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Linux phones running postmarketOS can now run (some) Android apps thanks to Anbox

PostmarketOS is a free and open source, Linux-based operating system designed for smartphones. Originally developed as a project to extend the lifespan of old phones by letting you replace Android with Linux, the operating system also runs on new phones designed for Linux including the PinePhone and Librem 5. But while there are plenty of desktop […]

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Volla Phone could ship in October (Crowdfunded smartphone running Linux or Android)

The Volla Phone is a mid-range smartphone designed to support Android, but also Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish OS, and other operating Linux-based mobile operating systems. While the team behind the phoned failed to hit an ambitious crowdfunding goal of more than $385,000 last year, they launched a second Kickstarter campaign in February, and this time the campaign […]

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Cosmo Communicator can now dual boot Linux and Android (smartphone/handheld PC)

The Cosmo Communicator is a smartphone that looks like a tiny laptop thanks to a design that includes a backlit keyboard that’s just (barely) big enough for touch typing. First unveiled in late 2018, the Cosmo Communicator began shipping to backers of a crowdfunding campaign late last year… but one promised feature was missing at […]

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Linux-based postmarketOS may support Android apps thanks to Anbox (PinePhone, Librem 5, and more)

One of the key selling points of Linux smartphones like the PinePhone and Purism Librem 5 is that they’re designed to run free and open source GNU/Linux-based operating systems rather than partially open software like Google Android. But there’s an app gap — sure, both Android and Linux support millions of apps. But most Android […]

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PinePhone Braveheart Linux smartphone begins shipping January 17th

The PinePhone is an inexpensive smartphone designed to run Linux-based operating systems. Developed by the folks at Pine64, the $150 smartphone was first announced about a year ago — and this week the first units will ship. Pine64 says it will begin shipping the PinePhone Braveheart Edition on January 17th — although it could take […]

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Purism’s Librem 5 Linux smartphone getting a price hike in 2020 (also Purism sells servers now)

Purism got its start by selling laptops loaded with free and open source Linux-based software with an emphasis on privacy and security features. This year the company expanded into the smartphone space with the introduction of the Librem 5 smartphone (which recently started shipping in small quantities). Now the company is moving into new territory […]

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Purism Librem 5 USA is a made-in-America version of the Linux smartphone (for nearly 3X the price)

Purism’s Librem 5 is a Linux smartphone that ships with PureOS, a GNU/Linux-based operating system with a user interface based on GNOME. That alone would probably be enough to make the phone stand out — but Purism is also emphasizing its privacy and security features including hardware kill switches that can disconnect the wireless components, […]

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Purism Librem 5 Linux smartphone user reviews starting to come in (it’s a mixed, if optimistic bag)

The Librem 5 is the first smartphone from Linux laptop maker Purism. First announced more than two years ago, the Librem 5 still isn’t quite ready for prime time. But folks willing to pay $699 for pre-production hardware have started to receive devices from the Librem 5 Birch batch that began shipping last week. That means […]

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PinePhone smartphone can run desktop Linux apps, also makes phone calls

The PinePhone is a $150 smartphone designed to run free and open source software. For the most part that probably means users will run Linux-based operating systems that have been optimized for mobile devices, like PostmartketOS, Ubuntu Touch, or KDE Plasma Mobile. But since the PinePhone is basically a cheap, low-power Linux computer, it can […]