Also interesting that it ships with /e/OS!
/e/OS is a de-googled version Android. Most Google services are replaced with Nextcloud integration, but somehow all apps are still available through a software store that bridges to the Play Store while letting you browse for free apps anonymously. Google Play Services are replaced with the wonderful microG.
I used it on my Fairphone 3 for around half a year, and for the most part it was a very pleasant experience. And whoever doesn’t like it can of course (re)install stock Android. :)
The last time I used Lineage it was known as CyanogenMod, so I’m not really in a position to perfectly compare the two. But I’ll give it a shot.
Lineage includes many more Google components. As an end user this means that you’ll for example be able to use the Google location service, using WiFi and bluetooth to identify where your phone is even when you don’t have GPS reception. /e/OS depends on a mostly discontinued Mozilla location service, which would have been amazing had it only worked better. So location data for example inside buildings can be a bit spotty.
/e/OS also has a bunch of extra features to protect your privacy if you should wish, such as messing with your location data so that the apps on your phone will have no idea where in the world you’re located.
/e/ also comes with a bunch of FOSS alternatives to the default Google apps by default, while i think Lineage might leave it to the users to fill the phone with apps. You can of course uninstall apps from /e/ and install the Google ones should you wish.
As a footnote: Both its developers, @Murena, and #eOS itself ( @e_mydata ) are present on the Fediverse. :)
Lineage includes many more Google components. As an end user this means that you’ll for example be able to use the Google location service, using WiFi and bluetooth to identify where your phone is even when you don’t have GPS reception.
This is false.
The only thing Google LOS has besides the AOSP is using Google’s connectivity check to my knowledge.
LOS comes with no Google apps or play services, you must install those yourself if you want them.
the most sustainable smartphone is the one that you already have
Funny coincidence: Fairphone has a blog post titled exactly that. And they say the same thing on their shop page. You’re going to replace your phone eventually, but Fairphone is the only phone company I know trying to stretch that out.
This is true. When the original Fairphone came out I didn’t get it because I had a working HTC. My next phone was purchased as an emergency when my current phone fell into water, so I had to walk into a phone shop and buy an immediate replacement. But that was the day that I decided to buy the Fairphone 3… Because the phone that fell into water was sealed and glued together, and there was no way to remove the battery or dry it out. It buzzed and beeped to death in my hand taking all of my data with it (internal memory only).
I’ve been rocking the FP3 since then. Upgraded the camera, replaced the battery twice, and once replaced the lower assembly because the usb3 port got damaged and couldn’t hold the cable.
My wife has the same phone now. So I could upgrade to the FP4 and use my FP3 for parts, in case she ever breaks a screen or needs a battery. But why bother? This works just fine.
This is pretty exciting. I wish it would have happened sooner though. It was at the top of my list when I was looking at phones last year, but it was still unavailable when I decided to go with the Pixel 7.
That’s a step in the right direction, hopefully in the future phones will be more like computers, where you can buy parts and build your own. At least that’d be my dream.
Well not all computers can be upgraded unfortunately. Looking at you MacBooks with SSDs welded to the motherboard…
There aren’t lots of compact devices that are upgradable, even on windows. Most use soldered ram and flash storage.
Years ago google was looking at doing a modular phone. It was basically a frame with modules on the back that contained the battery, storage, cameras, and even the processor. The screen was even replaceable in a similar way. I really want someone to do another project ara.
I remember that, I liked the idea except for Google being involved. The dream would be a fully modular phone running Linux. I don’t ever see that becoming a reality, but hey.
Does anyone know why they don’t have a headphone jack?
The fact that even they don’t include one actually makes me respect the existing phone manufacturers a lot more. I always assumed that Apple did it to sell airpods, and then the others did it just to copy Apple or sell their own dongles/headphones.
But if even an organization like this chose not to include one, then maybe not including it really does make the phone a lot smaller or cheaper or waterproof or whatever.
That being said, I can’t believe cars don’t have aux ports anymore. Surely the cost and size isn’t significant on that scale.
Disclaimer: both for cars and my phone, I’m generally happy with Bluetooth. But I want the option to use a headphone jack without needing to buy or remember a dongle. It’s insidious because the kinds of things that you would need a headphone jack for are uncommon enough that you won’t get into the habit of bringing a dongle for them (e.g. road trips, full day of phone interviews)
The CEO claimed it’s because the USB C port can withstand more than the 3.5mm so it’s more sustainable to use that. I honestly don’t buy that argument because now you’re putting all of that load from 2 ports into 1. Also, if they were truly Fairphone, I should be able to buy a replacement headphone jack if it does break.
I think he eventually admitted it was a mistake, but it turned from a definite purchase to a zero for me.
For me, this doesn’t ring true. My USB 3 port got to the point where it couldn’t hold a cable (not lint or dirt, the tiny little bit that holds the cable firmly got worn down). I have rarely had a headphone jack break. Maybe twice in my life, on old battered walkmans or mp3 players that suffered years of use.
