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/e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

e.foundation

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Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#101

Post by microtonal »

ploum wrote: post #36
mrbn100ful wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everything have to be perfect. For some user, /e/ is more approachable (Friendly and colorful UI) I could not get my mother to use GrapheneOS, /e/ is a lot simpler. Still miles better than to use a Default ROM from most OEM.

Exactly! If you can use GrapheneOS, good for you but what /e/OS offers is: - Usable Android with your usual Android app (banking, etc) - No data sent to Google by default - Easier interface with nearly no bloatware - Available easily on many smartphones, including older ones - Extending the life of some smartphones The price to pay is: - Some Murena cloud bloatware - Android security patches are sometimes delayed - S…

I have phones with both, but I don't necessarily agree that /e/OS is easier. E.g. things like doing or restoring in-app purchases often do not work, even when logging in through microG. Want that nice backup option that Signal is now offering? Well, good luck, you cannot purchase it on /e/OS (at least I couldn't). In general when it comes to compatibility, my experience is that GrapheneOS is better because it can use real Google Play Services, albeit sandboxed. I think you can use the Play Store on /e/OS as well, but it's going to have higher privileges.

No data sent to Google by default

Not true. /e/OS does send data to Google by default: https://www.kuketz-blog.de/e-datenschutzfreundlich-bedeutet-...

They also use Google for assisted GPS when you use it, eSIM provisioning, widevine provisioning. Last time I checked, microG on /e/OS also downloads a Google binary blob for SafetyNet.

Besides analytics, if you install Google Apps (e.g. for Android Auto), many of them get higher privileges on /e/OS.

The price to pay is:

I would also add installing F-Droid apps (if you use App Lounge) through 'CleanAPK', without wanting to reveal why this is necessary or who owns/maintains CleanAPK.

They do quite a lot of fishy stuff. It may be incompetence, but yeah...

If your main concern is protecting against state actors attacks or very specific threats

This always sounds like systems like GrapheneOS are for paranoid people. But this is basically you if you ever go to a demonstration (e.g. in the US) or cross borders of certain countries (e.g. of the US), sadly things like Cellebrite have become very common. Then suddenly layered protection, not running years behind in security patches, a duress pin, or rebooting after not unlocking for a few minutes to get back to BFU aren't so bad. (IANAL, figure out yourself which of these are legal and not destruction of evidence.)

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#102

Post by fransje26 »

fmo1973 wrote: post #81
fransje26 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The irony of this is that when using Firefox to browse to /e/OS url to check for compatible devices: https://e.foundation/installer/ I get a pop-up telling me that my browser is not compatible, and I should use Edge, Opera or Chrome. See [1] [1] https://imgur.com/a/al1Q9DM

I think it's due to the lack of WebUSB API support in Firefox, it is needed for the web installer, both for eOS and GrapheneOS

As I explained elsewhere in this post, I got to this installer page by clicking on "Check device compatibility" on the https://e.foundation/e-os/ page.

So I was actually expecting a device listing page, not a WebUSB program.

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#103

Post by HunOL »

pferde wrote: post #98
HunOL wrote: post #84

I'm currently looking for a new Android phone. I don't like the Pixel and deep integration with Google. I looked at the Fairphone with /e/OS and the Pixel with GrapheneOS, but unfortunately there's no certainty that everything will work or where the boundary is between Google Android and "clean" Android. For example, it turned out that Android Auto is essentially Google Auto and I don't what find out what is dependen…

Pixel's "deep integration with Google" is in the OS, so if you replace the OS with GrapheneOS, there is no deep integration anymore.

Yes, but I made an argument about /e/OS and GrapheneOS. You never knows what will work or stop working.

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#104

Post by ementally »

miroljub wrote: post #8
lpcvoid wrote: post #2

There's absolutely no reason to use /e/ when GrapheneOS exists. https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm

But GrapheneOS doesn't exist. It works only on a few devices created by Google, so their claim of being degoogled is a bit funny.

Literally announced today partnership with Motorola to bring it to their devices.

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#105

Post by ptman »

trelliumD wrote: post #55

I have both a Jolla C2 phone, and an E/Os device, on a nothing CMS1 phone. Both are great. I like the Jolla Phone for its SailfishOS, which has great UI/Ux. I am less enthusiastic about the hardware. (good enough though) The E/OS really is good, all apps work good, and really much is done for privacy protection. But if the hardware is more performant, and with a few extra features i'd still opt for SailfishOS

https://commerce.jolla.com/products/jolla-phone-preorder

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#106

Post by _ache_ »

microtonal wrote: post #86
chrisjj wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What IA?

/e/OS speech to text uploads your speech to OpenAI. (I think IA was a typo.)

Yeah, it's a typo (I'm french speaking, AI is IA in french and sometime I type it in french instead of english).

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#107

Post by microtonal »

soufron wrote: post #59

Well E/OS is mainly about privacy. And about getting rid of Google. And it works. To me that's more important and it's a better vision.

I you ever cross a border or attend a demonstration, privacy requires security. Unfortunately, /e/OS (and most hardware) is severely lacking in that department.

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#108

Post by microtonal »

ralferoo wrote: post #68

Honestly, I don't quite understand this. I get the appeal of degoogling, but this seems to just be replacing that with alternatives run by another commercial company, just one I've never heard of before. Why does it even need "One account for your privacy" ... "Operated by Murena, your Murena Workspace account @murena.io is at the centre of the ecosystem" when it'd be even better to have everything on-device without…

Even more, Murena seems to be owned by Qwant

Source? (would be interesting if it was)

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#109

Post by _ache_ »

soufron wrote: post #60
_ache_ wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I must agree, you are right, GOS is only on Pixel phones. But we have to keep in mind that /e/ has a lot of problems, the only one solved is sending data to Google. The security aspect of the OS is problematic and some key elements of a privacy seem questioning (AI integration, commercial collaborations, ...). Fix: IA => AI typo and various English errors.

Like what problems? I am using /e/ daily for myself and my family, and it's working like a charm.

The OS is working well, but have privacy and security concerns. Is it better than a stock OS? I don't know, maybe, maybe not, it depends on the stock OS.

Re: /e/OS is a complete, fully “deGoogled” mobile ecosystem

#110

Post by microtonal »

bramhaag wrote: post #75

> open-source means auditable privacy This is what that auditing actually reveals: * /e/OS sends user speech data to OpenAI without consent [1], and thought this was ok until they got caught [2]. * /e/OS massively delays security patches, and calls this a "standard industry practice" [3]. Meanwhile, GrapheneOS' opt-in security preview releases provide early access to security updates prior to official disclosure [4].…

And they give privileged access to a bunch of Google apps if you need them for e.g. Android Auto:

https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/GmsCore/-/blob/a9e102567518...

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