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Freeing My Phone from Google

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Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#121

Post by OrgNet »

OrgNet wrote: post #93
kbit wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's true that Google plays a big role in Android development, but that doesn't mean there's something inherently wrong with Android. It's a good operating system, it's free and open source, and its huge ecosystem and existing userbase (to whom something like LineageOS or Replicant will be immediately familiar) is the reason I stuck to it. Because it's open source, Google can't put their objectionable code directly i…

the worst part about android apps is that they are android apps...

but the same is true for most proprietary formats... which is why I was hoping for web apps to catch ON more

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#122

Post by meruru »

cmroanirgo wrote: post #90
meruru wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>The thing I like about Signal is that I can use it for regular texts as well as encrypted communications. Can you expand on that? I'm afraid I don't quite understand the advantage here. Also, have you tried Silence for sending encrypted SMS?

I presume they meant that the app sends a normal unencrypted message to clients without Signal. (The user is clearly informed when this will happen). This means you can use Signal as your default SMS app and as your friends start adopting Signal, you'll automatically start sending encrypted messages. It's how I'm using it and appreciate it.

That's what Silence does. It is in fact the SMS part of Signal standalone.

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#123

Post by sizzle »

cameronbrown wrote: post #3

There's two Google apps I just can't live without: YouTube and Google Maps. There's simply no alternative to the amount of value these bring me. OSM is getting good but it's just not there yet. I'm working on this in my area. I'd suggest to anyone worried about Google tracking to use Privacy Guard built into LineageOS, which aims to make each and every request for sensitive permissions explicit. A big benefit of free…

Why can't we sandbox apps from accessing our device/data?

Check this sandbox app out, does it work?: https://island.oasisfeng.com/

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#124

Post by trickstra »

opinologo wrote: post #89
cameronbrown wrote: post #3

There's two Google apps I just can't live without: YouTube and Google Maps. There's simply no alternative to the amount of value these bring me. OSM is getting good but it's just not there yet. I'm working on this in my area. I'd suggest to anyone worried about Google tracking to use Privacy Guard built into LineageOS, which aims to make each and every request for sensitive permissions explicit. A big benefit of free…

After installing Netguard, I was dissapointing to see how OSM sends information from its app to Facebook.. So much for privacy I guess.. Just for clarification, I don't have Facebook installed in my phone, neither have a Facebook account.

Which app do you mean by OSM? OsmAnd? Try "Maps", the forked Maps.me with tracking removed

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#126

Post by scarface74 »

cameronbrown wrote: post #3

There's two Google apps I just can't live without: YouTube and Google Maps. There's simply no alternative to the amount of value these bring me. OSM is getting good but it's just not there yet. I'm working on this in my area. I'd suggest to anyone worried about Google tracking to use Privacy Guard built into LineageOS, which aims to make each and every request for sensitive permissions explicit. A big benefit of free…

I don’t get what’s special about the YouTube app. I deleted it from my iPhone because it was irritating clicking on a video and it launching the app.

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#127

Post by Youden »

commoner wrote: post #70
Youden wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google Maps is fully compatible with MicroG, a free and open source replacement for the Google Play Services client. MicroG includes UnifiedNlp, which was discussed in the blog post. Google Maps can get its location from MicroG but in my experience it isn't even close to fully functional. Basic things like searching for a location or asking for directions just result in endless spinning.

Have you tried it recently? The most recent version of Google Maps works without any issues for me.

Yep, everything I have is up to date. Might be device/ROM dependent?

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#128

Post by commoner »

Youden wrote: post #127
commoner wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried it recently? The most recent version of Google Maps works without any issues for me.

Yep, everything I have is up to date. Might be device/ROM dependent?

MicroG's latest version (0.2.7.17455) switched to Mapbox for map rendering. MicroG's implementation of Mapbox is currently buggy, although the performance is much improved. This version should have been marked as a preview release, in my view, since it's not stable enough for use.

Can you try the previous version (0.2.6.13280)? If you're using LineageOS for MicroG, the latest build on or before June 2 contains the previous version.

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#129

Post by commoner »

3xblah wrote: post #82
commoner wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Google Maps is fully compatible with MicroG, a free and open source replacement for the Google Play Services client. MicroG includes UnifiedNlp, which was discussed in the blog post. https://microg.org/ https://lineage.microg.org/ At the moment, I recommend the previous version of MicroG (0.2.6.13280) since the latest version (0.2.7.17455) may have compatibility issues. If you're using LineageOS for MicroG, builds on…

With the phones I have tested, Google Maps does not require a working Google Play Store. It makes sense that replacing Play Store would have no effect.

Google Maps doesn't require the Google Play Store, but it does require Google Play Services (like most Google apps).

https://developer.android.com/distribute/play-services/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...

MicroG can replace the Google Play Services requirement for Google Maps. To download Google Maps without the official Google Play Store client, you can use the free and open source Aurora Store:

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.dragons.aurora/

Re: Freeing My Phone from Google

#130

Post by VvR-Ox »

olah_1 wrote: post #86
VvR-Ox wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NewPipe is one of "THE APPS" that make me regret a bit that I had to move to iOS again. The possibility to just download and listen offline and also to create playlists without an account are awesome.

Just sharing Invidious (website version of NewPipe). It's amazing. https://invidio.us/ https://github.com/omarroth/invidious

Thank you very much for sharing!

I'm afraid atm it doesn't work for me (iPhone SE - iOS 12.3.1 - Firefox & Safari).

Nevertheless their work is awesome and the idea to aggregate all the things and let user's enjoy them without having to promise their first-born to providers is just amazing ^_^

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