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Review: Copperhead OS

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Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#81

Post by edent »

dominotw wrote: post #50
lern_too_spel wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google services are entirely optional to Android. See AOSP. This criticism appears often on HN, despite how little sense it makes. If you don't like the data that Google Maps collects, simply use another map application. I delete all the useless Google apps off my phone as soon as I get it and keep only the ones that are actually useful.

I've done this with all Google apps minus maps. Haven't found anything close to Google maps. Also how do I turn off location tracking by Google, constantly asking me to upload pictures, write a review, answer questions ect

In Google Maps for Android, press the menu icon. Settings. Notifications. Your Contributions.

You can switch off all the nags in there.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#82

Post by izacus »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #58

The article mentions launchers; all the launchers in the app store seem sketchy. Does anyone know of a good Open Source launcher, maybe a version of the AOSP launcher compiled for current Android? I'd love to have something that reclaims the pile of space (thumb-reachable space even) devoted to the Google search bar that now stays on the bottom of the main screen all the time.

Perhaps try Lawnchair (https://github.com/LawnchairLauncher/Lawnchair - available on Play Store) which is closely modeled on Googles Pixel launcher but offers customization.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#83

Post by rifung »

JepZ wrote: post #26

Sometimes I am wondering what Google employees think when they read headlines like this one. I mean they probably have no problem giving the personal data to Google, but at the same time many of them are probably open source proponents and would support a world where the Google services would be entirely optional to Android. A few days ago I was thinking about a new smartphone and because my main problem with my curr…

> Sometimes I am wondering what Google employees think when they read headlines like this one.

Hello Google employee here! I suspect we don't all have the same opinion but I can share my own since you asked. Note that I work in Cloud so I work in an area far far away from this stuff and opinions are obviously my own.

Frankly the headline makes me a little bit sad because of course I would like to make things which people are happy about. On the other hand, I also realize that it's not easy to make a product which fits every single person's use case, and in this case I suspect most this level of privacy is overkill for most people, and it's wonderful that there is something for those who want that extra privacy and security.

I also think it's awesome these people contribute security patches to AOSP!

> I mean they probably have no problem giving the personal data to Google, but at the same time many of them are probably open source proponents and would support a world where the Google services would be entirely optional to Android.

I like to think I'm a proponent of open source as I try to contribute but to be honest I don't actually think it really matters for Android to be independent of Google services because as far as I can tell, most people like Android with Google services?

Is there a reason that removing Google services would be better for the users? I can understand from a philosophical or ideological standpoint why it would be better but not really from a product point of view since I think I can confidently say 99% of Android users do not care or even know that it is open source..

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#84

Post by StavrosK »

chrisper wrote: post #64
JoshTriplett wrote: post #58

The article mentions launchers; all the launchers in the app store seem sketchy. Does anyone know of a good Open Source launcher, maybe a version of the AOSP launcher compiled for current Android? I'd love to have something that reclaims the pile of space (thumb-reachable space even) devoted to the Google search bar that now stays on the bottom of the main screen all the time.

Nova launcher has a good reputation and is not bloat. It's free and the prime one is affordable. Just try it out.

I'd like to second Nova, it's my favorite. I bought pro, well worth it.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#85

Post by anowlcalledjosh »

slphil wrote: post #78
Tepix wrote: post #61

I love Copperhead OS on my Nexus 5X. Amazing battery life, great trustworthy apps and strong security. Frankly I think the project would be a lot more successful with lower prices. I'm willing to pay $50 per year for the OS, right now the price to get Copperhead OS installed on a Pixel phone is $400. That's just out of whack when taking into consideration the phone price (I paid around $180 for a used Nexus 5X a year…

You don't need to pay them for a phone. You can install it on the device yourself for free.

Builds are only available for free for Nexus devices, though -- if you want to install it on a Pixel, you have to either build from source or pay up.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#86

Post by cornholio »

rifung wrote: post #83
JepZ wrote: post #26

Sometimes I am wondering what Google employees think when they read headlines like this one. I mean they probably have no problem giving the personal data to Google, but at the same time many of them are probably open source proponents and would support a world where the Google services would be entirely optional to Android. A few days ago I was thinking about a new smartphone and because my main problem with my curr…

> Sometimes I am wondering what Google employees think when they read headlines like this one. Hello Google employee here! I suspect we don't all have the same opinion but I can share my own since you asked. Note that I work in Cloud so I work in an area far far away from this stuff and opinions are obviously my own. Frankly the headline makes me a little bit sad because of course I would like to make things which pe…

You might be a Google employee, but you do not seem to be an Open source proponent. That's you prerogative, but you completely miss the point of the discussion if you ask why should users want to be independent from proprietary services. Sure, 99% don't want that and would click any colored and shiny button if it promises them a free Justin Bieber ringtone, but this is not the topic of the thread.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#87

Post by izacus »

paulryanrogers wrote: post #32
lern_too_spel wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google services are entirely optional to Android. See AOSP. This criticism appears often on HN, despite how little sense it makes. If you don't like the data that Google Maps collects, simply use another map application. I delete all the useless Google apps off my phone as soon as I get it and keep only the ones that are actually useful.

Lots of third party apps rely upon Google APIs which are not a part of ASOP

And those APIs actually rely on things hosted on Google servers (Push notification system, fused location system, Google login and other come to mind) which can't exist without Googles involvement.

Making people implement their own services proved to be problematic, because most developers didn't care enough to optimize their services for low memory and battery usage, resulting in terrible battery life on Android devices. Since Android must compete against iOS, a central system had to be established to reach similar battery life.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#88

Post by izacus »

zanedb wrote: post #59
dominotw wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've done this with all Google apps minus maps. Haven't found anything close to Google maps. Also how do I turn off location tracking by Google, constantly asking me to upload pictures, write a review, answer questions ect

Yes please! I understand you can disable the notifications in Maps settings, but that likely doesn't disable the constant location tracking. Does anyone know how to disable this?

It's called "Location history" and you can manage it in Settings -> Google on most decently modern Android devices.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#89

Post by bradfa »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #58

The article mentions launchers; all the launchers in the app store seem sketchy. Does anyone know of a good Open Source launcher, maybe a version of the AOSP launcher compiled for current Android? I'd love to have something that reclaims the pile of space (thumb-reachable space even) devoted to the Google search bar that now stays on the bottom of the main screen all the time.

I use OpenLauncher and like it.

F-droid link: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.benny.openlauncher/ Google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.benny.open...

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#90

Post by cabaalis »

walshemj wrote: post #19

why that Name in particular did they not know its provenance in English :-) it was what a proslavery northerner was called aka Traitors.

Being from the south I've occassionally heard and used the term "carpetbagger" which doesn't have slavery connotations that I know of but is from the same era. I've never heard the term copperhead used with that meaning, maybe only people from the north know it?
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