Gm,
Binance just launched a lightning node
https://amboss.space/node/03a1f3afd646d77bdaf545cceaf079bab6057eae52c6319b63b5803d0989d6a72f
Great to see! That's a huge plus for layer 2 adoption.
Honestly that's probably the best thing Iphone users who are upset about this can do to send a stinging message to Apple.
Are you looking to switch to Android for the very first time? I'm here to help. Just ask!
Over the years, I've been heavily embedded in the Android ecosystem. I purchased the HTC Droid Incredible in 2010 and never looked back. Since then, I've owned phones from HTC, Motorola, and Google, always using phones that allowed me to run custom ROMs or a stock Android or stock Google experience. I've compiled my own Android OS from source using AOSP and I've compiled and ran my own kernels. I'm also a former Android blogger, writing dozens of reviews of phones, tablets, watches, apps, and other services surrounding Android. I've traveled the world, attending various smartphone launches, attended conference, and Android meetups.
Before we get started, I'd like to say that Apple's current situations with Damus or Zeus is nothing new. Apple does this every year or so and is always involved in these sorts of scenarios with apps, banning and censoring them. Apple is one of the richest companies in the world. You can fight them all you want, but in the end, they always win. Look at the battle that Epic Games had with Apple over Fortnite as an example.
So, you've decided to give Android a try, but don't know where to start or you've heard bad things over the years and you're not sure about making the switch? Switching ecosystems is incredibly hard and a daunting task. I will not sugar coat that. I would not want to do it and I would not look forward to it. However, I hope this makes it easier for you.
**Buy a Google Pixel.**
Not all Android phones are equal. Not all Android phones are completely open. Not all Android phones have unlockable bootloaders. If you go the Pixel route, you'll have the most open phone with the most options available to you.
If you want to run a custom ROM such as Graphene OS, a Google Pixel phone will give you the best options. Graphene OS allows you to run a "De-Googled" phone. You can read more about Graphene here: https://grapheneos.org
Every Android phone allows you to install a third party app store. Every Android phone allows you to install apps that do not come from Google Play. This is by design. You do not need to do anything overly special to just install an app from Github or F-Droid, etc.
What's F-Droid? F-Droid is a FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) app store. You can check it out here: https://f-droid.org
Where should you get a Google Pixel phone? If you're looking to buy a new phone, I'd recommend buying directly from Google as you'll get the best support. I've had to return devices over the years and the times I've had to do so, it's been incredibly easy.
If you you're on a budget or don't want to buy a brand new phone, I highly recommend that you use Swappa. I've met the owner and many of the developers. They are great people. Any time I'e sold a used phone or purchased a used phone, I've only used Swappa. https://swappa.com
Which Pixel phone should you get? Well, that's up to you. The latest version is the Pixel 7 line. This includes Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. The "a" line is the cheaper or budge line that doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that the other ones have. It's similar to the "SE" line with iPhone. Normally, the "a" line is the best bang for your buck phone. My kids always get the "a" line. The "Pro" version, just like iPhone would be your Pixel with the largest screen, largest battery, and has extra camera zooming features. I always buy the "Pro" version. My wife normally gets he standard version, but this year, she wanted the "Pro" version because she was jealous of my 30X zoom.
I'm going to run an "office hours" Nostr Nest today at https://nostrnests.com/android to help answer you Android questions. If you have them, come ask. If you want to help people make the switch, feel free to join and join the conversation.
Yup well said! Never liked Apple for this very reason. It's nothing new too... their closed source walled garden mentality has been part of them since the early PC days. They make cool innovative stuff, only to have competitors out do them in the end due to their greedy walled garden mentality which stifles outside innovation.
I know... and that's the problem of it. I wish they built it using BTC to incentivize the nodes instead. I'm not a programmer, but if I was, I would look at what kind of effort would be involved to fork that code and modify it to where it runs on lightning nodes (like an umbrel node). The incentivizing structure would have to change though to something like a pay as you use (x amount of sats per MB for example) and those funds get dispersed to the nodes routing your traffic.
There is also Lokinet. No need for a special browser if installing on PC and you can also set up an armbian device like raspberry pi to be a wifi access point to give you acces to their onion routed network. I can vouch that it's way faster than Tor. You need to use the Linux build though as that is always the best supported one.
Pocahontas needs to go smoke a peace pipe!
Agree. IMO - One of the main things they need to fix in lightning though is the automatic force closure of channels. It especially sux in this high sat/vb environment. Need more visibility in what causes that to happen from time to time.
Congratulations
Geez.. that tells you everything you need to know about Ethereum!
Excellent post! I will try to implement some of your advice for sure. You're spot on in that your job is usually the most dominant point of control over your life. Decentralization is basically the anecdote to centralized control vectors.
Clearly nostr is the way forward...
Costco still has a $1.50 hot dog and soda though... don't know how the hell they're pulling that one off
At first I wasn't sure, but after I started zapping and becoming acquainted with how it works I like the idea. Some will like and some won't... that's just human nature, but what I really like about it is it gets everyone (including non-bitcoiner or crypto users) acquainted with lightning network and the power of it.
If you have an Aloe Vera 🪴 plant that works the best. Cut a section off and squeeze the goo all over the burn. One of the few plants that gives back. Great to have around the house.
Wow..someone really wanted to make certain their transaction was in the next block... damn
Oh shit... not a good sign when one of the top pioneers in the field is now worried too.
Looks like I need to try Zeus out then. Been using bluewallet for alby... but would like to tie in my LN node too.
Do you have a channel backup file saved somewhere? I would try setting up another new (separarate) umbrel node and loading that channel backup file and see what happens.