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The Android No-Google Group/Forums?

A

AxelNexus

Lurker
Hi All,
My devices are all Google Play/Cloud Service devoid - for security and privacy reasons.
Anyone know any groups/forums and places on the Internet where to ask/give assistance on the topic?
I'm finding it tricky to find where we all congregate...
There are a number of articles written on how to do it, but not much on the challenges and tricks post install. Surely there must be heaps of Non-Google users out there?
Cheers,
Axel
 
Hi there, I was thinking you guys were taking the mickey, but I think you are serious now. I have abandoned Google. I don't have an account and I won't be creating one to join a Google group about not running GPS/GCS. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone... So to start again, I'm looking for a forum or someplace on the Internet (that isn't Google Groups) where secuity minded Android users discuss running Android without GCS/GPS. I'll aks the same on XDA and see how I go.
 
I didn't see that coming. I'll pay that! Yes sure China has many Google free users, but I'm fairly sure they will not be running any of the Apps I run.
 
@AlexNexus what device are using, one would first assume Apple products but I am certain that there are other options
 
AxelNexus said:
Hi All,
My devices are all Google Play/Cloud Service devoid - for security and privacy reasons.
Anyone know any groups/forums and places on the Internet where to ask/give assistance on the topic?
I'm finding it tricky to find where we all congregate...
There are a number of articles written on how to do it, but not much on the challenges and tricks post install. Surely there must be heaps of Non-Google users out there?
Cheers,
Axel
Click to expand...
Are you on Reddit? I am, and knowing that they have subs for just about everything, I did a quick search and found this AntiGoogle subreddit. It's not super busy, but it may be a good starting place. This thread alone contains numerous helpful links for people who want to de-Google their lives.

Anyway, it's a starting point to talk with like-minded people.
 
For a search engine, I use DuckDuckGo, I prefer it's unbiased results to Google/Bing/Yahoo which 'learn' from your past searches and give you biased results reflecting what they think you want to see.
 
MoodyBlues said:
I just stumbled upon /e/, which looks interesting. It's an open-source mobile phone OS, but it's its privacy-driven philosophy that's notable. Among other things, it's completely free of Google!
Click to expand...

Yes I've come across this in a news article some time ago. It's pretty much what I'm doing (LineageOS) but using MicroG as well (I'm not).

I'm content with running app alternatives that are not Google dependent. However, it looks like Google is always working on making it harder. For example I wanted to update Admin Hands (SSH client) and ended up in some pain unable to install split APKs. I'm thinking this will happen more in future. Also some of the alternative apps I use may snap and rely on GCS or insist on it.
I'd like to look at FOSS/Open alternatives to GCS such as MicroG/FakeGAPPS but by my reading these require a Google account anyway / or communicate with Google services - not entirely sure though..
Also the Notifications problem is also creeping up for some apps E.g. Telegram. I don't get notifications unless I make some big compromises (battery life).

So just want to see how others are dealing with the above sorts of issues, how they are going with GCS alternatives etc. Do they base on LineageOS or something else.

Ironically the only thing Google on here that required much deliberation is the Gboard Keyboard. I am attached to swipe typing. Anyone have an alternative, let me know.

Apps Stores I use - F-Droid/G-Droid & Yalp. Uptodown but rarely.

Apps I use - Flym, Weatherzone+, Admin Hands, Barcode Scanner, Conversations, eBay, Fennec, FolderSync, Keepass2, Kore, Loyalty Card Keychain, Maps, MuPDF, NewPipe, Nova, Outlook for Android, Telegram, MS Todo, WifiAnalyzer.

Some of them are GCS reliant, but manage to work anyway without any complaints, except for Weatherzone+ (very annoying popup).
 
https://forum.f-droid.org/
Take a look here.

F-droid hosts only tracker-free, ad-free, crapware-free open-source apps that they compile themselves. Their forum is full of people that know.Google is a spyware outfit. They don't use their junk Spyware Apps.
 
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