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this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2025
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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The sooner there is a rom compatible with most android devices, the better.
I'd be off Android so fast.
And Signal gets on board
They already have a Linux app, I can't see them not making UI adjustments for Linux phones.
I'm also personally fine just using matrix but thats just me.
The Signal lead has been vocally against doing a fully fledged version for Linux for a while now. He really likes his closed ecosystems. "for security"
Desktop Linux is soooo insecure because users can access their own data.
Ah, good to know. I don't really use it (just have previously) so didnt know that.
I'd be curious how that would swing with a heavy number of users switching to a linux phone.
The Linux app is just the desktop app, which doesn't have the functionality that the Android and iOS apps do. It only works when paired with an Android or iOS device, so you'd still be shackled to those ecosystems without proper support for a mobile Linux app.
matrix lad myself... but
https://linuxphoneapps.org/apps/org.nanuc.axolotl/
oof
i know Flare is another client for Linux, which does adapt itself to window size so it should work on mobile
tho it can’t be used as a primary device easily (so you’ll need signal on another phone) and from past experience, the linking can be pretty iffy
...i saw that... curious. #linuxphoneapps had a few options tho... but i, sadly, don't use signal... so not sure.
It's also that any 3rd party apps violate the TOS and if they discover that you're using it they'll boot you from the service
Agreed, just not the statement I was responding to, which I took as Signal - the company - getting on board with Linux mobile. But maybe I misinterpreted.
That was indeed what I meant
Wait...signal has a linux-native standalone app that doesn't depend on android or iPhone? Since when??
Edit: looks like no
Like 90% of the blame here goes to Qualcomm AFAIK :/
Why is that? (Genuine curiosity)
Most of the chips in a smartphone are made by Qualcomm, both processors and peripheral chips like 5G modem, LTE modem, WiFi, and Bluetooth. Qualcomm chips require proprietary binary blobs to function, and usually only have a support lifetime of about 2 years. They also only supply those blobs to the manufacturer of the device.
Now I wish we had riscV mobile phones too...
Pine64 I think said they're making the next Pinephone when they can make it RISC-V.
Which either means they're enthusiastic about the pace of RISC-V development, or they don't want to make a new phone anytime soon.
Ah that makes sense. Thanks.
Qualcomm being what they are is the reason Apple was able to provide a better lifespan for their phones for like a decade (you'd get 5-6 years of iOS major version upgrades compared to 0-2 on Android phones).
Google actually pushed the Android ecosystem to do better by creating its' own Tensor SoCs which they support for longer... But they don't really make the drivers for those open source either. So we're still not doing better in that regard.
I hope there's a good alternative soon. I'd love a Linux variant phone that is usable.