Installing apps without the Play Store. General desperation and confusion.

GoogleShirker

Hello everyone! This will be very long-winded as I go through what I have attempted so far, so please bear with me.

I am not the most technologically savvy person by the standards of the GrapheneOS user, but I detest google and everything it stands for. I recently made the switch from iPhone to GrapheneOS, but am having difficulty in several ways that are quite demoralizing.

There are several apps that I would like to use without the play store. The Bank of America mobile app, discord, a music streaming app, and a live navigation app are all essential for me. I understand that these are fundementally not the most privacy respecting, but my threat level is low/non- existent. I am ultimately doing all this for moral reasons.

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/6505-pro-and-cons-of-using-google-play-vs-aurora In this, N1b says "Google doesn't have privileged access (except optional eSIM activation in owner profile)." I am using an eSIM. Does this mean Google has privileged access to my phone?
I had heard that the Aurora store has some security issues because downloaded apps are not verified against a database, like the play store. I have been trying to use the AppVerifier, but I have had difficulty finding the SHA-256 for apps not already within the interna database. This has been the most draining issue for me. How can i find the SHA-256 reliably for apps? Even apps on Github have been difficult to find, like Obsidian notes.
I have been completely unable to create an anonymous GMail account. I have tried everything I have seen mentioned online, to the point of going to my local library and using realistic names. So far, every time I am asked to scan a QR code and then send an SMS from whatever scans the QR code. Does anyone have any tips?
How do I get push notifications for one profile while in another? Creating a seperate profile for Google play will likely be much to inconvenient if this cannot be done.
Any recommendations for live navigation apps and music streaming? I have tried to use OsmAnd, but it is too cumbersome for me to use. It gets the job done, but requires more foresight and planning ahead than I am capable of.

Naudiz

GoogleShirker https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/6505-pro-and-cons-of-using-google-play-vs-aurora In this, N1b says "Google doesn't have privileged access (except optional eSIM activation in owner profile)." I am using an eSIM. Does this mean Google has privileged access to my phone?

Please read https://grapheneos.org/usage#esim-support.
Google does not have privileged access to your phone just because you use an eSIM. Only if you want to add, remove, enable or disable your eSIM, you will need to (at least temporarily) enable a small system app developed by Google to fulfill this task. This is due to there not being any eSIM management app in AOSP. If you just want to use your already installed eSIM, you don't need to enable the toggle.

ConfusedAboutGraphene

GoogleShirker

Hey I am running into very similar question about the apps stores.
Did u find any solutions/workaround in the last months ?
Thanks!

avaluedcustomer

For navigation you can try CoMaps or HERE WeGo

cyb3rko

For music streaming I use Tidal, which works without any problems and has pretty much the highest audio quality of all music streaming services.

HERE WeGo is a good alternative, especially for navigation by car.
OrganicMaps / CoMaps is better for walking/hiking/cities, because it uses OSM.

KitsuneNoBaka

IF APP need Google Play Store to run then you need it to be installed (banking app presumably). But you don't need to be logged in to google to use those Apps with Google Play Ptore.
Worst case is when app need to be installed from GPS...

EverettHitch

KitsuneNoBaka what the devil are you even talkin about? If you need an app and you need it from Play store you need to log in. I use Aurora and I don't use apps that are stuck up not to run without Play. I do what works for me. Stop being a bitch, be a man, take control.

Novalissoide

EverettHitch

KitsuneNoBaka

The only reason for me to get a real Google account was to get better sign-hash verification from my 5-10 daily test-installs of apps other GrapheneOS users having issues with.

Novalissoide

EverettHitch Some banking apps don't need a logged in Google account, and may just need the Sandboxed Google Play Services present on the device, but not even enabled.

EverettHitch

Novalissoide who gives a damn? I don't want this piece of spyware on my phone (as in Play services). Okay ladiez, if you want to up your game, Play services is out of question. With as much respect as I have for GrapheneOS devs, since they design their OS for a regular numpty.