A smartphone for Libre convictions : your advices
Hi everyone,
I'm not really into smartphones because they are not as hackable as a computer.
But I'd like to change for a new one.
So I'm asking for your good advices to know which smartphone I can buy and the niceiest OS I can run on it.
Is there any offer I can trust in knowing that everything will not be as libre as I wish ?
Thank you.
The options I'm aware of, starting with the most libre are
(1) Don't own cell phone or a device with a modem. If you live in North America, JMP can be used to send/receive calls and text messages over the Internet without a modem. I'm unaware of similar options outside of North America, but avoiding a cell phone is the only way to avoid being tracked.
(2) A smartphone running Replicant. The operating system itself is completely libre, but the device will have a nonfree bootloader and modem, and it will track you. Also, there is no free firmware for the WiFi card, so you'll need a USB dongle if you want WiFi. You can buy phones with Replicant preinstalled from Technoethical, or you can buy a supported device and install Replicant yourself (it's really easy).
https://tehnoetic.com/
https://www.replicant.us/supported-devices.php
(3) A smartphone running LineageOS. The operating system is mostly free, but it includes proprietary firmware for hardware components for which there is no free firmware, including WiFi and Bluetooth. It also supports more devices than Replicant.
I use lineageos and ripped off the Mic input and added tape to the cameras of my device. Another method is to host a 'sms gateway' like service, using a single board PC with a USB broadband dongle and gammu plus PHP scripting, run the device somewhere to make it look like you sent a SMS in that location.
I am a translator!
The freedom aspects of some smartphones are discussed here:
https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Group:Hardware/Freest/SmartPhone
As Lineage has been mentioned: can at least some proprietary software be removed after installation? For example, can the user remove wifi firmware and use a dongle instead?
When I asked replicant, they told if surveillance software is found it is removed. I have not
found a corresponding statement from lineage. https://www.eelo.io/ says they will remove
found surveillance software.
All cell phones have surveillance software. It is not part of the main operating system, but runs on the modem, so there is nothing Replicant or LineageOS can do about it.
My idea was actually to install Lineage (simply because it supports more devices) and then remove as much proprietary content as possible.
Don't know if this makes sense or how difficult it would be.
What Phones are you looking at? I buy major brands usually there a more free software OS alternatives. Usually available for big or enthusiast brands (LG, Google - OnePlus)
Before I was into FOSS, I ran LinageOS on all my phones. It is way more reliable and customizable. It can be run via a terminal app with full root control. I've run custom kernels with the separate custom OS. As for tracking - Unless it is in airplane mode at the very least your carrier is logging your location. No way around it.
I wouldn't even trust airplane mode. A software switch disables sending and receiving calls/texts in the main operating system, but without a hardware switch like the Neo900 will have, there is no way to know for certain that the modem is inactive.
I am a translator!
>I wouldn't even trust airplane mode.
Make it a combo of 'no SIM' + Airplane mode.
But then again, what do you need a tiny PC for?
Well,
First guys, thanks for all your replies and conversation with each other.
For me, it is less messy in OS's. I would rather take a LineageOS for compatybility with much more devices than Replican even it is less free.
I think all brands break the guarantee on a new device when you install another OS on it, so I would go on a second hand one as I will for my next computer for hacking it as I wish. Only brand new ROM is really necessary.
I think I would choose a phone with a good camera on it as I do a lot of photos for different use. A phone that would be compatible with Flac format would be great as well as I like to listen some music when running. But is LinerageOS compatible with Flac format when your device allows it ?
I would probably as well use Tor sometimes with it.
Are you buying from a carrier? What phones are you looking at? Any modern phone with lineage should support Flac. Pixel are well supported by developers but lack a headphone jack.
Sounds good for flac.
As it is VLC, I suppose it plays Opus as well.
I don't have any real preferences. It must have a quite good camera for taking pictures.
But you can advise me if some brands have better installs of LinerageOS when they allows it.
There are hundreds of lineage supporting devices. Lineage compatible flagships right now are LG V30 and Pixel (xl) 2. I'm using an LG V30. It has better audio(actual jack), and ok camera that doesn't compare to the amazing shooter on the pixel. The one plus 6 is on the way and HTC is about to release its next flagship. I'd need to know your carrier to be more specific.
Ignore swamsungs there don't like being alterd.
Thanks !
> But is LinerageOS compatible with Flac format when your device allows it ?
There's an Android version of VLC. Flac should be no problem on Replicant or LineageOS.
Not every build of lineage is the same. However, hardware not supporting is unheard of these days. I was running Flacs on my device in 2013. It had a the linage precussor - cyanogenmod. Alot of linage dev are hard core about audio. Flac support was standard on linage before its current name. All the major music players on the app store support it as well (I use rocket player). For free software there is ofcourse vlc. Mobile apps are usually far from free even with a free os.
This subject was discussed a few months ago:
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/mobile-devices-respecting-software-freedom
Substance2004:
> I'm not really into smartphones because they are not as hackable as a computer.
A "smartphone" *is* a computer, a handheld computer in which software is often configured in ways that take power away from the user (eg refusing the user root access).
Basically, it depends on what you want it for. My current strategy is to use an old dumb phone for calls and texts over the cell network (accepting that it's tracking me whenever it's on), and a netbook for connecting to wifi and using the net. I'm considering buying a tablet, or an e-reader with wi-fi, to replace the netbook. What puts me off at present is mobile hardware doesn't seem to be supported by the modified Linux kernel for very long, compared to a normal computer.
The long term solution here is to bootstap ubiquitous open wi-fi networks everywhere (as the Free Network Foundation hoped to do), so we can use things like Wire, Jitsi, Ring, and Tox for always-on telephony. Also, an LTS linux-libre version of the Android Linux kernel that is supported with at least critical security fixes for much longer than Google supports Android's version of the kernel for.