<samueldr>
but could also be screenshots on the display
<samueldr>
I hate having so much cynicism about those projects, but when it's "just an MTK phone" with "just a non-descript AOSP fork", it starts at a wrong place for me
<samueldr>
if at the very least they started from a known AOSP fork
<samueldr>
>> the Volla Phone comes with a pre-configured VPN
<gchristensen>
oh no
<samueldr>
great, so I'm sending my data to who-knows-where?
<andi->
There is probably a startup somewhere that helps others build new Android startups...
<samueldr>
I actually think there is
<samueldr>
hmmm
<samueldr>
I hate having lost the name of that business
<Acou_Bass>
that phone has a bloody notch, that's the most egregious thing
<andi->
aarrgh it has the "made in germany" anti-feature on the volla page. Do not buy.
<samueldr>
sounds like one of those zombie brands like Black+Decker
<samueldr>
or Blackberry, Alcatel
<andi->
I worked at enough Germany companies that used that on their marketing slides. It does mean exactly nothing. It might mean they are just trying to up-sell the product.
<Acou_Bass>
is that because some people see German built to mean extra robust/ well engineered etc. so people now use it as a marketing line?
<samueldr>
I don't know where in OEM and ODM kind of ladder they are
<gchristensen>
lmao.
<samueldr>
but Xiaomi seems to work with them at some level
<samueldr>
AFAICT likely the factory for the redmi note 7
<samueldr>
if not outright a design that has been bought
<Acou_Bass>
interesting
<samueldr>
willing to bet there are other similar invisible companies in the ladder floating around OEMs
<samueldr>
and not talking about one like TCL, TCL is the definite OEM behind Alcatel and Blackberry phones
<samueldr>
but thinking they might be using the services of some similar faceless companies
<samueldr>
not that there is inherently an issue with that
<samueldr>
just like there is not inherently an issue with system76 using clevo design (in the past, if they don't still)
<andi->
There more I spent thinking about Android and the more issues I am running into with my ungoogly Android I just want to buy an iPhone every 6ys and be done.
<samueldr>
I don't know whether that would solve your problems :/
<samueldr>
(like, really don't know)
<craige>
I want to be part of a Google / Apple free world. I'm happy to take th epain so I may make it easier of others in the future.
<andi->
samueldr: I also think I'd be deeply unhappy after the initial hype curve. Somehow society started to build requirements on Android/iOS on everyday life... Like buying a bus ticket only being possible with an App or a vending machine 1km away.
<samueldr>
yeah
<samueldr>
that's infuriating
<samueldr>
I'm sure the moment I'll start dogfooding Mobile NixOS, and gripe about that, I'll be told to shut up and just use Googleful Android
<samueldr>
or something like "here's 50¢, get a real phone"
<andi->
Another nice thing I noticed is how Google Maps now has the monopolgy on routing. They show the wrong address of branches when you share an exact location…
<samueldr>
heh!
<samueldr>
google maps' routing was terrible in Vienna for me
<samueldr>
* for walking
<andi->
I wanted to meet with someone at a coffee shop in SFO. I used the address from the link they gave me. Turned out to be the registration address of the company and not that specific shop we wanted to meet at.
<andi->
And there was no way to get the address out of there other then looking at the image of the map and extracting the street name.
<craige>
Open Street Maps is woefully incomplete for where I live and I've not been able to find a reliable source of data to upload :-(
<samueldr>
(cynical) I'm thinking that no one *can* walk to places on the google maps team... in a walker-free city
<qyliss>
I think you're not supposed to upload raw data to OSM generally
<qyliss>
Because of licensing
<andi->
Anyway, no reason not to try to run free (as free can be) software :-)
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<samueldr>
it's dumb, but it tickles me in a good way to see fbterm at boot on Mobile
<samueldr>
mostly unneeded, but appreciated, sphalerite++
<samueldr>
I had the uefi-based nixos installer image started (but not working) as a test, so u-boot is 100% going fine
<samueldr>
the next step was getting that mainline fork going
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<Thra11>
samueldr: Cool. I've got the manjaro kernel sources booting, but with the old u-boot. Think I've found the right firmware blobs for the wifi now (hence the question about hardware.firmware), so just baking a new sd-image with that in.
<samueldr>
Thra11: then great, with that u-boot you can get mainline~ish everything
<samueldr>
u-boot is definitely blob-free
<samueldr>
though no gfx init
<Thra11>
:)
<samueldr>
haven't kept in touch with what other people are doing
<samueldr>
so not sure if there's someone working on u-boot gfx init
<samueldr>
(which imo is pretty lacking, to release the software that way :/)
<samueldr>
(I though that at the very least the BSP stuff would have gfx going)
<samueldr>
note that if you want to play with u-boot, the eMMC's u-boot needs to be zeroed, or the internal switch turning the eMMC off
<samueldr>
oh, it's in the README
<Thra11>
I never checked. When the u-boot on the eMMC boots an SD-card, does it chain the u-boot on the card or just skip to the kernel/initrd?
<samueldr>
it doesn't boot another u-boot, it directly handles it
<samueldr>
directly handles loading from sd card, the kernel and stuff
<Thra11>
Ah ok. Makes sense.
<Thra11>
It's a pain having to open and close the case to flip the switches.
<samueldr>
yep
<Thra11>
I mean it makes sense with it being a laptop, not a dev board
<Thra11>
But the fact you can't do a test boot with the bottom off is a bit annoying
<samueldr>
would have been neat a hatch, or something, but reduces the solidity of the device, and adds costs
<samueldr>
though, something that could have been neat is to put a tactile button at the end of the audio jack, if the audio jack is open ended
<Thra11>
I considered cutting a hole, but I think I'd regret it in the long term
<samueldr>
yeah, it's likely
<samueldr>
depending on how it goes, when I actually start doing more stuff, might pierce the smallest possible hole near the reset and/or maskrom buttons
<samueldr>
and cover it with tape when unused
<Thra11>
I don't know if they're planning to do bits as spares, but if they did, you could have a 'dev' bottom panel with access holes and a separate 'nice' bottom panel for the rest