Riders of Rohan, What News from the Mark?
I was trying to think for a couple days on what can be done to make Linux phones a reality. Then I realized the EU is already pushing for more Open Source/ Linux to be used so why not make the most of it?
So if I may make a couple suggestions for Europe Linux enthusiasts and collectively all of us to push for:
1st. For EU and Europe to partner up with PostmarketOS, Mobian, Ubuntu Touch, Edited In: Next Iteration of GrapheneOS for their partnership, and FSF Librephone Project to fund/produce/distribute open source repairable changable OS linux phones . Then for future tablets. To have multiple eggs developing
2nd. For EU and Europe to partner up with KDE, Framework, and Tuxedo Computers to fund/produce/distribute Laptops/Computers
Edited In: 3rd. Partner up with OEM Manufacturers such as Nokia and Motorola. Both of whom have good track records
Linux Community over there has so much ability to grow Linux if everyone there collectively gets it done. I humbly request you do that and I’ll do the same. Who should I call to get all this going as well? Want to help do this in a way that benefits all sides while keeping those projects independent
(I would have posted this on LinuxPhone but this community is way bigger and still open source related)
Really hoping all of you in and out of Europe and EU can push for it to be done. Edited In: Maybe Latin, African, and Asian Countries can partner up as well to make it happen even faster. But the most protections are within the EU so far
“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, You’re My Only Hope”
We’d need to provide a reason for them to want a Linux phone. What use could a politician have for such a phone? We need to find good, strong reasons for it.
Sovereignty is the big thing right now. Supply chain attacks too.
Is there maybe a cost projection we could provide?
But also, how can it tir into other goals? If it’s just disconnected from everything, it probably won’t get much steam. Crosscutting concerns have to be tackled with a Linux phone. Concerns that’s are tangible and not philosophical or ethical.
If you can’t get the phone from a local distributor/e-shop/carrier, then why bother?
That’s a normal people’s perspective.
OP seems to be talking about high level institutions collaborating with the opensource community to make linux phones a reality. Those aren’t “normal people” but politicians and their ilk. They should be thinking different than the average consoomer i.e not “oh it’s shiny and popular, fuck the price”.
- a lot of new jobs. Developers, support, etc. All European people
- money, a lot of money. People pay apple a shitload of money for the phone even though they can get the same for half the price. That money could go to a european company.
- prestige. Politicians love glory
Tech sovereignty is one of the main ‘practical’ reasons why the pivot to FOSS is happening in the EU at the moment. I think this would be the strongest incentive, especially with the US increasingly being a less reliable geopolitical partner of the EU.
Well we can organise, set up a non profit (this also lets us bypass CC2 if its ever enacted). I’ve been thinking about this for a while and already have a framework for statues and a draft for a mission statement. If done correctly there are country and EU grants that can help (yes, I spent some time looking through grant processes). What I mean to say is; you have my axe
i am still not convinced about a linux phone.
Or rather this already exist, GrapheneOS is a thing. And they are even working on a partnership with an oem manufacturer.
I dont see what use case there is, that is not super niche, that justifis having and developing a “linux phone”, instead of an actual secure device, which graphenOs already provides.
GrapheneOS is still based on Android, with all its restrictions and annoyances. I want a free device more than a secure one.
Europe… the guys that want backdoors into all encrypted communication… the guys that want to give Google a big fat contract for app attestatio for their age verification apps…
Europe…? You guys thought of Europe? I feel like the entire EU policy right now is anathema to an Open Source Phone
Europe… the guys that want backdoors into all encrypted communication
Europe… the guys who rejected a proposal to put back doors into all encrypted communication.
Libre Phone is already being started in terms of development. Good ideas though.
Appreciate it! Do you mean the FSF Librephone? It’s not a new phone in case you didn’t know. They clarified that the project will be to make the proprietary code blobs of a couple android phone into something FOSS so it can truly be used fully for FOSS development
