Hello, I was wondering if there was any privacy based tablets being sold? Or far more likely if there are any functional OS that can be installed on a tablet that has been tested by others?
Besides the Pixel Tablet, ideally looking for a tablet no more than 200 USD if possible, the Pixel seems to be well over double that at a minimum.
Know not to put faith in used whenever possible so was hoping for a long shot at someone knowing one.
Any suggestions or is Graphene it for tablets? I plan to use this as my daily tablet for pretty much everything so it will need to have Fdroid or be able to enable Google Play Store. Which also means being able to disable all Google activity when not in use.
GrapheneOS on the Pixel Tablet is the only configuration that fits with our Android OS recommendations at the moment unfortunately, the custom ROMs we recommend don’t support any other tablet hardware as far as I know.
The Android tablet hardware scene is basically nonexistent these days unless you want a Samsung device. Maybe the Pixel Tablet will inspire better Android tablets in the future, but today there aren’t really good options.
For low price (~200$), PineTab might be an option. Though it’s based on old and slow ARM A53 SoC.
Stalabs presented new StarLite5 recently. That one is more expensive (€600), but quite powerful, it’s basically a PC
Problem: The spouse is looking for a device to watch movies in bed at home.
First off, rejected solutions:
TV in the bedroom - no space and I do not want to move it around constantly to avoid expensive catastrophic accidents.
Portable monitor + Minisforum S100 - my current portable burner device for travelling. Its going to look ugly and unelegant with all the wires. Negative spousal approval factor.
Potential solutions:
Google Pixel tablet with Graphene - having OEM support of only about 2 years (end of OEM support is 2028) is giving me pause.
Apple iPad - I really do not want to support them. But since no one else wants to be competent in the tablet space, I guess I dont have any other realistic good enough alternative.
What I am asking for the forum is that: Can I do better than an iPad?
One option for this specific use case of a mobile way to view movies is XR glasses and using an existing device.
Now, in the interest of privacy, I will make the unsubstantiated recommendarion for the Viture XR Pro (not to be confused with the latest Luma Pro with extra AI and camera BS). I’m not going to link anything but you can find these fairly cheap on eBay and resale markets now due to newer models just getting released. This is the pair I use that doesn’t have cameras or require any software, but functions as an external monitor when attached to any device you have that supports usb c display port alt mode. That said, this is not a vetted option or anything related to a PG proper rec. If there is interest in there being a proper category for this I’d be happy to submit a write up elsewhere.
These work well with most newer phones. You will see a mirror image of the phone in an awkward portrait mode as you click between apps, but then once you open a video app it automatically displays in landscape on the glasses. What is best is that you don’t have to hold the phone and accidentally drop it in your face or let your hands get numb. It’s the most ergonomic option so that you don’t have to look down much after you’ve clicked. Also, if she wants to watch something next to you while you’re asleep or when putting little ones to bed, you won’t have a large glare keeping others awake. I use PopOS and Debian on a framework laptop and they work perfectly on that. I have yet to install the open source breezy software to do multiple monitors but that has a whole community and possibly other XR glasses to check out.
Downsides is that I couldn’t get it to work with my GrapheneOS Pixel 8a or GrapheneOS Pixel Tablets yet despite claims that it should work. That said, my phone port has everything from sawdust to liquid that gets in it, but either way I’m not the only one who’s had issues. They work perfectly with new Apple devices, so if she has a 14 or newer it should just work. YMMV with various android devices, but they need to support DP alt mode for USB or Viture has an HDMI adapter or a battery hub with an HDMI adapter in it as well for portable gaming video use cases.
I think once the kinks with GrapheneOS + Pixel + basic XR glasses (doesn’t need to be the Viture ones) are worked out, then I think having Graphenes Desktop mode would be a perfect use case for this and the general minimal laptop use case. We already carry around phones and I just think adding more and new devices is just increasing our attack surface. Adding XR glasses and multiple monitors in virtual space is going to be how we minimize our attack surface to virtually one mobile device and an optional VM at home.
Im really excited to see which OEM GrapheneOS will partner with and if that phone will work well for these use cases along with existing minimal XR glasses like the older Viture models. Time will tell!
