Which Google apps/pixel exclusive features do you (still?) use on GrapheneOS??

q654q

Hey everyone.

So my situation is such that I follow a pretty "balanced" approach to privacy. In particular, I'm using Google Play store with throwaway Google account and thus can download any Google app. However, while using several Google/Pixel features, I'd like to minimize the data which is sent to Google, in particular turning the network toggle for particular app.

So please share with us which exactly Google app or Pixel exclusive features are you using, from Call screening to something like Magic eraser.

As for me, I'm using Google Camera + Google Photos with network toggle off and it seems that both apps with Magic eraser/Unblur features are fully functional without internet access.

I also have Google Maps installed, but for obvious reasons with network permission.

Although I'm not really shure about Google Translate (unfortunately requires installed Google app for built in Lens feature), Google Lens (unfortunately requires installed Google app, but not really aware if this separate Google Lens app is interchangeable with Google Translate Lens) and Google Recorder (requires google speech services for the transcription feature). Probably network toggle can be safely disabled for these apps, including the Google app, to be fully functional?

casualmilkenjoyer

q654q

q654q Although I'm not really shure about Google Translate (unfortunately requires installed Google app for built in Lens feature), Google Lens (unfortunately requires installed Google app, but not really aware if this separate Google Lens app is interchangeable with Google Translate Lens) and Google Recorder (requires google speech services for the transcription feature). Probably network toggle can be safely disabled for these apps, including the Google app, to be fully functional?

I'm not positive, but I would assume all three of those require network for server side processing.

I use Photos and Maps, but the latter is usually disabled. I'm in the process of transitioning to a personal backup system to replace the former, but I'm not sure I'll be happy with the result. Photos is probably the best app that Google provides.

Otherwise, I'm pretty happy not using their services.

applesbana

casualmilkenjoyer

Quick question, where do you download photos and maps from and how do you manage updates to them?

casualmilkenjoyer

applesbana
I use the play store.

f13a-6c3a

I use Google Maps in incognito mode with network but Translate with network denied same as Gboard. I tried enable Call Screening last year but it appears not possible, more here
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/102-call-screening
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/3412-enabling-call-screening

[deleted]

f13a-6c3a I believe there are some Libre options for Translate apps which I saw on a Reddit list yesterday. I'll see if I can find the page link.

andrej567

play store, google maps (incognito) to see nearby shops opening hours and gboard (because i could not find alternative with dual language, en+sk)

memyselfandi

andrej567

https://github.com/openboard-team/openboard

Eirikr70

[deleted] I use DeepL for translations. It offers a contextual menu when you select text on the browser. I don't think it is open source anyway.

Ixirup

Google is very respectful of privacy on GOS because it has no access to anything on the phone. I also use a lot of Google applications and I don't have any privacy problems.

treequell

Ixirup GrapheneOS does indeed give the potential to use many of the Google apps relatively privately, at least when compared to stock Android. There's nothing special about Google apps in this sense: they can't do anything that other apps can't also do on GrapheneOS.

It's still worth thinking carefully about which apps you choose to install, and minimizing the number of permissions you give to the apps you do install. GrapheneOS helps to improve things with invasive permissions by development of scoped features. That applies to any apps, Google or otherwise.

Your comment appears to engage in an overly simplistic broad brush statements. Users can still absolutely hand over private information to apps on GrapheneOS, there are situations where they might want to, and others where users will want to avoid that. For those situations, GrapheneOS gives users the tools to have more control.

Ixirup

treequell In fact, I keep my use very simple.

N1b

Google is not "respectful of privacy" per se, they will always try to get as much data as possible of you and monetize it (nothing wrong with this, they are at least transparent about their intentions and their apps are usually good, zero-priced and secure).

It's now on the user to keep Google from invading privacy if they choose to do so. Sandboxed Play Services, Storage and Contact Scopes and extended Permission Control can mitigate a lot (thank you GOS!!!) but there are things you can not avoid using Google's Apps (like keep Google from reading your mails in Gmail or the notification content from apps using GSF). You not having "any privacy problems" means that you are okay with what you send to Google (also nothing wrong about that), but others might not be okay and for them Google is accessing too much, even on GOS.

applesbana

N1b

Per @treequell my understand is that google cannot read notification content from apps using GSF.

Ixirup

N1b I deleted my Google email address while keeping my account and replaced it with a proton address that I deleted. My account is not linked to any other account in this way.

N1b

To answer the OP, I have two Pixel phones (one for business and one for private use) and a Pixel Tablet (trying to replace my business laptop with it). Separation like this allows me to realize my threat model, as I don't use any Google Apps on the private phone, but I'm okay with Sandboxed Google Play on my business phone (for some proprietary apps to work) and even a bunch of Google Suite apps like Drive and Calendar on my Tablet since the company depends on these apps for collaboration.

So in case you struggle to solve your privacy balance with juggling profiles or apps on one device, using two or three devices might be the best solution, I know it is for me.

Eirikr70

I just use GBoard with network denied, since I have found no operational alternative for swiping in French.

andrej567

memyselfandi openboard - there is no SK wordlist.

N1b

applesbana interesting, would love to see more elaboration because I thought the main reason Signal put in the option to hide message content in notifications is to avoid being read by Google... Thanks for correcting me, I probably read some false article or post...

Anyway, Google will surely see some metadata (e.g. which app sends a notification at what time) and that might be bad enough for some threat models. Boy am I happy Signal, Element and Tutanota have their own implementation so I don't depend on GSF for being available.

Ixirup

I'm going to tell you something very important: Google doesn't give a damn about your life, it's just in it to make money and offer you a FREE service. The NSA doesn't give a damn about your data, they want to know what the world will be like in 35/50 years. They're paid to predict. There you have it. Nobody cares about your life.
Now there are people doing reprehensible things... And your phone should be the last thing on your mind. REALLY. A hacker is going to want to make you pay for your data by encrypting it and so on... The intelligence services want to plan on a grand scale. Believe me, the intelligence guys have a good laugh when they see some of your conversations. You can reactivate the Internet on your gboard keyboards... Good evening to you all.

de0u

Ixirup The NSA doesn't give a damn about your data, they want to know what the world will be like in 35/50 years. They're paid to predict. There you have it. Nobody cares about your life.

In theory, but not in practice, not for more than 20 years. There is no firewall between the NSA and the FBI. This is well documented - here is just one example: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/10/fbi-reveals-it-uses-cia-and-nsa-spy-americans/