Murena is in the business of deGoogling Android smartphones in the name of privacy. The French/European firm has been doing this for around five years, as We recently got our hands on a Fairphone 4 running Murena's tracker-blocking /e/OS. Our curiosity was piqued to see an alternative OS running on alt hardware. Step in for a closer look...
Can I get my banking app on F-Droid? How about my home security system app? How about a dozen other apps that I want or need, and can’t be replaced by loading a website in Firefox?
This is entirely on the companies. There’s no technical reason or requirement for this happening.
Fdroid works great and is the most likely thing to be adopted, in my opinion. It’s easy enough for anyone to spin up their own fdroid server and distribute their own app.
If you’re wanting to use a new store, you’re going to have to wade through the growing pains of adoption. It’s just a fact of life.
Wait, I assume if you install a banking app through Aurora it still works? Totally fair if that doesn’t work for your needs (you kinda need a google account, even if a blank one, to have it work right now) but I assume installing apps through it doesn’t limit them or make them less functional for having been installed through Aurora?
Sort of. On GrapheneOS a fair number of banking apps fail because GrapheneOS sandboxes Aurora, but on a regular Android install I think they work? That is, assuming that you can get Aurora to load in the first place.
There are. But are the banking apps people use to manage their money on F-Droid? Can I download PayPal on F-Droid? Are there any cash transfer apps that have enough users and enough support to be useful?
I have keys on my keyring, but if those keys don’t open the doors you need to open… how useful are they to you?
Can I get my banking app on F-Droid? How about my home security system app? How about a dozen other apps that I want or need, and can’t be replaced by loading a website in Firefox?
This is entirely on the companies. There’s no technical reason or requirement for this happening.
Fdroid works great and is the most likely thing to be adopted, in my opinion. It’s easy enough for anyone to spin up their own fdroid server and distribute their own app.
If you’re wanting to use a new store, you’re going to have to wade through the growing pains of adoption. It’s just a fact of life.
I’m still waiting for Linux on desktop to be a big thing like I thought back in 2004. I suspect the third party app stores will be just as quick.
Wait, I assume if you install a banking app through Aurora it still works? Totally fair if that doesn’t work for your needs (you kinda need a google account, even if a blank one, to have it work right now) but I assume installing apps through it doesn’t limit them or make them less functional for having been installed through Aurora?
Sort of. On GrapheneOS a fair number of banking apps fail because GrapheneOS sandboxes Aurora, but on a regular Android install I think they work? That is, assuming that you can get Aurora to load in the first place.
Works on Calyx! My banks didn’t work on Lineage through aurora. I think it only checks for a locked bootloader?
There are in fact banking apps and home security apps on F-Droid.
Here’s the ones I looked for:
Not one of them was available on F-Droid. Care to share the ones that you know of?
There are. But are the banking apps people use to manage their money on F-Droid? Can I download PayPal on F-Droid? Are there any cash transfer apps that have enough users and enough support to be useful?
I have keys on my keyring, but if those keys don’t open the doors you need to open… how useful are they to you?
Cool! I’ll just call my bank and tell them that.