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CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

calyxos.org

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Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#41

Post by spinax »

m12k wrote: post #24

As someone who knows quite little about Android (currently in the Apple ecosystem, but considering jumping ship): When you use these privacy-focused Android versions without Google Play, is there a consistent way to get apps from the Play store to run on there? (e.g. download the APK from somewhere and sideload it). I'd really like an OS that doesn't spy on me, but there's e.g. some goverment ID apps, transit apps an…

One of the most popular ways is to use the F-Droid repositories, which if you know a little Linux concepts it's like plugging in another software repository to the same package manager. (see f-droid.org) It can be confusing though because F-Droid is both an app, and the name of the primary software repo which is pure FOSS software (no ads, no trackers).

The F-Droid app supports adding more repositories (think like apt/yum/dnf on Linux) easily, so you can source software from anywhere which runs their own repository. One of the most popular "other" repos is Izzy (apt.izzysoft.de/fdroid), and there is an alternate project called "microG" which can allow you to use Google Play store apps (microg.org/fdroid.html). microG is how you will get your Google Play apps onto the device, usually (there are other solutions besides microG out there however).

The CalyxOS install ROM includes F-Droid (app and repos) and offers to install microG for you on your first boot (as well as some other opt-in stuff). Calyx runs their own F-Droid repo which is pre-added to the app so you get updates from them as well (think the built-in apps most smartphones have).

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#42

Post by fragileone »

google234123 wrote: post #38
0x416c6578 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are third-party clients for the Play Store (Aurora store being a good example). Aurora store uses anonymous accounts to download the APKs directly from Google. That being said, just because you can install the application doesn't mean it will actually work without Play Services installed. I've had quite a bit of luck with random applications I've installed (interestingly most Google apps like Gboard, Photos and…

That’s a piracy site.

Aurora Store is not a piracy site. It's a FOSS app that gives you access to the official Google Play Store directly.

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#43

Post by m0ngr31 »

0x416c6578 wrote: post #17
kiawe_fire wrote: post #4

Anybody have experience using something like this (or others like GrapheneOS) as a daily driver? I’m interested in moving away from Apple and big tech in general, but I don’t know how practical that is yet.

I've used LineageOS without Google services for about a year now. The only big missing feature I've found is notifications which in some ways is quite freeing and makes me check my phone a lot less. LineageOS (and perhaps other ROMs) have the option to disable all networking features for apps, so I actually still use Google Camera, Google Photos (as an offline gallery) and Gboard (again all offline) and the majority…

How do you disable networking for apps? I'd love to use Gboard offline. ASK just isn't as good.

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#44

Post by m0ngr31 »

I've been using MicroG+Lineage for a few years now. No complaints from me, but I don't use a ton of apps. Not sure what the advantage of CalyxOS would be over my current setup (especially considering Lineage has a much better catalog of supported devices)

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#46

Post by fragileone »

m12k wrote: post #24

As someone who knows quite little about Android (currently in the Apple ecosystem, but considering jumping ship): When you use these privacy-focused Android versions without Google Play, is there a consistent way to get apps from the Play store to run on there? (e.g. download the APK from somewhere and sideload it). I'd really like an OS that doesn't spy on me, but there's e.g. some goverment ID apps, transit apps an…

Use the Aurora Store app (you can keep this updated via the F-Droid app), it's a client for the Google Play Store so it'll allow you to update those apps through it.

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#47

Post by jefftk »

spinax wrote: post #41
m12k wrote: post #24

As someone who knows quite little about Android (currently in the Apple ecosystem, but considering jumping ship): When you use these privacy-focused Android versions without Google Play, is there a consistent way to get apps from the Play store to run on there? (e.g. download the APK from somewhere and sideload it). I'd really like an OS that doesn't spy on me, but there's e.g. some goverment ID apps, transit apps an…

One of the most popular ways is to use the F-Droid repositories, which if you know a little Linux concepts it's like plugging in another software repository to the same package manager. (see f-droid.org) It can be confusing though because F-Droid is both an app, and the name of the primary software repo which is pure FOSS software (no ads, no trackers). The F-Droid app supports adding more repositories (think like ap…

> pure FOSS software (no ads, no trackers)

Nit: something can be FOSS while having ads and/or tracking (telemetry)

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#48

Post by dheera »

fitblipper wrote: post #28

The thing which always makes me hesitant about these projects is that they don't receive frequent security audits and not having an expensive brand behind them makes them more at risk to being willing to trash their name at the cost of my privacy and security. I consider these to be a fairly critical part of any project which claims superior privacy and security. I think about it this way: Should I trust A. The compa…

> B. The small group of people who have formed an organization which may or may not be another Anom like FBI controlled software.

Um, this project is 100% open source, unlike Google's flavor of Android. If there are backdoors to the FBI they will be exposed in due time.

https://gitlab.com/CalyxOS

That said I'd love to understand how it compares to LineageOS.

Re: CalyxOS – De-Googled Android Alternative

#50

Post by flas9sd »

Calyx made an effort to sponsor and integrate the backup tool Seedvault (https://calyxinstitute.org/projects/seedvault-encrypted-back...) into their ROM - and other AOSP distributions benefit from this effort. Handhelds are tethered devices, its essential to have contacts and precious photos stored at a second place (online or offline) and easily restored or used when changing devices. A user friendly full backup solution not requiring root access of some sort was missing to date.
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