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How to Android without Google

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Re: How to Android without Google

#91

Post by Fnoord »

izacus wrote: post #37
krn wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When a security patch for Android becomes available, it takes a lot of time until it gets ported to the LineageOS build targeting your device. If it ever happens at all.

Also it's worth remembering that LineageOS can't patch the driver blobs (which are a source of a large number of security issues). As a result, if you don't run it on a maintained platform (e.g. Google Pixel phones), you're still behind in security.

For Fairphone 2 you can manually update that quite easily.

Re: How to Android without Google

#92

Post by Fnoord »

beenBoutIT wrote: post #89

As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google. Custom ROMs have lagged behind Google factory images in every way for years now, and they aren't anywhere near as reliable as a customized AOSP image. On a separate note, there's no substitute for Google Maps, and there never will be.

> As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google.

This is an appeal to pity. [1]

As someone who knew Android before it was bought by Google I'd like to disagree on that one:

"In July 2005, Google acquired Android Inc. for at least $50 million." [2] Yes, Andy Rubin had money issues, but OTOH it was seen as a competitor already at that point. Some details with sources on that in [2] as well.

Furthermore, if Android did not became popular perhaps Maemo did or Symbian remained and Nokia didn't die. Who knows.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_pity

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_(operating_system)

Re: How to Android without Google

#93

Post by Fnoord »

forapurpose wrote: post #75
Animats wrote: post #55

Enable Google device registration Enable Google Cloud Messaging I run Android without Google. I bought a new phone, and when I powered it up, it tried to get me to "sign into Google". I declined. I downloaded F-Droid. Then I disabled every Google thing that could be disabled.After that, all apps came from F-Droid. Mail is via K-9 mail and an IMAP server. Browsing is Fennec F-Droid, which is Firefox minus some unwante…

Last time I looked at it, maybe a couple of years ago, the parent's approach was not nearly sufficient if you don't want your phone communicating with Google. There was so much, including things baked into Android, that it would have been a full time job to identify and find solutions to everything. The only hope was another OS (including Android forks/ROMs), and none of those available at the time seemed sufficient…

> As one simple issue, I'm pretty sure Android uses Google's DNS and that is hard to change.

I'm pretty sure it runs the DNS you specify though your ISP might mangle the packets to their own DNS (Vodafone NL used to do this and also tunnel HTTP traffic into their transparent proxy; not sure if they still do).

However this is a non-issue if you're OK running a VPN server. I use WireGuard to use my home network's Pi-Hole which applies filtering. I also get insight on data traffic from the device via DPI feature on my router. Though the WireGuard Android package isn't complete yet the good part of the story is WireGuard doesn't take many resources. When I did this with OpenVPN in the past my phone would get so hot it hurted to touch it at some spots (granted though it was in summer but still not good for battery).

Re: How to Android without Google

#94

Post by Sylos »

whyagaindavid wrote: post #29
bluuswtr wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why is Lineage behind?

LOS is a community effort. No regular company. No VC money. All volunteer.

It's not like regular companies distributing Android are known for delivering security patches in a timely manner...

Re: How to Android without Google

#95

Post by Sylos »

beenBoutIT wrote: post #89

As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google. Custom ROMs have lagged behind Google factory images in every way for years now, and they aren't anywhere near as reliable as a customized AOSP image. On a separate note, there's no substitute for Google Maps, and there never will be.

There's tons of substitutes for Google Maps:

https://f-droid.org/app/net.osmand.plus

https://f-droid.org/app/com.github.axet.maps

https://f-droid.org/app/com.junjunguo.pocketmaps

https://f-droid.org/app/com.zoffcc.applications.zanavi

Either specify why you think Google Maps is so irreplacable or don't make such a blanket statement.

Re: How to Android without Google

#97

Post by acct1771 »

jhoh wrote: post #33
giancarlostoro wrote: post #5

I'm considering the Essential Phone for my next phone and just putting Lineage OS or something on it. Not sure of another phone that I can get for that price range (under $500) that is unlocked and not bloatware filled. Definitely going to be reading a number of articles like these. Though I might try not installing the Google* apps on it period.

What about OnePlus devices? Absolutely no bloatware, very easy unlocking and ususally around $500. If you strip away all the hype and marketing, they offer pretty solid phones.

Backdoored

Re: How to Android without Google

#98

Post by beenBoutIT »

Sylos wrote: post #95
beenBoutIT wrote: post #89

As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google. Custom ROMs have lagged behind Google factory images in every way for years now, and they aren't anywhere near as reliable as a customized AOSP image. On a separate note, there's no substitute for Google Maps, and there never will be.

There's tons of substitutes for Google Maps: https://f-droid.org/app/net.osmand.plus https://f-droid.org/app/com.github.axet.maps https://f-droid.org/app/com.junjunguo.pocketmaps https://f-droid.org/app/com.zoffcc.applications.zanavi Either specify why you think Google Maps is so irreplacable or don't make such a blanket statement.

Those are all inferior substitutes. None of them can reroute you on the fly to avoid a major delay, and none of them provide real-time traffic updates on par with the updates provided by Google Maps. Being extremely popular gives it a huge advantage that none of the other map apps enjoy. There will never be a substitute because there is no logical incentive for anyone to use the inferior map apps, and without a massive increase in users they'll perpetually remain less accurate. How many people are willing to risk sitting in traffic unnecessarily to prove some point about not relying on Google technology?

Re: How to Android without Google

#99

Post by beenBoutIT »

Fnoord wrote: post #92
beenBoutIT wrote: post #89

As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google. Custom ROMs have lagged behind Google factory images in every way for years now, and they aren't anywhere near as reliable as a customized AOSP image. On a separate note, there's no substitute for Google Maps, and there never will be.

> As an Android developer I'm biased, but it's important to remember that there literally would be no Android if it weren't for Google. This is an appeal to pity. [1] As someone who knew Android before it was bought by Google I'd like to disagree on that one: "In July 2005, Google acquired Android Inc. for at least $50 million." [2] Yes, Andy Rubin had money issues, but OTOH it was seen as a competitor already at tha…

It's an accurate statement. Without Google the Android you're referring to would be buried alongside your beloved Maemo and Symbian right next to Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Firefox Mobile, Amazon Fire and every other non-iOS mobile OS. No one else could have made Android into what it is today because no one else could have leveraged all of Google's technologies. On a personal note, as a Nokia fan and someone who started modding with Nokia, I find your appeal to pity extremely pathetic.

Re: How to Android without Google

#100

Post by wilsonnb »

pmlnr wrote: post #80
wilsonnb wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just installed OSMand to try it out, and it didn't have the street I live on. It also didn't have my place of work on it, although it did have that street at least. Seems worse than Google maps to me.

Did you also download the map for your area?

I downloaded the maps for my state. Are there local maps that I would need to download as well?
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