this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2023
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DeGoogle Yourself

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/1247902

Why YSK GrapheneOS is a step above the rest. I understand it's ironic de-google phone/tablet with google hardware, but it just works better then anything else. Permission toggles, pin scrambling, auto-reboot, scopes, MAC randomization, isolated user profiles, longer passwords, sandboxed apps, open source firmware, no bloat & the battery life is incredible now.

I hope people understand how easy it is to move to Linux & GrapheneOS full time & remove Apple, Google, Microsoft etc. It exceeded expectations so much so that I want to share it with other people. I cannot recommend this enough to improve your life. #FOSS

Saw this, and thought it was a rather interesting comments section. Seems like an active discreditation campaign going on. Focussing on past maintainer and the fact it doesn't work with 2 questionable bits of functionality (Google pay + Auto). Why would I want either in a privacy phone?

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

The good news is that it's also available for the Pixel a-series (4a, 5a, 6a, ...) which are fairly cheap.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I'd like the project to expand to others, but I think currently it relies on unlocking the bootloader, installing a new OS and relocking the bootloader and not many hardware manufacturers provide that right now.

I think without Pixel, there are a few things like Lineage (and I'm not sure about e/os) if the hardware isn't something you're going for. Other mobile linux isn't quite ready and needs time.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I've been using it for a few months now and it's been super easy. The only things I miss are mobile pay and Android auto

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Same here for mobile pay, car is not new enough to benefit much from auto though lol. According to the devs both are possible it just requires some development time.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Haha I know, it's anathema to admit that there is any benefit to existing inside the walled gardens, but acknowledging shortcomings is the first step towards improvement.

These are also edge cases to me, and overall I'm super pleased with Graphene OS. I don't own a car so Android auto is only missed when renting a car on vacation, and I can bring an old backup phone for that, and I just remember to bring my wallet and credit cards with me now that I can't tap to pay.

But I know there are people these would be a deal breaker for, so wanted to call them out. It is remarkable how well it all works though!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Fair point. Probably quite risky to only bring a phone on holiday though in case it gets stolen. I couldn't fathom that personally.

I've not rented a car abroad personally so don't know much about what that app provides.

I guess those that consider them deal breakers probably aren't ready to degoogle. That's fine, and it's a very personal choice for individuals. Maybe Android -> ios may work better for them if privacy is something on their appetite.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have seen Graphene coming up a lot recently, a smear campaign wouldn’t surprise me now that it’s gaining popularity

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

There was that story about their lead developer being a bit difficult with people (to put it lightly) but I think he's since stepped down.

I hope that hasn't driven people away from the project.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use mobile payment nearly every day, i don’t think it’s productive to say that people shouldn’t want it in an otherwise private phone anymore than saying sandboxed Google play services are unnecessary in a private phone. These things bridge the gaps that stop people from making the switch, it’s good to support them

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Yes, but with payments, it's high risk and complex. Payment providers want full control of their environment. Google aren't going to be comfortable rubber stamping degoogled phones. Saying, "hi google, can i get away from your spying, but can i have this spying" makes no sense to me. A bank card is ridiculously small and you can tap without pin or use pin if you prefer. You have a solution to the problem. Wanting it on your phone rather than via bank card isn't really providing anything extra to the solution. It's a massive non issue. Many phone cases carry cards. It's such a meh issue.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

https://e.foundation/ is a great alternative if it supports your phone.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pixels are not sold here :(

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ooof, where are you if you don't mind me asking? You cannot import or get second hand?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd rather not say for the sake of privacy. Unfortunately I had a bad experience with Google the last time I imported it.
Wish GrapheneOS were available for more mainstream and cheap devices worldwide.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Not sure if it'd be the same case but there are some sites providing a pre-Graphened pixel which may have different shipping. Not sure how much I trust someone to have that kind of access to my device after the manufacturer and before me though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I guess that doesn't work. Is there a way to link to a post without opening a chrome tab? I'm on wefwef and the [email protected] hyperlink works perfectly. How to directly link to a post

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's in the post at the top, there is a link that says cross posted from. That should hopefully work.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, but it just opens a tab in chrome. I want it to open in the app itself (Voyager)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Ah, maybe Voyager doesn't yet recognise those links and sees it as external. On Firefox, the link opens in same tab.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Okay serious questions - will it work with my play store apps? And what about my Gmail? Can I still use it? Because I don't have other email accounts and email is kind of important. Finally does android auto still work?

I'd love to de-google as much as possible, but some apps I unfortunately depend on day to day, mainly Niagra launched, and android auto.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The second part of your first post was answered in my original post. Auto apparently doesn't work.

Play store apps should still work sandboxed. Email, I'm not sure, but I'd assume so. It works out of the browser fine. I'm not familiar with Niagra launched so couldn't comment.

Out of curiosity, what do you use auto for?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Everything while I'm driving. Navigation, music, phone calls/texts. I don't ever even feel tempted to look at my phone when driving because of android auto, I can do just about everything with voice controls, and what I can't I can navigate quickly and easily like I would the radio while I'm stopped.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

All apps work fine on grapheneos, besides above mentioned pay, some banking and auto.

Using sandboxed google play gmail and regular apps from play store work fine. :)

You can read more about sandboxed google play here. Here: https://grapheneos.org/features#sandboxed-google-play

I really recommend you read above link, it goes more in-depth.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sad that one of the developers is a sadistic, harmful person. This Video from Louis Rossmann is a really good video about why grapheneOS shouldnt be looked at as an OMG 100% secure phone... keep in mind that the developer is the person who you have to trust!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Former developer. They are no longer involved with the project.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ok, wasnt he the head-developer or the "Owner"?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Maintainer. Was. These are volunteer open source projects.

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