cptkirkam56
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Can anybody build a replacement for the google phone os? Now's the time to get together and get it done!
Stop google
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G'day 
Forum Assistance is for inquiries about site navigation and display &c, I am moving this to General Linux.
Chris Turner
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Forum Assistance is for inquiries about site navigation and display &c, I am moving this to General Linux.
Chris Turner
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SpongebobFan1994
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There's Replicant, which replaces all of the proprietary software of Android with libre equivalents. https://www.replicant.us/
Check out this recent thread: https://www.linux.org/threads/what-...-os-base-for-mobile-phones.32492/#post-110681
Why are you amazed? People want Linux! I'd actually love to have one myself.
Because of the hardware requirements. So much phone hardware is closed source, binary blobs - at best.
That they managed to put it together with their requirements is a testament to their dedication. I did not expect them to succeed.
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To get rid of all my google service I tried hosting my own calendar and contacts for 2 years I think using a product with a license. With each update something broke and I wasn't able to use my contacts and calendar until I was able to fix it with support from the vendor. After two years I got tired out of the annoyance with it breaking each time there was an update so I switched back to google for my contacts and calendar, why not use something that provides a better service than I can get else where? Sure I could use nextcloud for contacts and calendar but I don't have to host everything myself, I host my own e-mail that's already an improvement. As a search engine I mostly use DuckDuckGo and every now and then when I am not happy with the results I get I use a google search.
I used to have an Android phone running a custom ROM(LineageOS) because Samsung only provides updates for 2 years after the release of a phone. I had it twice that my phone wouldn't boot after an update, the first time I was able to restore from a backup the second time my backup wouldn't even restore my phone to a working phone. So I bought an iphone since you get a minimal of 5 years support and since Apple's core business isn't personal information I find it a better option than having google integrated in every part of my phone.
I used to have an Android phone running a custom ROM(LineageOS) because Samsung only provides updates for 2 years after the release of a phone. I had it twice that my phone wouldn't boot after an update, the first time I was able to restore from a backup the second time my backup wouldn't even restore my phone to a working phone. So I bought an iphone since you get a minimal of 5 years support and since Apple's core business isn't personal information I find it a better option than having google integrated in every part of my phone.
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cptkirkam56
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They have too much control and way too many tracking aspects to their platform. I also think the people on here would be better at building a cleaner OS that would be easier for the tech challenged older users.
MatsuShimizu
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If you are looking for alternatives to Android, there are a few:
- Calyx OS. (You can search for the official website on Google).
- Graphene OS.
- Ubuntu Touch.
However, keep in mind that these Android alternatives are not suitable for all phones.
You can also try these, but they are not the best options if you care about privacy:
- Harmony OS from Huawei.
- Kai OS.
Yeah, if you are on Android, it is not that easy to get rid of Google services, especially Google Play Services. You can try removing it by rooting the phone that is using software like Kingo Root. But rooting is not easy for most users. Sometimes it works but sometimes it is not.
However, you can disable most Google apps on Android. Go to settings > search for apps > Apps > Tap on Chrome > Then, tap disable. Repeat the same process for Google Drive, Gmail, Youtube.
On some phones, you cannot disable Google Play Services. If you tap on Google Play Services (GPS), the disable button was grayed out. In this case, you can block GPS from connecting to the internet.
From Apps > Tap Google Play Services > Data usage > Wifi/Mobile data > Network access > Toggle mobile data, background data, roaming data.
Even if you don't use Google products, Google still tracks you as long as you use the internet. The majority of websites on the web are using Google Analytics and Google Adsense, which means your visit to these websites will be tracked and logged by Google.
If you install adblocker like Ghostery and Privacy Badger, you will be surprised by how many websites are installing Google and Facebook scripts.
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LineageOS has support for a lot of phones.
android.gadgethacks.com
How to Use Android Without Any Google Apps or Services
There have been concerns with how much personal information Google tracks and all the things they know about us. Of course, that's what makes Google services so useful, they can use that information to cater to each of us individually. So yes, it serves a purpose, but it's not great for personal...
android.gadgethacks.com
cptkirkam56
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Well, I'm using a Motorola g6. Like the phone but it's not listed by most alternative OS builders. Rooting the phone is something I have never done before so a little help in layman terms are needed. What I'm asking is for the formation of a group that knows what they're doing to aggressively take on Google's hold on our phones that can be advertised as a way to replace their android for novice users to change to for the purpose of cutting them off from their control over us. Please consider my request as a fight over Google's control over us!
MatsuShimizu
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You can learn how to root an Android phone on Youtube. You will need software like Kingo Root installed on Windows PC. Then connect the phone to the Windows PC. The process is not that complicated. However, it is risky. Rooting or modifying your phone in any way will void your manufacturer’s warranty and possibly “brick” it. I recommend that you try it on phones that you don't want to use anymore/older phones.
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You can just use heimdall to flash your mobile device from GNU/Linux, no need for Windows to flash your mobile phone with a custom rom.
