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GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

blog.tomaszdunia.pl

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Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#701

Post by drnick1 »

choeger wrote: post #28

What about device attestation? Will you be able to run banking apps and Netflix et. al.? For me the biggest concern is that while you may be able to use and run your own device, you will be locked out of most propietary services. Much like how more and more websites simply don't work with Firefox anymore.

> For me the biggest concern is that while you may be able to use and run your own device, you will be locked out of most propietary services.

Although this is not the case, moving away from proprietary services (and self-hosting your own) is an important goal in itself. See for instance the recent controversy regarding Discord's age verification.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#702

Post by Andromxda »

palata wrote: post #436
yason wrote: post #271

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point of NFC-on-a-phone is that you don't need the damn banking apps and internet and retailer support for all that to validate a simple transaction. My credit card has NFC, no internet and no app, and it's universal.

> you don't need the damn banking apps You need the Google/Apple app though, don't you? Or can you write your own personal app that will handle that?

There are several banks, especially over here in Europe, that have their own implementations of contactless payments, if that's what you mean. Here's a German article outlining this and mentioning a few examples: https://www.kuketz-blog.de/nfc-datenschutzfreundlich-bezahle...

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#703

Post by strcat »

absqueued wrote: post #47

How is it a break from google/appple if the only supported devices are Pixels? I can't use my sony or other vendors hardware at all. Are there valid reasons to only support pixels?

Pixels are the only devices providing the required updates and security features. These requirements are listed here:

https://grapheneos.org/faq#future-devices

GrapheneOS is partnered with a major Android OEM working on improving their future devices to meet our requirements. The first devices with official GrapheneOS support from them are planned for 2027. It takes time and resources to make reasonably secure devices. Future generations can improve further including adding hardware-based privacy/security protections unavailable on Pixels.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#704

Post by NewsaHackO »

ryandrake wrote: post #578
dotancohen wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This should be illegal that the government forces people into apps controlled by private, commercial entities. I call such a government corrupt. Or how about schools requiring parents to use WhatsApp to receive updates and information? Luckily my ex forwards to me the important stuff, but not everyone is as lucky to have an ex like mine ))

If the government (or school) is going to require us to have a smartphone in order to access critical government information, then we should demand that the government provide us with a compatible smartphone.

Would you use that phone?

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#705

Post by strcat »

buzzwords wrote: post #33
choeger wrote: post #28

What about device attestation? Will you be able to run banking apps and Netflix et. al.? For me the biggest concern is that while you may be able to use and run your own device, you will be locked out of most propietary services. Much like how more and more websites simply don't work with Firefox anymore.

This might be one of those things were if there is big enough user base, companies will start to take it seriously.

Nearly all non-banking apps work with very few exceptions. A large majority of banking apps work. A growing number of banking apps were adding checks for Google certification but now a growing number of those are explicitly allowing GrapheneOS via the Android hardware-based attestation system it supports which can be used to verify the hardware, OS and app with an alternate OS or non-Google-certified hardware if it adds the hardware support for it.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#706

Post by MaroonBear »

noirscape wrote: post #60
ramon156 wrote: post #18

Does anyone have a good grasp of the differences between GOS and /e/OS? I'm buying a Fairphone soon and was wondering what both are like

GOS creates a complete bunker of a phone that can provide defense against pretty much all but the most dedicated state level actors. If you're worried that someone would steal your phone specifically to target you, Graphene will protect against that. Securitywise it's hard to argue against them, although GOS tends to sacrifice usability in favor of security, which leads to odd decisions. Their device depreciation tim…

[dead]

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#707

Post by drnick1 »

gib444 wrote: post #416
danielmartins wrote: post #376

I had a Pixel 6a with Graphene OS for a year before the phone started to glitch and eventually die. It ran pretty hot; sometimes it was hard to even hold the phone in my hands without burning myself. I could not get a replacement as I bought the phone in a foreign country (Google doesn’t sell Pixels here in Brazil). So as much as I love the idea of running a more private phone, I found the hardware extremely fragile…

Yeah Pixels are poor quality. Mine developed the common pink vertical line display issue after 18 months The flag ship should not be more than $500

> The flag ship should not be more than $500

Which is (almost) the case during sales. The P10 was on sale for $599 not long ago, and you could buy a 9a for little more than $300. That is extremely good value compared to any iThing repoted your every move to Apple.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#708

Post by strcat »

palata wrote: post #699
strcat wrote: post #669

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GrapheneOS was contacted by one of the largest Android OEMs in June 2025 and we're actively working with them. They're going to be announcing our partnership in March 2026 and the phones meeting our requirements with official GrapheneOS support are scheduled for 2027.

March? Wow that it huge! Congrats!

Yes, March 2026 is when the first announcement from the OEM will be which is when people will find out which OEM it is. A fair bit into 2027 is when the devices supporting GrapheneOS will be launched. It was theoretically possible for it to happen for 2026 but not very realistic and the hardware wasn't quite there yet.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#709

Post by drnick1 »

gwillem wrote: post #544
drnick1 wrote: post #537

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, because we don't want these stupid locked down apps. Credit cards give buyers many protections, it's very easy to dispute an illegitimate transaction.

However, you pay 2.7% for that convenience

The consumer does not typically pay this directly. It may be passed onto the consumer indirectly through higher prices, but those apply to anyone regardless of payment method. On the contrary, I get cash back on purchases and other rewards.

Re: GrapheneOS – Break Free from Google and Apple

#710

Post by NewsaHackO »

notpushkin wrote: post #482
JCattheATM wrote: post #463

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You can change it in the app, yes. Is the app tied to Google or Apple?

Nope, there’s a desktop version, too. And it’s all free/open source: https://github.com/open-eid (Though Smart-ID is its own thing and is a fair bit more locked down, but I’ve managed to get it running on a phone without Google services IIRC.)

Wow, that is definitely more sophisticated than we have in the states. It seems like you can use it for things that one would otherwise need a notary for, that is such a timesaver.
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