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Daily Driving GrapheneOS

blog.matthewbrunelle.com

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Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#71

Post by mastermage »

tl2do wrote: post #20

I admire the de-Googled approach of GrapheneOS. As a lawyer, privacy concerns resonate with me too. I love the rebellious attitude of tech that presents an alternative choice in an overly duopolistic market. That said, I wouldn't last 8.4 months like the author. Even though he admits to some Google app usage, I'm in too deep — I'd never be able to get out. But if I get the chance, I'd like to try it on a secondary ph…

my take on this is to some advocates probably shocking. But I think you don't need to perfectly switch and never touch anything google again.

I personally just encourage people to take a look at what you are using, and if you could gradually change some of it. Who knows sometimes alternatives even offer better services. I am not saying never use anything google ever again. Just question your tools regularly and peruse the alternatives.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#72

Post by vladvasiliu »

traxler wrote: post #44
pietro72ohboy wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cannot speak for every country but in the Netherlands, your banking app also serves as a 2FA instrument if you place orders with your credit card. A pop-up notification will ask you to confirm if you have indeed placed the order. While I will admit that it is possible to predict such use cases and take your phone along, it is becoming a bit difficult to predict what part of some account or service's login flow will…

Huh, interesting. I only have those 2FA popups for card payments online or in apps, never for payments in stores.

I'm pretty sure that's what your parent is describing.

In my case, I often spend multiple days at my parents' house. Now, I mostly don't order online, but sometimes something comes up and in that kind of situation, most merchants will have me go through the verification.

Since this doesn't happen frequently, I'm more likely than not to not have hauled my secondary phone, especially since I very much prefer traveling light. Now, could most of those occasional purchases not have waited for my return home? Eh... most probably could've. Doesn't make it less annoying, though, for no good reason.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#73

Post by Freak_NL »

elric wrote: post #62
Freak_NL wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Europe? Debit cards. Hardly anyone uses a credit card in a supermarket. If I'm going out I'll have both a debit card and cash in my wallet. Given that large scale outages of payment networks are no longer theoretical but to be expected, not carrying cash is just silly. Since I have a wallet in any case, I see no point in using contactless payments on a smartphone — I usually don't take it with me when getting groc…

> In Europe? Debit cards. Hardly anyone uses a credit card in a supermarket. Such sweeping statements are impossible for "Europe". It's a big place. Plenty of people use credit cards in supermarkets. But it's orthogonal to the discussion. A creditcard can be contactless or on a phone. Or on a watch.

Of course it is a big place. It is also a big place where credit cards just aren't a thing for most people:

https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/taboo-of-credit

That article lists some reasons why using a credit card doesn't make sense in most European countries. It's not a way to build up your credit score for one. As a Dutchman, the only way I can lower my credit score is by taking on debts (with the exception of a mortgage).

The US is a big place too. I am fairly comfortable in making the sweeping statement that credit cards are a thing used by many people there.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#74

Post by anal_reactor »

traxler wrote: post #31

For all the "My Banking Apps don't work", I'd raise one question: Do you really need access to banking apps on the go? I get that it can be handy and maybe you legit do, but I'd wager most people don't really do. If you can pay by phone you can pay by card and the card has less potentially to weirdly break. And if your bank demands a phone app to be used, you can always have a cheap stock android lying around at home…

> If you can pay by phone you can pay by card and the card has less potentially to weirdly break.

Paying by card in 2026 is akin to sending physical letters.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#75

Post by fmajid »

I am coming to GrapheneOS from iOS, as recounted in https://blog.majid.info/quit-apple/

My experience with seedvault is not as positive as the OP, it fails for about half my apps. I guess I have another year to fix this when the GrapheneOS enabled Motorola flagship comes out.

I carry both my iPhone 16 Plus and my Pixel 8 Pro, but limit my iPhone use to mobile banking, Apple Pay and Find My.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#76

Post by dachris »

traxler wrote: post #31

For all the "My Banking Apps don't work", I'd raise one question: Do you really need access to banking apps on the go? I get that it can be handy and maybe you legit do, but I'd wager most people don't really do. If you can pay by phone you can pay by card and the card has less potentially to weirdly break. And if your bank demands a phone app to be used, you can always have a cheap stock android lying around at home…

I'm considering using a second phone for increased security. As you say, only put banking apps on them, leave it at home.

The larger population is getting pushed towards banking on the phone, and on top of that, many people don't own a PC/Laptop anymore.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#77

Post by hrmtst93837 »

sankalpmukim wrote: post #4

good writeup. I've been meaning to set this up for myself too. I keep uninstalling apps from my phone every other day because if I use something very little, I am afraid the app is collecting data from my usage in some way or the other. I have a fairly new ish Pixel phone, do you think I'll be able to go back if I don't like it?

[flagged]

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#78

Post by mastermage »

cocoto wrote: post #13

Personally I would just love Apple to be forced by governments to open up their hardware by releasing complete documentation of their hardware and allowing to install another os or dual boot. iPhones hardware is really good and would love booting Linux on theses. And then force every services company to provide an API to their services so we have an alternative to their app. I guess Motorola partnering with GrapheneO…

There is only one government that might be inclined to do that and thats the EU. But good luck lobbying this.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#79

Post by vladvasiliu »

Valodim wrote: post #37
traxler wrote: post #31

For all the "My Banking Apps don't work", I'd raise one question: Do you really need access to banking apps on the go? I get that it can be handy and maybe you legit do, but I'd wager most people don't really do. If you can pay by phone you can pay by card and the card has less potentially to weirdly break. And if your bank demands a phone app to be used, you can always have a cheap stock android lying around at home…

Mobile apps are how most people do banking these days, and it shows. In my experience banking apps are a lot more maintained and modern than classic online banking interfaces. So you're not just sacrificing "on the go" banking, you are likely sacrificing use of the best interface your bank offers.

I don't have the same experience. My main bank is a huge European bank, and their app is laughably bad. You have to jump to an impressive number of screens to reach anything other than "last / upcoming transactions" lists. Many are actually just janky webviews, yet they still somehow manage to work worse than their website. Bonus points for it being "temporarily under maintenance" seemingly every other day.

I should note that the website is pretty janky itself, but at least it works fine (meaning "not worse") on Firefox on Linux, and it doesn't even pester me to change browsers or anything.

I also have an account with one of those new "online" banks for when I travel, since they have better exchange rates, and, importantly, no conversion tax. Their app is somewhat better, but they have no website whatsoever, AFAIK. But, at least, they allow me to set up a proper password instead of clicking on 6 digits as the other bank.

Re: Daily Driving GrapheneOS

#80

Post by Flameancer »

chrizel wrote: post #52
unethical_ban wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this a European thing? Why not use a credit card?

In Europe contactless payment is nearly everywhere - nearly every store supports it. Even in Germany (which is historically very pro-cash), since Covid more and more people pay with card and many of whom pay contactless. In the EU we have some rules that even contactless payments with card sometimes, but not always, need to have some kind of additional authentication in the form of entering your PIN. Contactless paym…

Not really. Outside of Walmart and maybe a smaller store ran by an older mom and pop shop, you can use NFC payments practically anywhere even at a drive thru. Only reason I still have my wallet is mainly for drivers license, but even that’s on the horizon.
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