Is there a slow way to ungoogle

sardello

I'm a heavy user of Google services and even my wife and kids use Google too. We use GMail, share photos with Google Photos, use Google Drive and Google Family and much more.

Even many devices at home use Google Services. We have Nest Hub, Google TV and Chrome OS devices. Syncing between devices is also active.

I have no problem with sending data for services functionality. Unfortunately, Google collects a lot more than that, even if I have made all Google settings against sending.

I can't throw all the Google services overboard at once, so I wanted to ask if a slow transition is possible with GrapheneOS? Or would that be too big a step away from Google?

Please honest opinions on how to make smooth transition from Stock Android to GrapheneOS.

[deleted]

sardello Unfortunately, Google collects a lot more than that, even if I have made all Google settings against sending.

It really is up to you.
You are writing that you are a heavy user of Google's product, but you want to eliminate excessive invasion of privacy. You, yourself would have to think about it and ask yourself, where is the line for having and using services that you are comfortable with even though you are aware that you are paying with your privacy.

I would start with finding alternatives, that would work for you. There are many pages devoted to alternatives to Google apps. The "issue" can be that sometimes Google really has a good product and user doesn't want to loose some functionality. And you should find right balance that works for you.

There might be a big upside to it. Once you start searching for alternatives, you can realize that there are better apps out there, and that you are using services that are quite obsolete and that there are easier ways to achieve something. And maybe not:-)

SEE

sardello I share your frustration. You are looking for training wheels. I have been gradually trying to get away from google myself, unfortunately my work is on GSuite (so everything). What I did was start by getting onto the proton platform. I use protonmail to aggregate all my emails now. I did the same with proton calendar. That way at least I have access to all my emails when Im away from my computer. I really like protonpass and protondrive as well. You can't "send from" or use a gmail alias from Proton mail, but you can forward everything to your proton email at least. I am grooming contacts not to expect me to respond by email all the time.

Installing sandboxed google apps is a good interim step. They at least have limited access in GrapheneOS, unlike when you are using an android and they have access to everything.

Do you know about the Aurora store app? You can download most google play apps there anonymously.

There are still some apps that google just does better like google maps. I'm trying to get used to organic maps. I was thinking about just getting a good SatNav for my car.

Hope this helps.

sardello

[deleted] The usability of Google Services is actually very good and it's hard to get away from it.

Recently I tried to switch to the Brave browser and an alternative search engine, but failed because the Google Search Bar is not customizable on Android and alternative browsers can only be installed as Android apps on the Chromebooks.

[deleted]

If you are interested, check this:
https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play

sardello

[deleted] Sounds like an Android inside an Android. I could simple install all my Google Apps in a sandbox and try out alternative apps on GrapheneOS (or could they also be tested in an additional sandbox?).

I will receive a Pixel 6a in a few days, which is supposed to replace my Nokia 7.2. I will then test GrapheneOS for a week to get a better picture.

Thank you very much.

sardello

sardello Unfortunately no pixel was sent to me. Instead, I received nutritional supplements :(. I think the courier exchanged the packages on purpose and I fell for it...

Eirikr70

You can in effect switch from stock Android to GrapheneOS. For most of the other services you use from Google, there are open alternatives. If you are very comfortable with computers, you can try and self-host them. Otherwise you can look for paid hosted alternatives.
Instead of Google Photos, you can for instance try with Immich (I think it is only self-hosted) or Photoprism (self-hosted or cloud-hosted).

matchboxbananasynergy

I don't think that OP wants to use different apps. I think they want to know if they can use the Google services they use on Stock OS on GrapheneOS.

In almost every case, the answer to that is yes, thanks to Sandboxed Google Play.

sardello

matchboxbananasynergy In the long run I would like to switch to alternative open source apps. At the moment I just can't imagine replacing everything at once.

Maybe the switch to GrapheneOS is already too big and I should start replacing the apps on a Stock Android first?! That's what I wanted to find out with my thread.

sardello

@Eirikr70
So far, self-hosted services have not been a good alternative for me because my internet connection, especially uploading, was too slow. We recently got a fiber optic line. As soon as I have changed my tariff, I will give self-hosted services another chance.

Thanks for your answer

Eirikr70

sardello Anyway, you have to keep in mind that Google services, while they benefit from the power of a huge company, reach a very high level of usability. If you really want to reduce your dependance to Google, you will have to accept a reduction of the quality. I personnally think it is worth it.
And I must back matchboxbananasynergy in recommending that you first migrate to GrapheneOS : the vast majority of the apps run fine with GrapheneOS (apart from some banking and authentication apps that require explicitely the stock OS) and that will be a big first step in the direction of protecting your privacy.

abcZ

sardello Self-hosting on a home-internet service is probably not going to give you great results, except when using it from inside your home.

You can also self-host by running it on a virtual server, like from AWS. I think you can get a server for something like $10/month or less, price goes up as you need greater capabilities.

matchboxbananasynergy

sardello I don't think so. Pretty much everything will work with Sandboxed Google Play on GrapheneOS. I recommend starting out with just one profile (owner profile), installing Sandboxed Google Play and using your apps as you were. That already provides you with a huge benefit compared to Stock OS.

From https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play-installation

The simplest approach is to only use the Owner user profile. Apps installed in the Owner profile are sandboxed the same way as everywhere else and don't receive any special access. If you want to choose which apps use Google Play rather than making it available to all of them, install it in a separate user or work profile for apps depending on Google Play. You could also do it the other way around, but it makes more sense to try to use as much as possible without Google Play rather than treating not using it as the exceptional case.

Keep in mind that even if it doesn't work out for you, you can always switch back to Stock OS!

Eirikr70

abcZ May I express my strong disagreement ? It depends on several criteria, but with the optic fiber, it might be very satisfying.

abcZ

Eirikr70 That isn't a valid disagreement. That's just you pointing out one possibility that might not be so limited, and which happens to not apply to MOST people's home internet connections, and even for those that it does apply, will still typically be subjected to artificial limiting factors.

Eirikr70

abcZ Lol, I won't argue more, but I still disagree.

sardello

abcZ Currently I can get up to 200 Mbit/s and in our country have to keep their promises closely.

I think that's a good start for self-hosting.

mythodical

sardello that's plenty. Realistically, for most self-hosted needs, you can rely solely on your home network.

For example, my camera roll syncs to my home server via Syncthing only when I am on wifi (no matter where I am). My contacts and calendar server syncs new contacts and events only when I home (as I'd rather not expose that server instance to the internet). Just to give you an idea of the possibilities.