Google’s Android, the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, started life as open-source software. In its quest for ever-greater profits, the tech giant has been gradually eroding Android’s open-source nature over the last decade.
Originally published on The Lever, but that one asks you to sign up.
android peaked with the pixel 2. then everyone went overboard on bezel-less displays and fast refresh rates and smart assistant services and brought the whole damn thing crashing down.
… and I want my headphone jack, back.
Yep, didn’t use it much but I have studio headphones that I lliked to plug from time to time.
TBH getting a nice dongle like a Fiio KA5 is not so bad. It’s small enough to just hang off the cord, and sounds better anyway, and you don’t have to throw it away every phone switch.
Not so bad?
That thing costs 230€ vs a free headphone jack. 🙄
Sorry, I meant the KA1 or KA3, got them mixed up. My KA3 was like $50 used.
I use it on my PC, too.
Considering the cost in reference to the hardware, and that I can use it basically forever, and that it’s a lower distortion DAC than any phone? It’s not bad. And it’s a barely-noticable addon for my headphones that just lives on the cord.
I don’t think the issue with phones is the smaller bezels or better displays.
That’s not what’s ruining them.
Fast refresh rates are amazing. I cherished my old Razer Phone 2.
I think it varies from person to person. My gf can’t tell the difference at all, even when she really tries, neither can a friend of mine (who also use the most insane jerky screen settings on his TV). For me, I can’t imagine going back to 60hz ever again. It feels like something is physically wrong with my phone if I turn 120hz off.