@proceduralnightshade

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · edit-2 1 day ago

Calyx is not as degoogled as it claims to be (at least it wasn’t 2 years ago, see below). I know this is a bold claim, but the only ROM comparable with Graphene was DivestOS, which was a one human project and was dicontinued last year. And even Divest had the problem where updates were delayed by a few days or weeks.

Obligatory eylenburg link, and there’s this blogpost I like to link to. It’s written in German, but I’m sure it’s a good read if you put it through a translator.

The conclusion of the CalyxOS analysis in English:

“CalyxOS has reconfigured Android to avoid Google’s spyware and tracking.” However, I only see this to a limited extent. To be truly privacy-friendly, the project would need to modify more parameters/source code of the AOSP standard and provide users with more options/freedom (Captive Portal Check, Key Provisioning Server, SUPL Server) for customization. The mere omission of Google Play Services is not enough to consider a device “de-Googled”. There is still room for improvement.

Overall, CalyxOS is certainly not a bad custom ROM, but rather offers a coherent overall package that users who want to significantly reduce their dependence on Google should have a good starting point. However, one should also consider the drawbacks: the delayed provision of (security) updates and an external presentation that does not quite match the results of this analysis.

Take this with a grain of salt since it’s been two years since this blogpost was published.

Here I deleted a whole paragraph in which I sounded like a Graphene elitist haha. I would say using CalyxOS is a lot better than stock Android or Lineage. Please don’t choose your OS based on vibes. If you need any of the features Graphene offers that others don’t, please use it (edit: like the protester mentioned in the article). If you don’t, don’t.

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · 2 days ago

I agree, Graphene is not for everyone, and what you wrote is a perfectly fine opinion when it comes to privacy- and security-focused daily driver OS’s for smartphones. If you’re a protester or a journalist though, it’s all or nothing. There are no alternatives, no compromises that can be made. If you use a smartphone you are at risk, even if it’s a Pixel with GrapheneOS.

Graphene has decided to instead frame everything that isn’t a Pixel running Graphene as universally bad.

They did say on several occasions that they would support other phones if they weren’t locked down (Samsung) and commended the security of upcoming Mediatek and Qualcomm chips.

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · 6 months ago

In a perfect world, every dollar we spend goes right to the creators who made the creation.

In a perfect world, shit’s created without someone having to create it to make money. A market without middlemen is still a market.

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · 7 months ago

deleted by creator

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · 9 months ago

I’m on Graphene too and I once read that the modems used in Pixel phones are pretty trashy and drain a ton of battery. If I filter my battery usage by system, it shows that network standby almost consumes half of my battery charge (~46%).

Maybe the other guy here is right and it’s a VPN issue (too)? idk. Anyway, I didn’t really found a solution for this except leaving my phone on airplane mode at night.

proceduralnightshade@lemmy.ml · 9 months ago

why do most communist States have this knack for massive intelligence gathering on its own citizens?

Corporations have this knack too. Everybody in power does. It’s just that one privately owned corporation can only reach so far.