Annoying things about GOS - bugs + etc

Shendai

Bspamail Hello, and welcome to GrapheneOS! Recent user here as well. I'm just going to address your point #3. I'm using Gboard, but without granting it any permission besides sensors. This allows using the enhanced predictive typing & swipe capabilities of Gboard, but without it sharing data with the mothership as it doesn't have network permission.

There's also a clever way to enable offline voice to text typing here. Gboard will need to have network access for the following, in order to download a required database file. Go into the Gboard app & enable "Faster voice typing" then wait a little bit (I think I left it on for 3-5 min or so, though I've seen on this forum other people needed more time) before disabling network permission. This enables voice to text, which I've found to be quick & reliable so far.

GrapheneOS is getting better all the time, and I am also extremely grateful to all the talented people making this happen.

Lusca

Bspamail

& 2. Are issues that are known and being worked on iirc
I think the Google Voice to Text is the most convenient and well implemented and I am not aware of alternatives. There is a way to set it up, download the English US pack and use it offline.
Gboard is great and you can revoke network access after you get the voice pack. Other than that I use Florisboard Beta. Not as clean as Gboard but a very solid keyboard alternative.
That is most likely the DND (Do Not Disturb) icon. You can toggle it via quick setting tiles or by going into settings manually.
GOS has no way to manage eSIM by itself so the option to use Google's privileged eSIM implementation (which uses Sandboxed Google Play) to manage your eSIM. If you do not use eSIM you do not have to worry about it.

Figuroz

Lusca

Lusca Gboard is great and you can revoke network access after you get the voice pack. Other than that I use Florisboard Beta. Not as clean as Gboard but a very solid keyboard alternative.

How do you revoke network access from an app, please?

Lusca

Bspamail so there is a possibility via IPC (Inter Process Communication) for Gboard to communicate with other Google apps. I find it unlikely, but maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can jump in here.

I personally see no real risk once you disable to analytics, tracking, and network. If you think otherwise, Florisboard (Beta or Stable) is a good option.

Shendai

Bspamail It's beyond my technical ability to say 100% that gboard won't leak any data through google services. Based on the recommendations of others more knowledgeable here, removing network permissions from gboard should prevent this. If gboard is sending back keystrokes to google even with network permission revoked, I'd agree that's a major issue. For now, this is the only way I know of to get solid voice-to-text functionality offline, and that's worth it to me. All users should make that decision for themselves.

ve3jlg

Bspamail due to my heavy use of google maps

If you are not familiar with it, check out the open OsmAnd maps app, based on OpenStreetMap.

For my uses anyway, I have found it to be excellent and better that Google maps. YMMV. It is a complex user interface and takes some familiarization.

It is missing advertising and won't snoop on you though.

matchboxbananasynergy

Figuroz Settings > App > select the app you want > Permissions > Network