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Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

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Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#3

Post by chomp »

From /e/'s site, de-googling (because the review didn't go in depth on this):

    - To remove or disable any feature or code that is sending data to Google servers, or at least to anonymize those accesses

    - To offer non-Google default online services, including for search.

    - the Google default search engine is removed and replaced by other services

    - Google Services are replaced by microG and alternative services

    - All Google apps are removed and replaced by equivalent Open Source applications. The one exception is the Maps Application (Looks like it also uses Google's browser Chromium, though with privacy patches)

    - No use of Google servers to check connectivity

    - NTP servers are not Google NTP servers anymore

    - DNS default servers are not Google anymore, and their settings can be enforced by the user to a specific server

    - Geolocation is using Mozilla Location Services in addition to GPS

    - CalDAV/CardDAV management and synchronization application (DAVDroid) is fully integrated with the user account and calendar/contact application

Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#4

Post by colordrops »

ReadTheLicense wrote: post #2

What's the difference from AOSP as it is - can't find that in the article? AFAIK (I have it on my phone) there's nothing Google in there already, no changes needed. Google services and apps have to be installed and I simply didn't do that.

I think AOSP still does things like using google for DNS, connectivity checks, time sync, etc even without google play services installed.

Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#6

Post by mrsteveman1 »

ReadTheLicense wrote: post #2

What's the difference from AOSP as it is - can't find that in the article? AFAIK (I have it on my phone) there's nothing Google in there already, no changes needed. Google services and apps have to be installed and I simply didn't do that.

As I understand it:

The Google related things that are excluded from AOSP are things that Google doesn't want them to be there, for whatever reason.

The Google related things that are excluded from this project are things that users don't want them to be there at all, i.e. everything Google related.

Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#7

Post by fsflover »

In my humble opinion, relying on custom ROMs running mandatory non-free drivers is a road to nowhere, long term, due to their unavoidable planned obsolescence. And it always has been. Supporting GNU/Linux phones is the way to improve future privacy and security (despite they may not be as secure as some Android custom ROMs are yet).

Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#9

Post by [deleted] »

chomp wrote: post #3

From /e/'s site, de-googling (because the review didn't go in depth on this): - To remove or disable any feature or code that is sending data to Google servers, or at least to anonymize those accesses - To offer non-Google default online services, including for search. - the Google default search engine is removed and replaced by other services - Google Services are replaced by microG and alternative services - All G…

[deleted]

Re: Review of /e/ – Android-based alternative for mobile phones

#10

Post by alexb_ »

fsflover wrote: post #7

In my humble opinion, relying on custom ROMs running mandatory non-free drivers is a road to nowhere, long term , due to their unavoidable planned obsolescence. And it always has been. Supporting GNU/Linux phones is the way to improve future privacy and security (despite they may not be as secure as some Android custom ROMs are yet).

Unfortunately for that idea, I would like my phone to actually just function normally, and have support for programs that Android uses. You are making perfect the enemy of good here.
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