Hello everyone!
Recently, I saw so many posts about this and I started to think about degoogling (degoogleing?) my life.
I’ve started with fdroid and found some nice apps in there and I’m curious to know some alternatives I may or may not know
- Youtube: Currently, I use ReVanced and even though is just the default app with something in it, I want an alternative with background listening, import my subscriptions w/ notifications and if possible with sponsorblock
- Mail: Using a combo or Gmail + proton. I started to use proton recently and I want to move everything there when I have time. Suggestions here?
- Cloud storage: Self hosted/proton? Alternatives
- Gallery app: Stock
- Video player: Stock
- Music player: Stock
- 2FA app: I have Authy and I tried to install aegis. I also have Ente but I’ve never used both
- Mail app: Using K9 and the app is awesome compared to google or Samsung Mail
- Password Manager: Bitwarden
- Weather app: Currently, using Breezy weather
If possible, apps with a nice looking UI, modern with/without Material You
I’m using a Samsung S23 and I would like to know how bad it is to change ROM with something better and if it’s really worth Pixel + GrapheneOS. Thanks
Edit: I forgot the most important one with probably no alternatives (?) Thanks to @JustMarkov@lemmy.ml (idk how to mention)
- Samsung pay
Youtube — try Newpipe for background playback. There is a version with Sponsorblock, I believe
Gallery — I use the Fossify one. You’ll find a lot of other FOSS utility alternatives searching for Fossify.
Media players — I waffle between different ones, but I always have VLC installed as a fallback. It feels clunky on Android, but it will play almost anything.
I have NewPipe and I use it more for downloads. The UI is… It’s okay but more youtube style (because I’m used to it and I prefer TIL you can change it!
Fossify gallery is based on simplemobiletools before ZipoApps bought them
I forgot vlc exists on android
Yeah, Newpipe is pretty great. It’s also a Peertube/Bandcamp/SoundCloud client 🙂
Ugh, let’s never mention simplemobiletools or Zipo again.
I just didn’t know you could edit the “homepage”. I used it sometimes, especially for downloads.
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed too! I liked the idea of simple apps and reading that I was just uuuugh okay, let’s find something else and I couldn’t find an alternative (didn’t use fdroid) and went back to stock app
See my Awesome Android Apps list.
A great list! Do you know of a launcher with paging app drawer like nova? Or folders support. Currently using Lawnchair
Neo Launcher is based on Lawnchair and has some extra features I believe. Check the telegram group for newer releases
I tried it and uninstalled when I tried to change the font and icon size in the desktop lol
Gonna try it again
Don’t forget migrating your accounts in various online services if you used Gmail or Google login for registration.
For mail address, it is best practice to register your own domain and use any reputable mail service provider that allows to use custom domains. This way your address is not tied to the provider and you still own it in case of any issues with the service provider. This means you don’t loose access to the online services when Gmail (or anyone else) decides to block you.
Don’t forget migrating your accounts in various online services if you used Gmail or Google login for registration.
This.
Also, there’s this “connector” in Proton you plug in to Gmail and it downloads all the e-mails and even keeps labels etc.
Last thing - even after migrating everything and updating your e-mail in services, I’d wait with deleting Gooogle account for example a year to make sure you haven’t forgotten about anything. Wait before burning down brigdes, let the Goolge account just sit there lonly, abandoned, forgotten. Set a reminder to delete it.
I did that and I should really move everything to proton, but unfortunately I can’t create aliases for every service I use. I know I can use mymail+servicename@proton.me but aliases based on that services would be better so if I get spam somehow, I know from who
For mail address, it is best practice to register your own domain and use any reputable mail service provider that allows to use custom domains. This way your address is not tied to the provider and you still own it in case of any issues with the service provider. This means you don’t loose access to the online services when Gmail (or anyone else) decides to block you.
I wish I could do something like that with my domain + cloudflare + postman (or RPi) but if you can tell me how I can do what you meant, please let me know, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do
Don’t try to host your own email server, at least not at the start. It’s really hard and the main issue is not technical - makn issue is fighting with big providers so they don’t refuse your mail.
Instead, use a professional mail provider allowing custom domains (I use mailbox.org). You can still keep using your domain for web / http access for other services you selfhost, you just point mail-related DNS records to the mail provider (they all have guides about how to do that).
Yes, that’s was my problem, I was able to send a mail through command line but I couldn’t see it in my inbox so I gave up
I’m going to check mailbox.org later at home, thanks!
Here’s what I use:
- YouTube:
- LibreTube has really nice UI/UX and integrates SponsorBlock and DeArrow. It relies on Piped for fetching subscriptions (since the newest version it will play just fine with a broken Piped server though).
- NewPipeX is what I use when LibreTube doesn’t work and for downloading YouTube content. It is a fork of NewPipe which integrates SponsorBlock.
- Mail:
- I use posteo.de as a provider, but it isn’t fully liked here due to it not supporting custom domains.
- mailbox.org is another solid provider (with support for custom domains AFAIK) if you don’t want to use Proton for E-Mail.
- FairEmail is my mobile client of choice (Geary or Thunderbird are good for Desktop).
- k9 Mail is an equally good choice.
- Cloud Storage:
- Gallery App:
- Aves Libre is solid if you don’t want to selfhost, but it doesn’t have fancy features like automatically (od manually) detecting faces.
- Immich is pretty much the selfhosted Gallery app.
- Video Player:
- Just (Video) Player is what I use, but honestly the stock player should be fine.
- VLC will play pretty much anything you throw at it, but I don’t like its UI that much.
- Music Player:
- Vanilla Music is alright, but nothing special. Musicolet, while not FOSS, is a privacy respecting Music Player that has a bunch of handy features, most notable one for me is the ability to have multiple queues.
- 2FA App:
- Aegis has never let me down, although you should keep in mind it doesn’t have any sort of cloud sync.
For password manager and weather I use the same apps as you.
I run a Pixel with GrapheneOS. I actually also came from Samsung, and for me there are quite a few creature comforts missing that I didn’t even think about (eg. Samsung Dex, DP altmode, I really like the One UI Dialer, Miracast, Brightness Slider in notifications, switching recents and back button, headphone jack, SD card slot, …).
As for the Pixel being worth it, I’m ok with it as I was due for an upgrade anyway (Galaxy S10 -> Pixel 6). I’d recommend, if you value your privacy and are fine with losing some Samsung features, to either go all the way and upgrade to a new Pixel when your S23 gets old / dies or buy a cheap used Pixel (Pixel 6 and 7 currently has pretty decent value) to just test it out.
I just installed LibreTube and I want to try it. What does NewPipeX offers more than NewPipe? Sponsorblock and Return to the dislike button, anything else? I’m curious to see if it’s worth switching to it
Someone else suggested mailbox.org and I’ll check it later! I tried FairEmail but their github page says:
- Notification settings (sounds) per account/folder/sender (requires Android 8 Oreo) (instructions)
- biometric unlock Both features are paid, which is not ideal. However, if the application proves to be valuable, I would be more than willing to pay for it or support the developer(s). Before making the switch, I must test the application, and for me, email-based notifications are a must-have feature. As a result, I will continue to use Proton for the time being.
For cloud storage I’ve always wanted to use my website + Raspberry Pi to host stuff on there but I was never been able to do it so I’m looking for something worth and safe
Others suggested Aves and I will definitely check it later at home
I will check both music players but I prefer privacy focused/foss apps
Authy is my main and I have to switch. For some reasons they revamped the UI and removed dark more, I hated it SO MUCH
I don’t use Dex anymore, I’m on linux and with KDE connect I’m more than happy. DP altmode? Slider in notifications is good but I don’t use it that much, I have it set to auto brightness, the dialer is nice yes and the good thing about Samsung phones is Good lock/guardian even if it’s crazy to think you have to use an app made by someone (or Samsung?) to change how the recents app look (iphone style, stacked, grid, etc) and I hate it a lot
AFAIK you nailed the differences between NewPipe and NewPipeX.
As for FairEmail, I’ve used it for well over a year without paying and it’s been great (I plan on buying the pro version soon). It has kind of a pay what you want model, technically you can unlock all features for literally 10 cents.
I’m not that knowledgeable on security for hosting services with external access either, I’m sure there are some great YouTube videos out there.
A Raspberry Pi should be perfectly fine for hosting something like Seafile or Nextcloud though (Nextcloud might be a pain in the butt to host).
DP altmode means being able to output HDMI over your phone’s USB-C port, the Pixels are famous for missing that feature. But I believe from Pixel 8 onwards it was added again, if this is important for you you should do your own research on it though.
I can still switch to it since sponsorblock and dearrow is a good combo
I don’t mind paying for those extra features if it’s worth the price, it’s just… I don’t know, It’s just something I don’t like
No worries! It was just an idea I had in mind for sooo long, I’m gonna see how and if I can do something just as test
Ooh got it. Pixel may be great in some stuff but… Aren’t they still using slow UFS 3.1? Some other manufacturers use 4.0 (?), isn’t the cam lagging in other apps and being bad in general?
Imported my youtube subs and they’re random In libretube, I’ve set to sort by new but I get like 2 from a youtuber from 3/4 days ago, below 1 from a youtuber posted yesterday, etc… Is it normal…?
Edit: Changing piped instance changes the order but it’s a mess. It looked nice though
I use a Fairphone with e/os, which works fairly well as an os. Regular updates and they listen to user feedback. And e/os has an app lounge where you can download apps from the play store (without a google account) and f-droid, which is very easy. And the fairphone is great with interchangeable parts.
For maps I use a combo of organic maps and Magic earth. Magic Earth isn’t Foss but is privacy focused and has traffic alerts for driving.
YouTube - Newpipe
And for mail, passwordmanager, VPN, calendar, and drive I use Proton.
@runwaylights @Cris16228 I just checked out magic earth, it’s amazing
I would love to try it for a month before saying if it’s worth or not, sadly I recently changed phone so I’m not sure if I should do it again.
I will try both apps for maps
I know about protons alternatives to google but I’ve never tried them. Is it worth the monthly plan (if you use it)?
To be fair, the Fairphone is not the greatest in terms of specs, its more middle of the road but on the expensive side. But its has a way longer life. So I get that you want to think on it, because it’s more of a commitment to justify the cost
I’d say the paid plan is definitely worth it. The VPN is awesome. Very fast and with a lot of servers around the world. The drive is solid and they keep adding more features like automatic backup for you photos and secure file sharing. Lately they added a Docs to the drive, similar to google docs.
I have a family plan with my wife and brother in law and we share the costs, that makes it even more worth it.
I care more about storage, camera for normal-ish pictures and battery life
I was thinking about picking the ultimate and I’m probably going to do it later
Just checked and every proton app is only on Google Play (ew), got the mail app from github but there’s no proton mail on fdroid
Calendar, Drive and mail are not