1 yr. ago • 97%

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

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

Murena is in the business of deGoogling Android smartphones in the name of privacy. The French/European firm has been doing this for around five years, as We recently got our hands on a Fairphone 4 running Murena's tracker-blocking /e/OS. Our curiosity was piqued to see an alternative OS running on ...

Hacker News @derp.foo A closer look at e/OS: Murena's privacy-first 'deGoogled' Android alternative

TechNews @radiation.party [TECHCRUNCH] A closer look at e/OS: Murena’s privacy-first ‘deGoogled’ Android alternative

88 comments

We really need a compelling alternative to the Play Store, both as users and developers.

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  85
  
  Yeah, I have it, but I can't install 3/4 of the apps I use on a daily basis from there.
  
  15
  
  The security model or lack of same concerns me.
  
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- I would prefer to see a wider embrace of PWAs.
  
  19
  
  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.
  
  24
  
  I'd probably agree if I didn't work as an Android developer. :-)
  
  3
  
  Is there any way of "installing" PWAs to the app drawer rather than been limited to a shortcut on the home screen?
  
  3
- In what ways do the existing alternatives fall short of compelling?
  
  18
  
  Can only answer for myself but F-Droid is limited, Aurora is still the Play Store, and Amazon is... depending on your view.. worse than the Play Store itself. A shame the Play Store is the default.
  
  18
  
  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?
  
  5
- Accrescent is in early alpha, but it looks like it's on its way to be a great, modern app store.
  
  8
  
  checked it out and it needs a lot of time to become a proper competitor
  
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- Aurora store worked well but google got their way recently
  
  6
  
  It still works for me intermittently, but yes. Google is going to Google.
  
  8
  
  It still works, you just need to search for things in the browser then open the links with Aurora
  
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- The only hope here is that EU will force google to allow other stores.
  
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  Since when are third party apps disallowed?
  
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Probably not the first degoogled android, but maybe one of the first 'just works' degoogled phones Edit: yep I misread but still true

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- 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.
  
  16
  
  I have Lineage installed on an older phone. I think it gets less attention than it might otherwise because for the average user, the install process is a pain in the memory space.
  
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- At no point does the article claim it is "the first degoogled android".
  
  10
  
  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.
  
  11
- I have some deeply tech unsavvy people in my life who will fuck up their phone trying to "uninstall Google" - and thus disable all their keyboards - that would probably benefit from a "just works" degoogled phone. I love GrapheneOS, but it assumes the end user is the sort of dork that is capable of installing it in the first place - people who struggle with tech deserve privacy too.
  
  3
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.

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- Do they at least provide regular security updates?
  
  5
  
  Yeah, as long as Lineage does which is better than other ROMs.
  
  4
  
  Yes, they do
  
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- yes, the apps are mediocre, but there are alternatives. (Also, its the only ROM with official support for my device)
  
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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!

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- Good bot!
  
  3
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.

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- 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?
  
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  The OS includes microG which has a SafetyNet implementation
  
  5
  
  Just because contactless exists doesn't mean that you wouldn't want the ability to pay with your phone.
  
  1
This article really highlights all the fears I have of moving away from stock Android. I value my privacy but when I pick up my phone I want it to work, I don't want to have to use some weird app store and another phone to get apps I need. I know Google maps sucks for privacy but it works so well, that's obviously how they plan to keep you there, but nothing else can offer such a close experience.

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- I've actually been enjoying OsmAnd / OsmAnd+, which was recently recommended by someone here. It's open source and runs more fluidly than Google Maps (which is locked to 60 hz). With that said, it doesn't have live traffic built-in (and while you can add Google live traffic overlays, it doesn't seem to get used for routing).
  
  11
  
  Sucks that the one feature that would get me to use (Android auto) is locked behind a paywall.
  
  5
- I think people are going to extremes when it comes to Google and privacy.
  
  Google has no need to track you personally. They use the location service so YOU can get directions and have a history of where you've been, if you want. You can turn this off of course.
  
  The same with all their other services.
  
  I'm not saying they are innocent children, for example I don't like their web tracking tech (cookies, trackers) and I don't care for ads. Not a fan of them scanning my email either, even if it's anonymous.
  
  But you don't have to use Gmail and your can use as blockers and tracker blockers etc.
  
  Their privacy settings are quite robust and you can turn anything off your don't like.
  
  But they are very convenient with all their services. Having everything synced and available on literally any device is a significant service which is not easy to replicate. Even self hosting this stuff becomes a real pain and expensive.
  
  I've tried ungoogled ROM's and it's simply not worth it. A phone without Google services is near useless and much harder to use.
  
  My neighbour has a Huawei and it has no Google apps and it's a nightmare to get anything done on that thing. Even something simple like cast to your Google TV is impossible on that thing. He has to use 3rd party maps apps which suck, has no device backup, if he loses the phone he's lost all his photo's and contacts and notes etc.
  
  Basically it sucks.
  
  Just use full milk Android and be aware of what permissions you grant apps and don't sideload anything dodgy and you'll be fine.
  
  Plus I pay only €20 a year for Google One with 100GB storage which I can also share with me wife. You simply cannot beat that price even if you self host. Plus they backup everything so your stuff should be 100% safe.
  
  -9
  
  Google has no need to track you personally.
  
  ☑ You have no clue about the advertising market.
  
  13
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.

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- I'm pretty sure graphene os has been doing this for a while now, check them out
  
  1
  
  GrapheneOS only supports modern pixels though. LineageOS is the one with the largest compatibility with both modern and older devices.
  
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Have been using it for a while on my Fairphone 3, just works nicely :)

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Been using it on my Oneplus 6t and been liking it so far

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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'.

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a modified lineageOS, craaaazy innovation

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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.

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- Any reason to believe Graphene pings google?
  
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- So, someone tested it before and found that issue. I’m sure people will be testing it again. It’s pretty easy to do.
  
  2
- Can you expand on why? I'm not very well versed on Android OS or their firmware.
  
  1
  
  Because your phone has an entire OS- the baseband layer that runs under android and is completely out of the users or Androids control.
  
  When you put your phone in airplane mode for example this doesn't stop your phone from connecting to cell towers. All you are doing is removing your ability to control the connection.
  
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- But it does have an app store, one that functions similarly to Aurora. Also nothing is forcing you to use that cloud storage, use whichever you want!
  
  5
Man they really want to try and sell iPhones here.

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