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Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

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21–30 of 89 posts

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#24

Get a Pixel 3/4 and throw GrapheneOS on it: https://grapheneos.org/ It's the best non-Google, privacy enhanced experience you can get at the moment.

This is the way. From another happy grapheneos user, and project sponsor.

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#25

Get a Pixel 3/4 and throw GrapheneOS on it: https://grapheneos.org/ It's the best non-Google, privacy enhanced experience you can get at the moment.

Wow, I don't see that often, but when I tried (several times) to go to that link I get:

    Gah. Your tab just crashed.
In Firefox (85.0.1 on Ubuntu 18.04). Works fine in Opera, though, and it looks like just a wall of text so I'm not sure why FF would be unhappy.

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#26
post #3

So they're charging a premium (you can buy these phones in mint condition on swappa for nearly $150 less) for a refurbished 3 year old phone because it's preloaded with a ROM for enthusiasts. Who would buy this? I can't imagine any of the people who know or care enough to use /e/ are the kind of people who'd pay someone else $150 to flash a ROM for them.

I've flashed ROMs before. I don't get a kick out of it, and my hourly rate is more than $150. I'll probably buy one.

Agreed, I'd probably pick one up if my pinephone wasn't already in the mail.

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#27

Get a Pixel 3/4 and throw GrapheneOS on it: https://grapheneos.org/ It's the best non-Google, privacy enhanced experience you can get at the moment.

The offers of GrapheneOS and /e/ are very different. /e/ targets to be a usable alternative to a google-owned software, which includes for instance cloud storage and backup, access to third party proprietary apps, etc. While GrapheneOS is harder to use, but it does provide much better security hardening.

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#28

> an email fork called K-9 Mail, Say that again :) ? Tease apart I think and believe /e/ is a really great initiative, which aligns better with ecology than Fairphone does (so far). If my phone was supported I'd have switched long ago (it's a 2015 sony z5c I bought second hand 3.5 years ago).

> which aligns better with ecology than Fairphone does (so far)

What do you mean by that?

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#29

Get a Pixel 3/4 and throw GrapheneOS on it: https://grapheneos.org/ It's the best non-Google, privacy enhanced experience you can get at the moment.

Wow, I don't see that often, but when I tried (several times) to go to that link I get: Gah. Your tab just crashed. In Firefox (85.0.1 on Ubuntu 18.04). Works fine in Opera, though, and it looks like just a wall of text so I'm not sure why FF would be unhappy.

Firefox Developer, worked fine for me.

Re: Google-free /e/ OS is now selling preloaded phones in the US, starting at $380

#30
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GP is saying that there is market for preflashed custom device even if it's 150 markup. And I agree flashing is no fun. It takes time to find a rom that supports your device well, realize you need to root/unlock bootloader first, etc etc. Most of the time for casual flashing is spent finding the right tools and setting up.

Flashing is one thing, flashing without Google's services is another. My point is if you think flashing is no fun, working around the fact Google has moved more and more functionality to Google Play Services every year is going to be even less fun. This is a product that only enthusiasts will find fun flashing or not, so why even bother paying extra for obsolete hardware? - Edit because people don't like when you poi…

I’m a time strapped, privacy concerned smartphone normie who would love to find a good alternative to Apple / Google to recommend to friends. I use three apps: messaging, web browser, and camera. Seems like those apps are covered in this one.
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