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Ask Slashdot: Life After N900?
Rydia writes "Since it first released, I have been in love with my Nokia N900, and it has satisfied all my needs for a mobile with a high degree of control and utility. Sadly, the little guy is showing his age, both in battery life (even with the powersaving kernel options enabled), and performing in general has been left far, far in the dust by phones that are now considered quite old. The time has come to find its successor, but after a thorough search of smartphone options, I can't find any handset that offers everything for the power user that the N900 did (much less a hardware keyboard). I'd like to avoid supporting Google/Android, but there don't seem to be many options. Have any other techies found a replacement for their N900?"
It's a niche project, but looks like getting a good techie phone is niche these days. Uses N900 displays and casing, so resolution is not getting any better, but has lots more processing power.
Jolla might be an option once they get the QWERTY "other half" available.
There's a Neo900 project attempting to make a modernized version of the N900, software and hardware. I don't know if they'll succeed and be able to do it at a price one can afford, but you might check it out if interested. If you don't visit maemo.org forums you might wish to.
I like my N9, but not the way I loved my N900. I especially miss the h/w keyboard.
There's also the Jolla phone, but its availability and network compatibility is limited now (e.g. current version might work in the US but as 2G only, the only modem offered in it is designed for European market, or part thereof, no idea what rest of the world situation would be like). And again, no h/w keyboard.
I am not a crackpot.
So? The Nexus 5 has nothing to do with what made n900 great. Jolla has a pretty similar OS, community and development environment. Neither phone has a hardware keyboard. Either you are willing to pay for the better OS or you are not... I agree that Android hardware is the most cost effective hardware on the planet.
(Part of the Jolla price is 24% sales tax to Finland - it would be nice if they had a separate export price for people outside EU without the tax. Hopefully soon.)
Easy enough. Get any recent phone that's supported by Cyanogenmod. Install Cyanogenmod. Then install Debian (or similar). This can be accomplished as a dual boot or as a chroot inside Android. I have Debian installed on my phone; it's kind of fun to dabble with and show people.
From Google's Privacy Policy Page
With your consent
We will share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when we have your consent to do so. We require opt-in consent for the sharing of any sensitive personal information..
So Google does "share" data with advertisers as part of their money stream. A very specific subset is opt-in, but everything else is opt-out. If services get updated and you're not careful, you can miss an opt-out. See Privacy and Copyright Protection
I'm not sure how anyone can read that and not understand that they're selling your data. They're just calling it sharing. Everything in the EULA you already agreed to in order for you to use a Google service grants them the permission they need.
"You can also get Ubuntu Touch."
Spoken just like someone that has not used Ubuntu Touch.
If you dont like to make or receive phone calls, Use ubuntu touch.
If you dont like internet connectivity Use ubuntu touch.
If you LIKE your phone locking up, Use ubuntu touch.
Also when you actually look at ubuntu touch, it's just Android with a UI stapled on top but with no apps, and no functionality.
What he is after is a Nexus 5 that has a pure android on it.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Easy enough. Get any recent phone that's supported by Cyanogenmod. Install Cyanogenmod. Then install Debian (or similar). This can be accomplished as a dual boot or as a chroot inside Android.
Or as neither. /Removable/Foo for both Android and Debian apps, as well as the ability to use Debian programs (e.g. text editor) in the Android hierarchy. You can get the same functionality with enough bind mounts, but debian-kit makes it a lot simpler IMO.
I like Sven-Ola's debian kit which takes advantage of the (mostly) disjoint directory structure of Android and Debian (or rather LSB) to run Debian and Android in the same root. The benefit over chroot is that you can plug in a USB drive, SD card, etc. and instantly have access in
I'd also recommend zshaolin for those looking for a friendly *n*x environment without installing a whole distribution, or if they don't have and can't/won't get root access.
How do you think Google's ad service works? That is the question, and the answer reveals how stupid selling the data would be.
Google's service is simple:
1) Submit an ad to Google (banner / flash / etc)
2) Look at the list of demographics, do you want male or female, what age, what interests?
3) Press submit
Google will store the ad on their server, when a user who matches the chosen profile loads a page with Google ads embedded in it, Google will insert the ad into the page where it downloads from their servers.
Notice specifically that this places Google as the middleman between you and the advertiser, the advertiser chooses what they want from the restaurant menu, Google cooks it then delivers the finished meal (people who clicked on ads) and a bill.
If Google sold the information, Google would have no business, the advertiser could sell ads directly without Google's help.