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Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

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Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#51

Post by Spooky23 »

Ultramanoid wrote: post #41
Spooky23 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In that scenario, the quiet guy doesn’t realize that there is a cable guy standing behind him listening as well.

Mail is not that private, that is not the point being argued, and why I offered the street conversation example. From the moment you communicate with someone else, you've lost control over the information. But there's a huge difference between that, and having every word you write plus all the info that can be inferred from that, recorded, stored forever, analyzed and re-analyzed, sold, exploited, misused, etc, by a…

IMO, you’re probably better off with Google or to a lesser extent Microsoft, as their model is about selling ads based on your information, and hoarding your data for competitive advantage.

I assume that your cellular carrier and cable company are monetizing any bit of data they can capture and selling it for pennies to all sorts of parties.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#54

Post by Ultramanoid »

Spooky23 wrote: post #51
Ultramanoid wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mail is not that private, that is not the point being argued, and why I offered the street conversation example. From the moment you communicate with someone else, you've lost control over the information. But there's a huge difference between that, and having every word you write plus all the info that can be inferred from that, recorded, stored forever, analyzed and re-analyzed, sold, exploited, misused, etc, by a…

IMO, you’re probably better off with Google or to a lesser extent Microsoft, as their model is about selling ads based on your information, and hoarding your data for competitive advantage. I assume that your cellular carrier and cable company are monetizing any bit of data they can capture and selling it for pennies to all sorts of parties.

There's a reasonable compromise to be found to live in a modern digital society. Otherwise, just move to a deserted tiny isolated island in the Pacific. One with a bit of higher ground. Climate change, et al.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#55

Post by lohszvu »

another-dave wrote: post #21

It's a work in progress for me. Flashed my Android phone with Lineage OS without any Google Play Services — most apps work OK, though have some teething issues (some probably based on my config). Find any google things I still need I can use the web version for. * some apps crash on start-up, even though you'd expect them not to be using Play services. Others (e.g. Monzo) work fine but I no longer get push notificati…

Have you been able to get Waze to work without gapps?

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#56

Post by thecleaner »

YUMad wrote: post #34
Ultramanoid wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regarding YT, my solution is youtube-dl. Which is also a massive improvement on the service itself; cross-platform, choosing of format and resolution, keeping the media file and not being at the whim of an internet connection, work around tracking and intrusive / malicious advertising, etc. https://ytdl-org.github.io/youtube-dl/index.html

On Android, I recommend NewPipe. Available from F-Droid repo.

Is it actually working for you ? I installed it and it cant play videos and crashes with an error.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#58

Post by lighthammer »

I have done this.

1. Migrated all mail, contacts, calendar to Fastmail. Runbox is another good option. Email is custom domain. 2. For my cellphone, I use Blackberry Classic running BB10.3 (No Android or iOS) 3. Removed all services from Google login and deleted the acct. I never logged back in. 4. My Browsers are "Brave" and "Firefox". 5. Email client is via Blackberry Hub. For desktop, its through Brave browser. I don't need a standalone email client. 6. Search is DuckDuckGo. Been using them for three years now. 7. Youtube is done through mobile Blackberry browser and/or NewPipe on Blackberry mobile. 8. OpenStreetMaps and Blackberry Maps is used.

Its been a great experience so far. Less clutter on my mind with services and products.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#59

Post by dddw »

thecleaner wrote: post #56
YUMad wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On Android, I recommend NewPipe. Available from F-Droid repo.

Is it actually working for you ? I installed it and it cant play videos and crashes with an error.

yes sometime it has a bug and wont work for a while. just wait until an update. had this multiple occasions, still wont give up on it.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone successfully been able to completely quit using Google?

#60

Post by another-dave »

lohszvu wrote: post #55
another-dave wrote: post #21

It's a work in progress for me. Flashed my Android phone with Lineage OS without any Google Play Services — most apps work OK, though have some teething issues (some probably based on my config). Find any google things I still need I can use the web version for. * some apps crash on start-up, even though you'd expect them not to be using Play services. Others (e.g. Monzo) work fine but I no longer get push notificati…

Have you been able to get Waze to work without gapps?

Sorry, late getting back to this! I haven't tried Waze at all. I'm not driving, so was looking for something that'd work for walking directions so went with Maps.me instead.
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