There are thousands of enthusiasts for the idea of a free, open-source operating system, especially if it can run on computers & mobile devices alike. The dream has kindled many projects, but the success rate has been rather dismal. However, there is new hope & it comes in the form of PureOS & Purism.
PureOS is a Linux Kernel based general operating system, & is officially endorsed by the Free Software Foundation, & adheres to the Debian Social Contract & the GNU FSDG.
Purism uses PureOS to power their devices, first computers & now smartphones. its major selling point is that not only is it open source, but because of it, its devices & the software running on them are privacy-aware, & security-focused – this OS guarantees that users will not be tracked & that their personal data will never be sold.
To live up to the promise, the developers ensure that all unnecessary back doors into system-apps are sealed or neutralized using the Intel Management Engine, and that the source code may be scrutinized for efficiency. Additionally, their devices offer a ‘kill switch’ for sensitive apps, such as the microphone, camera & so forth – This, according to Purism, puts the user in control of their digital security.
PureOS & Purism have pedaled their unique concept to a market eager to break the monopoly held by iOS & Android, both of whom have had security breach scandals in the recent past. Purism, by contrast, has raised millions of dollars from the general public on crowd sourcing platforms which demonstrates that they have support, & that their security systems are up to par – consumer reviews for products received via crowd funding have been positive, & many users return for new devices.
Open source systems are particularly popular with developers because the platform offers tech enthusiast the opportunity to tinker & delve into the system. Purism has relied on this fact to gain considerable financial support for their hardware & software:
- Crowdsuppy campaign for Librem 13 laptop raised $461,946.
- Crowdsupply campaign for Librem 15 laptop raised $592,105.
- Tablet-laptop combination device raised $51,286 on Indiegogo.
- $2.1 million raised for Librem 5, Purism’s PureOS Smartphone.
These figures prove that the market is ready for a spectrum of devices which use a single operating system. A system that works identically on a laptop, Tablet or phone.
Purism sold more than 3000 phones on their crowdfunding initiative. These phones are shipping now. If you’d like to purchase any of their devices running PureOS, they are available on the Purism Website.
Image Credit: PureOS
