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I've just had to setup a brand new device shipping with #Android 14. Model doesn't matter, nor for whom it was. It's bee long ago I had to set up a Google-Android device – so I didn't remember what I've "missed" </s>.

For #privacy: "Without #Google, please!" – Yes, fine. But even if you have a matching CustomROM (Calyx, Divest, LOS, whichever) available: in order to flash that, you first have to "OEM unlock". For that, we have to start up Google-Android at least once.

(1/3)

#android #google #privacy
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •

OK, without any network then. Ignore the scary messages of how many cute kittens will be killed if you don't give Google access to all your data (no access to PlayStore and all its shiny apps? Sure, that was the idea!) – but then: stuck.

You cannot complete the setup without agreeing to the Google Play Services TOS.

WTF?

OK you say, why bother: we're entirely offline, aren't we? Actually, not sure we are, because how did this thingy figure that "App updates are ready" (see screenshot)? (2/3)

Screenshot from the Android homescreen showing clearly there's no network connection: status bar has "No SIM – No service", and no WiFi symbol to be seen. Still, a notifications shows "App updates are ready. Connect to a network to continue" – plus a symbol clearly stating no WiFi is available.
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •

That's not the point, though: if we don't want to use them, why do we have to confirm the TOS? And if there are app updates, where do they come from if we didn't connect any Google account? Actually, I even had most of the Google Apps disabled, including PlayStore. Which btw already consumed 20 MB storage (cache and data) without having been used at all.

Well, I DO know why I've cut my ties to that eco-system about 10 years ago…

#Google #Android #privacy

#android #google #privacy
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

Alexander Martinz
Alexander Martinz
• •

Same behavior on the 6mq btw.

I am also annoyed by having to do the same steps 3 times with persistant notifications.

Add your account? - Skip

Ready to finish setting up your device. Well, add your account now? - No, skip.

Almost done setting up your device, just add your account. - ...

in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

kaspa
kaspa
• •
I'm in the process of deGoogling myself. It's nuts how much control they have.
in reply to kaspa

What's a fun name?
What's a fun name?
• •

@kaspa they have a lot of control and most of it, without our explicit consent.

Myself, I have been using - mostly for test purposes - an old Xiaomi Mi A1 running LineageOS 20 without any Google apps.

F-Droid (..and Obtainium for certain updates) for apps that replace Google's.

It's not easy in today's world. But not impossible.

Not to mention that such a move proves that you don't need the latest and greatest hardware (+1 point for the environment and our pockets).

@kaspa
in reply to What's a fun name?

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •
@hellenicsun and add the IzzyOnDroid repo to your F-Droid client for some more apps 😉 Currently 1.180 apps available there. And yeah, still using my old Fairphone 2 from 2015, works well here with Android 11 thanks to LOS… @kaspa
@What's a fun name? @kaspa
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

What's a fun name?
What's a fun name?
• •

@kaspa I did that as soon as I installed F-Droid 😉

It's like a must-next-move!

As for still using an old (2015) device, that's what I believe in and that's what the community can - freely - offer.

I'm so fed up with overconsumption and the constant push (from an early age) for upgrading to a newer and fancier portal into a - very expensive - rented digital life.

@kaspa
in reply to What's a fun name?

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •
@hellenicsun the oldest still running Android phone here is a 2010 Motorola Milestone 2, running Kitkat thanks to CyanogenMod. Still serves as a night-stand at my bed. Had to replace the battery last year for the first time 😜 @kaspa
@What's a fun name? @kaspa
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

Cj
Cj
• •
I sometime wonder if you can get a refund on hardware when you disagree with TOS. If retail staff understand the reason. If companies care. If we could do it en mass as a protest.
in reply to Cj

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •
@Cj Someone did that in Italy not that long ago. Went to court for it even, just for principle. Got back the €70 for the bundled MS-Crap in the end (he was running Linux anyway). Ah, there it is: fsfe.org/news/2021/news-202103… – and also zdnet.com/article/the-windows-…

The Windows tax fight is finally over: Buyers can get a refund on their Microsoft OS in Italy

A long-running court case over consumers' right to get a refund on unwanted OS has finally been settled. Will it change the PC market in the country?
Federico Guerrini (ZDNET)
@Cj
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

Cj
Cj
• •
partial refund is more interesting, I wonder if that'd work on an Android product.
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

⚞ Alexia ⚟
⚞ Alexia ⚟
• •
fwiw, it doesn't know there's updates, it just sends that notification regardless to bait people into connecting to WiFi
in reply to ⚞ Alexia ⚟

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •
@cyrus dark patterns, yes. As so many others in the Google setup process… But pretending it was rather "witchcraft" might make people throw away (or return) that dangerous thing, so why mention the "pretend" thingy? 🙈
@⚞ Alexia ⚟
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

Matija Nalis
Matija Nalis
• •
My procedure is: do not insert SIM card, do not add wifi password. Skip everything (it worked on my Android 14). Enable developer options, sideload #Rethink or some other other firewall/VPN, enable "block all traffic" in it. remove bloat with github.com/Universal-Debloater…. Only then add wifi, whitelist #fdroid app, and continue installing #FOSS stuff... I miss the good old unlocked bootloader days when first thing I would do is flash bare CyanogenMod without GooglePlay and then continue

Getting started

Cross-platform GUI written in Rust using ADB to debloat non-rooted Android devices. Improve your privacy, the security and battery life of your device. - Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-andr...
GitHub
#foss #fdroid #rethink
in reply to Matija Nalis

IzzyOnDroid ✅
IzzyOnDroid ✅
• •

@mnalis Tech-savvy people can do that. But why does everyone have to go to such length? You cannot ask that from people who just want to use the device they've bought.

And btw, my procedure is a bit different. After enabling DevMode, ADB and OEM unlock, I boot to recovery and flash a clean ROM 😛 A device that doesn't let me do that is no option for me.

Luckily, with @shiftphones that's even easier: no unlock needed just update to G-free on-device, see android.izzysoft.de/articles/n…


Android ohne Google: Shiftphones

Wie die bekannten Fairphones sind auch die Shiftphones modulare Geräte. SHIFT liefert sie ohne unnötigen Ballast aus, nur das minimale Set an Google Apps ist installiert.
IzzyOnDroid
@SHIFTPHONES @Matija Nalis
in reply to IzzyOnDroid ✅

Matija Nalis
Matija Nalis
• •
@shiftphones That Huawei was supposed to be OEM-unlockable, but they reneged after I ordered it and before I could unlock it. 😡 I agree with you -- it is becoming ultra-annoying even for tech-savvy people; there is no way regular user might help themselves. 💔 And with current mobile situation and direction it is headed, if I actually had to pay money for todays smartphone (beggars can't be choosers; but it does limit my choices to all bad ones), I think I'd rather go neo-luddite..
@SHIFTPHONES
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