Comment by Myzel394 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Myzel394 | Hacker News Reader

I've been using GrapheneOS for about 3 years now. For the most part, it works very well. I don't have any issues with banking apps, nor any other closed source apps. I'm using two profiles both with sandboxed Google play installed. I'm logged in into my private Google account on the work profile.

However, there was one case that lead me to thinking about ditching grapheneos to this day. I installed Uber on my phone and I was able to successfully create an account and use it. When it came to booking a ride, the app crashed and I had to log in again. Once I did that, I was told that my account has been suspended for violating the terms of services. All I did to that point was creating an account and booking a ride. I was able to resolve the issue luckily after a few days and going back and fourth a couple of times with the Uber support, however, the risk of getting banned on any such platform is still risky, and thus I'm not sure if grapheneos is usable if you need to use such services.

That's clearly a Uber problem. I'm also a GrapheneOS and used Uber once -- it worked.

It's clearly end user problem who is not able to book a ride. Root cause is on Uber side.

I'm a new GrapheneOS user and stopped using Uber as altogether. Taxis aren't that bad where I'm at, and cheaper than Uber

I wish I could stop using them for these rare occasions I need a transport.

Taxi across the town is £20, Uber usually 5-10. There are no other providers.

Taxi from my airport (some 15 miles away) is £60-80, Uber usually £30-ish. Public transportation (2 trains + 2 buses) over £50.

I wish I had an option.

I get public transport being more "difficult" than uber, but more expensive too? Where are you from if you don't mind me asking?

Yeah, it's more expensive - in this case because of the changes and separate operators on every part of the journey. I could potentially swap one train for a bus and then take different train and skip one of the buses saving some £5 but extending trip by about a hour at least.

Maybe not being able to use Uber isn't the downside you think it is though. UK centric view but call a cab and pay in cash, you haven't comprimised your security and you're not engaging with an unethical business.

Well, you still might engage with an unethical business, but at least the chance goes from 100% to somewhere between 0% and 100%.

I've run into my share of scammy taxi drivers.

Right but at least then you are the one being scammed, and can decline to be scammed if you wish. As opposed to willingly partaking in a shitty system.

I regularly use Uber on Graphene OS and have had no issues.

>there was one case that lead me to thinking about ditching grapheneos to this day

Your aim is misplaced: ditch Uber, not GrapheneOS.

No problem here with Uber on GrapheneOS.

Same. Using it (rarely) off the secondary profile and everything works.

How do you know this was Graphene OS' fault?

Uber works in browser on mobile (and desktop). Last I checked lift did not.

Lyft app works on GrapheneOS.

Using websites instead of apps, while often more annoying, minimizes dramatically the privileges you provide to services.

And the amount of lock-in. If they ever decide to kick out your favorite OS or hardware vendor, well, good luck doing that if you can use the services on a website. They'd have to port all the web users over to mobile and know they'll lose at least some of those customers

Last time I checked you could still book a ride using the website.

What exactly is the risk of getting temporarily banned on Uber? You have to use a different taxi app? As if such a thing even exists?!? Unacceptable!!

Every app on my phone has at least one other app, usually already installed, that can replace it. This wasn't intentional, it just happened naturally. Unless all two or three apps in a category get blocked for me at the same time, this already unlikely situation is barely an inconvenience.

The key phrase there is "such services". It's not just about one problem once with Uber, it's the risk of problems like this with any service of that kind, or really any service you rely on.

If using GrapheneOS significantly increases the risk a person won't be able to use a service they rely on, that may be unacceptable.

But that's my point, what one irreplacable app/service do people rely on? The only thing that comes to my mind is messaging apps, but even there, almost everyone I need to talk to is reachable on at least one other app. I have multiple taxi apps because I compare prices and availability, like any reasonable consumer should. I have two banks, but even if I didn't, I can pay by cash or card, not just phone. If I need to make a bank transfer, I can go to a branch or do it online. I have two map and navigation apps because they have different strengths and weaknesses. My email is accessible by browser if the app breaks.

I'm not doing this on purpose, I just now scrolled through my app list looking for one app that would actually fuck me up if I lost it in an instant. There are none. And I'm not currently even running graphene or anything else, just a stock Samsung.

If the same thing happens with the Lyft app, you may be stuck at your current location indefinitely, especially in less populated areas/late hours.

And what is preventing Lyft/Uber whatever's algorithm to have a bug and just falsely flag your account after registration? Like there is no guarantee it works on a stock android/apple device either and I'm fairly sure they have a long list of false flaggings that support has to unlock day-to-day.

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