So, you just heard the term Linux Mobile for the first time, maybe you saw a
random post on social media, saw it mentioned at a conference, or maybe
something else entirely. Let me explain…
I have OnePlus 6T with Droidian and must say it is this close to daily drive for me.
Everything works and there are apps for almost everything I need. As someone who uses only FOSS social media and things, there is Mastodon and Matrix client, I just lack maps with navigation (can use Organic Maps via Waydroid).
Beyond that what is left is polish and tiny things, like for the performance or support for controlling media via buttons on bluetooth speaker.
I also tried PostmarketOS, that is adapting real Linux to phones (when Droidian is taking Linux kernel and drivers from Android and building on that). It is great if someone can get around lack of camera support etc., but for me now it can act like a second device or RPi alternative.
The ability to… you know, just use normal SSH and all the commands, Flatpak apps, all Pipewire tools, not fiddling with Android Studio and it’s stupid SDK or customizing my UI with just CSS is magical.
Seriously, fuck Google and Qualcomm for creating such hostile drivers ecosystem. There are brands like Fairphone that I think would happly support Linux but can’t because of Qualcomm only releasing their own vendor kernel prepared only for Android.
I have OnePlus 6T with Droidian and must say it is this close to daily drive for me.
Everything works and there are apps for almost everything I need. As someone who uses only FOSS social media and things, there is Mastodon and Matrix client, I just lack maps with navigation (can use Organic Maps via Waydroid). Beyond that what is left is polish and tiny things, like for the performance or support for controlling media via buttons on bluetooth speaker.
I also tried PostmarketOS, that is adapting real Linux to phones (when Droidian is taking Linux kernel and drivers from Android and building on that). It is great if someone can get around lack of camera support etc., but for me now it can act like a second device or RPi alternative.
The ability to… you know, just use normal SSH and all the commands, Flatpak apps, all Pipewire tools, not fiddling with Android Studio and it’s stupid SDK or customizing my UI with just CSS is magical.
Seriously, fuck Google and Qualcomm for creating such hostile drivers ecosystem. There are brands like Fairphone that I think would happly support Linux but can’t because of Qualcomm only releasing their own vendor kernel prepared only for Android.