Living the good life over here:
How much of a risk is GraphenOS to install? I really don’t wanna brick my phone.
I had the same concern so I actually just bought a used newer pixel and started a fresh install of Graphene. It took me several weeks to learn how it works and migrate my accounts and switch to FOSS apps wherever I could.
very low on id say pixel 7 and up its a web installer so all you need is to back up all inlmportant files photos videos ids etc and plug your phone into a computer or another phone running graphene os and follow the guide
What phone do you have?
Pixel 6, I believe.
That can run Graphene.
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.
So a system-wide wiretap?
So what happens if I have Gemini disabled overall on my phone?
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.
🫂
Mama Bear hug.
What was the recent chatter about Google making it harder to update GrapheneOS? Did that develop into anything or was it just temporary?
Graphene, Lineage, Calayx OS are all there. Pick one and never worry about this no control over your phone thing. Personally only used graphene OS but I heard the others are similar.
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
There’s no option to uninstall on my neighbor’s phone.
I haven’t read a single positive comment here, which is to be expected in this community. But to be honest I kind of like the idea of an AI assistant that keeps track of my schedule, knows about my friends and what I am doing. Of cause I would not use gemini and am happy that i dont have to care about it with e/OS. But something that helps me keep track of things and can help me with stuff seems interesting. I’m interested to hear reviews of it
I hear you, it’s the same reason why I still have google maps in my e/OS phone, to see my history and give me more restaurants I can try.
But the compromise in my case and what everyone in this thread also knows is that the data you share will not only be yours.
I think no one here is against a powerful AI assistant that will help is with personal stuff and keeping track of everything, but having to share all your life with someone else is a huge fuck no. They would know way more than even your life partner.
If there was something mostly offline that we could use I think we’d be all up for it.
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 except 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?
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 link, thank you. I’m so used to desperately trying to make this old 3a work that I didn’t realize they’d listed out support expectations for more recent models.
I believe the Pixel 9a is also available. You might snag that one instead of an 8a just to give yourself another year of support.
Graphene?
I believe I’m too old with my 3a. I’ve been considering getting a used 5, 6, 7, or 8 off ebay but I worry that support will run out. Any idea if that’s true?
No they will support these device as long as Google does.
That’s what I expected, but had hoped there would be additional legacy support. Google previously only supported Pixels for 3 years, right? They may be more competitive with Apple now, but that’s still only 6-7 years. In that case, if I buy an old Pixel on ebay it’s not likely to have much of a run left.
My issues with Lineage are related, although they obviously try to give legacy support (perhaps without the ability to make full security updates), but we still run into functionality issues like my lack of wi-fi calling. I don’t think that is so much about the age of the phone as it is due to tech/frequency updates that are non-compatible with some older devices, and proprietary opaqueness in the Google code. I wish Lineage would at least list this issue on their wiki, phone by phone, as that would make it easier for me to decide on my next step.
I hear a tiny dev team made some VoLTE progress in the Linux world, but I am way over my head in trying to understand exactly what’s going on. I think they’ve got an Ubuntu Touch device working with VoLTE for the first time? Does it work in the US? Does it have Wi-fi calling? I have many questions but need to keep reading. (I know VoLTE is different from VoWiFi, but I see them used interchangeably at times.)
I am just using oneui but I’m not even signed into a google account surely Gemini won’t be after me?
Gemini now has a second set of toggles buried in its settings menu. You can go to Profile → Apps inside the Gemini app and manually disable access to Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, or Utilities. But these are turned on by default, even if you’ve disabled tracking in the past.
So I just went to the app in my neighbor’s phone, and it asked me to switch. I said no, and it won’t let me do anything else. So will this need to be done next week?
And how does this effect those of us that have completely disabled Gemini Assistant?
Seems like you’d fall under the “even if you say no” category
It doesn’t seem that way. After reading through the article a couple of times, it looks like the “no” they are referring to is regarding data recording of one’s actual use of the assistant. And since I don’t use the assistant and have completely disabled it, the shouldn’t be any data to record.
Though I do have to admit that I may be completely off base in my interpretation.
When they say WhatsApp I gotta think that would be the same for any third party conversation app right? I would never use whatsapp, and I would hope any security minded person wouldnt either. But I do rely on an opensource sms launcher and signal. I would assume the framework would make it mess with those too.
This sucks. Horribly sucks. I can’t stand apple products, they cant do anything. I know that even having google play on my android device means I am fucked anyways, but this is a new low from google.
Feels weird to buy a google pixel, only to be able to expect it is the best way to not have google on it. (grapheneos or similar).
“Not my messages and calls,” laughs in iPhones
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