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by quail 4684 days ago
Google is getting pushy now because they can. They've become habitual and omnipresent. Now is the perfect time.

A couple of years ago I could see Google's vendor lock-in strategy unfold. I've been trying ever since to completely purge myself of Google, but it hasn't been easy.

For anyone thinking of doing the same, be prepared to test many services out.
1 comments
MichaelGG 4683 days ago
Unfortunately Android's still the only really reasonable choice. Apple and MS are far more restrictive on the devices, and nothing seems to come close to the Nexus line of devices anyways.

It's pretty annoying that I can't rate apps I buy though.

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r00fus 4683 days ago
Is privacy and device restrictiveness the same thing?

I don't want "open" necessarily, I want "respect" (for my privacy).

Unless you're going to inspect all the code/apps running on your system, an open-source OS isn't necessarily going to guarantee your privacy.

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MichaelGG 4683 days ago
You're right, it's not. I don't really care about open source. I don't trust Google and I don't like their intrusive tactics. I'd actually feel more comfortable with Microsoft, as they probably have more layers of management preventing stuff getting done. I can't believe the part of the company that mismanaged the largest IM network into nothingness is competent enough to really invade my privacy to a disturbing degree.

More what I care about is making sure I can run software I'm interested in, and have my device do what I want it to do. Tethering (on a phone) regardless of carrier policy, for instance. Apps that might violate store policy -- I simply don't have the potential worry with Android.

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quail 4683 days ago
I went with a Blackberry Z10 after reading about its built in encryption and privacy features in the book Cypherpunks.

As an aside, I checked out the new Q5 yesterday and it has refinements in all the right places. Both are highly underrated smartphones.

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andor 4683 days ago
There's no reason to trust Blackberry. Even though the new devices can do IMAP directly (not indirectly through the "cloud"), they send your login credentials to RIM.

Details: http://frank.geekheim.de/?p=2379

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sirkneeland 4683 days ago
Really though, try Jolla's Sailfish OS. It is a phenomenal product, and will beat Ubuntu Touch to market quite handily.
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