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Android Google Privacy

Murena Released a De-Googled Version of the Pixel Tablet (theverge.com) 39

Posted by BeauHD from the privacy-forward dept.
Murena has launched the Murena Pixel Tablet, a de-Googled version of the Pixel Tablet that removes Google's apps and services to enhance user privacy. Priced at $549, it offers /e/OS, an alternative app store, and privacy-focused productivity tools, but lacks Google's speaker dock and direct access to the Play Store. The Verge reports: First announced last December, the Murena Pixel Tablet is available now through the company's online store for $549. That's a steep premium given Google currently sells the same 128GB version of the Pixel Tablet for $399, or $479 as part of a bundle with the charging speaker dock that Murena isn't including. Part of Murena's de-Googling of the Pixel Tablet includes the removal of the Google Play Store. You can still download apps through /e/OS' App Lounge which acts as a front-end for the Play Store allowing you to browse and get free apps anonymously without Google knowing who you are. However, downloading paid apps requires a login to a Google account. Google's various productivity apps aren't included, but the Murena Pixel Tablet comes with privacy-minded alternatives for messaging, email, maps, browsing the web, calendar, contacts, notes, and even voice recordings. In 2022, Murena launched its first smartphone with no Google apps, Google Play Services, or even the Google Assistant.

Murena Released a De-Googled Version of the Pixel Tablet More | Reply

Murena Released a De-Googled Version of the Pixel Tablet

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  • Does anyone actually use this except paranoid preppers? I couldn't imagine wasting my time with this stuff because I don't want to see Google ads

    • Re:Why? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by r1348 ( 2567295 ) on Wednesday February 19, 2025 @06:23PM (#65180399)

      I do, but I have the capacity of de-Googling my own device, I don't need to pay a third party to do that. But I can see the appeal.

    • Light guage tinfoil hatter here: I've de-googled several tablets and phones for clients. There are tons of people who would like to get out from under the Apple/Google duopoly, but they don't have me to do it, nor do they have any truly viable options.. I think the premium to install a custom rom or whatever they do, and I'm going to guess here, that there will be some support for upgrades. I think this does have an audience, but I'm not sure the people who want it will ever find out with all the advertisin
      • 'Get out from the Apple/Google duopoly' sounds like a non-reason to me. Like, is it just that you don't like the companies or is a de-Googled device actually better?
        • The main motivation is to avoid being deeply surveilled. You don't seem to be very aware of that, but no need to fight, this doesn't seem to be something you care about. So be it.

          Alot of chumps I talk to and support, older people, are dismayed at the speed of forced updates, of having to "upgrade" yet finding no benefits, even worse, they resent having to relearn the UI, and having functions they like taken away from them. They find the upgrade treadmill makes work for them. There are other reasons like, ex
          • You're right, I think most people who worry about that are paranoid. I don't know of a reason to be concerned about being surveilled by Google. I don't like work for the CIA or have anyone who would want to spy on me. What am I not aware of?
            • I've worked some time in network security which touches on encryption also.. the paranoia rubs off on you, but, there are reasons. Also, you may have heard of Edward Snowwhite? You can't write his actual name here because it's censored, by the /. lameness filter. PRISM. look it up. It's fairly simple. Google, Apple, Microsoft, and around 180 other companies, literally every company you deal with has an arrangement to provide the data they collect to "authorized law enforcement agencies", who can sift thru t
              • I know all that and I still think your perspective is paranoid. I'm not worried about the government getting my data. I mostly trust the justice system, so I want them to be able to access data to solve crimes. Sure, its abused, but I think the good outweighs the bad. If I can't mostly trust my government, then my emails getting out are the least of my problems. Most people understand that data gives you power. That's why TikTok was banned and Mark receives so much hate. I think I get more value from my M

    • Does anyone actually use this except paranoid preppers? I couldn't imagine wasting my time with this stuff because I don't want to see Google ads

      There are millions of people with de-googled devices myself included. Just savings in data consumption and battery life are worth it especially for those with low cost mobile service plans.

      • Just savings in data consumption and battery life are worth it especially for those with low cost mobile service plans.

        All that savings sounds neat. Let's say I ditch my expensive $35/mo unlimited plan and go with one of those hipster dumbphone plans that are all the rage with people who love to brag about their frugality. Looks like Ting has a plan for $10/mo with no data.

        Aww crap, now how am I supposed to activate the free L2 ChargePoint chargers at the grocery store, or the DCFC charger when I take a trip in my EV? I guess I'll have to trade in my efficient car for a gas guzzler, but damn it, I'm saving money on my wi

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by r1348 ( 2567295 )

          That's a very American problem.
          My Italian 300GB 5G plan costs 9€/mo.

          • You are comparing against an outlier: Italy has basically the cheapest data plans in the world: https://bestbroadbanddeals.co.uk/mobiles/worldwide-data-pricing/#speed .

    • Re:Why? (Score:5, Interesting)

      by dskoll ( 99328 ) on Wednesday February 19, 2025 @08:12PM (#65180537) Homepage

      There are a bunch of reasons. For example, my sister gave me an Android tablet. The latest Android shipped by the manufacturer as Android 12, but with LineageOS, I have Android 15... much more up-to-date.

      De-googling made the tablet more usable. It has limited storage (either 24 or 32GB, can't remember which) and the Google apps consumed a big chunk of that.

      I can still load apps from the Google Play Store using the alternative Aurora Store. Some apps that rely on Google Services don't work, but many apps do.

      I host my own CalDAV and CardDAV server already, so don't need Google to manage my calendar or contacts across devices. And being Canadian, I enjoy not having sensitive data like contacts and calendar info hosted in the US by Google.

    • That is the saddest thing I've seen on ./ in awhile. The complete enshittification of the tech base that made /. what it was.

    • I have a de-googled older samsung note with a pen. Very nice overall. Does handwriting, book-scanning, OSM maps, PDF reading and the occasional game, shows videos, has email client. Doesn't lag, close apps because of insufficient memory, etc.

      Quite neat, and cost me less than $160.

      • Is it not possible to get a Google device for that price? How much RAM do those Google apps actually use?

        • Probably it is, but they don't have the pen, which I need. As for ram, they eat a lot, but so does the samsung cruft.

          As it is, de-googling and de-samsunging that particular 4GB ram, 4 y.o. device made it work like new.

  • That's expensive (Score:3)

    by viperidaenz ( 2515578 ) on Wednesday February 19, 2025 @06:23PM (#65180401)

    $150 for someone to install their custom rom on a $400 tablet?

    • This was exactly what I thought. I'm paying someone $150 to root my tablet for me and install some other rando android ROM on there.

      There must be a HUGE market for this... /s

      • This was exactly what I thought. I'm paying someone $150 to root my tablet for me and install some other rando android ROM on there.

        $150 sounds like a reasonable deal to me. Screwing around with this shit in my experience requires jumping through all kinds of esoteric hoops and is a huge investment in time. The installs never go right, instructions are always wrong and procedures constantly change and or are device specific. Just going through vendor hoops or cracks to unlock the bootloader is a chore in itself. Last time I rooted an android device ended up having to install all kinds of shit to recover from EDL. If you invest the

        • Except in the case of the Pixel Tablet, Google give instructions on how to unlock the bootloader. They also provide instructions to restore an unlocked device back to factory firmware.

          • Yea, plus introducing one more entity (this "Murena") in the supply chain might bite one harder than just using an official "Googled" device. If one is really into using a degoogled device surely /e/ is easy enough to install, although in itself I won't bet it's so much better; last time I run into a dude that lost his phone with /e/ that was unencrypted and with an unlocked bootloader ...

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by crahman ( 6461600 )

      Part of the cost is to allow you to support the alternative, privacy-oriented, OS.

      At one time, Slashdot was full of people who wanted things like this.

      • At one time, Slashdot was full of people who wanted things like this.

        That might be, although what I remember is that Slashdot was full of people who said they wanted something like this and then either found out it sucked, or did it themselves. I've had both experiences, sometimes with the same product. I looked at their product page and what they are offering is a 2 year warranty and no promises of a period of updates. That makes sense given the situation but it's unclear why you wouldn't just install /e/ yourself.

      • Part of the cost is to allow you to support the alternative, privacy-oriented, OS.

        At one time, Slashdot was full of people who wanted things like this.

        Now /. is full of people who want your social media posts monitored and censored.

        Yeah, it's changed a lot ...

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        It's a shame that Fairphone don't make a tablet that you can repair easily. The software on this one is good, but it's still a pain to e.g. replace the battery.

  • will be when an announcement is made that they are going out of business...

  • Huawei (Score:3, Funny)

    by dwater ( 72834 ) on Wednesday February 19, 2025 @07:10PM (#65180443)

    Just get a Huawei tablet. Job done.

  • That might explain why their tech support is taking ages to reply.

  • I have a couple of de-googled devices, I find 2 problems with them: 1 is finding a trustworthy app store: sideloading apks etc doesn't feel safe, and there a re a few alternate app stores that feel distinctly sketchy as well.

    The real killer app for me, though, is google maps. Hard to live without and replacements don't have the vast scale of data and mapping resources behind them that google has.

    (of course if anyone has good solutions to this.... )

  • This would be great, as I get the deGoogled advantages of privacy without having to root my machine, so things like Microsoft COmpany Portal will still run....but wait I need Intune from the Google Play Store. Figure that little problem out and this is a winner.
    • You can download anything you want from the Google Play store while running /e/OS. The platform doesn't include any Google proprietary software or services by default, but nothing prevents you from installing them. Glad you think this one is a winner.

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