Nostr notes by Smartphones sans Google (GAFAM)

Linux phones: could they finally become a real alternative to ...

2026-10-19T18:27:28Z

Linux phones: could they finally become a real alternative to Android and iOS?

After years of stagnation, Linux phones may be approaching a turning point.

In a recent article, Amos Batto explains how new hardware options, more mature interfaces like Phosh and Plasma Mobile, and tools such as Waydroid could make Linux phones more practical.

But better technology alone won’t be enough.

Projects like PINE64 and Purism have faced serious challenges. Building a phone is one thing; funding software development, maintaining hardware support and keeping a company afloat are much harder.

Jolla’s latest phone also suggests there is a market for alternatives, particularly among people who want more control over their devices.

Linux phones don’t need to replace Android or iOS to matter. They need to become a practical option for people who value privacy, software freedom and digital sovereignty.

Would you consider switching to a Linux phone if it supported the apps and features you rely on every day?

https://amosbbatto.wordpress.com/2026/10/05/linux-phones-alternative/

#Linux #LinuxPhone #Privacy #FOSS

Remember Windows Phone and its iconic Live Tiles? Now imagine ...

2026-10-16T11:36:32Z

Remember Windows Phone and its iconic Live Tiles? Now imagine that interface… running on Linux instead of Windows.

That’s the idea behind ztOS, a mobile Linux project based on Arch Linux ARM, featuring ztMETRO, an interface inspired by Windows Phone 8.1, and native Linux applications.

It runs on the Samsung Galaxy S9 with a mainline Linux kernel. Wi-Fi, 4G and the touchscreen are already working, but the camera, Bluetooth and call audio still need work.

It’s still in alpha, so it’s nowhere near ready for daily use. But it’s an interesting alternative vision for Linux on smartphones.

https://github.com/z3r0n3br4instorm/ztOS

Would you try a Linux phone with a Windows Phone-inspired interface, or do you prefer the Android experience?

#LinuxMobile #OpenSource #Linux

What if your Google Pixel 6 could run mainline Linux instead of ...

2026-10-13T08:09:20Z

What if your Google Pixel 6 could run mainline Linux instead of Android?

The pixel6-mainline-nura project is an unofficial port of postmarketOS (now Nura) targeting the Pixel 6, with calls, SMS/MMS, mobile data, GPS, Bluetooth audio and even Waydroid with hardware graphics acceleration.

It's still experimental: rear cameras don't work, battery drain is high, and mobile network support is currently limited to T-Mobile US configurations. Emergency calls are untested.

Not a daily-driver replacement just yet, but an interesting step toward running Linux on Google's hardware.

Would you try it on your own Pixel 6, even in its current experimental state?

https://github.com/TheNoswad/pixel6-mainline-nura

#Linux #Pixel6 #Nura #OpenSource