Questions about Pixel 7a

chipotledonut

I tested it and it is not good. I left my phone 7 hours while sleeping with only network, not wifi. It wen from 57% to 41% (battery). Signal went from 2% to 12%.

That 2% was for 1 day and some hours in WIFI.

One it is out of wifi, its a huge battery drain.

Because of the location services draining more battery too, i think i will install Google Play Services.

Can I install Play Services and disable Google Play Store? Push notifications will work?

[deleted]

chipotledonut Can I install Play Services and disable Google Play Store? Push notifications will work?

Play services and the Play Store depend on each other, one will not work properly without the other. Both of them depend on the Google Services Framework app. https://grapheneos.org/usage#sandboxed-google-play-installation

[deleted]

chipotledonut Can you post your OS battery usage summary for comparison purposes?

chipotledonut

Here it is

https://ibb.co/rmygZ6X

[deleted]

chipotledonut This looks wild, but not unlike some other reports. Outside of Signal and WhatsApp everything looks comparable to mine though. If linked thread doesn't provide you with any ideas you can try installing Play (in Owner or secondary) and report back. You would probably also need to reinstall apps in question so they could detect Play services running on your device.

chipotledonut

Anyway, I don't use my phone very much as you see in my battery log, but when I travel (quite often) I really need location to be fast and accurate (battery friendly too).

I tested GPS a couple of times and not the best experience without Google Services.

I came from LineageOS with MIcroG and there, at least, mozilla unified kind of worked decently.

So, I only have 5 apps from the Google Play, 2 banking apps, Instagram, Whatsapp and Google Maps (plus Signal).

Should I uninstall them all, install Google Services and then reinstall them to take advantage of the push notifications and location services?

[deleted]

chipotledonut

I tested GPS a couple of times and not the best experience without Google Services.

I came from LineageOS with MIcroG and there, at least, mozilla unified kind of worked decently.

I can't speak for that as I don't use GPS very often, but my experience of LineageOS for microG is the opposite although I used it lightyears ago.

My experience on GrapheneOS is truly stock like, especially when you install everything in the Owner, even without granting my location to Play services. I'm just sorry you're not having as great of a time.

chipotledonut

[deleted] This looks wild, but not unlike some other reports. Outside of Signal and WhatsApp

Yes, I have read those threads and someone said that it was way worse in cell network and 5G, that's why I tried. In WiFi, 2% for 1 day and some hours for Signal. That's ok. 20% in 8-9 hours is crazy.

It doesn't matter anymore, I need location services to be working perfectly so I have to install Google Services.

Edit: Ideas in those threads were to not use 5G. I guess I can do that but I seems to me like don´t drive the car so you won´t get into an accident.

Edit 2: from that thread:

Edit: Apparently this happens only on mobile data for me. When I use only WiFi, Signal hardly shows up in the stats. Also the battery usage of other apps using websockets in the background drops significantly. Which makes me believe (at least in my case) there is nothing Signal could do about it.

Same than me.

chipotledonut

[deleted] I'm just sorry you're not having as great of a time.

It is all good, I actually bought a Pixel because I wanted a clean OS and 'minimal Google Services' for great GPS location.

I ditched LineageOS with Micro G precisely because location was just ok.

So, better than LineageOS and Gapps, Graphen Os with Google Services.

I tried to do it without it when I saw that banking apps were working without Google Services. But no problem.

chipotledonut

I also saw an increase of WhatsApp. Not that much but it wen from 2% to 6% when on mobile data. By the way, Whatsapp won´t deliver instant notifications, when phone is idle for a long time, unless you wake it up, Whatsapp won't do it. Tested today.

[deleted]

chipotledonut I ditched LineageOS with Micro G precisely because location was just ok.

Least of its problems

I tried to do it without it when I saw that banking apps were working without Google Services.

The problem with this approach is while a lot of apps do work without Play services, Play Store is unfortunately currently the most robust and secure way to update both the apps that work without it and the ones that don't. It's still a massive improvement over stock Android seeing as this is basically a regular third-party store but on steroids.

chipotledonut

[deleted] Play Store is unfortunately currently the most robust and secure way to updat

I used Auroa Store. I don´t even have a Google Account. Should I use the Play Store or keep using Aurora?

[deleted]

chipotledonut If you search around this forum and elsewhere you'll find that people, especially ones using their 'anonymous login' (read 'Google Accounts belonging to other people') are having almost daily issues with
it so it's flaky at best, to say nothing of its many ailments. If you install all 3 Play apps on your GrapheneOS device, there's virtually no reason to keep using Aurora and you'll have a much time better using Play Store instead.

chipotledonut

[deleted] sounds good, I will do that.

[deleted]

chipotledonut I use a throwaway account. Google is lenient towards fake names and DOB. It might ask for a phone number but it might not depending on your connection, but you will have better luck creating it from the Play Store app and not from desktop.

chipotledonut

[deleted] the only permission for notifications and locations is network and for Google Play Services, right?

GSF and Play Store I can safely disable all permissions, including network? (i will enable network to update apps)

[deleted]

chipotledonut Network to all three, battery exemption to Play services only. Configuring location is explained here.

Play Store will prompt you to allow to update itself and might also ask to update (become an installer of record for) Google Play services. You should allow it.

chipotledonut

[deleted] I get all my apps from obtanium from their githubs. A lot of them are in the play store.

Should i reinstall them from the play store? I wouldn't like to do that.

[deleted]

chipotledonut If apps you got installed via Obtanium match ones on Play Store, Play Store will be able to see them and become installer of record for them. If these are different (some FOSS version that is only distributed through GitHub), it won't see them and won't be able to update them.

[deleted]

I'm away for today but if you'll have any issues many people here and in the Matrix chat room will be able to help you.

chipotledonut

[deleted] thanks for your help. I installed Google Services, location right now is obviously spot on which was very important for me. It makes my life so much easier when I travel. I really need that.

I reinstalled all the apps from the play store that didn't have a github release apk (obtanium) and now everything is working fine so far. I will test it on mobile data.

I appreciate your help, privacy is important to me but functionality is more important. I guess I could have created another user profile but too much trouble. With Scopes and permissions I can limit pretty well what to share and since I have to use Whatsapp, Spotify and Instagram no matter what (fake accounts all of them), this is the best I can do.

Last question, Play Store asks for an update of itself. I didn't do it because I thought GrapheneOS Apps should do that.

« Previous Page Next Page »