@dangillmor I must admit I'm very happy that my Pixel 6 is still going strong. I skipped the 7, 8, and 9, and was thinking about getting the 10, but all this AI garbage is ridiculously off-putting. I don't need it, I don't want it, and I actively avoid it.

@dangillmor you can install the degoogled and ultra-secure GrapherneOS forj k of Android on your Pixel, I wouldn't run anything else. Don't buy a Pixel 10 just yet, however, Google made changes to make it harder for alternative OSes.

@dangillmor in a way Apple being behind in ai. I can turn it off on my iPhone and neuter Siri. Ahhh silence.

@dangillmor
I had a 7 that was crap. Got it replaced and the replacement was crap. Like hardware issues that made it unusable. This happened right as the 9 came out and I made the choice. I use F-droid as an app store. I don't use chrome. I was Firefox until they got in bed with Google so temporarily using Duck Duck Go instead of Chrome. Have all Google products disabled on my device except for a few. I use MapQuest now for navigation. I am testing out some browsers and email providers as well as calendar and clock apps but they are not top priority. I hope to replace my device operating system but I am realistically thinking that it will be a couple years before I can do that, but hey, goals

@dangillmor Same, just stopped at Pixel 6.

@dangillmor
I just replaced my failing Pixel with the Fairphone (Gen 6) and I'm loving it.

@dangillmor shame that mobiles we are so dependent on is a duopoly. At least EU has forced Apple to open up for other stores. Such an important device in our lifes should be open; all manufacturers should have to offer boot unlocker so owners can install an os of their choice.

@dangillmor
Pixel 9 + graphene OS is tempting me.
I'll get a 2nd SIM so I can use my old phone with stock for work shit like 2FA & Intune.

@dangillmor

Google is bad enough, even without the AI

@dangillmor Chasing my tail. Sounds like installing graphene on my pixel7pro is safer than buying a new pixel and trying to install on that...but if I flub the install I'm going to need that new phone all the more. I'm reasonably tech friendly, I'd be happy for encouragement from you or the hive mind on this thread.

@dangillmor Google Pixel 8 should recieve security updates until October 2030, so you should be good...

#Pixel8

@dangillmor I have a 7 pro. I was buying every other generation but am also put off by the LLM "features." I wanted to go back to an iPhone but Apple has fallen into the same trap

@dangillmor

I use GrapheneOS. But yeah the contactless phone payments cannot work. Otherwise the installation was straightforward (there's a web/easier version) and it's a "hardened" version of the AOSP (Android Open Source Project). You can still use Google Play but it doesn't have the same permissions (by design) as on Google stock.

https://grapheneos.org/

@dangillmor I'm still on a 4a.

It still does 100% of what I want to do.

It doesn't get the AI shit upgrades.

I'm keeping it.

@dangillmor
I recommend looking into using the alternative OS for Pixel phones made by, and named as @GrapheneOS
It is not as intimidating as it used to be to swap the OS. They have a browser based installer that is, more or less, plug and play.
Once installed, use their app store to install a sandboxed version of the Google Play Service and Google Play Store. You're basically back where you started, but with more control and privacy over the AI and other BS they push.
#grapheneos #android #pixel

@dangillmor I've been delaying an on my 8 because because I need to do it on a day where I have time to use ADB to disable the slop.