marc0s
marc0s boosted
Karl Voit :emacs: :orgmode:
@publicvoit@graz.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago
#google plans to forbid that I may install any app I like on my #Android #smartphone.

New #Pixel phones cost as much as an #Apple#iPhone.

Google really wants to get rid of any USP they've created.

Well, then there's no reason for not switching to the golden cage of #iOS.

This is very shortsighted. 🤦

#control #monopoly #surveillance
Karl Voit :emacs: :orgmode:
@publicvoit@graz.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 weeks ago
#google plans to forbid that I may install any app I like on my #Android #smartphone.

New #Pixel phones cost as much as an #Apple#iPhone.

Google really wants to get rid of any USP they've created.

Well, then there's no reason for not switching to the golden cage of #iOS.

This is very shortsighted. 🤦

#control #monopoly #surveillance
Dan Gillmor
@dangillmor@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago

For years, I annually bought a new top-of-the-line Pixel phone, with few regrets. But I stopped after the Pixel 8, because Google started force-feeding its "AI" slop to customers as THE key feature.

The latest models look intriguing, but are even more crappified with "AI". So, no sale, again.
Jeff Codes
@jeffcodes@infosec.exchange replied  ·  activity timestamp 3 weeks ago
@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
:linux: :freebsd:
@unixviking@social.linux.pizza  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

Alternatives to Big Tech/Big Data:

Windows, Apple, Google -> Linux (Debian, Fedora, Mint, Arch...)

Microsoft Office -> LibreOffice (Only Office would also work, but the founders are Russian, who knows...)

Google Android, Apple iOS -> Pixel with GrapheneOS, Fairphone 6 with /e/OS, Brax 3 with iode OS/Ubuntu Touch

OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, etc. -> Nextcloud, MEGA, pCloud, Proton Drive

Outlook, Gmail, etc. -> Proton Mail, Tutanota

Airdrop, Link to Windows -> Localsend, KDE Connect

WhatsApp, Telegram, iMessage -> Signal, Element, Threema

Google Search -> Ecosia, Qwant, Startpage, Duckduckgo

YouTube -> Peertube, or as an anonymous YT client: Freetube and Newpipe

Instagram -> Pixelfed
Facebook, X (Twitter) -> Mastodon, possibly Bluesky

Truly secure and anonymous VPN: Mullvad!

This is just a first overview of the most important alternatives for switching. Feel free to continue if needed!

#linux #opensource #freesoftware #windows #endof10 #bigdata #bigtech #surveillance #office #microsoft #google #apple #vpn #mastodon #cloud #grapheneos #iode #ubuntutouch #brax3 #pixel#murena #fairphone #youtube #search

alcinnz
alcinnz boosted
R.L. Dane :Debian: :OpenBSD: 🍵
@rl_dane@polymaths.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

Hey there, nerdbrains,

I cant remember how I did this the last time I set up a phone two years ago...

I'm trying to install Google/Pixel camera on my #Pixel 7 running #AOSP-based #Iodé, but #AuroraStore says it's not compatible with my device.

I'd preferably like to get the old version I was running before, 9.0.115.586536401.40 (before they ruined the UI).

Does anyone know where I can get a working APK for my device?

I downloaded "com.google.android.GoogleCamera_9.0.115.586536401.40-66739056_18feat_0d88f0ed679ba77732b303a399904412_apkmirror.com.apkm" from #APKMirror, but it just crashes.

Any ideas?

#AskFedi #HiveMind #Iodé
R.L. Dane :Debian: :OpenBSD: 🍵
@rl_dane@polymaths.social  ·  activity timestamp 4 weeks ago

Hey there, nerdbrains,

I cant remember how I did this the last time I set up a phone two years ago...

I'm trying to install Google/Pixel camera on my #Pixel 7 running #AOSP-based #Iodé, but #AuroraStore says it's not compatible with my device.

I'd preferably like to get the old version I was running before, 9.0.115.586536401.40 (before they ruined the UI).

Does anyone know where I can get a working APK for my device?

I downloaded "com.google.android.GoogleCamera_9.0.115.586536401.40-66739056_18feat_0d88f0ed679ba77732b303a399904412_apkmirror.com.apkm" from #APKMirror, but it just crashes.

Any ideas?

#AskFedi #HiveMind #Iodé

Neil Brown
Neil Brown boosted
Andrew
@Andrew@mnstdn.monster  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

I have a travel question for those using Pixel phones... Have you been singled out by US customs/border security?

I read the recent story here in Spain about Pixel users being targeted due to the popularity of GrapheneOS and I haven't been to the US yet with the current regime in place, so not sure what to expect. Just wondering if even the sight of the phone is a red flag for them.

Boost please!

#grapheneOS #graphene#Pixel#Surveillance #security #privacy
Andrew
@Andrew@mnstdn.monster  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

I have a travel question for those using Pixel phones... Have you been singled out by US customs/border security?

I read the recent story here in Spain about Pixel users being targeted due to the popularity of GrapheneOS and I haven't been to the US yet with the current regime in place, so not sure what to expect. Just wondering if even the sight of the phone is a red flag for them.

Boost please!

#grapheneOS #graphene#Pixel#Surveillance #security #privacy
nemo™ 🇺🇦
@nemo@mas.to  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

GrapheneOS just dropped stable Android 16 support for Pixel devices! 🚀🔒 Despite new hurdles from Google, the team’s update includes the TapTrap vulnerability fix and under-the-hood improvements. No flashy features, all about security! #GrapheneOS#Android16#Pixel #privacy #security

🔗 https://www.heise.de/en/news/GrapheneOS-releases-Android-16-in-the-stable-channel-10484215.html

Shortlink: https://heise.de/-10484215
Jan Penfrat
@ilumium@eupolicy.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Blah blah blah I'm gonna spare you the list of unsubstantiated bollocks claims by #Google lobbyists like "Europeans already pay more for flights because they can't use Google to find the cheapest." or "We had 3,000 engineers working 2 years full time to be compliant." and the like rather than explaining to us why we still cannot uninstall the Chrome browser.... 🙄
Jan Penfrat
@ilumium@eupolicy.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

Hmmm, so #Google lobbyists claim "All apps on Android can be uninstalled" but from my testing on #Android 16 with all latest updates on a #Pixel this appears to be false.

Google's own #DMA compliance report from March 2025 says this is wrong:

"Android allows to uninstall apps by: (i) fully deleting apps that are downloaded or pre-installed in the user partition; and (ii) uninstalling apps in the system partition such that they are returned into an uninstalled state."

https://storage.googleapis.com/transparencyreport/report-downloads/pdf-report-bb_2024-3-7_2025-3-6_en_v1.pdf