Linux Phones

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Community about running GNU/Linux on phones. Projects like Ubuntu Touch, Plasma Mobile, PostmarketOS, Mobian etc. Either on former Android phones or hardware like the PinePhone.

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Will an iOS like interface for FOSS phones help with adoption? (lemmy.giftedmc.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Long time iOS user with perception issues here. I went to iOS because it was very simple and intuitive to use. My daily life was too busy for me to tinker with my phone a lot.

Now I'm using pmos with phosh and I'm mostly loving it. But some of the linux specific decisions and directions it takes dont really work with me.

Thats why I started asking myself if a DE exists which is basically a clone of the proprietary apple phone OS. It should obviously still be FOSS and prioritize FOSS apps and so on. But I think it would help adoption by mainstream if iOS users (especially with need for accessibility features). Its basically the reason I was able to switch from minecraft to mineclone. It's basically the same (although I respect their decision to rename to Voxelibre, iirc and go their own way).

I know this is probably going to get a lot of hate because iOS bad and tinkering good and so on. But accessibility is important for many people, especially in their busy lives.

Feel free to point me in the right direction if something like this exists or lets try and make something.

Thanks for reading and have a good one.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

lets try and make something

OK, you get started, we'll join in.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

They used to exist. Xiaomi, Huawei and BBK devices uses to have iOS-like features. Sure, they're not FOSS, but they release their ROM trees. But it's not that. People want to own a status symbol. Conspicuous consumerism, if you get what I'm talking about. People are bullied and shamed for something as simple as having green bubbles.

Also, I'm pretty sure you can add skins to phosh that imitate iOS. Adwaita is very similar to iOS, but the only issue is that it is less aero and more material-ish.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Hm. Thats interesting. I‘ll have a look at it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

You know that Murena also known as /e/ OS does use an iOS design for their LineageOS based ROMs for phones ? All defined icons on the home page. When pressing an icon all the icons will wiggle so you can move them around. I am not sure if this helped to get users to buy their phones or install /e/ OS but just chiming in.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Thanks for the heads up. Not sure either if that has an impact but good to know.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Absolutely yes. Thank you.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the positive vibe. People will probably shit on you for not being elitist enough like they often do. Feel free to test it once it works :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Times when mobile phones were seen to be elitist are past. And if one really understands DEs, you'd not comment in such a hopeless tone.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

I‘m not sure I understand. I mean a lot of folks in the linux and foss world dont get the importance of accessibility. Thats why I was happy you gave a positive vibe.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What DE are you currently using on pmos?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Phosh