Time for a new phone?
 

My N9 is almost dead.

After being chewed on by my daughter & falling out of my pocket many, many times it's almost time for a new phone. And it's given ~2 years of stellar service.

My "dream phone" will run Linux, have Swype keyboard, have removable battery & take (micro) SD.

I am fully aware no such phone (currently) exists, so what is the next best thing? The only "deal breaker" is Swype keyboard. If it doesn't allow single handed usage it won't be purchased.

Thanks in advance :-)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

well.. I was of the oppinion that android isn't linux, and I still believe it's not.
But you can compile the kernel and build native C/C++ apps (not java)..

So if you think android is linux your options have opened up.
If not, then jolla, ubuntu, N9... are tizen phones out yet?

Edit: maemo!:eek:

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

I too believe Android isn't Linux, but if all the other criteria are met, then that may be my only option...

What do you suggest?

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Apart from the lack of Swype keyboard this meets my needs.

Single handed use & the N900 shell don't really go together...

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

I use N900's with FastSMS and Horizontal-call installed. Single handed use is ok...
Can use FasSMS with other applications (other than just sending sms messages, that is...)
I am assuming will be able to install FastSMS on my neo900 when I get it..:)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Jolla ! Single handed use,micSD support,linux-based and gesture UI (like swype), removable battery....etc,etc :)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

swype was also my biggest worry when I ordered a Jolla after my N9 died from an accident...

the keyboard on the jolla is really good and I have tried the alternatives. After the N9, I simply couldn't use a phone without a swipey ui anymore. I had a Xperia Z for a while, but it didn't fit my needs at all. Even had a WP8 for a while - Jolla is the only way to go.

Swype should be on Jolla asap, despite already having easily the best keyboard on any device I've tried so far!

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

I think there has to be some clarity about what is meant by linux here. Some folks do not consider Android to be linux while others think that if the software uses a linux kernal (like Android) it is then a linux distribution like Debian and Ubuntu. See

http://www.itworld.com/open-source/3...x-distribution

What do you think?

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

What would Richard 'not linux, GNU' Stallman say?:p
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09...an_on_android/

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

How about, what does Linus think?

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

What does OP think?

No

But following my criteria:

• Swype Keyboard - this is the only non-negotiable item
• removable battery
• (micro) SD
• Linux

it appears that an Android phone most closely suits my needs, followed by two phones that either aren't available in Australia (Jolla) or aren't released yet (Neo900) - neither of which are suitable, as they both don't have Sywpe keyboard.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

What about blackberry?
It's more linux then android!

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

It is based on the QNX microkernel (yes a general purpose mobile microkernel OS!) so it does not have the Linux kernel. Also has a custom set of utilities.

tldr; it is not Linux and not even GNU :)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

i would suggest a xperia ultra. The best buy/dollar right now.(if you like big screens)

if you want something fun that not always work. Get a jolla but you dont get quility/dollar.

both are very strange devices and also very cool!

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Screen size? N9's is good, but haven't tried bigger. I'll try & "test drive"an experia, thanks for the suggestion.

If Jolla's had Swype keyboard I'd import one in a heartbeat, it's costing them sales, not just mine...

Crikey, if W8 phones had Swype I'd look very closely at a 1020...

But really, I want a Jolla with Swype.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Your option seems to be:

-Nexus 5 (All options, except microSD/removable battery. You might be able to run native ubuntu or chroot it, or port Mer if you like)

-SGS4 (Not as good as the Nexus 5. Has all options you need. Slight chance of Chroot/Native/Mer.)

...otherwise the options seem to be:
- Another N9 (Pretty much an obsolete choice now)
- N900 (Somewhat of a compromised downgrade)
- SailOS (The only* linux device out there, but much of a let-down)

I wouldn't consider BBX, FirefoxOS, UbuntuPhone and Tizen as choices.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq...xsyswithoutgnu

http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#claimlinux
http://www.gnu.org/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html#linusagreed

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Here's a slightly different distinction...

http://www.linux.org/threads/the-lin...-android.5459/

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

But it is a *nix compilant system, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QNX

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

I got a Nexus 5 and I really like it.. Definitely recommend one.. Only downside is the battery life... (Although it does last me the day with moderate to somewhat high usage, I wish it had more juice)...

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

I've been given my (late) mother-in-law's N9

It should last until there's another phone with Swype I'm interested in.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Someone please enlighten the uneducated (me). What makes a N900/Neo900 with FastSMS installed not Swype(like)?

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

ICan't update my N900 & the Neo900 isn't released yet.

Single handed usage & the N900 body don't really go together either...

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

i used NOKIA X2

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Yeah, X2...

The 930 lumia would make the shortlist if it had expandable memory OR a 128 (64?) GB option.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

your choice is good, but sometime linux not perform well. Anyway, not important quality, important is u change old in to new. This is a good deal. :)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Got a Lumia 930. A few days later the 830 was announced, with expandable memory and removable battery.

But very happy with it :)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

A bit surprised you went with the Microsoft phone when a Jolla would tick all your boxes.

Good luck none the less.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

The 930 is a beautiful piece of hardware, I have touched a green back copy in a shop.
Hardware quality in good old Nokia finish seems to be in different league compared to Jolla.

Luckily it did not feature Sailfish OS with Pureview camera, thus rendering it a spyware filled paperweight and allowing me to keep my budget untouched :rolleyes:

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Funny... I would have gone Jolla if it worked fully in the US; unfortunately I didn't get into the Sailfish Android Launcher Alpha... so I went with the Nexus 5 in April and now I'm running the Nokia Z Launcher.

My wife is in the hunt for a new device, she's looking to go with the Nokia 930 if not the 830 - she really wants the 1020, but if they're replacing it, she'll have to wait.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

One good effect of the Snowden revelations is that much more people think that way, giving (relatively) open-source phones a fighting chance. And I agree with you too.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

In times where the words "common sense" are being used in phrases encouraging beating the war drums we can't expect corporations to do the right thing can we?

It would be interesting to see how many usage case irrelevant data connections these WP smartphones make behind our backs. Windows 8 sure is very busy sending contacting plenty of IP adresses but you can't exactly install a proactive firewall on your Windows Phone like you can on the big Windows can you?

Nokia / MSFT app store: this program (some MSFT game) "needs your location data" to run. :D

Nice hardware though :p

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Why not a 5,5 iPhone 6 released tomorrow?

http://youtu.be/MOXQo7nURs0

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

EXACT same boat with Jolla and the Nexus 5 minus the Z Launcher. Slightly off-topic but how do you like the Z Launcher?

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

The jolla, while appealing, isn't available in Australia.

And the 930 is a beautiful piece of hardware.

The word flow keyboard is great, camera fantastic and usefulness excellent. I realise it is a spyware fueled machine, so I do my best to create as much meta data as possible :)

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Continuing the OT: I like it. It's simple, I'm not a fan of widgets at all and it has none. The handwriting to speed up to the apps is brilliant and fits my workflow quite well. It's a ton lighter in resource usage than the Now Launcher.

But many will find it too simplistic. I can't add anything to the upper right - that's my calendar only. Upper left is the time - no weather. But it's a cool concept.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Lumia 930 is great phone and with WP 8.1 update MS is making WP a great alternative to iOS and Android. I'm also considering Lumia 830 because of its pureview camera and affordable price tag.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

Agreed, the HW of the device is pretty neat.
But you need to consider that HW is only part of the story, it is the combination of HW+SW that makes the device useful at all.

Which brings me to...

No freaking WAY! alternative to non-jailbroken IOS possibly, but who on this earth wants to use such things? They take away all your control and f**k your privacy both ways coming in and out!

(I have been told that IOS jailbroken is usable, however I do not have any experience on that)

As for Android, even as it is also a POC with too much bells&whistles on it and defaults to being same kind of spyware-ridden box of steaming s*** as the others, at least it is fixable-to-be-usable.

Re: Time for a new phone?
 

There are some Sailfish launcher apks floating around in the interwebs, not too hard to find. I tried it out, its interesting, although its hard to switch from modded GNL to anything else with google now so well integrated.