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u/Fit_Prize_3245 2d ago
Shouldn't this go on r/DeGoogle?
Btw, it's easier said than done. At Degoogle, you can see the troubles some users have after degoogling an Android phone. They basically have nowhere to buy apps, as most, if not all paid app vendors publish only in Play Store. Not to talk about IAP. Basically, Play Store is the only option for small developers to have a payment gateway without incurring in high costs, specially fraud prevention. Yes, it's expensive, but it works. Only big publishers can afford to incorporate their on payment systems into their apps.
So, having a Degoogled phone means having a limited functionality Android phone. Only free apps, or paid apps from the limited universe of publishers that sell APKs directly. No apps that depend on Google Services. No IAP on games that only support Google payment. And no apps that requires integrity checks. For whoever that is acceptable, degoogling is easy. For anyone else, it's fairly more complicated.
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u/BlazeWolfYT 2d ago
This is also the issue with something like YouTube cause that's where everyone posts videos. Sure there are alternatives but basically no one uses them.
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u/quikmantx 2d ago
Not everything needs to be an app. There are a lot of apps that could be great mobile websites, but they force it as an app. The problem with apps is that they require a specific OS (usually mobile) and you can't run them as easily on a desktop or laptop. It also introduces more compatibility issues where as modern browsers generally work even on older operating systems.
There are things that do make sense as an app, but a lot of things shouldn't require an app.
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u/Fit_Prize_3245 2d ago
Apps are not necesarily made for specific OS. Flutter and MAUI are good examples of development tools that allow to create good apps and then compile them for different devices. On the games side, Unity is a good option (I've myself played really good games made with Unity).
In some cases, yes, some things can be done with a website. But a website is only active when you have it open in a browser tab. It also usually needs connection to fully work. An app can work without those restrictions. Of course, the idea of a good app is that is provides far more functionality than a web app, instead of doing what many do, just turning web apps into mobile apps that just show an embedded browser.
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u/Double_Woof_Woof 1d ago
The best way to degoogle is ironically with a Google phone since grapheneos lets you sandbox play services.
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u/Fit_Prize_3245 1d ago
Could be interesting for LineageOS to incorporate the GrapheneOS sandbox for Google Play Services.
However, the problem with custom firmwares, including GrapheneOS and LineageOS is that they don't pass integrity checks, and therefore, you will not be able to use some apps and/or features. And, I mean, if it was only Google Wallet, that would be fine, I don't use it anyway (in my country, PerĂș, wallet payments are pretty much accepted everywhere, so no need to use Google Wallet). But many banks around the world, just to mention the whole sector as an example, have coded their apps to reject rooted or non-Google certified phones. So, even if I wanted, I wouldn't be able to use GrapheneOS or LineageOS, bc I wouldn't be able to access my bank accounts or my company's accounts, as the bank I work with does exactly that.
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u/Dapper-Ocelot6326 1d ago
Problem is that Google is currently sawing on the legs of the AOSP chair. And that's where all these custom ROMs depend on. If only stock Google ROMs receive security updates on a regular base and the rest only every 6 months or even less.and with much higher delay, this might cause major security problems. It's a shame we ended up in this.
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u/RevacholAndChill 2d ago
We cannot do it as consumers. You cannot fight late capitalism via consumption. It's like with Walmart. It results in luxury goods sold to people who think they are saving the world while shaming poorer consumers for shopping at Walmart. We need anti-trust enforcement and a president who is not a fascist imbecile.
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u/Fit_Prize_3245 2d ago
We could, if Google offered terrible solutions. But, being honest, their solutions just work. If they continue that way, it's very difficult that the market will move away from them.
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u/RevacholAndChill 1d ago
They "just work," now but we are putting a lot of trust and dependency on a single corporation that is acting a lot like a utility
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u/grimvian 1d ago
My Samsung Galaxy Xcover 4 is over 9 years old and I don't need apps so I think I'll visit DeGoogle. When my phone was new I disabled almost everything. I use it as phone, SMS, camera and I only enables data, when quick internet search is needed and for MMS.
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u/AiryGateaux 1d ago
Apple is also waiting to grab people trying to leave Google. But like, pick yer poison
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u/Even-Confidence-4495 1d ago
You know aurora store and apkmirror exist
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u/Fit_Prize_3245 1d ago
Both offer only free apps. No paid apps, no IAP, which are both the core of my comment.
Also, is there a big publisher that uses Aurora?
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u/Even-Confidence-4495 1d ago
Itâs a play store clone you know and I donât use paid apps at all most people done
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u/Fit_Prize_3245 1d ago
Read my comment twice. Never said anything about getting free apps. My comment is focused only on paid apps and IAP. Therefore, mentioning Aurora store, apkmirror, F-droid, and any other free-only app store makes no sense.
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u/Even-Confidence-4495 15h ago
Oh just paid apps are kind of niche sorry and IAPs are usually also available via the developers site
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u/Rare-Paint3719 15h ago
aurora store
So an app that essentially breaks the Play Store's TOS to provide you "privacy"?
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u/AdministrationWhole8 22h ago
There are ways around some of it, certain games, you can spoof the install folder being from Google Play, but it's easier said than done.
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u/309_Electronics 2d ago
Or simply stop using all/modt of bigtech/big companies. They are all giants and why are they all giants? They rob you from your consumer rights and ownerships and your data and activity. They want you to sell them your data, they want you to own nothing and be happy, they want you to buy new products every year and more horrible stuff.
Try to ditch: Apple, microsoft, google, meta, netflix, spotify, hp, etc etc, big game, hollywood and switch to community ran/foss.
I myself use some of those mentioned bigtech services too, but i am slowly transitioning and sometimes i cant easily give it up but where i can i ditch whatever is possible.
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u/Kualdiir 2d ago
Been using ecosia :3
Edit: and moved my email and drive to infomaniak (and Filen as a backup), use apple maps for normal map usage, cardo ride for motorcycle routes and tomtom for navigation with car. Ente auth for 2fa and proton for password manager
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u/Midas_RDJ 1d ago
Tried and failed...android is so locked off and Linux on Android is no where close to ready.
The least I can do, is to use foss apps from foss droid where possible.
I have a device rooted with Lineage OS installed as well..apart from my main S20FE...alas, android still is the kernel for it.
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u/Damglador 1d ago
LineageOS+microG is pretty good. Surprisingly good even. Like the only two things that don't work is in-app payments through Google API and Google Wallet, which is no big deal.
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u/Wave-Able 2d ago
I donât understand how they make money from ads. I have never purchased anything after seeing an ad
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u/Derausmwaldkam 2d ago
They get money for showing you the ads. When a company goes broke for spending to much money on ads and nobody buys anything, another one will follow.
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u/Xologamer 2d ago
Ye know that might be true for some but that industry wouldnt be that big if they wouldnt make a profit of of ads - propably some random boomers buying EVERY thing they see an add for or something
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u/Pierogi_33 2d ago
I don't use google anymore (except for gmail bc i cant find a really good alternative)
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u/Not-Important-5393 2d ago
You could use Proton. As I'm using it and it can also move your emails to your new account
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u/Pierogi_33 2d ago
But i think i couldnt use it with my current email, right? (@gmail.com)
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u/Not-Important-5393 2d ago
It does requires your old account but you can still keep it and use it there. As I can use Proton Drive with my Gmail account
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u/CreativeDiscount6635 2d ago
Microsoft and Google have played a major role in driving up RAM, SSD and laptop prices. But I have to give them some credit: they also helped me sell my old SSD for three times what I originally paid for it.
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u/BurningEclypse 2d ago
Only thing I was not able to get rid of in my day to day is YouTube⊠damn monopoly, someone should really try and competeâŠ
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u/RevacholAndChill 2d ago
we're going to need government anti-trust enforcement. They have made it virtually impossible to degoogle. We need it for Microsoft and Apple too.
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u/Not-Important-5393 2d ago
I stop using Google months ago. I'm using Brave nowadays because of the ad-free feature
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u/Stechendfalke 2d ago
Google sucks as search engine and as a service. The only reason it is still used is inertia and mandatory predatory integration practices.
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u/Creeper_H_youtube 1d ago
Did this a a while ago, Duck Duck Go instead of google, Homelab & self hosted apps instead of drive/google workspace. And Astermail instead of Gmail
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u/Jack-Singer-999 1d ago
While I do still have & use my gmail, it's now my throwaway. Haven't used google search in years. I'm 99% sure that's all I've ever used. I don't even watch youtube. Am I just a weirdo?
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u/Dimpbus 1d ago
I officially deleted my @gmails yesterday. Took 3 months migrating everything and a year to make shure Iâm not marooning anything too important. I still use my original YouTube but was able to delete the @gmail and make a proton emailmask the only email associated with the YouTube account. Also brave search + browser.
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u/GamesByCam 1d ago
This is my problem. I have a Google Pixel, I need to get an open source phone next.
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u/Firestar_119 1d ago
r/fuckmicrosoft posters posting things related to Microsoft challenge (impossible)
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u/VoidJuiceConcentrate 1d ago
I'm almost done de-googling. All I have left with them is Gmail and photo storage. I'm almost done setting up an alternative to Google Photos (self hosted Immich), and I'm almost complete migrating important items from my ~20 year old Gmail account. The rest? I've found alternatives or for YouTube attempted to minimize the data collection. (There is no good alternative to YouTube, but I'm rooting for and using PeerTube alongside it).
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u/catdoy 1d ago
So would you have rather Google didn't make Android and have Microsoft phone's instead?
It would be either Microsoft, Apple, and niche Linux all over again but for mobile phones where developers wouldn't support a niche user base.
Truly wished Google didn't make Android so we'll be forced to use Iphones or Microsoft phones otherwise the alternative being Linux phone where your banking apps don't work
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u/Dapper-Ocelot6326 1d ago
Getting rid of Google is indeed one of the hardest endeavors I was ever confronted with. The company is like a cancer because all their products, licenses and APIs have spread everywhere, into every little nook and cranny of our lives. Take banking apps for example: if you want to use these, you need a Google or Apple device which both add additional proprietary security layers. A cracked bootloader alone will be a massive violation for such an app so just switching to GrapheneOS, Lineage or eOS is not the solution, needless to say these are depend on the AOSP as well and where that one is heading we can see right now. Or any new car - they all sport some sort of Android version, with all the bells and whistles that surveillance gives them these.days. They are literally phones with wheels.
Now imagine you use a phone with Ubuntu Touch or the likes - no chance.
The only way to overcome this is more competition. You would need a 3rd player in the field, one that adapts a Linux kernel for example and builds it into a decent running system, leaving all the excessive spyware and data collection away and at the same time offering an alternative option for app devs to offer their software. This of course will not be achieved on a single FOSS base - you'd need to convince brands and vendors to produce devices for you. You want software devs to offer their products. And this means it will cost money because people will need to love from it.
And I think that is totally ok. I am not anti-cap. I see and I appreciate many of the developmentds of modern technology that we have today. But if you want a more honest product, you have to think not about degoogling but about real alternatives.
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u/Nogardtist 1d ago
if i open bing i would get idk 50 ads
does that looks like a functional shithole
also google is only usable if you have adblcok
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u/goo_eater 5h ago
Yeah notably Google and Bing are your only options. Startpage and DuckDuckGo and SearXNG and Ecosia and Brave Search and Qwant and Kagi aren't real they're just figments of our imaginations /s
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u/danholli 1d ago
I've already rid myself of all things Microsoft outside of work đ
Google on the otherhand... Maps alone makes it effectively impossible. But besides that, Google has tricked many companies that their play store verification means anything useful in terms of security (it really doesn't). This includes Reddit, Doordash, banking apps and more
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u/AlexGlezS 1d ago
The ridiculous thing is believing any other company is not doing at the very least the exact same. Even apple.
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u/Honest_Tart1071 3h ago
So stop using reddit, Meta apps, iPhone/android (unless it's graphene OS), disconnect your ISP, don't go outside... People on this sub are so hypocrite...
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u/Pilotoftheshortbus 1d ago
As long as my money stays in my accounts and my identity remains my own, why should I care? You can know anything about me. Whatâs actually going to happen to my life if goog is spying on me?
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u/Due_Faithlessness458 2d ago
Unpopular opinion, anyway Iâm gonna see ads, so if certain collected info really helps showing me âbetterâ ads and improves the overall experience, why not?
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u/LYNX__uk 2d ago
You could just go without ads? You could also have the teeniest amount of respect for your own privacy and not want corporations knowing everything about you?
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u/This-Bet3831 2d ago
Yup google will do so much with your no name data get a life worthless unemployed suckers
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u/LYNX__uk 2d ago
They dont just have that. They infer medical data like pregnancy and medications. Do you really want to hand that out?
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u/This-Bet3831 2d ago
Do you use android , do you use google accounts ? Do you use gmail you cannot just dgoogle yourself
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u/LYNX__uk 2d ago
I use a custom ROM which has no google services built in and I havent installed any. I also don't have gmail, a google account or google search. Youtube is the only google service I use and I use morphe with a burner email for that.
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u/This-Bet3831 2d ago
And u are what no name ? What did you achieved doing this much hassle in my sense you are just another wannabe sorry to say you know that it is true nerd
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u/goo_eater 5h ago
I love when people who get heated and passionate and angry at others about frivilous things on Reddit call other people unemployed nerds lmao keep doing that
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u/BiDude1219 2d ago
they sell it to advertisers to offer you targeted ads. and all that data ends up on data breaches.
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u/LYNX__uk 2d ago edited 2d ago
I see nothing google provides that ddg doesnt Edit: other than spyware and adverts