Logged into my banking app for it to tell my that my version of Android is outdated, leaving me vulnerable to attacks, and that I need to update my system. I see no updates and sure enough, the manufacturer just recently declared my phone EOL.

I could still log in to my banking app after dismissing the warning but how long is that going to last? Am I actually in danger of being hacked while browsing the Internet on my phone?

Do I really need to splurge on a new phone now? There’s nothing wrong with this one. Fuck smartphones, honestly- sure, this shit also happens on PCs with Windows, but you usually get at least a decade of support. I’ve had this phone for less than five years, and at least with computers you could stick your preferred version of Linux on your outdated device to get more life out of it

It’s also really cool how everyone in modern Western society is essentially dependent on one of two Yank megacorps to function, since you need an online bank account to verify your identity for basic shit like healthcare, social security and so on and those require either a Google Store or iPhone app

  • Hello_Kitty_enjoyer [none/use name]@hexbear.net
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    1 month ago

    well the battery goes bad and has to be thrown out eventually

    to combat this problem we’ve made the battery impossible to remove so that you’ll throw out your whole phone with the battery too

        • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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          1 month ago

          Well…if you suck at it. It has gotten way harder over the years and a couple iphones are pretty near impossible without specialized and expensive equipment, though.

          • Frank [he/him, he/him]@hexbear.net
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            1 month ago

            I absolutely do suck at it. I’ve killed at least one phone and one tablet over the years trying to do screen replacements. : ( i haven’t killed anything swapping batteries tho.

            • ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
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              1 month ago

              I got in the game early when things were easy, like 20+ years ago and got better as stuff got harder. Now I’m “the guy” people take their stuff to when it’s busted. Diving right in these days would have a harder learning curve, for sure.

    • space_comrade [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      1 month ago

      The Fairphone exists, which is (supposedly) pretty easily repairable. You’re definitely gonna pay a price premium on it tho and the hardware isn’t exactly latest. Might consider it for my next phone.

      • Eh I got it recommended by a comrade who seemed knowledgable about it, but I kinda regret it. It’s expensive and, even if the parts are replaceable, the phone is slow and underperforming enough that it’ll still just need replaced within 5 years due to software requirements from everything around it.

        Literally cheaper and just as little (or less) impact in continuously buying used flagship phones from 4 years ago.

        That comrade is a bit of a lib so I should’ve seen it coming. Of course I’m a lib so I didn’t.