A new release of the mobile platform /e/OS 2.6, focused on user data privacy, has been published. The platform was created by Gaël Duval, the founder of the Mandrake Linux distribution. The project supports 180 smartphone models and builds firmware for the most popular ones. Custom editions of devices based on OnePlus, Fairphone, Teracube, and Pixel smartphones have been prepared, distributed with pre-installed /e/OS firmware under the Murena One, Murena 2, Murena Fairphone 4/5, Murena Teracube 2e, and Murena Pixel 5/7 brands.
/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, offering independent alternatives to Google services, allowing the absence of proprietary components. For location determination via Wi-Fi and base stations (without GPS), the UnifiedNlp layer is utilized, capable of operating through OpenWlanMap, openBmap, OpenCellID, lacells.db, and other alternative services. Instead of the Google search engine, their own meta-search service based on a fork of the Searx engine is offered, anonymizing submitted queries.
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 2.6:
- A beta version of the new installer has been proposed for testing, which operates through the browser and uses the Web USB API. The installer currently works only in Chromium-based browsers.
- Official support for the CMF Phone 1 smartphone has been provided.
- The first tablet under the Murena Tablet brand has been prepared, which is a Google Pixel Tablet with /e/OS firmware.
- Firmware for 117 devices has been updated to Android 14.
- Support has been added for the following devices (firmware based on Android 14):
- Google Pixel 8 Pro, 8a, Fold, XL.
- LG G7 ThinQ, V30, V35 ThinQ, V40 ThinQ.
- Motorola edge 40 pro, moto g power 2021, moto g9, moto g9 power.
- OnePlus 11 5G, Nord N10.
- Realme 10 Pro 5G, Q5.
- Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, A71, Note10 5G.
- Solana Saga.
- Sony Xperia 1 V.
- Xiaomi Black Shark, Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro.
- Xiaomi Redmi K40S, K60 Pro.
- POCO C55.
- The camera app now includes a barcode and QR code scanning feature.
- In the photo manager, the 'Albums' tab has now been replaced with a 'Folders' tab.
- The parental control setup has been simplified. A feature for managing screen orientation changes has been added.
- In the App Lounge application manager, system language settings are taken into account when generating problem report notification pages and checking programs through the Exodus Privacy service.
- The browser engine has been updated to Chromium 130.0.6723.67.
- Support for installing Google apps has been restored.
Source: opennet.ru
