The release of the mobile platform /e/OS 3.0 has been published, focusing on user data privacy. The platform is created by Gaël Duval, the creator of the Mandrake Linux distribution. The project supports 221 smartphone models and compiles firmware builds for the most popular ones. Custom editions of devices are prepared based on OnePlus, Fairphone, Teracube, and Pixel smartphones, distributed with pre-installed /e/OS firmware under the brands Murena One, Murena 2, Murena Fairphone 4/5, Murena Teracube 2e, and Murena Pixel 5/7.
/e/OS firmware is developed as a branch of the LineageOS platform (based on Android), free from the ties to Google services and infrastructure to eliminate telemetry transmission to servers Google and enhance the level of privacy. Among other things, implicit information sending is blocked, such as requests to Google servers when checking network availability, resolving DNS, and determining the exact time.
The package includes microG, which offers independent alternatives to Google services, allowing for the absence of proprietary components. For location determination via Wi-Fi and base stations (without GPS), UnifiedNlp layer can work with BeaconDB, OpenWlanMap, openBmap, OpenCellID, lacells.db, and other alternative services. Instead of Google Search, the metasearch service Murena Find is offered based on the Qwant search engine. A metasearch service based on a fork of the Searx engine anonymizes the queries sent.
To synchronize the exact time instead of querying Google's NTP server, requests are sent to servers from the NTP Pool collection, and DNS servers from the current provider are used instead of Google's DNS servers (8.8.8.8). The web browser defaults to having an ad and tracking script blocker enabled. For syncing files and application data, a proprietary service has been developed, compatible with Nextcloud-based infrastructure. The server components are based on open-source software and available for installation on user-controlled systems.
The user interface includes a custom environment for launching applications, BlissLauncher, an improved notification system, a new lock screen, and different styling. BlissLauncher features a set of automatically scalable icons developed for /e/OS and a separate selection of widgets (for example, a widget for showing weather forecasts).
The project also develops its own authentication manager, allowing a single account (user@murena.io) to be used for all services, registered during the initial setup. This account can be used to access your environment from other devices or via the web. Murena Cloud provides 1GB of free storage for your data, application synchronization, and backups.
Included applications comprise: the Mail email client (a fork of K9-Mail), the web browser Cromite (based on Chromium), the OpenCamera app for camera use, QKSMS for instant messaging, nextcloud-notes for note-taking, MJ PDF for PDF viewing, opentasks for task management, Magic Earth for maps, gallery3d for photo viewing, a file manager, and the App Lounge application catalog.
Key changes in /e/OS 3.0:
- The account manager has passed CASA (Cloud Application Security Assessment) certification, which has restored the ability to sync with Google accounts.
- The Advanced Privacy package, which provides apps with fake location and IP data and blocks built-in user activity tracking, now includes weekly reports summarizing tracker blocking.
- The default web browser now uses the Murena Find search engine. The previously used search engine, Spot, is left only for users in countries not supported by Murena Find. The browser engine has been updated to Chromium 135.
- A "Find my Device" feature has been added, sending location information in response to an SMS with a password set by the user.
- A text voice input system, Murena Voice, has been added, available for Premium Murena Workspace users.
- Parental control tools now include support for time limits on children's device usage. There is the option to set a passcode for installing apps categorized as "for adults," or require parental confirmation for attempts to install new apps.
- Location services by default have been switched to use the BeaconDB database, which contains information about known wireless access point locations.
- Updates and fixes from the LineageOS 20 platform have been transferred.
Source: opennet.ru
