Comment by benrutter
15 days ago
I agree with the first point! On the second- how do you access apps tied to services like banking, utilities, transport, etc?
This is one of the main things keeping me tied to the Google ecosystem, a lot of services require me to have an app that's only available on the play store.
I install MicroG (on my LineageOS on Pixel) which allows me to install my UK banking apps and Google Maps, etc. MicroG just reimplemented the Google APIs:
> microG GmsCore is a free software reimplementation of Google's Play Services. It allows applications calling proprietary Google APIs to run on AOSP-based ROMs like LineageOS, acting as a free replacement for the non-free, proprietary Google Play Services (sometimes referred to as the more generic term "GApps"). It is a powerful tool to reclaim your privacy and freedom while enjoying Android core features (although apps you use that take advantage of it may still be using proprietary libraries to communicate with microG, just as they do when communicating with the actual Google Play Services).
Source: https://github.com/microg/GmsCore/wiki
I add the official MicroG repo to my F-Droid using this QR code: https://microg.org/fdroid/repo/
Also, I download apps (like my UK banks) from official Play store using Aurora Store, which connects to Google servers directly to download the APKs, keep them updated, etc. No need to use those dodgy APK websites. Aurora Store is itself also available on F-Droid too.
I guess in time Google will target these apps :(
Okay, this is interesting! I thought it's just a cut down version of Google's base packages. I didn't realize it's a complete reimplementation.
So, I complete LineageOS installation without MindTheGapps, then install fdroid, add the microG repo, To install any Playstore dependent application use aurora store.
No gotchas?
For me at least I just use the prebuilt MicroG-flavor ROMs at https://lineage.microg.org/
This comes preloaded with the MicroG settings app, so no need to install the extra FDroid repo. But otherwise yes, Aurora Store gets you access to all necessary proprietary apps.
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Yes that's all I do, official LineageOS image for Pixel 6 (I bought it used on eBay).
I haven't tried it but apparently Aurora Store also supports login with your Google account, which means you can download apps you've paid for on the Play store directly.
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The Aurora Store lets you access Play Store apps without having a Google account by using their shared accounts, it is recommended on GrapheneOS (a privacy/security Android fork).
https://auroraoss.com/
Of course government, banking, McDonalds and other apps ban non-Google versions of Android, so you might be stuck with either Google or Apple until lawmakers catch up with this situation.
https://grapheneos.org/articles/attestation-compatibility-gu...
Aurora Store is generally _not_ recommended by the GOS folk as it offers minimal privacy benefits over running the full-fat google play within the GrapheneOS Google services sandbox, while introducing supply chain risk.
It is convenient though and I've used it from time to time. I prefer "APKUpdater" for one-off play store downloads which I think uses the same client code aurora does: https://github.com/rumboalla/apkupdater
Being able to use a random anonymous account is not a minimal privacy benefit, by the way
Web sites. Uber works from its web site. I mostly do things from desktops, not phones.
I don't have any financial stuff on my phone. More secure.
I'm seconding this. I can use my digital bus tickets from the bus company's website so I can activate them on my Ubuntu Touch phone. Any banking stuff I do on my desktop.
bank through a web browser, works for me, every new phone gets de guggled right out of the box, turning off the notifications requires loadeing alternate phone apps, which for some reason de-grayout's the notifiction/harsments from guggle on everything else currently gathering all of the alternate OS phone info I can find, and will start a thread when things get hotter
(GrapheneOS user, no Google services)
My bank provides the APK of their app directly on their website, and it supports updating itself after that. Actually a surprising amount of apps do this!
Other proprietary stuff I either get from RuStore (Russia-specific), or occasionally from APK mirrors / Aurora. At the moment I have no such apps (they're usually for some specific thing, e.g. an airline app that I need for a day or two).
I do banking, bill paying, etc from a laptop. I have the minimum number of apps on phone, mostly from Fdroid, plus Uber (my location turned off except the rare occasions when I need to call uber).