Less than a year ago, I posted a serie of articles “Leaving Apple & Google…” [part 2, part 2] to announce that I was planning to create a smartphone OS. A new OS that would:
- be free from Google (no Google services, no Google search, no Google Play store, etc.)
- be far more respectful of user’s data privacy
- be attractive enough so that Mom and Dad, children and friends would enjoy using it even if they aren’t technophiles or geeks
Today we release a first beta of what we have done so far to make the initial vision a reality.
It’s basically LineageOS with a number of additional tweaks and changes, but if it can become a fully-featured Google-free Android, that’s always welcome.
Yawn, yet another ROM kitchen that has lofty goals that just slavishly copies existing designs and (poorly) glues together existing software.
I want something original again, a different system – hell, I’m desperate enough I’d take an Android ROM too if they tried something new UX wise.
LieageOS is great in that it supports devices that large companies does not care to update. For example: A J3 Gold 2016 (whom is still sold btw)are stuck with 5.1 android and lineage os allows for updating to 8.* on the same device.
Ubuntu Phone works surprisingly well. While I don’t agree with all their UX choices (back button in the top left corner?!), the OS actually seems fairly complete. It’s a community project now that Canonical has lost interest in it. (Link: https://ubports.com/)
Of course, it doesn’t have great hardware support, but you can’t really expect that from something that isn’t Android.
Edited 2018-09-15 15:51 UTC
Project Halium is the hope here
In theory at least, Halium can be built for any device that Lineage supports and then the UBPorts (or Plasma Mobile) FS applied on top of it
Sadly the porting process isn’t easy as of yet
https://jolla.com
Didn’t they have similar reasons?
No. Jolla wanted to further develop MeeGo, but Nokia axed MeeGo, hence Jolla was born. Sure, they don’t want to be tied down to Google and stuff, but that’s only because they believe in SailfishOS since the day MeeGo was released.
Does it have a programming language so I create my own functions without depending on an app that steals my info.
Or lets me do things that none of the apps out there does for me.
Edited 2018-09-15 04:54 UTC
Certaiy sounds good
My device isn’t supported, but I already run a microG / F-droid setup
Anyone know if they have an F-Droid repo for their apps / launcher? Having them available would greatly increase the pool of potential testers
All I see is yet another custom ROM.
Sorry, but to me, being based on Android doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
It’s the same as when I first heard of that Blackphone thing. Saying you’ve made the most secure mobile OS based on Android is like saying you’ve built the best autonomous car in the world based on watching rednecks drive around in circles.
The wait for a viable “new smartphone OS” continues…
Edited 2018-09-15 08:59 UTC
Then there is the little matter of the Oracle vs Google lawsuit.
At the moment, Oracle is winning. If they do prevail, I don’t think Big Red is going to stop at extracting a hefty tithe from Google and they may well go after the rest with a vengance.
The other OS Suppliers who base their release on code they got from Google will be vunerable and are hardly big enough to withstand a lawsuit from the massed ranks of Oracle lawyers.
What future for the likes of Lineage then I wonder?
Personally I hope that Oracle loses big time as being able to copyright an API is bad news for all Software Developers. And it could lead to the SCO vs IBM charade rearing its ugly head again.
Our only hope for the long term is for a ground up cleanroom implementation of a phone OS that is free from this sort of arrack.
I believe LineageOS should be encouraged. Kind of like Debian versus all its offsprings. There is a big need for LineageOS, stable and ready to be installed on most devices. I now have it running on 3 phones, I am very pleased. It’s a bliss on Nexus 6, feels like a flagship although this phone is from 2014!!!
On the same page, users should be informed which phones are “LineageOS friendly” (this is why I bought a Nexus 6).