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Linux phones
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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I started daily driving a PinePhone with Mobian over two years ago, upgraded to a PinePhonePro when they first came out, and then I finally got my Librem5 about a month ago. They have come a long way. The core functions you'd expect from a phone work; calls, texts (SMS and MMS), camera (pictures and video), email, web browsing, all that works perfectly fine on my Librem5. However, I understand they are not for everyone. While there are things like twitter and mastodon clients for Linux you are not going to get a banking app for a Linux phone (for example). I just use the browser for those kinds of things though.
The things keeping me from fully migrating to Linux on mobile are apps like Uber/lyft. They don't have a web ui version, but I actually use them often. Also google maps navigation doesnt have any realistic alternative in my experience.
Uber and lyft do have web versions you can use to use the service, however app notification services and more detail stuff on the driver are not available like it is on the app versions.
For lyft: https://ride.lyft.com/
For uber: https://www.uber.com/us/en/ride/
As far as maps, i used this when i had ubuntu phone, it was pure maps running offline with osm scout server. I had to go on a browser to get the coordinates of where i wanted to go and input that on the puremaps. Its an extra step but once i saved the default locations it made it easier use.
Oh wow I did not know they had web versions! That is awesome! I might get a linux phone now and give this a shot.
Not having apps like Uber/Lyft is a problem for a lot of people. I've ran into issues like going to events (concerts/sporting events) where they expect you to download their app to even get in the door, which is more of a societal problem then a technical one for me. I know some apps can be emulated on Linux phones but I havent played with it much so I'm not sure how well they work.
I've used gnome maps with very degrees of success. Its obviously not on the level of google maps, but getting better.
How was your experience with Mobian? I had my install break like 3 different times with barely any usage / installing packages.
I've had a great experience with Mobian. It's been a while since I distro-hopped for mobile OS's but Mobian seems to be the most stable for me.