Do you really want to develop a Linux Communication Device?

Published on May 23 2021.

 

Do You really want to develop a Linux Phone?

I bought this development hardware representing a Linux smart phone, that is 

developed and sold by a community group called Pine64. 

 

 

If I had known what I know now I would have gotten involved much, much earlier
in their development process. As for now it seems the only thing viable to do is to
stand aside and watch. I had great hopes for this piece of new hardware/software
combo to start with,and by the looks of how sales is doing now, many, many share
this hope with me.
There is a core team of maybe ten to fifteen developers working through all the
difficulties with undocumented semi functional firmware.
The Chinese hardware manufacturers claims to be open source, but has a long way
to go before a viable workflow can be established with the FOSS community.
I wish these hard working and knowledgeable individuals all the luck.

However:

There is a written article online by one of the Main Pine64 developers asking people
if they Really want a Linux phone.
After what I've seen of the Android cloning software development done by the Main
Linux Distributors so far I think the most burning question is:

Do you really want to _develop_ a Linux phone? 

Or rater:
Why be so compelled to over-do he same ugly structures that made you want to
skip Android in the first place?
Android is open source in the first instance. Android has all the banking and all the
governmental portals, and also all the health care platforms.
This is not at all an issue about Whats-App vs Telegram.

There is a whole Eco system resting on Android, The Multi National Actors and
communities that works within this existing Eco system will not bother to seek
adaptation unless something vigorously better and  more efficient can be presented
to them through the FOSS development community.

We can set gaming aside too. No gamer I recognize will look twice at any Allwinner
SOC or any other OSH board btw.

A Linux communication device has to bring something astoundingly new and
refreshing  to market. Something really extra, or failure will for sure await around
the next corner. 
Most startups fail even though the founding business idea was outstandingly ingenious.

Sadly as of now I, like many others fail to see what this new communication device 
will bring even to hard core fans of open source.

I am not writing the above harsh words because I want to see the Pine64 community fail.
I have no intention to start a dispute. On the contrary. 
Like most members of Pine64 and other FOSS communities, I would love to see a real,
and tangible overturning alternative to ruling web monsters such as Google, Microsoft,
and Apple.
Is it a secondary effect of us continuously being showered with Gigahertz radio waves,
or is there another reason behind this hapless undevelopment?

Daniel 972 Tel Aviv