/e/ (operating system)

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/e/
E Foundation logo.png
DeveloperGaël Duval, /e/ Foundation
Repositorygitlab.e.foundation
Package managerAPK-based
PlatformsARM, ARM64
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux)
LicenseApache 2, MIT and other licenses
Official websitee.foundation

/e/ (formerly Eelo) is a free and open-source Android-based mobile operating system and associated online services.[1] The operating system is a fork of LineageOS and Android.[2] The custom firmware is developed by the /e/ Foundation, which was founded by French entrepreneur Gaël Duval. /e/ is presented as privacy software that does not contain proprietary Google apps or services,[3] and challenges the public to "find any parts of the system or default applications that are still leaking data to Google."[4]

Software[]

/e/ is based on LineageOS, a fork of the CyanogenMod and Android operating systems. /e/ uses MicroG as a free and open-source replacement for Google Play Services, and Mozilla Location Service for geolocation.[4][5]

History[]

In 2017, Mandrake Linux creator Gaël Duval proposed the concept of an operating system without privacy-invasive software as a "non-profit project 'in the public interest'". Duval wrote, "Apple, Google, Facebook etc., business models are harmful for our economical and social environments".[6] The operating system was initially called Eelo; the name was inspired by moray eels, which Duval saw as "fish that can hide in the sea".[7][8] Duval launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with an initial goal of €25,000, and received at least €71,000 from contributors.[6][7][9]

ECORP SAS, a privately-held corporation founded in 2018 with Gael Duval President and Alexis Noetinger General Director, operates the online store selling phones with /e/ operating system pre-installed, and the included online services.[10][11]

Eelo was subsequently renamed to /e/ in July 2018 due to a conflict with the "eelloo" trademark, which was owned by human resources company Meurs HRM B.V.[4][12]

Beta versions of /e/ were released for 20 to 30 smartphone models in September 2018.[4][13] As of November 2019 /e/ supported 89 smartphone models.[14] As of April 2020, /e/ was teaming with Fairphone to sell phones.[15]

ESolutions SAS, a privately-held corporation, was formed in January 2020 with Ecorp SAS listed as President and Alexis Noetinger as General Director. ESolutions operates the online store for sales of phones and cloud storage subscriptions.[16][17]

Reception[]

The Free Software Foundation declined to endorse /e/ because it "contains nonfree libraries".[18] Ross Rubin of Fast Company described /e/'s strategy as a "Google-like approach" of maximizing user adoption, in contrast to hardware manufacturer and software developer Purism's "Apple-like approach" of vertical integration.[19] Jack Wallen of TechRepublic believed that /e/ will "prove Android can exist without Google", but predicted that the operating system would not appeal to ordinary smartphone users.[20] Sascha Segan of PC Magazine was "encouraged by /e/, and by its determination to create an easy-to-use (and, hopefully, easy to install) alternative," but was "queasy about the sources of third-party apps on /e/." He also defended /e/ against InfoSec Handbook's criticisms, which /e/ "took to heart and has been working on it in public bug threads anyone can read online."[21] Steven Vaughan-Nichols reviewed a refurbished Samsung phone with pre-installed /e/ paralleling Android 8.1, and found it to be "quite stable," but said "applications can be a pain" and "installing /e/ is a monster of a job."[14] In November 2020, Tim Anderson of The Register said installation of /e/ is "not for the fainthearted" (sic) but the operating system "feels lightweight and responsive" because of "fewer background services than on a typical Android device."[22] In February 2021 Ferdinand Thommes of Linux News .de published a submitted review of Fairphone 3 with pre-installed /e/. They called it "very expensive" and said on initial startup, an operating system update was needed, which took about 15 minutes. After a few minutes the Bliss Launcher was "annoying" so they replaced it with a different launcher from F-Droid, which took "about 3 hours." Fingerprint sensing did not work reliably initially or after a sensor replacement. /e/ support was friendly, competent and quick responding. "Despite all the negative points" they "can recommend both device and operating system."[23]

See also[]

  • Comparison of mobile operating systems
  • Criticism of Google
  • DeGoogle
  • List of custom Android distributions

References[]

  1. ^ Moody, Glyn (8 October 2018). "Now Is the Time to Start Planning for the Post-Android World". Linux Journal. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  2. ^ Schofield, Jack (4 July 2019). "Can I buy a phone that doesn't use anything from Google or Apple?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. ^ Rajan, Nandagopal (1 January 2018). "Eelo, new 'privacy-enabled' smartphone OS, will have no Google inside". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Orlowski, Andrew (24 September 2018). "Open-source alt-droid wants to know if it's still leaking data to Google". The Register. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Meet eelo: An Android-based operating system that doesn't use Google services". BGR India. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. (2 January 2018). "Eelo: A Google-less Android alternative emerges". ZDNet. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Byfield, Bruce (March 2018). "You Say Goodbye, and I Say eelo". Linux Magazine. No. 208. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  8. ^ David, Nash (5 January 2018). "eelo: In conversation with Gaël Duval, creator of the Google-less Android project". BGR India. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  9. ^ Nora, Dominique (13 January 2018). "Eelo, le smartphone qui veut se passer d'Apple et Google". L'Obs (in French). Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  10. ^ "ECORP solutions". ecorp.solutions. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  11. ^ "ECORP S.A.S (CAEN) Chiffre d'affaires, résultat, bilans sur SOCIETE.COM - 840996516". www.societe.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  12. ^ Duval, Gaël (2018-07-14). "Leaving Apple and Google: /e/ is the symbol for "my data is MY data"". Gaël Duval. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  13. ^ Filippone, Dominique (19 September 2018). "Eelo : l'OS mobile open source de Gaël Duval sort en bêta" [Eelo: Gaël Duval's open source mobile OS is released in beta].  [fr] (in French). Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. "The /e/ Google-free, pro-privacy Android phone runs well -- for a beta". ZDNet. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  15. ^ Amadeo, Ron (2020-04-30). "Fairphone and /e/ team up to build open source, sustainable smartphone". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  16. ^ "ESOLUTIONS (PARIS 7) Chiffre d'affaires, résultat, bilans sur SOCIETE.COM - 883789398". www.societe.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  17. ^ E Foundation. "e Cloud Storage Upgrade" Check |url= value (help). E Foundation. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems". Free Software Foundation. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  19. ^ Rubin, Ross (9 August 2019). "These startups aim to smash Apple and Google's smartphone duopoly". Fast Company. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  20. ^ Wallen, Jack (3 October 2018). "Is /e/ good or bad for mobility?". TechRepublic. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  21. ^ Segan, Sascha (October 21, 2019). "Hands On With /e/, a Version of Android That Ditches Google". PCMAG. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  22. ^ Anderson, Tim (November 12, 2020). "Android without Google – and yes it has apps: The Reg talks to founder about the /e/ smartphone". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  23. ^ Thommes, Ferdinand (February 27, 2021). "Erfahrungsbericht: Fairphone 3+ mit vorinstalliertem /e/" (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-28.

External links[]

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