- cross-posted to:
- linuxphones@lemmy.ca
- cross-posted to:
- linuxphones@lemmy.ca
Every line in the boot path is code we wrote. There is zero Apple code between power-on and Linux. The bootloader is ours, top to bottom. To our knowledge, no one has done this on an A13 device before.
Fair points, and I think we mostly agree.
I’m not defending Apple. The point is that the hardware outlasts the software support, and because the bootloader is locked, you can’t do anything about it once updates stop. That’s the e-waste problem you’re describing.
I’d only add that support has improved from the early iPhones, which got just a few years of updates, to 6-7 years now. That’s better, but it’s still a company-set expiry date on perfectly good hardware.
Open bootloaders and documented chips would let those phones in your drawer stay useful.
Fair. And yes, it’s an unusual situation to be in where the Fairphone and iPhone seem to have similar support lifespans now.
I think we should organise to lobby our governments to force tech manufacturers to make obsolete devices unlocked and open spec in the way you mentioned (boot loaders and documented chips). Volunteers should have no barriers to maintain and support what would otherwise become landfill fodder.