this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
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Murena now sells a 'deGoogled' Pixel Tablet (techcrunch.com)
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Murena, the French privacy firm that’s forked Android to deliver so-called deGoogled smartphones, has repeated the trick with a tablet. So if you’re keen to get your hands on a shiny Pixel Tablet — but without the usual bundle of Google apps and services — Murena has you covered.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 20 hours ago

/e/OS is highly insecure, and Murena tries to sell privacy to customers, while offering an unencrypted cloud service, that honestly isn't any better than mainsteam solutions like Google Drive, OneDrive or whatever.

At this point, you're better off getting an iPad, and using iCloud with the Advanced Data protection program.

If you actually want a secure, privacy-friendly and degoogled tablet, get a (preferably used) Google Pixel tablet, and install GrapheneOS on it. It's not just the most secure mobile OS out there, but it also doesn't come with any integrated cloud nonsense, so you're free to choose which service you want to use and whom you want to trust with your data.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

You just paying a third party to install the rom for you.

For some people that has value. For security people they should reinstall the ROM anyway to know what is really installed.

They install eos, but you could also install gos.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

but you could also install gos

No you can't, since the (overpriced btw) device they're selling you is far from meeting Graphene's hardware security requirements. You're much better off getting a (preferably used) Pixel Tablet and installing GOS yourself. It's very easy and maybe takes 10 minutes. And it's definitely a million times more secure and private. Murena or /e/OS is a scam.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Pixel Tablet

Is literally listed as a supported device on the page you just linked to

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

My bad, I didn't even notice this. I thought they had some custom insecure hardware like with their phones. I just checked, and they don't even appear to be selling those anymore?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It's a way to fund development and make it possible for the masses to buy deGoogled. Not everybody knows how to install a ROM nor wants to take the time to learn. Even if it took a minute, they wouldn't. That's why this is a good initiative "wanna degoogle, just buy degoogled - no fuss, no muss".

Anti Commercial-AI license

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bingo, right now I don't have a pc at all. If I wanted a degoogled tablet I would have to buy a pc and then learn how to do everything. If I only wanted a tablet that would be a lot of time and money just to get a degoogled device.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

If I wanted a degoogled tablet I would have to buy a pc

GrapheneOS can be installed using an Android device

https://grapheneos.org/install/web

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

So I can degoogle a device using a google device? That’s cool

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Yep! You can use a Google device to degoogle a Google device, and then go back and use that newly degoogled device to degoogle that first Google device.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I buy your second idea. Not sure how this funds development.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

You pay a premium to have Murena/eOS/whatever it's called to be installed on your device when you buy it. totalPrice = phonePrice + $degoogledROMInstallationPrice. Installing the ROM can be done manually or automatically. If done automatically, the money left over is paid to developers. The more phones bought with pre-installed, deGoogled ROMs, the more money goes to developers/development.

If the devices are bought in bulk, they will probably cost less to Murena than what the consumer pays e.g phonePrice = originalPrice - bulkSavings. Those savings can be passed on to development or whatever else Murena needs to fund.

Anti Commercial-AI license

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I can't find anything like that on their website. Not to mention they're pushing their own centralized cloud service.

I looked at their faq, I looked at their mission statement, I looked at their about us, nothing talks about sending money to EOS

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

https://e.foundation/get-e-os

@e_[email protected] does purchasing a murena phone fund the development of eOS?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

For most people it has value.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I am always wary of buying devices that come with a third-party privacy-respecting OS preinstalled. I feel much more comfortable installing that OS myself.

[–] Eldritch 5 points 1 day ago

I picked up a Lenovo 10e Chromebook tablet for under $40 recently. The thing was initially released in 2020 with an octa-core processor 10-in color screen not a full HD but for it's size well more than adequate. Slap post-market OS on it and I now have a portable desktop that's full touch screen with KDE plasma. Download and run Android apps through waydroid. Not simple enough that it'll work for your grandmother. But if you're the least bit techy and or privacy focused it's actually pretty sweet. The full system is at your control