/e/ (operating system)

/e/ (formerly Eelo) is a free and open-source Android-based mobile operating system and associated online services. The operating system is a fork of LineageOS and Android. The custom firmware is developed by the /e/ Foundation, which was founded by French entrepreneur Gaël Duval. /e/ is presented as privacy software that does not contain proprietary Google apps or services, and challenges the public to "find any parts of the system or default applications that are still leaking data to Google."
Software.
/e/ is based on LineageOS, a fork of the CyanogenMod and Android operating systems. /e/ uses MicroG as a free and open-source replacement for Google Play Services, and Mozilla Location Service for geolocation.
History.
In 2017, Mandrake Linux creator Gaël Duval proposed the concept of an operating system without privacy-invasive software as a "non-profit project 'in the public interest'". Duval wrote, "Apple, Google, Facebook etc., business models are harmful for our economical and social environments". The operating system was initially called Eelo; the name was inspired by moray eels, which Duval saw as "fish that can hide in the sea". Duval launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with an initial goal of €25,000, and received at least €71,000 from contributors.
Eelo was subsequently renamed to /e/ in July 2018 due to a conflict with the "eelloo" trademark, which was owned by human resources company Meurs HRM B.V. 
Beta versions of /e/ were released for 20 to 30 smartphone models in September 2018. As of November 2019 /e/ supported 89 smartphone models. As of April 2020, /e/ was teaming with Fairphone to sell phones.
Reception.
The Free Software Foundation declined to endorse /e/ because it "contains nonfree libraries". Ross Rubin of "Fast Company" described /e/'s strategy as a "Google-like approach" of maximizing user adoption, in contrast to hardware manufacturer and software developer Purism's "Apple-like approach" of vertical integration. Jack Wallen of "TechRepublic" believed that /e/ will "prove Android can exist without Google", but predicted that the operating system would not appeal to ordinary smartphone users. Sascha Segan of PC Magazine was "encouraged by /e/, and by its determination to create an easy-to-use (and, hopefully, easy to install) alternative," but was "queasy about the sources of third-party apps on /e/." He also defended /e/ against InfoSec Handbook's criticisms, which /e/ "took to heart and has been working on it in public bug threads anyone can read online." Steven Vaughan-Nichols reviewed a refurbished Samsung phone with pre-installed /e/ paralleling Android 8.1, and found it to be "quite stable," but said "applications can be a pain" and "installing /e/ is a monster of a job." In November 2020, Tim Anderson of The Register said installation of /e is "not for the fainthearted" (sic) but the operating system "feels lightweight and responsive" because of "fewer background services than on a typical Android device." In February 2021 Ferdinand Thommes of Linux News .de published a submitted review of Fairphone 3 with pre-installed /e/. They called it "very expensive" and said on initial startup, an operating system update was needed, which took about 15 minutes. After a few minutes the Bliss Launcher was "annoying" so they replaced it with a different launcher from F-Droid, which took "about 3 hours." Fingerprint sensing did not work reliably initially or after a sensor replacement. /e/ support was friendly, competent and quick responding. "Despite all the negative points" they "can recommend both device and operating system."