Let’s take that one step further, imagine if once software support ended for a device you could simply install an alternate open source (libre) operating system and keep on using the hardware you paid for. On the computer side you can still use desktops as old as 2 or even 3 decades with Linux. I would take it a step further and argue that you don’t own your devices at all if you cannot install an alternate operating system.

Part of the problem is the chip manufacturers. They provide precompiled device drivers for one version of one kernel only, no source, and refuse to update them ever again. It can be a bit difficult to update the rest of the software stack when there’s no way to shore up the foundations. Device manufacturers need to start insisting on updated drivers and/or provided driver source code before they buy the chips to put in their phones, tablets, and other systems.

Good luck on that.

How is company X supposed to sell you model 2.0? 3? 2.0 RepairCare?

Planned obsolescence. Profits. Shareholders.

I think much of this issue is created directly by the contracts created the phone companies. For example, I needed a new phone after my old Motorola failed to boot. It was in pretty bad shape with a cracked screen and mangled charging port, so a new phone was in the cards. I had expected to get another cheaper Motorola, but the added fees to switch would’ve doubled the cost of the phone. Instead, I opened a new line and got a Pixel 7 for free (plus headphones), and kept my old phone active for a single month.

It’s a finance thing for most ultimately. $400 to get a new Motorola, or $55 to get a new Google Pixel. The contracts are rigged to get you setup with a mainstream phone, so you’ll consider upgrading to the next release for a discounted price.

They also need to be fully recyclable.

Weirdly this was the biggest reason I switched from Android to iPhone. I’d used Android since the OG Motorola Droid, and pretty much upgraded every two years as soon as the contract allowed because after two years the phone would be buggy and unresponsive. Then I got a Google Pixel 2 and it was the first phone I’d had where it was still fine after two years, so I kept it. Even after 3 years it was still fine and I had no reason to upgrade, except it stopped receiving security fixes. My wife’s ex-husband is a professional hacker and his default mode is extortion, so trying to keep things up to date on security is important. Still, I was pretty disappointed that I was being pushed into buying a new phone for no reason other than Qualcomm and Google not wanting to support it.

Around the same time we had to get my stepdaughter’s iPhone repaired. It struck me that here she was using an iPhone 6 that was 6 years old at the time but still had parts available and was still getting software updates from the manufacturer. It didn’t have all the latest and greatest hardware but it was still perfectly functional and there was no need to upgrade unless we wanted to. As expensive as phones were getting, it felt harder and harder to justify buying something that was starting to cost $6-800 new and then have to do it again 2-3 years later. Was it ideal switching? No, and there were things I missed from Android, although they’ve slowly caught up (Apple finally added support to change the default notification sound just last year), but it works and at least I feel like I’m not wasting money on hardware that’s designed to break and go to a landfill in two years.

I wish the knowledge and methods to flash devices with new/modified firmware was a common standard i take good care of my tech, so much beautiful technology in perfect condition just sitting there unusable because its software is to old.

Alternative ROM?

To solve this, I’d ask: What can we do to incentivize graceful degradation instead of planned obsolescence?

Same thoughts. I’m surprised how many power is casually laying in my hand. That it can play stuff like Genshin, PUBG, Fortnite. It couldn’t be even thought off when Fruit Ninja, Angry Birds released to sell us the first fun of capacitive screens, gestures. These resources are to last years.

The only objection is I just don’t care about having the same phone, getting used to it anymore for they all look the same, I occasionaly take other person’s phones at work and when eating out. They are now easier to jump from one device to another. And while it’s good, maybe, that you aren’t chained to it, it warms you up to buy another piece of plastic. My older Symbian devices were something to adjust to, and honor, and cry over they eventual death, and that phone? I can go to the store to buy another and I won’t even sigh. They are ideal portals into the web with no personality besides a phone case. And it’s not that fun.

I’d honestly sell some belongings to have a modern specs phone with a keyboard and a linux. These awkward, heavy beasts of the past were so damn cool. Writing just isn’t the same with touch-screen, as well as emulation. If there was one, I’d have bought replacement batteries and have used it for decades.

We could have taken that approach with cars as well. Who needs more than 20HP anyway? We should have just kept repairing the Model T and been happier with what we have, right?

Maybe the EU 🇪🇺 should legislate that German car companies should cease to produce new cars and instead commit to repairing what they have already produced, for free presumably?

Take your disgust at this post and now apply it to what you’re talking about 😂.