- E and companies begain forking LineageOS ROMs in 2017-2018. DivestOS has been working on Android ROMs since 2013-2014, with inspiration from Daniel Micay (GrapheneOS).
- E includes proprietary apps (Map) in default. DivestOS does not. DivestOS has optional GmapsWV wrapper app for only accessing google maps with web view, for better privacy compared with google maps app.
- E includes microG for interfacing with Google Services, against their privacy goals. DivestOS does not.
- DivestOS removes as many proprietary blobs as possible. E does not.
- E target market is average, non-technical phone user who wants more privacy, and also wants to use all their favorite apps (impossible). DivestOS targets more advanced users who understand the difference.
- Location services for both are similar.
- E tries to support many many devices and “easy” installer. DivestOS focuses on fewer, non-mediatek phones.
- E gets the info for connectivity checks and some other network services. DivestOS is more like GrapheneOS or CalyxOS - using more popular options, and not getting your data as 3rd party.
- DivestOS uses /etc/hosts file for blocking bad sites. E does not.
- E app store makes it easy to install more proprietary apps, with trackers. DivestOS does not. DivestOS had an optional F-Droid repository, and those apps are being added to the main F-Droid repository.
- E default install includes cloud services (email, contacts, calendar, storage) that are not end-to-end encrypted. So E system administrators have full access to your data. DivestOS does not.
- E spends time on a custom iPhone-copy launcher app. DivestOS spends time on a privacy browser, Mull, virus scanner, Hypatia, free space eraser, Extirpater, and more.
- E sells phones with E installed for high markup. DivestOS sells a few used phones with DivestOS installed for very cheap, and takes offers.
- E deGoogles LineageOS, and then helps users re-Google. DivestOS adds many security updates.
- E does a lot of promotion and press. DivestOS does not.
- E changed names because of trademark violations, and will be changing name again. This is like Mandrake - Mandriva trademark violation issues. DivestOS has changed some old names of apps, before being public.
- E has “haters” and was accused and proven to cheat Wikipedia with sock puppet accounts. DivestOS has not.
- DivestOS has a long list of credits for “giving back” technical support to other projects, including finding obscure proprietary software still in Replicant. E, other than microG financial support?
- DivestOS has been supporting Android 11 or LineageOS 18 since March 2021. E is just beginning limited testing of “R” (11).
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