If you don’t want this stuff on your phone, lemme point you to:
GrapheneOS (Pixels only, has Most Security at Tinfoil Hat level while also providing compatibility for Google Play (optional, sandboxed) and SafetyNet)
CalyxOS (Pixels, Some Moto G 5G, Fairphone 5, 4, SHIFTphone 8, less Security than GrapheneOS but has Security)
LineageOS (Many older devices, runs unlocked boot so least Security but still can run sans google)
Techbros don’t understand or care about consent
No-one in big business does.
This makes me so happy I’m using Graphine OS. Also the entire idea that there “not storing my history” I don’t trust them. They have already been sued multiple times over keeping ingogneto data.
No, it’s really not. Primarily, because I’m using LineageOS with absolutely no Google services at all installed.
I believe most people who care about privacy don’t trust Gemini or Google in general. So it’s not an issue if you already not using Gemini app. It can be uninstalled (at least for now) even without going alternative ROM way
Just disable Gemini completely.
Interestingly, the same mentioned article from Android Police sells it as a “privacy win”. I’ve tried to read it as a positive spin, and I seriously don’t understand what these guys have been smoking.
https://www.androidpolice.com/upcoming-gemini-for-android-change-privacy-settings/
I completely agree, I guess what they call “privacy win” is that this feature can now work without storing data on Google (highlighted by me):
Based on Google’s email, it seems the company will allow Gemini to access messages, WhatsApp, and control device system settings without requiring that you enable the Gemini Apps Activity setting for your account. This setting saves your Gemini history to your Google account, potentially allowing for better personalization.
Previously, if you had this setting disabled for your Google account, you weren’t able to use the Messages, Phone, Utilities, or WhatsApp extensions in Gemini (via 9to5Google). Once this change rolls out to your account, you will be able to access these features without having to save your Gemini history on Google’s servers.
When they say
potentially allowing for better personalization
they sound like the companies trying to sell you these features without mentioning the privacy implications of said features. :/
Alright, is there some super-populated center for enthusiast nerds who make Androids less 1984 and shit? Like, the fdroid sub or something? I’m still on the ol’ Tim Cooker but when this thing croaks I’m switching teams. I don’t need Google getting sloppy seconds, though.
I mean, feels like everyone has a phone these days. Surely some niche sect of Internet nerds has a cutting edge solution for this shit.
Is it just GrapheneOS with FDroid apps? What about Google Play Store apps, can I use those without getting fucked? Can I retain nearly every stock feature on an Android without selling my soul to Google? Which Android phone should I buy if I want things to run smoothly with the modifications I need to make? (Are those new touch flip-phones on the menu? Are they more durable now? I fantasize about DS emulation, and slapping my phone together to hang up on people. I just remember hearing all about the highly scratch-able screens and hinge problems.)
GrapheneOS puts Play Services in a sandbox so it’s no longer rooted. You can restrict what parts of your filesystem each app has access to very strictly.
For now people still send me emails on Gmail, so I still have Gmail installed, but very limited permissions.
It’s a huge improvement.
You can also start sessions that entirely shut down Play Services so you’re living entirely with FOSS products.
I’m not quite there yet because I still use maps and drive and photos. Gonna figure out replacements, unfortunately nobody else has the traffic and live rerouting that Google maps does, even if you are willing to pay.
If you’ve got a pixel, highly recommend. If you have a different relatively recent phone check out lineage or e/os.
Thank you. I could kiss you like a mother.
Random aside, I switched from Android to iOS a year ago. I miss Android already.
The UI is more convoluted an clunky than iOS from years ago, just as uncustomizable, and performs shockly bad on heavy webpages on a brand new 16+. It’s got no freaking RAM, no sd card slot. Some free FOSS apps are nonexistant or paid only.
Security and OOTB privacy is better and app support is generally better, but that’s about it? I’d probably keep an iPhone around to bank on when I eventually switch…
Weird, I have the opposite experience. After an S3 Mini and a Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro, my gf let me try her iPhone 8 for a bit and I was amazed by how smooth it was running. I’ve bought a 11 Pro in early 2020 and have been using it ever since. Still works like on the day I’ve bought it, no slowdowns, smooth as hell. I did do a battery swap after the fourth year though.
I wouldn’t mind trying a Pixel with GrapheneOS though. But all Pixels are so large compared to the iPhone Pro lineup.
My last Android phone was a Razer Phone 2, SD845 circa 2018. Basically stock Android 9.
And it was smooth as butter. It had a 120hz screen while my iPhone 16 is stuck at 60, and I can feel it. And it flew through some heavy web apps I use while the iPhone chugs and jumps around, even though the new SoC should objectively blow away even modern Android devices.
It wasn’t always this way; iOS used to be (subjectively) so much faster that it’s not even funny, at least back when I had an iPhone 6S(?). Maybe there was an inflection point? Or maybe it’s only the case with “close to stock” Android stuff that isn’t loaded with bloat.
Maybe it’s the regular vs Pro lineup. I never had any experience with the regular lineup. I’ve bought my wife a 14 Pro, and the experience there is the same as on mine.
Pro is 120hz.
But they are expensive as heck. I only got the 16 Plus because its a carrier loss leader, heh.
And wouldn’t fix some of my other quibbles with iOS’s inflexibility. My ancient jailbroken iPhone 5 was more customizable than now, and Apple is still slowly, poorly implementing features I had a decade ago. It’s mind boggling, and jailbreaking isn’t a good option anymore.
I went outside my comfort zone and installed Lineage on my old Pixel, only to find out I couldn’t get wi-fi calling, so I reverted to my Google OS. Oh no. Any options other than Lineage or a new phone? This 6 year old phone works great except for the lack of updates, and expect for the upcoming Gemini updates :( I’m struggling.
Edit: Ubuntu Touch, anybody?
Edit 2: Looks like VoLTE isn’t supported on Ubuntu, either. Any idea why?
Graphene?
GrapheneOS is the way to go with a Pixel phone. Wifi calling works just fine on my Pixel 8. As does VoLTE.
I don’t believe they support the 3a. I’m really vintage.
Any idea how long support will last for the 8? I feel a little burned by the lack of support for the 3a, though I understand that a) 6 years for a phone is a good run in this wasteful world, and b) wifi calling on the 3a hasn’t been dropped by choice, but is actually a complicated issue that small #s of devs are still working on.
Any idea how long support will last for the 8?
Google Pixel 8 October 2030 7 years
Great, well bye bye Pixel 6a, about time anyways I guess. I knew it was only a matter of time before they did something to make these devices completely unbearable, “AI” bullshit has done it.
Just install GrapheneOS on your device and AI is pretty much gone
I really really want to but I can’t for another year because I’m still paying off my pixel. It’s still carrier locked and I can’t unlock it till it’s paid off.
Yep you can’t flash carrier locked Pixels, I hope you don’t have much longer to wait or that the time will fly fast
I will definitely give it a shot, I’ve loaded an alternate OS on a phone before but it was more about customization then. Hopefully there will continue to be options like this for people who prefer to use their own brain and don’t mind pressing buttons instead of giving voice commands. I don’t want to talk to inanimate objects I talk to myself enough.
Well GrapheneOS is a a robust mobile OS built for security. It brings amazing privacy out-of-the-box and control features. You really own your phone! Not Google, not Big Techs and Government, YOU.
I will definitely give it a whirl, I also need to eventually switch my desktop to Linux as I’m still in W10, I used a lot of audio plugins (VST) that had no Linux versions but now I’m mostly hardware based. I just worry that there comes a time when it’s nigh on impossible to install an alternate OS on a phone but I suppose there will always be people trying to find a way.
Honestly I think that AlternativeOS will always be possible, the main issue is how compatible it will be with everyday apps that people rely on. We’ve started to see some compatibility issue with Play Integrity on GrapheneOS, with Revolut (has been fixed) and Alternate AppStore such as AuroraStore having some apps refusing to launch if not installed from PlayStore itself.
On the Linux side of thing you could see how your plugins performs on a VM and or see how Ardour plays with your hardware.
Revolut is fixed on grapheneOS? I had to uninstall it because of that.
Yes. Revolut prevented new users to login in a specific version of their app (the newer). Users that were already logged in could update the app without issue and users could use an older APK of Revolut to sign in. However the PlayIntegrity process that was banning their GrapheneOS users have been resolved and now the harden OS is whitelisted from Revolut.
At least that’s what I have followed/understood from the whole thing but I am not a Revolut user.
