Android @lemdro.id ijeff @lemdro.id 1y ago

A closer look at e/OS: Murena's privacy-first 'deGoogled' Android alternative - TechCrunch

techcrunch.com /2023/09/05/murena-eos-fairphone-4/

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11mo ago

A closer look at e/OS: Murena's privacy-first 'deGoogled' Android alternative

techcrunch.com /2023/09/05/murena-eos-fairphone-4/

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88 comments

We really need a compelling alternative to the Play Store, both as users and developers.
- I would prefer to see a wider embrace of PWAs.
  
  This is what really, really pissed me off about the iPhone. When it launched and they gave it a desktop-class web browser engine and told people they were going all-in in PWAs (though I don't think the term existed at the time). Then v2 came out and they went sike! native apps, must be developed on our PCs, must be distributed by us, you must pay us to be allowed to develop, we take a cut of your income, and we're going to cripple the PWA engine to make universal, open apps all but unusable.
  
  Dicks.
  
  Is there any way of "installing" PWAs to the app drawer rather than been limited to a shortcut on the home screen?
  
  I'd probably agree if I didn't work as an Android developer. :-)
- In what ways do the existing alternatives fall short of compelling?
  
  Can I get my banking app on F-Droid? How about my home security system app? How about a dozen other apps that I want or need, and can't be replaced by loading a website in Firefox?
- Accrescent is in early alpha, but it looks like it's on its way to be a great, modern app store.
  
  checked it out and it needs a lot of time to become a proper competitor
- Aurora store worked well but google got their way recently
  
  It still works, you just need to search for things in the browser then open the links with Aurora
- The only hope here is that EU will force google to allow other stores.
  
  Since when are third party apps disallowed?
Probably not the first degoogled android, but maybe one of the first 'just works' degoogled phones Edit: yep I misread but still true
- Lineage OS by default comes DeGoogled and works just fine. Both phones I ran it on had absolutely no issues. It must be more niche than I thought though because no one here is talking about it.
- At no point does the article claim it is "the first degoogled android".
  
  I see the confusion by op. It says privacy-first, as in privacy is its core function not a first in its class. I think they just misread the title.
I built that ROM back in june and honestly, i don't recommend it, the interface and apps are just terrible and they take almost a year to release a new android version.
- Do they at least provide regular security updates?
  
  Yeah, as long as Lineage does which is better than other ROMs.
  
  Yes, they do
- yes, the apps are mediocre, but there are alternatives. (Also, its the only ROM with official support for my device)
This is the best summary I could come up with:

First up, instead of the usual Google gubbins, replete with the adtech giant’s commercial trackers, /e/OS users will find a set of native open source apps and services Murena has developed to replace all that.

Murena also bakes a set of “advanced” private browsing features into the OS, including a tracker blocker; a location faking option; and the ability to hide your IP address.

On the flip side, when all the switches are set to off each one displays a one-word warning — either “Vulnerable” or “Exposed” — giving users a visible nudge to think about how their online activity might be compromising their privacy.

And this tension between locking everything down (to achieve perfect privacy) and opening select hatches (to boost utility) remains the core confounder for such an ambitious against-the-mainstream-grain tech endeavour.

The wider question is how much highly motivated demand there is to put in the small amount of extra effort required (and possibly also shell out some additional cost) to tread an alternative, less feature-rich path — if, at the end of the day, all you get for your effect is a product that won’t look or feel especially thrilling.

So its conviction of where the mobile puck is headed must be that there’s a growing pool of mainstream Android users with an appetite for iOS-style ‘low friction’ privacy delivered outside Apple’s walled ecosystem.

The original article contains 2,593 words, the summary contains 228 words. Saved 91%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
- Good bot!
Can I install/update my bank apps, and pay with my phone? That's the bare minimum I need to switch to a deGoogled OS.
- Solely depends on your banking app. If it requires Safety Net, you need to flash gapps on any ROM, or have a microg preflashed version.
  
  Btw, i only need to hold my MasterCard on the card read and enter a pin if over 70 CHF. This isn't common?
  
  [This comment has been deleted by an automated system]
  
  The OS includes microG which has a SafetyNet implementation
  
  Just because contactless exists doesn't mean that you wouldn't want the ability to pay with your phone.
I hope more newer phones get supported by them.

I have a samsung galaxy s23 and I need to scratch my de-google / custom rom itch.
- I'm pretty sure graphene os has been doing this for a while now, check them out
  
  GrapheneOS only supports modern pixels though. LineageOS is the one with the largest compatibility with both modern and older devices.
Have been using it for a while on my Fairphone 3, just works nicely :)
I'm using iode which is very similar and I'm happy with it. It's a good compromise. It doesn't have any google apps, have some additional security and privacy protections and 'it just works'.
Been using it on my Oneplus 6t and been liking it so far
Wish I could try it out but couldn't successfully install it on my device. So I'm sticking with LOS. LOS is already good enough (if not great) as it's stable and gets update more often.
a modified lineageOS, craaaazy innovation
Man they really want to try and sell iPhones here.

88 comments