How in the long term will this be any different from Google?
Reading the features of /e/, it recommends the use of a an @e.email account (like Google and their recommendation of a gmail account), /e/ runs their own cloud service for your files (like Google), and pre-installs apps of their choosing (like Google). I'm struggling to see the difference.
What I want is an open OS on my phone, with the ability to properly remove any pre-installed apps, and to choose all my own apps from my own sources. And to be able to auto-backup my files to my own private cloud. That's the only way I'll feel properly in control of my own phone.
I seriously wish they went with Motorola. Almost all phones are officially unlockable. They are also available at reasonable price (€100-200 - Moto G4 to newer ones).
Sorry US hn readers, we Europeans do not (may be rarely have) have locked/carrier controlled phones.
> we Europeans do not (may be rarely have) have locked/carrier controlled phones.
I think it's fairly common with subsidized pay as you go phones (at least in the UK), since the network has to earn back the subsidy somehow. With phones on a contract, it's not necessary since you're locked in to the contract, but even so, it at least used to be the rule that the phone would be locked to the network, but they would provide the unlock code once your contract was over.
I can get a Moto G4 unlocked for $100-200 in the US. Its just that people desire phone far more expensive than they can realistically afford so they will keep financing it.
No, not "now available". This is NOT a pre sale: you’ll go through a 0€ checkout process (you won’t be asked for any payment details). This is the best way for us to plan for volumes by market, and to keep you informed when products are available.
I have a Caterpillar-branded phone which has never run much Google software. I bought it new, and when it ran the startup program asking for a Google account, I answered "Later". Then I deleted the startup app, installed F-Droid, and deleted almost all Google stuff, although not Google Play Services. That breaks too much. Other than Google Play Services, you can turn almost everything Google off without side effects. Then install replacements from F-Droid's open source store.
That's the big headache - Google Play Services. Does /e/ have a good replacement for them?
This is well appreciated. I was recently shocked/surprised, after running a netstat, at the number of open network sockets. Even worse, stopping all apps with netguard, still lets 'system' open a connection to GOOG's servers! This is absolutely horrifying; I wonder what kind of data big brother Google has on me and billions like me.
it's not clear to me but where is /e/ based? is it American or Chinese (or even Russia) based? how would that be different from Google, honest question, why should I trust it?
> it's not clear to me but where is /e/ based? is it American or Chinese (or even Russia) based? how would that be different from Google, honest question, why should I trust it?
I cant speak for where /e/ is based but the correct answer to why you should trust them is "you shouldn't", regardless of who the company is or their intent for as we know intent can and likely will change down the road.
Reading the features of /e/, it recommends the use of a an @e.email account (like Google and their recommendation of a gmail account), /e/ runs their own cloud service for your files (like Google), and pre-installs apps of their choosing (like Google). I'm struggling to see the difference.
What I want is an open OS on my phone, with the ability to properly remove any pre-installed apps, and to choose all my own apps from my own sources. And to be able to auto-backup my files to my own private cloud. That's the only way I'll feel properly in control of my own phone.