With Google Pixel you should be able to install Graphene OS or e/Os to degoogle your phone.

And if your Google Pixel stops working in a few years you still can switch then to Fairphone.

Sorry put the reply under wrong comment. Didn’t mean your original post.

Sorry but you seem to be mixing up privacy and security a couple of times. Those are 2 different things.

As you suggested I tried to search about those security issues, but i could not find anything regarding indepent security audits. I would be interested in it, if you have the links.

This article from Golem is from 2020, so not sure if this is still up to date today. I could find something regarding the browser being an issue and the source from the app lounge.

Where are you forced to use the Murena Cloud? I did not have to make an account of anything. I created a folder for all their preinstalled apps and put them there, as they don’t look great. I heard there was an issue with TTS going to OpenAI, maybe you mean that.

To me after reading into degoogling the last couple of months, there seems to be an exchange of accusations going on between Graphene and e/OS. It might be because both support Google Pixel and they fear about market share.

In my opinion there is enough for both of them and this toxic behaviour is not helping anybody, just the two big ones Android and iOS. I really don’t like the toxic sound mainly coming from the Graphene community, that their solution is the only true one. Which to me seems a bit odd, when they still relying on Google. I am interested to see who their 2nd Hardware supplier will be in the future.

As I see it you can simply summarize it this way: You want privacy without relying on Google --> e/OS You want privacy and security but don’t mind using Google --> Graphene OS

For me I am currently using e/OS, as I don’t want to give google any money for a pixel. I might see if the prices drop for a cheap used one to try Graphene.

I am fully aware that e/OS is not as secure as Graphene, but I am no longer relying on Google. But to me this is the compromise I am willing to take.

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Unfortunately not, I only used AudD so far.

I tested it with all my stuff I had in my Shazam library and it recognised everything, so I kept the default settings.

Regarding the notifications, if it turns up and you long press on it, you get into the settings and can turn it off. Somehow had to do it couple of times but now since more then a week I don’t get them anymore.

Yeah I agree with you, they probbaly thought would be a nice feature to make people aware of tracking. But as nearly every up has dozens of trackers it gets annoying.

For me the summary on the left page is enough.

Shazam --> Audile

Microsoft Authenticator --> Aegis

Password Manager --> KeepassDX( I use Syncthing to keep it up to date across my devices

Weather App --> Cirrus

Task Manager --> Task.org

To use Google Maps links --> GeoShare

In general there are a lot of good Apps on F-Droid. To keep it that way, please read this: KeepAndroidOpen

Otherwise all those beautiful Apps from F-Droid will disappear.

Ah thank you very much for enlighten me about Graphene OS, that so far the best description I have seen.

Used Aurora before on Android too.

I probably will wait until they find a way to not be dependent on Google services, as I want them to have no data at all, if I have the chance to do it.

Hopefully there will be more alternatives in the future. But we will see where it will go with Google trying to stop side loading.

Does it mean that you basically cannot use apps then, which require Google Services? Or how does it exactly work there?

Currently trying e/Os and wanted to look into Graphene and Lineage to see the which one works the best. I just don’t want to use anything from google.

I really can recommend Hanwag as hiking boots very durable. I also use often Avocadostore looking for European made shoes.

Unfortunately cannot recommend any specific winter boots, as I my old ones are still solid and not made in the EU.

Quite late reply, but maybe something helpful for you.

Try to discover a new Hobby, Sport. Join a lobrary, take a physical book and read it outside.

I highly can recommend voluntary work, good to meet new people and doing something good gives you a good feeling.

I made a hard cut and got rid of all social media, really reduced reading the news as everything feels very toxic online atm.

I agree never a good idea to switch instantly, if you want a smooth running system. But only if people start using it, they can improve it.

Been using it for over a week now and have not discovered any issues with mine.

First of all thanks for sharing your journey, in a way some of those stories are hilarious.

I could see myself in your stories over the past 15 years working in IT. Unfortunately I came just recently to the conclusion, that the management does not want to improve efficient processes. As this would mean they would be questioned why they have so many employees under them.

I have been responsible for AI in our company and then be told someone else will do it know, because the Board level did not like I told them the state of the art, where we stand with using AI in our corporation and it just not resulting in layoffs straightaway.

So in my own opinion it can really help people become more efficient at work, if they know what the are doing. But what I see no one questions that it actually takes people longer doing their tasks with AI, rather than do it without it. No one seems to question, if AI is needed for this problem or it could be solved in another way.

How will

I dunno where this will go in the future, but I could see AI is destroying the internet as it was, flooding it with so much bullshit. Especially what Elon is trying with its Grok Wiki. In a few years time the internet as we knew and loved it back in the early days will be dead. Somehow I always have to think of the film Surrogates with Bruce Willis, where there was a parallel society from people that did not want AI machines in their life.

Maybe there will be a >new internet where people will be using it without ads, paywalls, AI garbadge… Which is kind of what the fediverse is already.

Exactly, your first point says it all. People will always go for the original.

Instead of having a own program and plan, they just say we onlz deport 50% of what AFD says…

With this tactic we are doomed in Germany and AFD will win the next election.

Yeah WhatsApp was the hardest bit. But was annoyed by so many messages, so now I enjoy the reduced amount with Signal.

Thanks for your recommendations. Will look into Comaps and Filen.io Actually Comaps looks much more like Maps.me I used before.

Was ditching it after some comments of the CEO, and really like the way Mullvad is working.

No unfortunately still not possible.