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submitted 1 week ago by Showroom7561@lemmy.ca to c/foss@beehaw.org

I've been using Fossify Phone since Simple Phone went south, but it's been such an inconsistent experience.

Calls will come in, and the notification panel will disappear, so I can't actually take the call.

Then while I'm on a call, the UI that allows me to control the call will go away, so I can't hang up, mute, etc... basically has it navigating the call list again. Trying to click on the dial pad button during a call brings me to a list of contacts.

Stock dialers have always been flawless, but I really don't want to use spyware.

I don't need any fancy features, but it needs to be reliable.

Any suggestions?

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[-] noodlejetski@lemm.ee 5 points 1 week ago

if I remember correctly, you have to open app properties and grant it permission to display over other apps.

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

I appreciate that. All permissions, including the one to display over apps, have all been granted already.

Just now, I was on a call and couldn't hang up! Literally no phone UI or notification that I could end the call from. 😵

[-] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 1 points 1 week ago

I use fossify phone too and that happens whenever I hit the home button during a call. The phone app doesn't show up in the notification bar nor in the task list. Pretty annoying. I've tried some alternatives but from what I can tell they come with their own, even more glaring issues.

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

I’ve tried some alternatives but from what I can tell they come with their own, even more glaring issues.

Argh, that's frustrating to hear. Thanks for the info, though!

[-] Toes@ani.social 3 points 1 week ago

I haven't played with third party dialers since gingerbread was new.

But, have you disabled any power saving features both from the manufacturer and the OS?

I wonder if something like LineageOS would be suitable for you?

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 week ago

But, have you disabled any power saving features both from the manufacturer and the OS?

Yes, and all permissions have been granted. I think it's just buggy as another person posted about similar issues.

I wonder if something like LineageOS would be suitable for you?

I used LineageOS many years ago, but my current phone isn't well supported by any third-party ROM, and I'm not really interested in changing up the OS until at least after the warranty period is up.

[-] infeeeee@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago

Wdym spyware? Isn't the stock dialer comes from aosp and it's open source? Or your rom doesn't use that one?

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

Samsung and Google dialers that come with the phone collect far too much data.

I disable them and use Fossify phone, but it's not a good app and would like to switch to something more reliable. Stock OnePlus ROM, not rooted.

[-] infeeeee@lemm.ee 4 points 1 week ago

Wouldn't it be better to replace the full rom at this point? You trust other parts but not the dialer?

What I'm trying to say, if you think your built in dialer is a spyware, it's very likely other components of the rom could be spyware as well, and you don't gain too much by replacing only this component.

[-] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 week ago

Rather unfortunately, my phone doesn't have good custom ROM support, but I generally don't have a problem re: worrying about spyware for a few reasons:

  1. It's been pretty easy to replace stock apps with privacy-friendly and/or FOSS alternatives.
  2. Nearly all stock apps on my phone can be disabled, which I've done for essentially all google/Oneplus apps.
  3. I run a tracker blocker (Adguard) on my phone, and it blocks anything built into the OS. And, for apps like Google Photos, I can block all internet access and use the app "offline" for the features I need.
  4. I'm happy with the user experience I get out of my phone, so I'm not motivated to really change the entire OS.

That said, I'm happy to hear that LineageOS is still a thing! I was using it many years ago, and I'm sure it's only gotten better since then.

this post was submitted on 08 May 2025
16 points (100.0% liked)

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