages and doing the math, an unlocked S4 or S5 might be a
good deal.
> > I try to keep stuff until it dies and may do some overseas travel.
> > 
> > > > Is the plan to buy my own and use it with Verizon feasible? What
other
> > > > things should I look at? The goal is an Android based phone with a
pretty
> > simple usage pattern; text, calls, web, and one 3rd party app.
> > 
> > > > On a different note, my wife wants me to move to Mac and iPhone.
I'm a
> > > > fledgling writer and most of the tools real writers use don't work
on
> > > > CentOS.  :(  So, is there a reason for Android, in that I'm not at
the level
> > of writing my own apps for it?
> > 
> > Thanks!
> > 
> > Leam
> > _______________________________________________
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-- 
James P. Kinney III

Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you
gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his
own tail. It won't fatten the dog.
- Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain

http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com/
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