I think world peace is more realistic than that

the oligarchy is already set, we won't get a grassroots competitor to apple/google at this point without shenanigans. android is open but the entire ecosystem around it is closed.

all sorts of bureaucracy and interaction with corporations and governments are now requiring squeamish proprietary apps that will not work at the mere hint of something they arbitrarily (or maliciously?) dislike.

Doesn't help that Apple wants €100/year + a supported Mac (average €100/year for the hw upgrade treadmill)

They had to throw out lots of customization options, because Google made a ton of changes to Android/AOSP and it wasn't compatible anymore.

Like, LineageOS is still a more feature-rich and cleaner OS than what comes preinstalled on most phones. But yeah, even relatively simple stuff like setting a system font never got a real replacement.

No idea, if it is still easily possible to implement that. You can fake it by replacing the Roboto font file with a different font, but you get weird font issues in various apps then.

it's been 3 years or so but I may have bought a pinephone pro because the simple one was out of stock? Plus convergence package, plus shipping, plus outrageous money transfer fees - German banks are basically thieves when it comes to international transfers outside the EU.

I had a nexus 7. Great little device. Sad that Google is fucking shit up. It’s what they do best sadly

No. No it's not that. The politics of silicon valley are turning fast, and not in good directions.

And if you oay, it's not private.

I just like eating feet

Because the default commercial software is trash.

would be nice

Omay, but, and hear me out on this: what if we added microtransactions to your email app and keyboard app?

Capitalism will never give you nice things. Sorry.

I'm gonna carry around my steam deck and add a USB camera module, a GPS module, and add some meshtastic radios modules, and I'm gonna daily drive it as the ultimate all-in-one device, and Mr. Google Pichai can't stop me! xD

Permanently connect it to a power bank?

Really gotta get rid of those.

Reminds me of old cell-phone service options. Free hours, rollover and prepay/pay-as-you-go/contractless etc.

Not sure how pricing/value actually compares, but it does seem like if you want a phone now for emergencies you're going to get fleeced (also required data package). Unless maybe you buy a flip-phone or something. A fiber provider in my area even still charges $40 for a land-line (no idea if it's VoIP).

Iam still sad not having titanium backup with root on my current phone

Given the recent situation with AOSP I understand why some people find it a deal breaker. Thank you

In my country all you say is kinds the norm... wtf is up with telcos in wherever are you from?

1. great use case for a mobile device /s
2. lithium ion batteries are really nothing to feel comfortable around
3. wasting energy is wasting energy

So - no, it's now expensive electronic scrap, sadly. While my shiftphone easily lasts 24 hours with regular use and 3+ days on standby.