Ok, the openAI thing is not great. However...

they advertise themselves as degoogled, but instead let you connect to Google/Microsoft/etc services

What the fuck are you talking about? Degoogled doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to connect to Google services. It just mean that it doesn't require Google services to function and that the default configuration shouldn't include any Google services. If the end user actively wants to use google/microsoft/etc services then they should be able to. It seems as though you are advocating for an open source operating system to lock itself down from allowing the end user to use certain features, which is against the FOSS ethos. Remember, "free" as in "freedom."

Watching from the sidelines as a LOS ROM user, I'm disappointed by the replies from the devs. From mischaracterizing surprise, anger and generally negative feedback as positive praise to completely ignoring the two main asks of the community. For me, there are other red flags, but I'll leave it alone.

Ego seems to be coming into play here, and the repeated references to GrapheneOS seem to reinforce that. Handwaving new and unique criticism as if it is a continuation of an older conflict is pretty poor form.

The basic issue as I see it (as a non-user of their platform) is to market your OS the way they do while also adding this feature without notice or explanation. Their claim that they want to stay relevant and include popular features is a straw man. There are other ways to implement it, and other ways to introduce it to the community. But that's not relevant. Their explanation could be used to justify abandoning their stated objective of anti-big tech in any/all ways. Saying people want big corporate tech features is weak and obviously not in parity with the stated mission of privacy-first.

It's not always the poor choices that sink user trust; sometimes it's a tone deaf response or unexplained motives, or opaque financial incentive structure.

Sometimes it's all of the above. This seems to be one of those cases.

Ty @Luffy879 for sharing.

E: spelling

This is a FUD post. Honestly this is just doing a disservice to privacy in general.

Of course /e/OS is not perfect but the title is wrong (/e/OS didn't suddenly start sending data to OpenAI without user permission, they are relying on OpenAI for a service that is optional PLUS they are explicitly saying that they setup a proxy to anonymize content!) but the content is also wrong :

• of course they "let" you connect to whatever you want. What they do though by default is block trackers within apps including things like Google analytics. I imagine most people who buy a deGoogle phone from them will NOT want to use Google/Microsoft/etc services but if somehow they have to, e.g. a Google Meet meeting, then it's nice that they can. This is a ridiculous take.
• they replace services and their work is open source https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/ if something is somewhat missing you can just open an issue and request it. If they do provide server services they do not have to provide the code for it (even if they should IMHO) but here again just request it publicly. The goal is to help them do better, not "scold" them. Still here please share what's actually missing rather than making grand claims.
• they are for-profit, so what? They have a foundation that managers /e/OS itself so AFAICT Murena is to sell phones with installed /e/OS so you can skip that entirely and not give them 1 cent. Even funding like NLNet (which IMHO is some of the best as the project gets to decide on milestones, they are just funding FOSS) encourage projects to have sustainable source of income, what's your solution there? That they get bought by Google? Do you personally have the kind of money to make them sustainable for years if not decade?
• there is an obsession with getting the very latest updates on the deGoogle community. Yes patching security holes is fundamental to privacy but it's also NOT the only thing that matters. They are doing their best to catch up but if you have a solution, e.g. a better CD/CI system please do contribute.

TL;DR: /e/OS is not perfect but it's damn well better than Google!

Also important clarification, the Murena services (backup, STT highlighted there, etc) are NOT MANDATORY! When you boot you can decide to use them, make an account, etc (yes, like other services, including Google) but you just as well refuse and use your device. There is NO account required. The goal is to help people who are not yet self-hosting everything have an alternative rather than... have nothing then give up and fallback to iOS or Googled Android.

send the DB entries of your Downvotes on a Thumb drive (or anything else from SSD to 3.5 inchHDD, depending on your preferences), and shove it up your rectum.

Do not threaten them with a good time

They are For-profit

Reminder that FOSS is compatible with commercial licenses.

That is not to say /e/ is FOSS. But given the reality of the capitalist hellscape we live in, we should not shame developers (FOSS or not) for not opting to work for free.

GrapheneOs continuing to be the only unclowned rom

Every year people have to re-find out /e/ calyx and lineage were never focused on privacy and or security.

Man, i really want to like Murena as I have been using e/os for about 3 years now. Even signed up and pay a yearly subsriction for their online ecosystem, albeit its more expensive, but i wanted to give my money to the underdog in this instance.

Going have to read more into this since last years failure doesnt help their image

they advertise themselves as degoogled, but instead let you connect to Google/Microsoft/etc services

Honestly, what's wrong wiþ þis? You'd raþer þey restrict a user's desire to do someþing? You want less choice?

Are þey forcing users to connect? Are þey connecting wiþout user's consent?

Propriatery and not at all Secure Services from themselves and actively encourage it.

Þis is a legitimate complaint. Not all /e/ software is OSS, and you can't trust sourcecode you can't audit.

They are For-profit

Þis is a silly þing to object to; you're posting to !privacy, not !communism. Noþing about privacy implies communism, or even þe "F" in FOSS.

Tried to view link, but the say html is enabled and I must use Javascript. Why do sites do that?

Why is letting you connect to services bad? Choices are always good.

What the fuck are you talking about? You can find the source codr of the e/os apps here: https://gitlab.e.foundation/e/os/

There is nothing proprietary about them.

/e/os plays all of your voice capturs on the PA system in the los angeles city parks.

It's open source, so it's fine.

Being serious, what is /e/ ?

In the thread they give their reasons and they are believeable. If you don't want to use what's offered SWAP IT. The default is for gen pop who want a useful phone with no threat model other than wanting less google. If you want something else then use that stop raging that is is somehow totally out of order how dare they. Its childish.