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A lot of people want to ditch both Android and Apple, so /e/ is kicking off as a purely Google-free FOSS OS the author might like more than Lineage, once it get

A lot of people want to ditch both Android and Apple, so /e/ is kicking off as a purely Google-free FOSS OS the author might like more than Lineage, once it gets a little more developed: https://www.xda-developers.com/e-google-free-lineageos-fork-nexus-oneplus-xiaomi/ https://www.xda-developers.com/e-google-free-lineageos-fork-... We're overdue for some viable third option.

guilhas 8y ago
Isn't LineageOS microG already google free?
- SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
  Did you read the author’s issues with that?
  - brownbat 8y ago
    The author talks about lineage, but not micro g, which does sound designed to solve his exact issue. "Android experience relies heavily on Google's Play Services. The microG project creates an alternative to installing Gapps, which install and execute closed-source blobs on our phones. MicroG however requires a patch called "signature spoofing"..."
- Fnoord 8y ago
  Yes, it is, and you can run microG on any Android version without OpenGApps. With microG you still rely on non-free services (Google Play Services, for example); just via open source frameworks. You also, possibly, breach Google's EULA. I do use it. The notifications aren't flawless, since any application using firebase isn't going to work (the old GCM still works for now). Things may break any day. I suppose its akin to being on your own whilst running a Hackintosh except that the software is FOSS. A reasonable alternative is a model where you pay for the software and get a license to run it. For that, you can opt for Sailfish which is almost completely FOSS. Heck, you can run community versions of Sailfish as well but without Alien Dalvik (Android compatibility layer). But I wouldn't depend on such too much. Other alternatives are the Ubuntu Touch/Phone project by UBPorts, and the KDE people are also still alive and kicking. There's postmarketOS, based on Alpine, giving older smartphones a second life. And you can also opt to use a dumbphone plus a mobile device. You don't need to have a smartphone.
aerique 8y ago
I used to have a Jolla when they first came out ditched it because of the crappy camera. I'm going to give Sailfish X another try next week.

guilhas 8y ago

Isn't LineageOS microG already google free?

SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
Did you read the author’s issues with that?
- brownbat 8y ago
  The author talks about lineage, but not micro g, which does sound designed to solve his exact issue. "Android experience relies heavily on Google's Play Services. The microG project creates an alternative to installing Gapps, which install and execute closed-source blobs on our phones. MicroG however requires a patch called "signature spoofing"..."
Fnoord 8y ago
Yes, it is, and you can run microG on any Android version without OpenGApps. With microG you still rely on non-free services (Google Play Services, for example); just via open source frameworks. You also, possibly, breach Google's EULA. I do use it. The notifications aren't flawless, since any application using firebase isn't going to work (the old GCM still works for now). Things may break any day. I suppose its akin to being on your own whilst running a Hackintosh except that the software is FOSS. A reasonable alternative is a model where you pay for the software and get a license to run it. For that, you can opt for Sailfish which is almost completely FOSS. Heck, you can run community versions of Sailfish as well but without Alien Dalvik (Android compatibility layer). But I wouldn't depend on such too much. Other alternatives are the Ubuntu Touch/Phone project by UBPorts, and the KDE people are also still alive and kicking. There's postmarketOS, based on Alpine, giving older smartphones a second life. And you can also opt to use a dumbphone plus a mobile device. You don't need to have a smartphone.

aerique 8y ago

I used to have a Jolla when they first came out ditched it because of the crappy camera. I'm going to give Sailfish X another try next week.