They aren’t popular because there already is a very popular linux based mobile OS: Android. What would be the point of another one? Why would anyone want to use a new OS with zero app support and no advantage to using it?
If you want to overcome the obstacle of being a new platform with no support then you have to provide a significant advantage to make it worth the pain, and there simply isn’t one.
Why did people switch to iOS and Android phones when companies like Nokia had the market cornered? Because they offer a massive improvement in UX over the established players. What advantage do those OSes you mentioned have?
you have to provide a significant advantage to make it worth the pain, and there simply isn’t one.
Ah, but there is. Privacy. Some of us are old enough to remember when that was an enshrined right instead of us just being data providers to rich guys.
I don’t know why you think you have the moral high ground here and are being so argumentative and making specious analogies, but, yeah, there are people who don’t like being part of a surveillance economy, and as paid-off lawmakers aren’t going to do jack shit, we need to have options outside of just being pawns for Google and Apple.
How this escapes you is beyond me, but I’m not going to be an asshole like you’ve been in every response on this thread.
Tell that to the masses who post their entire private lives on bookface and tictac. The overwhelming majority of people don’t give a fuck. Especially if it means having to give up all their favorite apps.
I don’t know why you think you have the moral high ground here
What makes you assume I think that?
there are people who don’t like being part of a surveillance economy, and as paid-off lawmakers aren’t going to do jack shit
Of course there are. The question was why mobile OSes that offer that don’t take off. And the answer is simply that very few people care enough for it to be a viable market. Very few people care enough to be willing to get excluded from iMessage or Facebook groups just to take a principled stance on privacy.
If you want these to take or you have to offer way more than some abstract promise of better privacy. Think of what you’re asking people to give up. To get them to switch you need a massive incentive.
I mean, I left Facebook in 2014 and have never been on Instagram or TikTok. You act like it’s this huge endeavour to not be on such sites. I used WhatsApp to stay in touch with my family in Europe, but once Facebook bought that, I was done. Told them to message me on Signal.
I’m asking people to give up parasocial relationships. They aren’t useful, so no loss there.
mean, I left Facebook in 2014 and have never been on Instagram or TikTok.
I’ve never been on any social media, but we’re not exactly average people. For a lot of people it’s hugely important to their social lives. Giving up Facebook for them means being excluded from social events. They will no longer see event announcements from their social groups.
You and I may not care about these things, but to a lot of people these are hugely important.
And it’s not my fault they can’t see that.
It’s your fault for not being able to even consider that other people are different from you and have different needs.
You could put me on an uninhabited island for 10 years and I’d be perfectly happy. My brother by contrast will get depressed after 2 days without social contact.
They don’t have different “needs” … they just don’t realize what they’ve signed up for. It was very easy to get rid of Facebook … I sent a final message letting them know how to get a hold of me. If they don’t want to engage elsewhere, it’s relatively easy to determine the depth of our friendship.
I’ve been in solitary confinement for going on seven years. I doubt you’d enjoy it as much as you think. We’re social creatures.
I do want to point out, as I was a bit snarky in my last reply, that I appreciate your more balanced tone here.
I’ve been in solitary confinement for going on seven years. I doubt you’d enjoy it as much as you think. We’re social creatures.
I don’t doubt it. While most people were going crazy during the corona lockdown it was probably the most peaceful and happy period in my life. As an autistic person social interactions aren’t exactly enjoyable.
Come on, you’re being disingenuous. You know exactly what this person was talking about. You’re acting in the exact same way that people are acting when they unironically post the whole “Actually, what you’re referring to as Linux is actually GNU + Linux” or whatever. Come ooon…
People care about having an OS not controlled by Big Tech.
Sure. Ask the average person if they want to give up their Facebook or TikTok apps so they can have a ‘free’ OS. You’re absolutely delusional if you think that any significant number of consumers will choose that.
Android is Linux based and arguably the most popular mobile OS.
You know that isn’t what OP asked.
Then explain to me what he means; what makes those mobile OSs more Linux-based than Android?
You know exactly what they* mean, don’t be obtuse.
They mean GNU Linux. Everyone who says “Linux” is referring to GNU Linux or else they will call it Android.
Well, there you have your answer.
GNU/Linux makes for a shitty mobile OS.
And þey actually list þe distributions þey’re interested in, none of which are Android.
I was talking about other Linux based mobile OSes that aren’t Android or derivatives of it.
They aren’t popular because there already is a very popular linux based mobile OS: Android. What would be the point of another one? Why would anyone want to use a new OS with zero app support and no advantage to using it?
If you want to overcome the obstacle of being a new platform with no support then you have to provide a significant advantage to make it worth the pain, and there simply isn’t one.
Why did people switch to iOS and Android phones when companies like Nokia had the market cornered? Because they offer a massive improvement in UX over the established players. What advantage do those OSes you mentioned have?
Ah, but there is. Privacy. Some of us are old enough to remember when that was an enshrined right instead of us just being data providers to rich guys.
I don’t know why you think you have the moral high ground here and are being so argumentative and making specious analogies, but, yeah, there are people who don’t like being part of a surveillance economy, and as paid-off lawmakers aren’t going to do jack shit, we need to have options outside of just being pawns for Google and Apple.
How this escapes you is beyond me, but I’m not going to be an asshole like you’ve been in every response on this thread.
Tell that to the masses who post their entire private lives on bookface and tictac. The overwhelming majority of people don’t give a fuck. Especially if it means having to give up all their favorite apps.
What makes you assume I think that?
Of course there are. The question was why mobile OSes that offer that don’t take off. And the answer is simply that very few people care enough for it to be a viable market. Very few people care enough to be willing to get excluded from iMessage or Facebook groups just to take a principled stance on privacy.
If you want these to take or you have to offer way more than some abstract promise of better privacy. Think of what you’re asking people to give up. To get them to switch you need a massive incentive.
I mean, I left Facebook in 2014 and have never been on Instagram or TikTok. You act like it’s this huge endeavour to not be on such sites. I used WhatsApp to stay in touch with my family in Europe, but once Facebook bought that, I was done. Told them to message me on Signal.
I’m asking people to give up parasocial relationships. They aren’t useful, so no loss there.
And it’s not my fault they can’t see that.
I’ve never been on any social media, but we’re not exactly average people. For a lot of people it’s hugely important to their social lives. Giving up Facebook for them means being excluded from social events. They will no longer see event announcements from their social groups.
You and I may not care about these things, but to a lot of people these are hugely important.
It’s your fault for not being able to even consider that other people are different from you and have different needs.
You could put me on an uninhabited island for 10 years and I’d be perfectly happy. My brother by contrast will get depressed after 2 days without social contact.
They don’t have different “needs” … they just don’t realize what they’ve signed up for. It was very easy to get rid of Facebook … I sent a final message letting them know how to get a hold of me. If they don’t want to engage elsewhere, it’s relatively easy to determine the depth of our friendship.
I’ve been in solitary confinement for going on seven years. I doubt you’d enjoy it as much as you think. We’re social creatures.
I do want to point out, as I was a bit snarky in my last reply, that I appreciate your more balanced tone here.
I don’t doubt it. While most people were going crazy during the corona lockdown it was probably the most peaceful and happy period in my life. As an autistic person social interactions aren’t exactly enjoyable.
Urgh… Come on… -.-’
“Why aren’t Linux based mobile OSes more popular if we ignore the fact that the most popular mobile OS by far is Linux based”.
Gee, I wonder why.
Come on, you’re being disingenuous. You know exactly what this person was talking about. You’re acting in the exact same way that people are acting when they unironically post the whole “Actually, what you’re referring to as Linux is actually GNU + Linux” or whatever. Come ooon…
What is the difference between Android and any of the other Linux based mobile OSes?
The massively different userlands, mutable root partition by default, root by default, etc.
They are completely different operating systems that just so happen to use the same kernel.
And there’s your answer: that’s shit no one cares about other than a few super nerds on Lemmy.
People care about having an OS not controlled by Big Tech. You might not, but you don’t have to be a dick about it to people who do.
Sure. Ask the average person if they want to give up their Facebook or TikTok apps so they can have a ‘free’ OS. You’re absolutely delusional if you think that any significant number of consumers will choose that.