/e/OS: Freedom, privacy and no Google services

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Even if you don't know much about technical issues, this mobile operating system focused on privacy will help you avoid surveillance.

Many smartphone users do not suspect that there are decent alternatives to the Android operating system. However, in addition to the operating system itself, embedded services and apps play an important role in the mobile experience. Android is an open system, but it includes device-specific drivers and APIs from Google, which makes it difficult to create full-fledged alternatives.

One of these alternatives is /e/OS, a mobile operating system based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and providing a full user experience without being tied to the Google ecosystem. The use of /e/OS has shown that the world of alternative operating systems for smartphones is noticeably moving forward, offering more and more mature and functional solutions. For those who seek digital independence and want to leave the closed Google ecosystem, /e/OS is a very attractive and well-developed alternative that can fully meet everyday mobile needs.

The search for alternative operating systems for smartphones is motivated not only by data privacy considerations, but also by the desire to improve the overall user experience. Frequent Android updates often negatively affect the performance of your devices, slowing them down. Switching to alternative solutions such as the popular LineageOS firmware demonstrates that you can achieve a stable and responsive smartphone experience without having to regularly install updates that potentially reduce the device's speed. This way, users get a smoother and more consistent user experience along with improved control over their personal data.

LineageOS offers a basic set of applications and the ability to use both open source and proprietary applications. However, for full use, you still need to install Google Play Services, which may not suit those who want to completely abandon Google.

/e/OS is a system built on top of LineageOS with the addition of Micro G, a project that replaces Google's core services and libraries. This allows devices on /e/OS to correctly work with geolocation and other basic functions that third-party applications expect. In addition, /e/OS offers data synchronization, online backup, and makes most popular applications work.

The main advantage of /e/OS is its focus on privacy. The system offers the Advanced Privacy app, which blocks trackers in apps and hides the user's IP address and geolocation.

For those who do not want to do self — installation, /e/OS offers ready-made solutions-Fairphone and Pixel smartphones pre-installed with /e/OS. This allows the user to gain experience with an alternative operating system without additional technical difficulties.

Despite its many advantages, /e/OS also has its drawbacks. For example, the system does not yet support speech-to-text conversion, which may be a problem for some users. Also, /e/OS does not have a complete backup system for applications and their data, although they promise to fix this in the future.

In addition, installing an alternative OS requires unlocking the bootloader, which may reduce the security level of the device. However, for most users, the risk of hacking through an unlocked bootloader is minimal.

/e/OS is a decent alternative for those who want to get away from the Google ecosystem and gain more control over their device. The system offers excellent privacy features and compatibility with most popular applications. For more detailed information and installation instructions, please visit /e/OS.
 
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