On 2026-08-15, Carlos E. R. wrote:
But you are talking of the physical device (card) that
adds eSIM functionality to a phone that doesn't have it.
No. That device is effectively a smartcard too or at least exposes a smartcard interface.
I'm talking of a Secure Digital card, in this case on the "micro" form
factor and interface. These are storage devices with a different
interface. Although I guess it should be technically possible for
something entirely different to be there other than a storage device.
I am talking
of the eSIM, which is some type of file with a certificate and maybe
software.
That's a separate concept to replace a physical Subscriber Identity
Module. In turn, the device that offers a "physical eSIM", to be of any
use, has to be compatible with the smartcard interface and the form
factors used for SIMs.
Secure Digital: <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/SD_Cards.svg>
Subscriber Identity Module: <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/GSM_Micro_SIM_Card_vs._GSM_Mini_Sim_Card_-_Break_Apart.svg>
On 2026-08-11, AJL wrote:
On 8/10/26 9:33 PM, Steve Hayes wrote:
Google cloud, and any other cloud, can delete your data on just about
any pretext, including their AI hallucinating that your data breached
one or other (unspecified) term of service.
I've used Google Drive (if that's what you mean by Google cloud) for many
years now with not one problem. I wish some of my other services were as
reliable.
This is the very same reasoning that one could use to justify not doing >backups. "I've not done it for many years with not one problem!"
On Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:59:41 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
You wouldn't have to take out the card. Simply connect the phone to your >computer with a cable and it will act as a USB storage device.
So the cable itself unencrypts it?
Does one have to buy a special decrypting cable, or do all USB cables
do the trick?
It is a card that sits in a SIM slot and can store inside 20 eSIMS,
intended to add eSIM capability to a phone that doesn't have it.
Arno Welzel wrote:
However nowadays memory is cheap enough
That's coming home to bite manufacturers since the AI buy-up of wafer production capacity, this years models look like they'll have less RAM
than equivalents last year, however some will have more EMMC storage.
(at least it was before the AI hype started), that even mainstreamWhen I bought my Pixel 8a, I was undecided between upgrading to 256GB
devices got a decent amount of memory built in which is enough for
many users.
storage or sticking with 128GB, considering the likely 7 year life of
the phone, I stuck with 128 and no problem so far. Battery life may
become too short before the phone reaches 7 years old.
On 2026-08-11 14:37, s|b wrote:
A7 Pro has got Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM, same with 15C. I had never heard of
a physical eSIM, but apparantly it's a thing. A (non physical) eSIM can
be handy when you travel abroad. You could easily buy one online and you
don't have to wait until it arrives via snail mail.
It is a card that sits in a SIM slot and can store inside 20 eSIMS,
intended to add eSIM capability to a phone that doesn't have it.
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:56:18 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:59:41 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
You wouldn't have to take out the card. Simply connect the phone to your
computer with a cable and it will act as a USB storage device.
So the cable itself unencrypts it?
Does one have to buy a special decrypting cable, or do all USB cables
do the trick?
Any USB-C to USB-A cable will do. I can't explain how the process works,
so I'll just quote Arno on this:
<quote>
It is unencrypted in the moment you access the files while the phone is >running *and* unlocked when connected via USB.
</quote>
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:33:16 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
Any USB-C to USB-A cable will do. I can't explain how the process works,
so I'll just quote Arno on this:
<quote>
It is unencrypted in the moment you access the files while the phone is >running *and* unlocked when connected via USB.
</quote>
So if the phone dies and you want your photos, there's no way to
unencrypt them?
I think I'll pass on the encrpytion.
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:33:16 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:56:18 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:59:41 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
You wouldn't have to take out the card. Simply connect the phone to your >> >computer with a cable and it will act as a USB storage device.
So the cable itself unencrypts it?
Does one have to buy a special decrypting cable, or do all USB cables
do the trick?
Any USB-C to USB-A cable will do. I can't explain how the process works,
so I'll just quote Arno on this:
<quote>
It is unencrypted in the moment you access the files while the phone is >running *and* unlocked when connected via USB.
</quote>
So if the phone dies and you want your photos, there's no way to
unencrypt them?
I think I'll pass on the encrpytion.
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:33:16 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:56:18 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:59:41 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
You wouldn't have to take out the card. Simply connect the phone to your >> >> >computer with a cable and it will act as a USB storage device.
So the cable itself unencrypts it?
Does one have to buy a special decrypting cable, or do all USB cables
do the trick?
Any USB-C to USB-A cable will do. I can't explain how the process works,
so I'll just quote Arno on this:
<quote>
It is unencrypted in the moment you access the files while the phone is
running *and* unlocked when connected via USB.
</quote>
So if the phone dies and you want your photos, there's no way to
unencrypt them?
Yes, same like if the SD-card dies.
That's why there's this concept called 'backup'.
I think I'll pass on the encrpytion.
That won't help against the SD-card dying.
On 17 Aug 2026 17:41:36 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:
Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> wrote:
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:33:16 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:
On Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:56:18 +0200, Steve Hayes wrote:
On Thu, 13 Aug 2026 18:59:41 +0200, "s|b" <me@privacy.invalid> wrote: >> >>
You wouldn't have to take out the card. Simply connect the phone to your
computer with a cable and it will act as a USB storage device.
So the cable itself unencrypts it?
Does one have to buy a special decrypting cable, or do all USB cables >> >> do the trick?
Any USB-C to USB-A cable will do. I can't explain how the process works, >> >so I'll just quote Arno on this:
<quote>
It is unencrypted in the moment you access the files while the phone is >> >running *and* unlocked when connected via USB.
</quote>
So if the phone dies and you want your photos, there's no way to
unencrypt them?
Yes, same like if the SD-card dies.
That's why there's this concept called 'backup'.
I think I'll pass on the encrpytion.
That won't help against the SD-card dying.
No, but if there's this concept called "backup" it makes it easier to
backup if the phone dies.
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