maximus87

I like the minimalistic feeling I get with GOS. Stock still feels kinda bloated to me. I will continue with GrapheneOS that's for sure. The only reason I bought the P8 is for the smaller size and more rounded corners compared to my P6 and P7a. Again I would like to mention that the P8 feels amazing to hold. Loading this baby with GOS will make it nearly perfect.

Same here - I willingly offer myself as tester with a 8 Pro, as long as chances are small that I brick it completely by doing so :D
I won't need it to fully work, as I still have my 6 Pro working fine, but ready to test it in daily life.

maximus87 it's a difficult one this. My friend has just got the pix 8 pro and he is using stock at the moment. The AI features, Google lens etc are very impressive and useful.

But the privacy side of things is still concerning.

I suppose it's just your threat model.

    L8437 Thank you. I think half of it will not work for me as I disabled every possible tracking on my account (that I am aware of) and will request that I reactivate them. But I guess there are still little things which could work and nice to have.
    I hope GrapheneOS will support Pixel 8 soon, so I don´t contemplate much with it in the box waiting :)

    L8437 I just set my Pixel 8 Pro up with the Stock Android it was delivered with, and these advertised AI Features to edit your pictures are only available when you enable the Google Cloud Backup of your phone. It is not possible to use those AI Enhancements for Pictures with Offline Images.
    That alone is an absolute No-Go for me, and the reason I want to use Graphene in the Future.

      YouShouldntMind Thank you for the feedback! Bummer... But confirmed what I thought would happen in my previous message with tracking deactivated. Well, again I hope the support for the 8 will not get much further delayed. I just saw that Auditor now support Pixel 8 / 8 Pro.
      And I hope the project will have enough resources to also focus on more features that will make no one miss stock!

      YouShouldntMind

      I tried it too and can confirm. The magic editor needs cloud backup. That being said I think magic editor just includes moving people in images, as well as changing the sky for the most part. You can still use best take and audio eraser with backups disabled.

        When you get to needing Pixel 8 Pro testers, UPS just dropped mine off. Glad to help if I can with testing images.

        redfoxjumper Thank you. Just to be sure, you are talking about Phone backup and not photos backup, right?
        Because, I made a little search, and a Phone backup is actually encrypted, so I assume it is still somehow a little privacy respecting feature.

          maximus87

          It's the photo backup. Also the phone backup isn't encrypted. If you read the text, it says only certain things are encrypted (in a e2e fashion) but it doesn't say what. So basically you should treat it as being unencrypted

            Just got my 8 Pro, will wait on the GOS to drop before I switch over to using it full time.

            redfoxjumper can you put a link to read about this?
            Does this mean that the Google cloud backup with regards to photos and videos will be encrypted ?

            Or is it still privacy invasive?

              Salute,
              I got my P8 yeterday. It is stil in the box and I'm waiting for the GOS release.
              Few of you mentioned, that there will be difference on using some functions, which are coming with the AI... My question is: why do we want GOS? In germany we say: one death you have to die. (sorry for bad translation).. I cant get all the new shiny features and also the privacy settings... If the 1st is more importent, then Stock Android, if 2nd, then the privacy...
              I used GOS on P7 and then switched back to iOS. But know, definetly Im moving to GOS for long term.
              Greetings, Gor.

              maximus87 So I probably can make the Pixel more private than out of the box.

              Are you going to engage with Google in any way to feed them your personal info? Then no.

              If you are, they you might as well jump fully in because features like the Google search bar locked on your home screen will be a reliable reminder that you are under surveillance.

              I still think it is ironic that I had to buy Google's phone to get away from them (and Apple - just as bad) the most.

                ve3jlg I mean without falling into conspiracy theories, if I will not consent to the tracking, are they supposed to still do it?
                The setting could be hidden by design, that´s malicious I agree, but Android and Google seem to give control over almost all aspects of Data you share. Some services will simply not work if some settings are disabled.
                I still remember on the Pixel 2 where I had stock, since I disabled tracking activities and history, I couldn´t use the Assistant. Because they need to log my commands, but I didn´t give consent.
                It was also confirmed for example that Magic Editor will not work if you don´t allow photos backup (which is indeed a privacy nightmare if enabled).

                  maximus87

                  If i understand you correct, you have been using gos for some years. And now you think you could use stock android on a pixel and make it private? And safe from sharing your private information?

                    L8437

                    The cloud photo backup cannot be end to end encrypted because google can process the images server side and you can view the photos online.

                    Comviq If i understand you correct, you have been using gos for some years. And now you think you could use stock android on a pixel and make it private? And safe from sharing your private information?

                    To be honest I was getting bored with the lack of updated on GrapheneOS. There hasn't been many feature additions for some time. Stock has some very cool features like call screening, hold for me, etc.

                    That being said, having tried the stock P8P for a bit, I'm very tempted to just flash GOS. I was looking at the list of built in services and there must be over a hundred present which are absent on my other GOS phone. It even has stuff for verizon when I'm in a completely different country...

                    Comviq And safe from sharing your private information?

                    I've found over 10-20 toggles that are burried deep within the settings for various things which disable some of the telemetry, but ultimately there is no way to know unless you go to the effort of rooting the phone, installing a CA cert and intercepting all the traffic which I don't have time to do.

                      Comviq Yes and maybe. "Yes" I have been using GOS for some time and I even supported when I was an iPhone user because I love the idea and the people behind the project. "Maybe", because I am still not sure where is the line between reality and conspiracy when it comes to Google. It´s hard, I read a lot of articles, and they are mostly click baits if you understand a little how the toggles/settings work. But anyway, this is also why I discussing this topic here. A lot of people are like me and care about their privacy and could help me decide :)

                      It´s also like redfoxjumper mentioned, I feel left out when it comes to features. Now I know, privacy comes with draw backs and compromises. But still, I am just trying to find balance.

                        maximus87 Now I know, privacy comes with draw backs and compromises.

                        But also a lot of benefits! Aside from the obvious privacy improvements, it is extremely satisfying to boot the phone for the first time and there is nothing you have to sign in to (except WiFi), and no Terms of Service you have to agree to.
                        6 months ago I helped a family member set up a Samsung phone, and the sheer amount you have to do, and sign into, and agree to etc. It's overwhelming, even for me. How the fuck does regular people accept this bullshit?