Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

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

thenewleafjournal.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 245 posts

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

#21

Post by eldaisfish »

softfalcon wrote: post #19
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 le…

something named /e/ has literally no obvious means of pronunciation in any human language. This really is on a different level of stupid for a name.

You mention Kubernetes. I raise you Microsoft Kaizala. That is such a stupid name in English even though i recognise and know the language it is from - Marathi.

Naming is a delicate game and there are numerous examples of brand names that transcend language - Ikea, Nissan, Mitsubishi and so on.

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

#22

Post by ReadTheLicense »

mrsteveman1 wrote: post #6
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.

My point is, there's practically nothing Google related in my phone already. I am going through the settings and apps and can't find anything. Is LineageOS special in this regard? I thought this is the common AOSP experience, I had it the same with other ROMs.

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

#23

Post by fezfight »

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #13

"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.

Good it happens at all. These people are the last bastions of hope.

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

#25

Post by jlkuester7 »

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!

I have been following this project for years. I think they lost their original name to a copyright claim (the claim seemed a stretch, but whatever). /e/ was supposed to be the temp name, and they have forever been discussing how it needs to change.... Not sure why it has never happened.

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

#26

Post by commoner »

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!

/e/ sells smartphones preloaded with /e/ OS through its sister company Murena:

https://murena.com/products/smartphones/

It would make sense for /e/ to rebrand to Murena OS, if they're willing to change their name.

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

#27

Post by fezfight »

commoner wrote: post #16
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

I can vouch that organic maps is really quite nice, straight forward and familiar.

OSMAnd is more fun, in my opinion, because of all the features but if you're looking for familiar, organic maps is the way to go.

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

#29

Post by eldaisfish »

0xbadcafebee wrote: post #13

"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.

this is my #1 complaint as well. These OSs must be easy to install and reliable. Having parts of the OS crash, dealing with the terminal, using ADB over USB... all of that makes zero sense to the average person or someone pressed for time.

I now want my phone to work and that is why i use iOS. Having to replace the OS on your phone is already a step too far for most. The install instructions here require using the terminal and typing commands - not going to happen for most people.

IMHO, the easiest path to adoption is to have a hardware manufacturer put this OS on their phones. No installation required.

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

#30

Post by colordrops »

commoner wrote: post #16
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

Organic Maps is nice, thanks for the pointer.

Maps.me looks very similar - are they related somehow?

Post reply on HN