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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

#11

Post by fsflover »

alexb_ wrote: post #10
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.

I'm using Pinephone as a daily driver (and waiting for Librem 5 to replace it) and avoid all proprietary Android apps. But you in principle can install them with Waydroid or Anbox.

See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32396685.

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

#13

Post by 0xbadcafebee »

"We are making a mobile phone ecosystem that lets users escape the permanent and industrial harvesting of their personal data."

I have never heard any normal person ever talk about data privacy. It feels like there's this giant bubble that the tech world lives in, and they are the only people who care about this issue.

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

#15

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

#16

Post by commoner »

colordrops wrote: post #5

Eventually it would be nice if they could contribute to Osmand and get it up to snuff for daily use and replace Magic Earth.

Organic Maps has a simple user interface that makes it a more similar FOSS replacement for Magic Earth.

- Organic Maps: https://organicmaps.app

OsmAnd is a heavyweight with more features, including an advanced OSM editor, trip recording, Mapillary street view, and other plugins, for those that need them.

- OsmAnd: https://osmand.net

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

#17

Post by Aransentin »

Grazester wrote: post #14

I feel like I wouldn't use this based on the name alone. How do I say it? forward slash ee forward slash? I don't understand why anyone would think it was a good idea to name it this!

My immediate reaction was that it was some sort of 4chan project, tounge-in-cheek named after their softcore porn board (also named "/e/").

I'd wager I'm not the only one thinking that.

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

#18

Post by MichaelCollins »

Grazester wrote: post #14

I feel like I wouldn't use this based on the name alone. How do I say it? forward slash ee forward slash? I don't understand why anyone would think it was a good idea to name it this!

When I see slash letter slash I think "a board on 4chan". In this case, it happens to be a pornographic board.

Bad name all around.

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

#19

Post by softfalcon »

Grazester wrote: post #14

I feel like I wouldn't use this based on the name alone. How do I say it? forward slash ee forward slash? I don't understand why anyone would think it was a good idea to name it this!

A solid product name is important for marketing, to be sure.

However, it's also a way that native English folks prejudice against foreign products that are arguably very useful and valuable.

I'm not saying you're wrong in doing what everyone does and allowing the marketing naming to sway your decision. However, I would gently suggest that you take a more critical approach and evaluate the actual product instead of letting something as simple as naming deter you from using a product.

After all, kubernetes is complicated and stupid sounding, but we can just rebrand it to "Google Cloud" or whatever and people will love it. Same can be done for /e/... they'll just call it "NextPhone" or some other catchy name.

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

#20

Post by commoner »

fsflover wrote: post #11
alexb_ wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I'm using Pinephone as a daily driver (and waiting for Librem 5 to replace it) and avoid all proprietary Android apps. But you in principle can install them with Waydroid or Anbox. See also: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32396685 .

WayDroid is more usable than a lot of people would expect. Here's a demo from 10 months ago:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dyOgI8PRt9w

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