The Google Lock-in Dilemma

https://lemmy.world/post/27440512

The Google Lock-in Dilemma - Lemmy.World

Trying to escape Google’s ecosystem, but past purchases keep pulling me back. #DeGoogled #GoogleLockIn #PrivacyStruggles #TechDilemma #FOSS #DigitalFreedom #AndroidAlternatives

My issue is no one has developed a custom OS for my phone. Suprising considering it seems like the kind of phone FOSS users would love. A modern smart phone with an aux cord and replaceable battery still. Samsung Galaxy XCover 6 Pro for anyone interested.
It seems to go along popularity lines. I have never heard of this phone.
Its Samsung’s “rugged” phone. They certainly don’t advertise it at all. Its a shame because it is a really nice phone (poor camera though but I dont care about that). Probably cause it doesnt fit into the mainstream market of expensive (cheaper than their mainline stuff), disposable (this has a replaceable battery which prolongs its longitivity), and minimalist (still has its aux port and more than just a power and volume buttons).

Like most rugged stuff the phone seems to be aimed at businesses which is probably why they don’t advertise it more broadly. I doubt most consumers have much interest in rugged devices. Since they are usually mediocre or even bad in many aspects that consumers seemingly care a lot about. Like camera, weight, size, and display.

It’s a cool phone though.

news.samsung.com/…/introducing-the-galaxy-xcover7…

True, yeah. My needs for a phone I feel seem to be fairly old fashioned for the modern phone industry. Unfortunately the Xcover is the only series of phone that meets (most of) my needs in a phone that I have found.

Looks like it’s actually the XCover 8 that is is coming out soon.

Looked into the specs and it’s no wonder why it doesn’t sell. It’s worse than my 4-year-old device. Sucks that you have to sacrifice on performance to gain durability. I rather just buy a 2-year-old flagship and get an accidental damage coverage plan for it.

I just really don’t care. The performance differences feel like nothing. The only thing I have actually noticed is the camera quality being worse, and I don’t take many photos. I value durability and longitivity over what I see as minor hardware improvements. For the most part I use my phone as a phone. I watch youtube on it, message people, and listen to music. I’m not trying to game on it, thats what I have a computer for. So these hardware improvements they are constantly pushing (while removing valuable features) just doesnt feel worth it to me. But it is a to each their own. I just wish there was a bigger market catering to my needs rather than the whole industry striving to turn phones into all in one devices while removing quality of life features like aux cords, physical buttons, and replaceable batteries.