Is it safe to travel to the #UnitedStates with your phone right now? Recent high-profile #deportations began with #phone searches at airports. What are your rights? The answer: it depends. | Gaby Del Valle, The Verge https://www.theverge.com/policy/634264/customs-border-protection-search-phone-airport-rights
Summer Wallpapers for Your Tech via Centsational Style [Shared]
Summer is around the corner! To brighten your tech I made five more seasonal screensavers. Find them below, sized to fit the ratios of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and your phone too. Links to all four sizes for each pattern. Enjoy!
Well, my techie masto neighbors, it's that time again...
#EducateMePlease
#fakeOS? (see captions)
I bought this cheap non branded #i15 mini #phone online to use on my bike. It claimed to have Android 14. But in checking for updates I see that it's actually Android 8. Not a big deal for a cheap phone, but then... If in the About view it shows 14, this isn't a solid OS. It's been tampered? The icons were wrong too.
If I don't use bank and email apps on it, what's the worst that can happen? 
Shout out. Anyone use or have used a Fairphone and if so, what are your thoughts? Pros and cons, beyond the obvious self-repair and long-term support? Boosts okay.
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https://temu.to/k/upwafgxyfdz Another surprise for you! Click to earn money with me https://temu.to/k/ek0tfo9a7rz! A gift for a new user $5…Acc/to an #AFP source, the incident occurred on March 9. The space #science researcher allegedly underwent a *random* check on arrival, during which his work #computer & personal #phone were searched.…Messages referring to the treatment of scientists by the #Trump admin were found. He was accused of messages "which reflect hatred towards Trump & can be described as terrorism". His professional & personal equipment was #confiscated & the researcher was sent back to #Europe…
#law #geopolitics #US
This is beyond…
#LeMonde reporting that a French scientist traveling to Houston to attend a conference was denied entry to #US after a #search of his #phone & #computer revealed messages critical of #Trump's #science cuts, "which [says #CPB] conveyed hatred of Trump & could be qualified as terrorism". Computer confiscated.
#law #geopolitics #USpol #authoritarianism #dictatorship #FreeSpeech #ThoughtPolice #Nazis #ViewpointDiscrimination
https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/03/19/etats-unis-un-chercheur-francais-refoule-pour-avoir-exprime-une-opinion-personnelle-sur-la-politique-menee-par-l-administration-trump_6583618_3210.html
I'm glad that I have a Google Pixel 8a and not a older model. There have been many reports of Google Pixels exploding! It's horrendous. I would strongly recommend against buying anything older than the Pixel 8 series.
Disclaimer: I'm not a expert and haven't deeply researched this topic, but I considered it important enough to give everyone a warning.
Clip of Nate from the @thenewoil@mastodon.thenewoil.org talking about his exploding Google Pixel 6a
The #RCS protocol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Communication_Services is available (enabled?) on most #Android phones.
I see several problems (vs SMS) and would like informed people to correct me if needed
1. it needs data access to communicate, vs SMS which only needs mobile phone access
2. all messages pass by #Google servers
3. rooted android phones (like mine with @GrapheneOS ) can't use it (I don't want!)
Please continue using SMS and Signal!
Retoot and answers appreciated
DOGE Is Pressuring Social Security to Make Another Massive Cut
#DonaldTrump & #ElonMusk want to make it harder for people to access their Social Security benefits.
https://newrepublic.com/post/192667/doge-pressures-social-security-cut-phones
"The #SocialSecurity Admn might slash the telephone service that millions of retired & disabled #Americans use to apply for & access their **earned** benefits...
#Doge is pressuring the agency... and in response, the #SSA is considering ending its #phone service"
Pictured are the benchmarks of the Sony Xperia 1 II, Sony Xperia 1 VI, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (in that order)
I will have the Xperia 1 II. How does it stack up compared to the modern flagships to its right?
Alt text is just a link to the image source
#android #benchmark #phone #androidphones #flagship
Doot, doot, doot, looking out my back door.
#Baltimore #nightsky #moon #phone #photos
Cellebrite Is Using AI to Summarize Chat Logs and Audio from Seized Mobile Phones
"The proliferation of AI through law enforcement tools already has civil liberties experts concerned. “When you have results from an AI, they are not transparent. Often you cannot trace back where a conclusion came from, or what information it is based on. AIs hallucinate," one said."
https://www.404media.co/email/d71fb221-c62a-4def-a912-a76411a1aad5/?ref=daily-stories-newsletter
@requiem Smartphones aren't really like that... and are not great for creating. Sure, they can capture what you create (audio/video/etc) but as an instrument of creativity they are... lacking.
As a tool of consuming, yeah, they are good at that.
I wrote about this in 2010.
https://rasterweb.net/raster/2010/03/21/consume-create/
2/
Ok my US friends I need some help. I'm in the UK but I've had a NYC phone number (718) for ever via Skype, which is now closing.
My MiL uses the number to call us without international call charges.
I need a recommendation for a Skype replacement that I can port the number to and who can give me a mobile app to make and receive calls on. The ability to redirect calls to my landline would be an advantage.
Any recommendations gratefully received.
Researchers have found taking a break from our smartphones for a certain time period decreases depressive symptoms. And it appears to be doing a better job than antidepressants. @npr explains exactly how long we need to stay off of our phones to feel the benefits.
Today I went on a ~23km #hike up and down the North East #coast between #Tynemouth and #Blyth, and then back to #WhitleyBay. I can't be more accurate about how far I went because I tried an experiment: leaving my #phone at home.
I liked it, and think I'll do more #disconnected trips, but I did get a bit bored around 15km in - so I'll need to find a #music / #podcast player to take on the next long walk.
Any #hardware suggestions would be most welcome! #musicplayer #audio #lowtech #offline
The more I like computers, the more I hate phones. Using graphenOS doesn't change anything. Phones are social monstrosities and have no flexibility. My computer obeys me, I obey my phone. Computers can preserve and promote privacy and anonymity, phones systematically destroy it, they're designed to do just that.
