Most of us will agree that it is vital to protect our personal data and privacy in today's connected world. Despite the value that our favorite apps, smartphones, and services provide us every day, it is clear that our data, in the form of our personal information, is even more valuable for companies who create these experiences for us. Although this data tradeoff can be beneficial for both the companies and consumers, many feel they are giving away too much of their personal information to make it fair. There are many ways to protect privacy and security. One way is to use the best VPN service or purchase one of the most secure Android smartphones. These steps won't be enough to protect our data from being stolen by Google or other companies. A small, but growing, number of privacy-focused operating system and devices have emerged in recent years to meet the increasing demand for privacy-focused, consumer-first alternatives. VPN Deals: A lifetime license costs $16, and monthly plans cost $1. I was recently able to try one of these options during my /e/OS Review. Although I doubt I will be switching completely to a new operating platform right away, I did see enough to make me want to explore and spend more time in this community. What is /e/OS? How do you get it? Let's get started!/e/OS Summary: While /e/OS may not be for everyone, it is a strong option for those who are looking for an alternative to Apple or Google. It is based on open-source software and offers an authentic "deGoogled" version Android that feels familiar, useful, attractive, and practical. This is a great option for hackers, tinkerers and anyone interested in sustainability. However, it might not be the best platform to use if you need the most recent software and hardware available. It's easy to usePrivacy-focusedThere is tons of documentation and supportCloud backups and accessThis works on more than 100 Android devices.Not supported for Android devices at the momentOnly a handful of pre-installed devices can be purchased in the U.S.Many popular apps, including those that are not available on Google Play, may not be updated or sent to users via push notifications. These notifications can be found at the eFoundation/e/OS Price and availabilitySource: Jeramy Johnson / Android Centrale/OS/ can be downloaded and flashed onto any compatible device from the eFoundation website. You also have the option to purchase e/OS/ preloaded on your device. These devices were previously only available for European consumers. eFoundation has partnered with Teracube in order to offer a sustainable 2e phone with /e/OS rather than Android. The phone is $230 and available for purchase in the U.S. or Canada. The cloud service that comes with the phone only offers 1GB online storage. If you are serious about using the phone and supporting the foundation, you will want to subscribe one of the eFoundation data plans. Cloud storage subscriptions start at $2.35 per month for 20GB storage, and go up to $8.40 for 256GB storage. Patreon donations and donations to the eFoundation are also welcome. BackgroundSource: Jeramy Johnson / Android CentralGal Duval and eFoundation created /e/OS, which is "a complete, fully deGoogled' mobile ecosystem. That sounds great. But what exactly does it mean? Essentially, /e/OS can be described as a fork or modification of LineageOS. It is based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP), and doesn't use Google for anything. You can download your favorite open-source apps from F-Droid and other repositories. You can view the /e/OS App Installer on your smartphone to see "nutrition" labels that are similar to iOS. These labels provide easy-to-read scores for privacy. These labels show which trackers are present in each app and how many per app. They also indicate what permissions each app will request. Basically, /e/OS gives you all the information and tools you need to make a decision about whether you are willing to take on the risk of downloading an app. However, it doesn't prevent you from doing so. It is removing Google from its Android flavor so that Google and other companies cannot track you even at the OS level. Duval claims that /e/OS has been "cleaned" from all calls to Google servers, including calls from the OS from default apps and from the browser ...).".Source: e foundationWhile the concepts may seem related and sometimes intertwined in some cases, privacy and security are two different things. Jerry Hildenbrand, my colleague, recently said that you can have both security and privacy. Jerry says that Android is the most secure operating system in existence, but Google apps and services don't work well in a privacy-first world. This is why some users are switching to /e/OS. It's akin to anonymity. You can walk down an alleyway where no one knows you, but it doesn't mean you won't get mugged, sprain your ankle or be hit by a bus. It's only that /e/OS wants to allow you to walk down the virtual street without anyone knowing who or what you do. However, it's up to you to watch out for potential trouble. /e/'s purpose is not to provide a secure system that can be used by targeted people but to allow regular users to have decent apps on their smartphones without their personal data being constantly harvested by Google and other companies. Gal Duval, eFoundation. Duval estimates that there are between 25,000 to 35,000 users using /e/OS. That's a small number, but it's still a lot. Its adherents could be the canaries in the coalmine for user privacy and anonymity online. Will more people heed these warnings and get out of the data harvesting hole? We'll just have to see. /e/OS - What I love about itSource: Jeramy Johnson / Android CentralYou'll find lots to love in this open-source Android version, whether you download it and install it on your existing Android phone (of which there are over 100 supported models).It's easy to use and familiar for anyone who has ever used Android. The default Bliss Launcher looks cheerful and colorful. The icons are simple but pleasing. These icons remind me of the flat design of many Samsung's One UI icons and Apple's iOS 7 icon, both of whom I love. /e/OS is currently working on a dark mode to the platform. It hopes to release it to its customers in coming months. It looks great, as you can see in these screenshots. The operating system includes a few default options for productivity tasks. However, you can also download your favorite apps from the /e/OS app launcher (app gallery/store), or other repositories. The /e/OS version allows you to see a report card of the data that apps have sent back to their creators. You can also make calls whether or not you want them on the phone. Duval made a point about privacy and security. For example, the built-in SMS app can be used. Although it is secure in that Google cannot read your messages, it can be hacked or your number could be cloned/spoofed. Signal is a great option if you want private messaging. It was easy to find and install other privacy-focused apps such as Telegram, Dashlane or NordVPN. I also had access to popular apps such as Spotify, Lyft and Doordash. If you decide to download an app that's not one of the open-source or default options, make sure to review those privacy scores. It might surprise you at how poor most apps perform on a scale from 1-10.The e-cloud online portal's range of features was a big plus. It allows you to access files from your phone, your mail and calendar. You can also view your notes, contacts, and to-dos. The Activity Feed was my favorite feature of the portal. It allows you to see every action you take on your phone and e-cloud account. It is a great way to check if anyone else has been misusing your phone.Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android CentralI tested /e/OS with a Samsung Galaxy S9+ and it ran flawlessly. The device worked flawlessly, had no stuttering or lag and looked as good as when it was first released. This is a great Galaxy S design, and I bought it in the Lilac Purple color. This phone doesn't send data back to Google's servers constantly, so you might expect better battery life for older devices. Duval claims that they have seen 25% less power consumption with /e/OS. While I did not run any battery tests with the Galaxy S9+ during my time there, it is a huge benefit to have this feature long-term, especially with older phones that /e/OS supports and sells. /e/OS is a great choice for both the DIY enthusiast and the climate activist who care about sustainability. Another thing I love about /e/OS, is the subtle sustainability aspect behind it. It can be run on hundreds of older Android phones, which means they can potentially stay out of landfills longer. Fairphone, a sustainability leader, has partnered with the eFoundation to offer Fairphone 3 and Fairphone 3+ phones preloaded with /e/OS. This will help them further their mutual sustainable goals. Finally, I like how /e/OS appeals the DIY hacker spirit that fueled a new generation of Android and Linux tinkerers. Most smartphone users don't know how root their Android phones. It's quickly becoming an art form. However, rooting your phone to make changes to it to extend its lifespan, or simply because you want to be curious, has regaining popularity. /e/OS: What you might want to avoid.Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android CentralThere are obvious drawbacks to abandoning standard Android. I don't believe they are impossible, but it's worth mentioning. Let's begin with Google, the big elephant in the room. You are missing out on the data harvesting benefits that deGoogled Android can provide. You won't get the benefit of your search history, favorite videos, and interconnected applications if you use /e/OS. You can still download your favorite apps, including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Photos, but it is unlikely you would be interested in /e/OS. This platform is not for bi-OS enthusiasts, but those who need an alternative to big tech companies. Although you can access and download apps from third party app stores and repositories (including the ones that allow for the downloading of apps), many of these sites don't have the best track record in keeping their app selection current. Users may find it difficult, frustrating, or near impossible to force updates for these apps on their own. Many of your favourite traditional apps might not work as they should. Slack and Uber, which rely on Google services such as Firebase for push notifications or Google Maps APIs, may not work well on /e/OS. However, there is light at the end. A representative from eFoundation said that the team had been working to solve this problem. /e/OS now uses microG, an open source "reimplementation" of Google Mobile Services. This allows you to use all apps that rely upon Google APIs while keeping your user data private. If you like quick access to the most recent features of Android releases like screen recording, system-level theing, and chat bubbles, then you might be out of luck. While /e/OS has key accessibility and usability features, as well as widget support, there are still some things you will miss. One of the biggest UX issues I had was the inability to use swipe/gesture navigation. The current build only supports three-button navigation. I prefer to swipe around to navigate my phone. This wouldn't be a problem for me but it was something that I was disappointed to find missing. Although the e-cloud service is promising, it's slow and clunky. Although the ecloud service allows you to access your account online, it is not always the most appealing. While some parts of the e-cloud service look modern and sleek like Google apps, others like the email system and file system feel more traditional Windows. There seems to be some redundancy within the web file system. I was unable to find folders for images and movies and didn't know where to search for screenshots or images I had taken on my phone. It took a while for files or photos to be uploaded to my account. Although over 100 Android devices are capable of running /e/OS at the moment, you will need to wait for the latest hardware. You can buy one of these older devices from the reseller market, or bring your device to the U.S. The Teracube 2e is the only phone that comes with the operating system preloaded. As I've mentioned before, this is a great device for the environmentally-minded, but if you must have the most powerful hardware, you're probably going to be disappointed.Source: Android CentralLast but not least, I must mention the small monetary costs associated with moving to /e/OS. The eFoundation, a non-profit organization, cannot afford to give away its services as Google. If you want to use /e/OS, you will need to upgrade your 1GB free e-cloud storage. Although the prices aren't prohibitive, it is worth considering. /e/OS CompetitionSource: PurismA recent reddit AMA with Gal Duval, founder of eFoundation, revealed that the foundation had explored the possibility to work with Purism and Pine, two of the "competitors". They are not compatible at the moment so I thought it was worth listing them here, even if they were outright competitors. Purism, a company that creates privacy-focused software and devices based on Linux, is called Purism. It describes itself as a "social purpose business" that places social good above corporate profits and focuses on privacy and security. It has laptops with physical kill switches for microphones and cameras, and even a phone running PureOS open-source software. It even offers a subscription-based software suite called Librem One and its own cellular data plan. Pine, like Purism, makes devices that run on an open-source OS based Linux. This includes phones and laptops as well as smartwatches. If you are less of a hacker than a traditionalist, the conventional wisdom (at most Apple claims) is that iOS offers a more private alternative for Android. Apple's iOS, on the other hand, provides security updates for up 5 years. For instance, newer Android phones can get security updates for as long at three years. Apple is also limiting the ability of app developers to track users. This is something that services like /e/OS are trying to do. /e/OS: Should You Try It?Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android CentralThis is a good option if you are concerned about data privacy.You enjoy experimenting with new software and OS options.You desire to live a more sustainable and tech-friendly life. This is not something you should do if...The latest Android features are essential.The latest phone hardware is required. 3.5 out 5Source: Android CentralThe bottom line about /e/OS is that if your online anonymity (at minimum when it comes sharing data/info to big ad companies such as Google and Facebook), REALLY matters to YOU, or if this inspires you to be an explorer, hacker or sustainability crusader, you should give this new operating system a chance (especially if there are older compatible devices). Even if you do not choose to switch from Android or iOS fully to /e/OS, it might be worth tossing them some money. Competition is not as important as your privacy. I decided to give to the eFoundation as I love what they are trying to accomplish. I believe that Android and iOS are better for everyone if they succeed. This seems like a worthwhile mission./e/OS Summary: While /e/OS may not be for everyone, it will appeal to people who are looking for an alternative to Apple or Google. This "deGoogled" version Android will feel familiar, useful, attractive, and based on open-source software. This is a great option for hackers and tinkerers who are interested in sustainability. However, it might not be the best platform to use if you need the most recent software and hardware available. Available at the eFoundation
