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Debloat non-rooted Android devices

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Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#131

Post by rightbyte »

bornfreddy wrote: post #112
rightbyte wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ye that is true. As I see it the problem is with the phone manufacturers, only supporting Google. Also, there is this problem with banks requiring signed OS:es for their silly app "security".

There should be regulation that requires bank to offer a dedicated hardware OTP solution. Mobile apps security (banking or not) is abysmal anyway.

Ye it is strange that they abandon the simple, safe, cheap and idiot proof key device and go for some convoluted 2FA app that is run on the same device anyways.

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#132

Post by throwaway11460 »

sham1 wrote: post #104
throwaway11460 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's regulation that forces people into Google and Apple ecosystems. Due to the payment security regulation I'm no longer able to use Android phone without Google services. SMS authentication is gone and I must have a bank app that must be installed from Google Play and uses Google services, also it detects root and stops working. Also, my bank used to have an app that completely bypassed Google Pay and worked even o…

The issue here isn't that there is regulation, it's that the regulation is badly written. For essential services such as banking and government stuff, you shouldn't be forced to rely on things like the Google Play Store and Apple stuff. This kind of stuff should work even on a debloated, degoogled phone. And the regulation must be improved, not thrown away. Politicians of course have hard time with technology, so of…

I'm a citizen of a small EU country that has voting power in the EU parliament near zero percent. They should do better, indeed, but what can I do. Much bigger fishes (even the banks) tried to convince the EU this is bad, it probably didn't even register on their radar. From my perspective, the regulation will always be bad, I can't do anything about it however hard I try, and so it shouldn't exist at all.

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#136

Post by Terretta »

bboygravity wrote: post #85
autoexec wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The first time I had a samsung phone I noticed after about two weeks that every single word I typed into any application was being collected and sent to a third party whose privacy policy said it was used to collect data about my interests, my social life, to make guesses about my intelligence level and education, and that the data would be sold for "market research" among other things. No user would ever suspect tha…

I find it mind blowing that: 1. Samsung is able to sell phones like that legally. 2. People are not in jail. 3. Governments somehow think it's ok that random companies can see everything their citizens do online. National security risks maybe? Trade secret issues? It's almost suspicious to the point where I would start thinking those third party spy companies are possibly (US/5 eyes) government run?

> mind blowing

“Mind blowing” is too strong a word when every thread about Apple on HN is demanding the iPhone be opened up to the same, taking away non-tech people’s choice to buy a bloat free and privacy defaulted device designed to stay that way even if people more technically savvy try to hook in.

It’s a fine line, of course, since the same non-tech people love IAP and ad-supported, as shown by the folks opting into ads on Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime decades after similarly opting into ads on paid cable. So how to let users have ad-tech supported apps, without ending up like the Android ecosystem?

> legally … not in jail

Apple’s approach was a curated ecosystem, and the level of hate for it tells you app makers aren’t worried they should be in jail, they’re worried iOS users have that sweet sweet “wallet share”. HN’s EU DMA threads tell you plenty voices don’t just want what they do legal, they want it illegal to slow their roll.

PS. A lot of big data and big analytics cross pollinates with the US government. Three letter agencies even do VC deals.

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#137

Post by Lyngbakr »

switch007 wrote: post #124
TacticalCoder wrote: post #89

If, according to this thread, Samsung is so bad and I don't t want buy a Chinese phone... What are my options for an Android phone? Is there any Android phone brand/model that is not exploiting its users?

I'm no Android expert but Pixel 7a had a price drop recently (plus good deals on contracts), and GrapheneOS supports Pixel phones. Also quite a few are now made in Vietnam I believe

On Friday, I switched to the Pixel 7a with GrapheneOS and it's costing me CAD$1 per month for the phone on a 24-month contract and I got a better deal on my monthly phone plan. So far, it seems like an awesome phone and the installation of GrapheneOS via the web installer was incredibly easy.

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#138

Post by switch007 »

Lyngbakr wrote: post #137
switch007 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm no Android expert but Pixel 7a had a price drop recently (plus good deals on contracts), and GrapheneOS supports Pixel phones. Also quite a few are now made in Vietnam I believe

On Friday, I switched to the Pixel 7a with GrapheneOS and it's costing me CAD$1 per month for the phone on a 24-month contract and I got a better deal on my monthly phone plan. So far, it seems like an awesome phone and the installation of GrapheneOS via the web installer was incredibly easy.

Nice! How's the battery on GrapheneOS? I heard on the stock OS it's pretty bad.

I'm considering buying one as I'm paying £16/mo for just a SIM but I can get a 7a on a contract for the same price!

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#139

Post by rchaud »

resource_waste wrote: post #25
daniel_reetz wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was furious when I found out that the default keyboard was infested with Grammarly, sending all my keystrokes without consent. Embarrassing for a $1200 flagship device.

This is a user/psychology problem. No one in their right mind is suggesting Samsung. Heck, similar to Apple, you have swaths of people warning you about Samsung. Samsung lives and dies off their huge marketing budget. Buying their phone is more of a psychology thing, than 'I did lots of research and I bought a high quality phone'.

> Samsung lives and dies off their huge marketing budget.

This is a ridiculous take. Samsung is the entire reason Android didn't go the way of WebOS and Windows Phone.

Samsung had pressure-sensitive pen support on Android 5 years before iOS. Samsung DEX desktop environment can turn my phone into a proper work machine with just a USB-C display cable and a lapdock.

They've also had folding phones that can turn your phone into a tablet for several years, but I suppose we'll need to wait until 2030 when Apple launches it "the right way" to recognize it as an innovative form factor.

Re: Debloat non-rooted Android devices

#140

Post by theandrewbailey »

bornfreddy wrote: post #108
andrepd wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The need for stronger legislation is overdue by now. There is already a Foss mobile OS, it's called Android, or more specifically a distribution of it like LineageOS. But installing it is so difficult that only 1% of people have the technical know how to even attempt it, and it's getting more difficult as manufacturers introduce more and more hurdles in this process. Which is all irrelevant anyway because the vast ma…

> ...like LineageOS. But installing it is so difficult that only 1% of people have the technical know how to even attempt it... Aside: there is also /e/OS (or MurenaOS - their naming is inconsistent). It is basically LineageOS that someone else installs for you so you get everything in a package [0]. They sell many phones, but it also runs nicely on Fairphones if you want a phone that you can repair (there is of cour…

> It is basically LineageOS that someone else installs for you so you get everything in a package [0].

From what I read, Murena has a Google Play services reimplementation that isn't compatible with Lineage. Is that still the case?

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