Author Topic: Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps  (Read 4351 times)

Lyall Pearce

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« on: March 27, 2018, 02:45:17 am »
What do I need to do to disable anything Google except the App store?
I have my own hosted email and NextCloud services.
I am currently using BlueMail for email. Calendar,  Contacts (with DavDroid to sync), Messages,
I only want the App store to keep things up to date, everything else can go.
I have no interest in Google Assistant, docs, drive, gmail, etc.
Any pointers to an Android noob (ex IOS, at this stage).
...Lyall

vader

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2018, 03:16:08 am »
Quote from: Lyall Pearce
What do I need to do to disable anything Google except the App store?
I have my own hosted email and NextCloud services.
I am currently using BlueMail for email. Calendar,  Contacts (with DavDroid to sync), Messages,
I only want the App store to keep things up to date, everything else can go.
I have no interest in Google Assistant, docs, drive, gmail, etc.
Any pointers to an Android noob (ex IOS, at this stage).
If you want to de google, you can do the following:

1) Dont sign in or create an account when you first set up (or reset/restore)
2) Install fdroid store (enable 3rd party apps and install the package from the fdroid site)
3) Install a new browser from fdroid (I use Firefox Klar)
4) Install Yalp store from fdroid - you can now install apps from play store without an account
5) Turn off location services until you need them

Fdroid and yalp will tell you if an app needs google services or not. It also tells you about adds and permissions problems. Of course you could root the device and remove google services as well, but this doesn't need root. I also installed termux so you can do usefull stuff - eg tar up your sd card and scp it to your linux box.

Hope this helps.

Lyall Pearce

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« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2018, 08:01:52 pm »
Quote from: vader
If you want to de google, you can do the following:
....
Hmm, a little more effort than I was expecting, I simply wanted to disable the stuff, not replace it.
Well, down the track I plan to go Linux, that should do it quite nicely, would prefer to do a Gentoo build, so I am consistent with my desktop but will see.
Thanks.
...Lyall

depscribe

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2018, 10:55:06 pm »
Quote from: Lyall Pearce
Quote from: vader
If you want to de google, you can do the following:
....
Hmm, a little more effort than I was expecting, I simply wanted to disable the stuff, not replace it.
Well, down the track I plan to go Linux, that should do it quite nicely, would prefer to do a Gentoo build, so I am consistent with my desktop but will see.
Thanks.
Here is a real good reason to yank Google apps, take them out back and set them on fire, and sow salt on the ashes:

https://twitter.com/iamdylancurran/status/9...5680467968?s=12
dep

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Murple2

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2018, 03:07:51 am »
Quote from: Lyall Pearce
Quote from: vader
If you want to de google, you can do the following:
....
Hmm, a little more effort than I was expecting, I simply wanted to disable the stuff, not replace it.
Well, down the track I plan to go Linux, that should do it quite nicely, would prefer to do a Gentoo build, so I am consistent with my desktop but will see.
Thanks.

Is there an irony that you are more than willing to build Gentoo but installing a different app store on android is too much effort!  

Varti

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2018, 07:19:24 am »
Quote from: vader
If you want to de google, you can do the following:
(...)
Thanks vader for the list, very useful, I have added a link to your post in the Hints thread. I'm still undecided if I'll keep the Google apps or not, as I anyway have and use a GMail account.

Quote from: depscribe
Here is a real good reason to yank Google apps, take them out back and set them on fire, and sow salt on the ashes:
https://twitter.com/iamdylancurran/status/9...5680467968?s=12
Frightening I must say... Thankfully it seems that Google does not know much about me, might be because I keep the GPS on my phone always off to reduce battery usage.

It's good that people at least know how much of their personal data is being stored. The link you posted deserves as much exposure as possible; I have crossposted it here: https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=34891

Varti
« Last Edit: April 03, 2018, 07:22:14 am by Varti »
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vader

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Using minimal Google, preferably only Apps
« Reply #6 on: April 03, 2018, 09:03:25 pm »
I have been having a look around android, and have found some other things you might want to get rid of. In settings, security, apps with user access, turn off the two google apps. This setting allows google to get a record of basically everything you do.

luckily, not having a google account means they dont have anyone to log against. I am still waiting patiently for sailfish to come out.