14 DAY TRIAL // Gael Duval, who is mostly known as the founder of Mandrake Linux, has turned his attention to mobile platforms, developing a new Android version that comes without any Google apps.
Called eelo, the new Android fork is entirely focused on free and open-source apps, with plans to expand beyond the mobile world and evolve into a full ecosystem that includes a PC operating system and features that are currently developed by tech giants, including digital assistants.
At this point, eelo is mostly an improved version of LineageOS with a new launcher and new app collection, but Duval promises to focus heavily on privacy.
“eelo is going to inform users why data-slavery is not a fate. And eelo will provide credible alternatives to users who care about their data-privacy: mobile phones and smartphone operating systems, and associated web-services. On the long term we want to provide a full digital ecosystem, including PC operating systems, personal assistants, web APIs,” the official site of the project reads.
“We are all a product of Google”
On the page of a Kickstarter campaign that he launched to raise the necessary funds for supporting the project, Duval goes on to explain that his goal is to “reconquer his privacy.”
“I realized this year that I was using an iPhone, a Mac and Google services more and more. I realized that I had become lazy and that my data privacy had vanished,” he said. “And I'm definitely not happy with that situation. I’m not happy with this situation because iOS is proprietary and I prefer Open Source Software. Like millions others, I’VE BECOME A PRODUCT OF GOOGLE,” he continued.
As part of the project, Duval wants to replace every single Google app with a free or open-source alternative that provides the same rich set of features without making any compromise. Google Maps will be replaced with OpenStreetMaps, F-Droid and APKPure will play the role of the app store, and NextCloud and OwnCloud are considered to be potential replacements to Google Drive.
eelo is still in the works, but given that it has already reached 20 percent of its goal on Kickstarter, it won’t take long until the necessary funds to make this happen are pledged.