this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2024

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DeGoogle Yourself

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I want to finally degoogle my life and install GrapheneOS (lemmy.today)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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As the title says, I want to finally degoogle (completely) my life. I've found a Pixel 7 8/128 for ~270€ (or pixel 8? ~470€ but no white :c) it's refurbished so google doesn't get a shit from me.

I'm curious to know if:

You can change the default icons color (black and gray-ish in the image) or is based on the wallpaper
The camera app is good. Not going to make professional pics or videos but I still want to use it to take pics and a good quality is important. Tried their camera on a phone and the bottom menu to switch mode (picture/video/night mode/etc) was buggy
Battery life is better/worse than stock Android (if anyone tried that)
How the sandboxed play services work
Anything else that I should know about. Some people say it's good, some it's bad so I'm curious to know.

I'm still looking for a good maps replacement, Organic Map is not the best because it's missing a lot of places where I live. I wish there was a google wallet Foss alternative... I needed it to use my card with the phone (rare but still possible!)

Help a new user to fully leave shitty phone companies

~~Edit: Does it have some kind of cross profile notifications? Can I see notifications of another profile on the main?~~

GrapheneOS supports forwarding notifications from users running in the background to the currently active user. Forwarding notifications to other users is disabled by default and can be enabled within each user profile where forwarding to the active profile is wanted. Notifications forwarded from other profiles are displayed by default in a standard local notification channel.

It does

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Looking to degoogle myself too. For the maps, Here we go is a german brand. I know it's not foss but being german, they have to follow GDPR which, I guess, is better than google anyways.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I would like to compare it to another non-foss app: Waze

I think it's better that maps but I don't know

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

-I haven't found a way to change the default app icons, but it doesn't bother me that much with all the other apps I end up having.

-the camera app is plenty good for general use. I don't use it for social media or anything, I use mine for work for taking pics of machinery and I use it to take pics of my kids and stuff and it's plenty good for that. I can't say how much tinkering it let's you do, someone else will have to give more detail

-Battery life is plenty good for me. I have a pixel 6, and I go to bed with it at like 45-60% most days. I'm sure the newer phones are a bit better, but can't say for sure

-I wish I could give more detail on the sandboxed apps, I use a few apps that use google play services and they work well, bit idk how it works behind the scenes

-honestly it just works like your phones OS should, it's really quite good

I also try to use organic maps when I can, but it is still missing things, I use google maps in my browser, but that's getting worse and worse

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

I wanted to know if the icons color is based on wallpaper or it's black and you can't change it. Not sure if I'll keep the default launcher anyway

I'm not looking for professional picture quality so if it works good, that's great!

Still thinking if 7/7 pro or 8 (no white so probably no)

Organic map is a cool project but the fact it misses a lot of places near me is something I don't like, I need it for work 🥲

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

Right, for the color, I have a neon background and the icons stay black and white. There's no option to manually change them as far as I know. I tried changing them before I commented the first time. There might be a way to force it somehow, but that's outside of my interest level lol

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

Someone said you can activate sometimes to match the wallpaper (?) Like on regular OS other OSes

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

By default the icons are black and white, but if you long-press the desktop, there's a wallpaper & style menu that lets you change the colors to one of several options, including matching your wallpaper or a bunch of pastel color pairs.

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

Then it's like I thought, thank you!

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

Not foss but if you need good maps and a ton of features look into locus maps. I really like it for hiking as you can save offline maps and with brouter you also have offline routing.

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

For now, it looks like it it has some features I'll never use, like: forecast or other specific data but I have to try it before saying anything about it

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

U can change icons etc by installing different launcher fdroid has a bunch take a look through to find one u like.

There are a few apps that wont work amazon prime is one. My banking apps work but some people have had issues. Overall ive had no issues that i couldnt solve with dr gpt. Would reccommend.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I tried a few launchers and NeoLauncher is the one I'm currently using. Lawnchair has something I didn't like but I don't remember what lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I have tried on several occasions to like GrapheneOS. But every time I install it on my Pixel 7, basic functionality breaks. Things like receiving regular phone calls, as in people calling my number using a normal phone. GrapheneOS will sometimes not even ring and immediately display a notification saying "Missed call". If my phone cannot be used as a .. phone, what good is is?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

Is it a problem with you only or is it a problem others have too?

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

Hell my android does that

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

I never had that problem when i had my Pixel 7 before the fucking screen died and google didn't honor the warranty.

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

Try Magic Earth for a maps app.

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

You can change the default app icons easily. The Accrescent store that can be downloaded from the gOS store even have some icon packs that are FOSS.
You can download the Pixel Camera from the App Store. I would keep it without Network access and remove the meta data with ExitEraser depending of where I am posting those pictures.
Battery seems the same but you won't have access to Adaptive Charging (when your phone is plugged in it tries to keep your phone without reaching 100% to improve battery life).
You won't be able to tap cards with your phone unless your bank app provides it. Google Wallet doesn't and won't work.
I wasn't able to get Android Auto to work at all.
You will need to be used to apps not working properly and testing the compatibility modes, specially if they use the location services.

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

that's interesting! I'm looking for a pack tbh
Uh I dont like it but I want to try it first. What about Image Toolbox? https://f-droid.org/packages/ru.tech.imageresizershrinker/ it can remove Exit data and I like the app!
Never heard of it but it's okay, not a big deal
Im really disappointed to know my bank uses the cards from a brand but they don't have an app to pay without card
I don't need Android auto, not a problem for me
What do you mean? Do you have any example for popular-ish apps? I want to know more

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

that’s interesting! I’m looking for a pack tbh

The icon pack I am using currently is from the store I mentioned, it is called Arcticons Material You and they have surprisingly niche icons (like brazilian banking apps). The ones they don't have I just use the icon with the first letter of the app.

Uh I dont like it but I want to try it first. What about Image Toolbox? https://f-droid.org/packages/ru.tech.imageresizershrinker/ it can remove Exit data and I like the app!

You don't have to take metadata away from your pictures if you aren't that concerned but privacy. I haven't used Image Toolbox before, just mentioned the one I use!

Never heard of it but it’s okay, not a big deal

Adaptive Charging is a very nice feature but it is meaning to have long lasting benefits, I don't think it is a deal breaker

Im really disappointed to know my bank uses the cards from a brand but they don’t have an app to pay without card

I was disappointed to learn that many banking institutions used to have this feature, removed it and now feature Google Wallet.

What do you mean? Do you have any example for popular-ish apps? I want to know more

Apps that rely on location might not function properly sometimes. Pokemon Go is one that comes to mind, you can access it but sometimes the location can be buggy.

I have been using GrapheneOS for almost a year now. If you have any other questions, let me know!

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

For what it's worth, is there a way to still connect to my vehicle, at least for music? I'm running Sync 3.

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

you can pair bluetooth still

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