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Review: Copperhead OS

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Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#71

Post by jonafato »

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.

The stock launcher that ships with AOSP (and Copperhead OS) [1] is OK but leaves something to be desired. I used Nova Launcher [2] for years before switching to Copperhead and liked it quite a bit, but after forgetting to back up my settings and being to lazy to reconfigure it just the way I liked it, I switched to KISS Launcher [3]. It took a few days to adjust, but I prefer it now, and it has the added benefit of being open source and available through F-Droid.

[1] https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Laun...

[2] http://novalauncher.com/

[3] http://kisslauncher.com/

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#72

Post by makepkg »

I use CopperheadOS on my Nexus 5X and I am extremely happy with it. My job is android development and I have some personal paid apps on Google play and one Foss app on F-Droid. Access clipboard in the background and record audio in the background have been lately added to the security features available on CopperheadOS, and I can't imagine now using my phone without COS hardened implementation. I use FDroid for all the apps I need and yalp for a couple of other apps not available on FDroid. The majority of apps now depends on Google play services and that is flattering and disappointing: all those GPS APIs are very appealing to developers and teams because makes things easier and all but IMHO using all those services is contributing to data mining and I don't think it is fair.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#73

Post by lern_too_spel »

mikestew wrote: post #55
bhnmmhmd wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes I don't understand all the hatred toward Google having our data on their servers. Most alternative solutions offer fragmented services (as opposed to the all-in-one experience I get with Google) and are too cumbersome to setup. Yes, I know data is sort of power these days. But before bashing at Google/Apple/Microsoft... and banning their services, people should ask themselves: "What sacrifices are they maki…

I mean, I would totally feel convenient when my contacts are synced on my devices and I get a unified experience. Google knowing about my contacts is just the price I pay to get that service Well, it's a question of what one is willing to pay. Me, I'm willing to pay actual U. S. dollars to Apple to get that same functionality without giving up (and perhaps I'm naive here) privacy. Personally, I like that well-defined…

You're making the mistake of confusing collecting data with doing useful things with that data (whether it is useful to the company pr the customer). Apple collects the data. It is simply incapable (for now) of doing anything useful with the data. To the end user, the privacy implications are the same, perhaps worse because a company that isn't able to make use of data is probably less able to secure the data as well.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#74

Post by jayd16 »

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

Yeah and most of them wouldn't exist without those APIs. These complaints often feel like they're trying to square a circle.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#75

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#76

Post by mtgx »

notspanishflu wrote: post #40
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…

My hope is in the Halium Project https://halium.org/ Now I'm running UBPorts in my Nexus 5 https://ubports.com/ Edit: if you are downvoting this comment, please explain why at least. It improves the conversation. Thank you.

Is Halium an old project? If it is, I imagine everything just got a whole lot easier with Project Treble and with the new six-year LTS Android kernels.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#77

Post by efigle2501 »

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?

Created an account to share this, as it seems not many people know... You can use an AOSP such as lineage, or carbon. There are quite a few options. Then, use fdroid and a play store alternative. You DO NOT need the google play services, such as microgapps, or opengapps. Even to use Google Maps! I use google maps by downloading maps anonymously with the Yalp store, and then I don't sign in. I don't have the so called high accuracy location, but I still have GPS, which, obviously, is sufficient. I can navigate easily in a large city, for example.

As far as I know google can't link me to any data that maps sends.

Spotify works fine, along with a half dozen other apps.

Signal can a bit of a pain, as it complains about not having a google api backend, which I think is for contacts. Again, the pain is worth it. And there are open source contact alternatives.

I can't get apps that I paid for, for that I would have to sign in with Yalp, which I haven't bothered with. The freedom is so much better.

Everything else works, banking apps, Firefox, Dropbox, etc.

I'm using a Sony Xperia Z2. The battery is AMAZING! I really wish a largish company would pick this idea up, and start selling phones without google. Sony? The freedom and privacy is worth a lot in my opinion.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#78

Post by slphil »

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.

Re: Review: Copperhead OS

#80

Post by gsnedders »

cpeterso wrote: post #53
gsnedders wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except AOSP doesn't even pass the Android certification [edit: should be compatibility, not certification] test suite, so stage one of building non-Google Android is making AOSP actually work as it should. :(

What functionality is AOSP missing that is necessary to pass Android certification?

See, e.g., https://twitter.com/CopperheadOS/status/907720250501844994

It's mostly not functionality missing to pass the CTS, but just broken untested AOSP-only code (that is replaced by Google closed source code in Google builds).

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