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

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

#371

Post by abustamam »

a_victorp wrote: post #355
abustamam wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it interesting that there are so many comments that are saying "Don't use this one use this one it's better!" But what I think a lot of people are missing is what you exactly just touched on. We have options! That's a good thing. Yeah, some options are not as good as others if you wanna optimize for X. Then don't use that option! Use the option that works for you. To me, the fact that alternatives exist on var…

I think it's not a bad thing that people make the "Don't use this one use this one it's better!" comment, at least from my perspective. That is one way I end up learning about the options I have!

I agree, but it's more the attitude that's like "we don't need option X because we have option Y that works for me"

But it's great that we have both X and Y to begin with!

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

#372

Post by bramhaag »

mixmastamyk wrote: post #349
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].…

Your speech data assertion looks to be inaccurate, the user does have to opt in. Nor does the response sound like a mea culpa. I wouldn't use it, but seems reasonable for people who might want to.

Yes, sent*, not sends. Before they got called out, it was opt-out. No consent dialog, warning, or any other sort of confirmation before sending audio to OpenAI. The keyboard is auto-enabled.

Almost half a year after the controversy started, they added a consent dialog (https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/murena-voice-to-text/-/comm...). A few months later, they actually made the consent dialog function as intended (https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/murena-voice-to-text/-/comm...). Mistakes happen, but initially Murena:

1. sent voice messages to OpenAI

2. did not anonymise said voice messages, only their origin

3. did not ask the user for consent

4. ignored the user's consent after they started asking for it

That is not a good look for a privacy-focused OS. There is now a working consent dialog before using this feature, and audio is actually anonymised (random pitch shifting + filtering + noise), but it took them nearly 8 months to address all of this after getting called out.

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

#373

Post by subscribed »

eloisant wrote: post #38
izacus wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

/e/OS is Android, meaning it's still critically dependent on goodwill of Google to continue releasing their work as part of AOSP. So if you're trying to be a silly purist, then /e/OS doesn't fit either. If you're not, getting a Pixel will significantly enhance your safety since they're better supported for security patches and better designed in hardware when it comes to security.

> /e/OS is Android So is GrapheneOS

At least GrapheneOS is releasing up to date OS versions and patches very quickly, quicker than all the vendors except Google.

And in terms of the security, they release binary patches for the exploits under embargo until...... mid-2026. Remember November 2025 security bulletin? Multiple RCEs, media wrote articles about that.... Meanwhile GOS was long patched.

Look at /e/OS releases now: https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/releases/-/releases

What is the most recent version? 3.5. What Android revision is it based on? Lineage 22.2, which is Android 15.

It also claims that it includes "all Android security patches available as of February, 2nd 2026" .....but not all patches get back ported, meaning they miss many fixes and improvements.

And that's just the start.

Tbh I'd rather run Lineage Os on the older phone that this.

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

#375

Post by JCattheATM »

Forgeties79 wrote: post #229
abighamb wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it such a burden to write them a letter stating, "Because you have decided to disable my electronic access, I am notifying you that I withdraw my consent to e-delivery. Please provide me statements and directions to mail you a check for payment." Maybe spend 20-30 min to find the specific laws that give you the right to do that and remind them of their timelines to comply. Send a letter like that certified. It get…

Not everyone has the time and resources to battle their utilities and bank(s). I know it’s important and sustained effort is necessary even if it’s hard, but we are talking about massive populations here and most people simply can’t or won’t fight that battle on their own. Organizing a large pushback is also a huge effort. And at the end of the day, there is an easy solution for folks: buy a “proper” smart phone that…

> Not everyone has the time and resources to battle their utilities and bank(s).

They do, they just don't want to. Typing a short letter and mailing it is very little effort. Less so with AI these days.

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

#376

Post by Sateallia »

p0w3n3d wrote: post #323

That's great! However, when I see "murena unified account" I feel like one thing is replaced with another. I'd like to be able to synchronize my android-like open os phone with my own cloud. It's really not a rocket science...

I've been using /e/OS on my phone for a few months now. It comes with built-in DAVx5. Their hosted offering is just another provider and using your own cloud provider is the same process as using theirs. Even their device locator integration is independent from their hosted offering. Of all the Android distributions I've used, it's the one that does providing a hosted service best and it was honestly refreshing.

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

#377

Post by johnnyanmac »

wao0uuno wrote: post #298
well_ackshually wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is _the_ 2FA device. from SMS, to authenticators, to password managers, etc. It also has access to all of your personal information, your pictures, your contacts, your email. It actively receives notifications and messages from the outside world, from potentially any sender. It's connected through WiFi, GPS, 5G, bluetooth, UWB, every possible connection system imaginable. It can listen to your phone calls, read yo…

My Linux laptop is my 2FA device (email), it holds my passwords, and personal data like photos, contacts, email. It receives notifications and messages from outside world from potentially any sender. It connects through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 5G (built in WWAN). It even has cameras, microphones and I use it for my online banking and shopping. The only reason why smartphones "need" to be ultra secure is because e…

Well yes. Security measures aren't for the principled tech saavy scene who is up to date on the latest malware and exploits. That's how Apple rose to power; it put convenience first and told users it'd worry about all the privacy stuff for them.

A bit contradictory, but that's what the people want. They (as a mass) always choose convenience over both freedom and security. So that's why we always converge towards a centralized power, in tech and the larger world.

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

#378

Post by johnnyanmac »

wao0uuno wrote: post #299
bornfreddy wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about Sailfish OS? I heard good things about it, but didn't dare switch... yet. Does anyone have some 1st hand experience?

I believe it's a paid OS now. Requires subscription. It was already dead before they announced it so I guess it's deader than dead now. Edit: So apparently they're launching new hardware so maybe it's not as dead as I thought it is.

Tbh, if all of us chipping in to pay for maintenance is the only viable way to stop enshittification, maybe it's something to ponder. I would have scoffed at paying for search a decade ago, but Kagi is more and more attractive by the day. Making a financial incentive to maintain trust seems to be the one obvious way to achieve a "principled OS".

But I guess that's all wishful thinking. Even getting a one time payment to switch to a new OS is difficult.

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

#379

Post by ta8903 »

jasonvorhe wrote: post #368
goldenarm wrote: post #9

Tweaking user-hostile OSes into user-friendly ones is impressive, but not sustainable. Even worse, it slowing us down from leaving Android entirely. Look at the AdBlocker crackdown of Google Chrome. Every single chrome-fork has shut down MV2 extensions, even Brave is about to do it, because it is impossible to maintain features that complex on a browser that Google spends >$1B/year to develop. Same story for /e/ and…

I don't get what's so user-hostile about Android. Everything negative about the ecosystem is mostly Google Play and the legacy of every OEM forking Android for the better part of a decade. Sure, file pickers are inconsistent, filesystem is chaotic but it's performing quite well on most hardware, runs on phones, TVs, laptops, tablets and mini PCs and AOSP doesn't contain any hooks for Google to siphon off data. Graphe…

>I don't get what's so user-hostile about Android.

How about the fact that you can't install applications without having a google account. Right from the get go, it isn't a serious OS.

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

#380

Post by izacus »

pessimizer wrote: post #334
izacus wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

/e/OS is Android, meaning it's still critically dependent on goodwill of Google to continue releasing their work as part of AOSP. So if you're trying to be a silly purist, then /e/OS doesn't fit either. If you're not, getting a Pixel will significantly enhance your safety since they're better supported for security patches and better designed in hardware when it comes to security.

> So if you're trying to be a silly purist Could you not do this? There's no need to be hostile to people who purer than you are. It's fine if you want to make a pragmatic decision to do what works now, but you depend on people who to some degree don't want to compromise. But I always suspect this type of hostility comes from guilt being directed outward; what you actually should want to do instead is support people…

I'm hot "hostile" against purists, I just think they're silly. That's not the same :)

Words have meaning you know, and I have no intention of doing violence towards anyone.

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