Murena /e/ OS 4.0: Android fork facilitates Google services switch
The French company Murena has released the Google-free Android fork /e/ OS 4.0.
The Google-free Android fork /e/ OS is appearing in a new version.
(Image: Murena)
About a year after the introduction of /e/ OS 3.0, the French company of Linux veteran Gaël Duval, Murena, has released its successor /e/OS 4.0. In the process, the company is showcasing new features of the Murena Workspace, including a tool that allows users to bid farewell to Gmail.
Away from Gmail with one click
In the announcement of the new Android fork, the company first mentions a revised launcher that offers new colors and wallpapers, among other things. More interesting, however, is that /e/ OS 4.0 is intended to help users turn their backs on Google. To this end, the company has expanded its migration assistant with a new function that allows users to migrate their Gmail account to a Murena account with virtually one click, it says.
With the migration assistant, contacts, calendar and Google Drive data, as well as Gmail emails, can now be moved to the Murena Workspace. To avoid missing any emails, users can set up automatic email forwarding to their new Murena address and inform contacts about the change via an automatic reply.
With /e/ OS 4.0, Murena is introducing a "Gmail Migration Assistant".
(Image:Â Murena)
Furthermore, an assistant can scan the inbox history to identify subscriptions, banks, and online services linked to the old account and help users update them.
Cloud-based backup
The new version of /e/ OS also includes the Murena Backup function: according to the company, the cloud-based service can back up installed apps, app and system settings, accounts, emails, media, and calendars in the Murena account. The company aims to replace Google's Android backup solution with this. According to Murena, however, this function will only be available with version 4.1.
With /e/ OS 4.0 or 4.1, a backup tool is being introduced.
(Image:Â Murena)
Another new feature is called App-Certification-Compatibility-Layer. With its help, apps that rely on Google's device verification system and require Google services should still work under /e/ OS 4.0. Murena states that this increases the range of supported apps under /e/ OS.
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Password manager and Maps
Also new, but planned for version 4.1, is Murena's own password manager for /e/ OS, which is intended to complement the browser-based solution of the Murena Workspace. According to the manufacturer, the password manager supports automatic filling of login forms, the creation of secure passwords when creating accounts, and offers proactive monitoring. This means that if a password appears in a known data breach, the user is notified immediately.
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Murena is also working on its own map app: Murena Maps is already in the beta testing phase, and the company will release more information soon.
Murena Workspace
With /e/ OS 4.0, Murena has also announced the tools “Murena Meet” and “Murena Sign” for its Workspace suite. Meet is an alternative to Google Meet that runs on Murena's own infrastructure and includes features such as scheduling and screen sharing. According to the manufacturer, video calls are end-to-end encrypted. With Sign, users can sign documents such as PDFs, Word documents, and ODTs. According to Murena, the solution is eIDAS-compliant; simple signatures are free for all users. According to Murena, both functions will be introduced with /e/ OS 4.0 and /e/ OS 4.1 during July.
Gigaset with /e/ OS
In conjunction with the announcement, Murena has expanded its range of supported smartphones: the two smartphone models GS6 and GS6 Pro from the German manufacturer Gigaset now also run on /e/ OS. The devices feature, among other things, a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chip, a 6.67-inch OLED screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, 8 GB RAM, a replaceable 5,300 mAh battery, 15 W wireless charging, eSIM support, IP68 protection class, and a camera system with 64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP sensors. The smartphones complement Murena's existing partner portfolio, such as the Fairphone 6.
Gigaset GS6 Pro with Murena's /e/ OS 4.0.
(Image:Â Murena)
The Gigaset GS 6 Pro has already been tested by the c't editorial team, but not yet with /e/ OS. With /e/ OS, the two Gigaset devices seem to receive longer software support than with the manufacturer's software. Gigaset speaks of two Android updates (Android 16 and 17) and seven years of security patches. According to Murena, the models are expected to receive at least 8 years of software support. The model without Pro costs from 340 Euros at Murena, the Pro from 450 Euros.
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