Getting off Google and using free and open apps?

[sinqbad]

I rely on google too much right now and I'm looking to distance myself (privacy reasons mostly). But I use too many of google's services:

Maps
My Maps
Gboard
Google Japanese Input Keyboard
Google Handwriting
Google Voice Keyboard
Android Messenger
Gmail (tried using K9 but it's bad)
Calendar
Keep

Is it a pipe dream getting off google to some degree?

 

[chanchan05]

You can, but it will be annoying to some degree. For example, if you change keyboards, the new keyboard will not predict as well as Gboard for a while, simply because it hasn't learned your typing yet but Gboard has had long to learn your patterns.

 

[Hadron]

There's nothing to stop you getting off Google completely if you are prepared to put enough effort in. You don't have to sync calendars at all, or you can sync with someone else. Some phones will have custom ROMs available that don't include any Google apps. And there are alternatives to Maps, there are other email apps, etc.

 

[svim]

..Gmail (tried using K9 but it's bad)...

Just curious as to why you claim that 'it's bad'? It has a long, well-supported history and has been around going back to Android's early days. I've relied on it as my primary email app for years now and while it's user interface is somewhat bland it has a very extensive feature set buried in its Settings menus.
If it's 'bad' because you didn't like its appearance or something like that than that is of course a valid opinion but otherwise it sounds more likely that you had something inadvertently set incorrectly.

 

[sinqbad]

If it's 'bad' because you didn't like its appearance or something like that than that is of course a valid opinion but otherwise it sounds more likely that you had something inadvertently set incorrectly.

Yeah, I'm a bit of a crybaby when it comes to UI. It's just not that intuitive and well good looking lol. But you're right it has well supported and has some great features (like PGP support) and would love to utilize them but I just can't get over it's UI. Tried material design K9 and it's pretty much the same.

You can, but it will be annoying to some degree. For example, if you change keyboards, the new keyboard will not predict as well as Gboard for a while, simply because it hasn't learned your typing yet but Gboard has had long to learn your patterns.

My main problem with keyboard right now isn't the learning it's finding a free and open source Japanese keyboard (also with kana flick).

 

[mikedt]

My main problem with keyboard right now isn't the learning it's finding a free and open source Japanese keyboard (also with kana flick).

Of course that's pretty much all done by unpaid volunteers. So you would need to find a volunteer dev who knows what that is and wants to code it.

 

[mikedt]

My main problem with keyboard right now isn't the learning it's finding a free and open source Japanese keyboard (also with kana flick).

Of course that's pretty much all done by unpaid volunteers. So you would need to find a volunteer dev who knows what that is and wants to code it.

 

[sinqbad]

So you would need to find a volunteer dev who knows what that is and wants to code it.

I've done a bit of programming before in c++ (didn't fully get around pointers) and java. Nothing too advanced just some first year electives I took. I also have access to lynda from my uni. I'm currently on break until Feb next year, do you reckon something like contributing to anysoftkeyboard is something that realistic?