Just switched to a new phone carrier, and they had a promotion that included a free phone: the Google Pixel 8. I’m not a fan of Google, but I am a fan of free, so I took the bait.
It’s already bombarded me with pitches for their new AI bullshit. I’ve opted out of as much as the settings allow, but I’m under no illusion that doing so actually provides any real privacy.
So, damage control time.
On my previous device I used YouTube Vanced for music and videos, but I guess Vanced isn’t around anymore, and I’m pretty out of date on what the current options are… any insight on streaming specifically?
*I’m a medic who’s only surface-level competent with tech, so please idiot-proof any instructions.
Thanks all!
GrapheneOS can install on a unlocked pixel 8 no issues, your best step to degoogle yourself.
https://grapheneos.org/install/web
Reinstall the operating system, which will wipe your phone clean, then only install apps you want, including google services in a work profile (if you want), so you control what google can see or doesnt see.
I‘m gonna be that guy and recommend GrapheneOS it is a different Android system and while that sounds like a really hard task to do for a beginner they have a really user friendly web-installer with step by step instructions. Adterwards you can just install and use google play store from their integrated app.
It’s made specifically for Pixel phones and you can’t much more degoogle than that
Graphene OS . Best you can get on Android.
Since it is a free phone from a carrier it will be locked until the phone is “paid off” by keeping their service for a specified amount of time. Once that time has passed, then your best option is to have the carrier unlock it and install Graphene OS. Until then, there is not much you can do.
This must be some weird American thing. I’ve gotten pixels on contract before in my country and I can OEM unlock and flash them no issue. If you don’t pay the cell carrier will just blacklist the IMEI. They don’t lock down the device itself.
Before jumping to a whole new os, there’s a few easy things you can do.
FUTO keyboard instead of gboard
Install F-Droid app store to replace Google apps with foss versions: aegis, amaze, fossify gallery, grayjay, kvaesitso etc
Obtainium can pull lots of apps straight from github: Firefox, wireguard, OSS document scanner etc
Use DDG or something instead of Google search
These are the easiest things you can do.
After that there is self hosting things on your own server like immich for Google photos, Seafile for Google Drive backups etc
Just because you can’t replace everything does mean you can slowly chip away at it and greatly reduce the amount of data you are sharing with Google
The above steps make a huge difference in their own even without fully changing the os. Then one day when you are ready the option to change OS to graphene will still be there and you will already be used to your FOSS apps
Never tried heliboard, I’ve been meaning to try it but you have to download the app, then add the swipe library then download futo voice to get all the same functionality that futo keyboard has. I’ve been meaning to do it but before I got to it futo released their keyboard that has it all in one
A couple of days ago I installed Futo’s keyboard, not bad. The swipe typing needs a lot of work but improving this is on their to-do list. Nice to have a keyboard where the swipe engine is not Google.
I don’t use the built-in voice typing but the their voice input app. The large model is far more accurate and doesn’t take very long to process on a Pixel running GrapheneOS.