CalyxOS
CalyxOS is an operating system for smartphones based on Android with mostly free and open-source software. It is produced by the Calyx Institute as part of its mission to make Privacy more accessible and easier to use.[1]
| Developer | The Calyx Institute |
|---|---|
| OS family | Unix-like |
| Source model | Open source with proprietary components |
| Repository | |
| Update method | Over-the-air (OTA), ROM flashing |
| Package manager | APK-based |
| Platforms | arm, arm64 |
| Official website | calyxos |
Software
CalyxOS includes features and options not available in the official firmware distributed by most mobile device vendors. These features include phone dialer integration with encrypted calling applications such as Signal and WhatsApp, integration of Tor, inclusion of free VPN services run by The Calyx Institute and other non-profits such as Riseup. The default search is set to DuckDuckGo and the default web browser in CalyxOS is DuckDuckGo's Android browser. CalyxOS also includes MicroG as a privacy enhanced replacement for some of the functionality in Google Play Services
CalyxOS has also led the development of SeedVault an encrypted backup and restore application for integration into Android based Operating systems and which has been adopted in LineageOS,[2] GrapheneOS[3] and others.
The operating system aims to preserve the Android security model by default, taking full advantage of Android's Verified Boot system of cryptographic signing of the operating system and running with a locked boot loader.
Reception
In October 2020, in Golem.de Moritz Tremmel wrote a detailed review on testing CalyxOS.[4]
In November 2020, in Golem.de, Moritz Tremmel wrote a detailed article on why he was leaving LineageOS for CalyxOS (or GrapheneOS).[5]
In March 2021, Rahul Nambiampurath, writing for MakeUseOf, called CalyxOS one of the two "Best ROMs for Privacy" along with GrapheneOS, and said CalyxOS "offers the perfect middle ground between convenience and privacy".[6]
In August 2021, Android Authority said CalyxOS "puts privacy and security into the hands of everyday users."[7]
In September 2021 in Linux Magazin, Moritz Tremmel wrote wrote CalyxOS was different than most alternative ROMs because it did not require as much "fiddling".[8]
References
- "About The Calyx Institute - Calyx Institute". calyxinstitute.org. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
- LineageOS adopts SeedVault as its open source backup solution
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Moritz Tremmel (2020-10-19). "CalyxOS im Test: Ein komfortables Android mit einer Extraportion Privacy". Golem.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- Tremmel, Moritz (November 10, 2020). "Bye-bye, Lineage OS!". www.golem.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-02.
- "What's the Best Privacy-Focussed Android ROM?". MUO. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
- "Gary Explains: Linux turns 30, Tesla's D1 chip, Power⚡️ over Ethernet & more!". Android Authority. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
- "CalyxOS: Google-freies Android". Linux-Magazin (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-02.