Murena's Pixel Tablet: Embracing Privacy Over Tech Giants
In today's digital age, many find themselves heavily dependent on Google for managing their crucial messages, appointments, contacts, and a plethora of other personal data. Despite an awareness of potential privacy sacrifices, the convenience of Google's tools often outweighs concerns.
Enter the Murena Pixel Tablet—a device that challenges this status quo by operating Google's Pixel hardware without any Google tracking or applications. Although I occasionally returned to Google's ecosystem, using Murena's tablet reinforced the possibility of reducing Big Tech's footprint in my lifestyle.
Experience with De-Googled Android
Murena's Pixel Tablet doesn't run the standard Android OS. Instead, it uses /e/OS, an open-source mobile operating system developed by the e Foundation. This OS, conceived by Gaël Duval, is a fork of LineageOS, based on Google's Android source code.
Murena circumvents typical Google applications by preloading the device with open-source alternatives, such as a modified version of K9-mail instead of Gmail and a customized Chromium-based browser in lieu of Chrome. The /e/OS App Lounge stands in for Google Play Store, granting access to apps without needing a Google account.
An intriguing feature of the App Lounge is its privacy ratings for applications. These ratings, derived from audits by Exodus Privacy, address the number of trackers each app contains and the permissions it requests, providing a clear understanding of potential privacy risks.
While it's feasible to secure one's digital life further, most tablets come with operating systems managed by Big Tech, known for their tracking capabilities. Murena's offering is a compelling alternative without compromising the user experience.
Challenging Google's Search Dominance
On using the Murena Pixel Tablet, I noticed a decrease in reliance on Google Search. Powered by Murena Find, a search engine based on Qwant, the tablet's browser provided search results devoid of tracking and advertisements.
Although at times Google's results were more pertinent, Qwant’s focus on preserving privacy was evident. For instance, searching "Brooklyn rooftop bars" brought forward curated blogs from Qwant, unlike Google's typical map results filled with ads.
Encouraging a Shift to Privacy
Despite its challenges, Murena's Pixel Tablet inspires a shift towards more privacy-focused tech. Devices like this, offering comprehensive privacy controls such as IP masking and detailed app privacy reports, deserve more attention in a tech landscape often criticized for invasive data practices.
Murena proves that embracing privacy does not mean sacrificing usability or performance. By shedding light on alternatives, it underscores privacy as a competitive edge other tech firms should strive towards.
