anyone got any experience with /e/OS (de-googled) android? -fairphone

synth-ruiner

I wouldn't mind some advice as well - basically I have no interest in owning a smartphone, but practically everyone in my country insists on using a proprietary, facebook-owned chat service that's restricted to smartphone users only (Whatsapp).

I've recently been getting by using a feature phone that has Whatsapp support, but they're discontinuing support at the end of the year, so I need to get something else.

Is it possible to install it on a de-googled Android fork (or whatever alternative OS) or would I have to use official Android? (e: apparently yes, I answered my own question by reading the Calyx website, very helpful)

Lucien_Lachance

xjdwc calyx looks interesting, shame i cant find any of those motorolas here in norway

Lucien_Lachance

so i ordered the murena fp5
guess itll arrive some time next week
ill let u know how it works out, bearing in mind i dont have much to compare it with

thanks for all info/input/opinions

lf-araujo

Lucien_Lachance keep up posted!

Milicija

I used /e/OS briefly a while back, It's pretty neat. The bliss launcher that comes by default tries to look and act a bit more like ios, if that's your thing. Not too hard to set up microG if you need some google stuffs. Can't use google pay and some banking apps though I don't think, as the rom will only pass basic play integrity without spoofing. I wish there was an open source alternative to google pay, as having a layer between my card and a merchant is nice.

Never used a fairphone, they are not available in my country. They do look neat though!

Lucien_Lachance

just received it. havent played with it much yet. seems sturdy. rather big, would pay for one thats 2/3 size, that wont stick out of my back pocket.

ddint even install the sim yet, will do later when im less busy and stuff

synth-ruiner

Lucien_Lachance I got an /e/os phone today as well. I can't seem to install anything on it, not sure what's going on there. pretty frustrating so far.

(edit: just needed to restart it I think, things are going better now)

diagnostics0

Pinephone Pro would be what I would get if I ever could leave the Apple ecosystem.

Lucien_Lachance

synth-ruiner hmm
i still havent put in the sim, trying to go thru all the settings. so far information overload. need sleep

synth-ruiner

Lucien_Lachance got it all sorted out in the end. hope it works out OK for the both of us!

Lucien_Lachance

stupid question altert!
do the dialer and sms apps need to be running to receive calls and text messages?

AlphaElwedritsch

Lucien_Lachance no, not active

Lucien_Lachance

AlphaElwedritsch as in no, they dont need to be running as in visible in the taskbar or rather alt-tab like thing that shows all open apps?

anyway, progress
sim installed
wifi connected (turns out scanning the QR code on the router web interface was easier than typing passwords)
currently applying a 1.6 gig update
finger print reader working as well, pretty nice, and nicest of all no google

AlphaElwedritsch

Lucien_Lachance as in no, they dont need to be running as in visible in the taskbar or rather alt-tab like thing that shows all open apps?
right

Lucien_Lachance and nicest of all no google
no google apps, but not google free. That's a difference

Lucien_Lachance

AlphaElwedritsch they claim it will never connect to google

AlphaElwedritsch

You know this site?
https://eylenburg.github.io/android_comparison.htm

/e/OS

Phones home to Google out of box, despite being “degoogled”
- https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/android_prebuilts_prebuiltapks_lfs/-/blob/main/GmsCore/microg.xml#L3
Enables Safetynet checks by default which downloads and executes obfuscated proprietary code from Google
- https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/android_prebuilts_prebuiltapks_lfs/-/blob/main/GmsCore/microg.xml#L7-8
Includes proprietary Google Widevine DRM on nearly all devices
- https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/devices/android_device_fairphone_FP4/-/blob/119e5d6fd7891ea02389a5e4fce5ad651774954e/proprietary-files.txt#L360-365

I've been through them all and have been working intensively on the subject for several years.
I currently have 3 Pixel (daily driver) with Graphene OS, an iode and a DivestOS device in use. Also two tablets with iode GSI

The insight: murena talks a lot until the day is over. You can't blindly believe everything.

I'm not trying to convert you, not by any stretch of the imagination
I don't want to start a religious war here either.
Everyone is free to choose what they want to use.
I am very reserved and accept every opinion.

I just want to tell you:
You have to deal with all ROMs and not believe the first thing that comes along.

brent

AlphaElwedritsch most fascinating phone chart I ever saw (your 1st link) and this will go a long way to me making a decision.
All models, including Graphene, connect to google at sim activation.
Lineage is the only OS that has NO google play services installed at all and no implementation to do so, and I like that. Graphene does, but they sandbox it if you choose to use it.
What Graphene does that no one else does is harden the kernel, memory, and a tons of software and firmware. Nobody can touch them there.
And Lineage is tethered to google for all call outs, many with no choice. If it wasn't for that, Lineage would look like the best fit for me. I got this bookmarked, thank you.

brent

I've had the luxury of a couple free hours to research this and the more I read it becomes absurd. A pixel phone, the one made by google and sold by google...why would anyone put a "de-googled" OS on that..and trust it? Seems ludicrous. Still reading.

AlphaElwedritsch

You can start reading from here and you know why...
And why are pixels the only supported devices.
For me, there's no alternative

https://grapheneos.org/faq#device-support

brent

AlphaElwedritsch And why are pixels the only supported devices.

I've read reviews of people installing these OS's on unlocked androids. as well. edit: well your link clearly shows graphene is pixel only.

Pixel: $600 (edt: seeing sme nice refurbs for 150 and up!)
Android: $175
me: $0.00
android looks the best or I will stay in DumbPhone land another decade. I'm OK with that, except for all the funny looks..