• Dreeg Ocedam@lemmy.ml
    2·
    4 years ago

    Seems interesting!

    I guess it’s basically just a pixel phone with GrapheneOs preinstalled. This means no google services so a lot of privacy but sadly also a less functionality on many apps, mainly with notifications.

    If you want to have a privacy respecting phone, e/OS might keep more functionality thanks to microG.

    • ProfessorYakkington@lemmy.ml
      1·
      4 years ago

      If you want to have a privacy respecting phone, e/OS might keep more functionality thanks to microG.

      calyx os, which is a fork of graphene, also optionally offers micro G upon setup. I’ve used both calyx & graphene – I needed certain services for my work so I ended up on Calyx with MicroG turned on, which is a privacy sacrifice but so far has been rock solid for me and allowed me to use the services I needed. This project looks interesting and for people who aren’t comfortable flashing their own device it may be a good option; however, I am not sure that people who can’t/don’t want to flash a device will end up being happy with graphene. You can grab refurbed pixel 4a for ( 300 USD ) and the calyx/graphene flashing process is pretty straightforward.

      Here are a few resources for those that might be interested:

      If I were going to make some recommendations it would be to start off with CalyxOS on a refurbed device ( save some money ), if you expect to need notifications + other google services then turn micro g on. If you can get away without notifications then graphene is probably a good option for you.

      • Dreeg Ocedam@lemmy.ml
        1·
        4 years ago

        e/OS has the benefit of being available on many more phones than the Google Pixel. IMO it is a bit ironic to promote a Google phone here (even though the hardware is not spying, your are still giving money to a terrible company).

        But yeah, CalyxOS seems very good, but given that my next phone will very likely be a Fairphone, I’ll go with e/OS.

        Edit: I mistakenly thought this was the privacy community, so what is slashed doesn’t make sense.

          • Dreeg Ocedam@lemmy.ml
            1·
            4 years ago

            Sorry I mistakenly thought this was the privacy community, where my point made sense. You are right that security wise it makes sense. As you said it depends on what is prioritized between freedom, ethics, privacy, security. This phone puts the latter first.

          • ProfessorYakkington@lemmy.ml
            1·
            4 years ago

            the pixel phones have fantastic hardware security which is why graphene + calyx support them.

            Here is graphene’s explanation for why certain devices are supported and why some aren’t:

            That being said, I love the intention & ethics of the fairphone so I guess it depends on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go and where your relative values sit ( ethically sourced / repairability v. hardened security ; hopefully they will cont. to converge. ).

            In terms of giving money to google, you can always go the refurb route which depending on who you buy it from may or may not directly support google. But, it is a good point. Even if you buy refurb you are at least indirectly supporting google.