I use GrapheneOS with multiple profiles. My main profile contains only FOSS apps, along with two proprietary apps that have no network access. One secondary profile is for my personal Google account (just Gmail) for work and bills, while another is for a disposable Google account for apps like Google Maps when I need GPS.
On my PC, I maintain a browser profile for work Gmail, which I almost never check, and I don’t have anything else connected to Google.
I’m not entirely comfortable knowing that I’m not free from Google and still rely on some of their services. However, I feel much better than I did a few years ago, when Google had complete control over my phone and everything I did on it. Now, I feel free most of the time.
What about you? Do you feel free? Or does it ever seem like Google owns a part of your life? Share your thoughts with me
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Stuck with Google Workspace at work. Fortunately, it’s tolerant of me not being reachable 24/7, so it’s all confined to the browser on a work laptop. I like to think that I’m free from Google’s services in my personal life, though I still haven’t been able to give up YouTube yet. At least I’m never signed in.
Also, one personal Google account created ages ago. I’ve completely gutted it and haven’t logged into it in recent memory, but idk, I can’t be bothered to delete it either.
Knowing that Google isn’t peeking over my shoulder on my GrapheneOS phone is very freeing. I wouldn’t ever be comfortable using a regular Android phone again.
though I still haven’t been able to give up YouTube yet. At least I’m never signed in.
That’s good! Since you’re not logged in, you might want to try PipePipe, which is a fork of Newpipe. The only reason to stick with the official YouTube client is for the recommendations, but even then, I’d suggest checking out Morphe (https://morphe.software/). It’s an alternative to YouTube Revanced that patches the official client to remove ads and add other features.
Knowing that Google isn’t peeking over my shoulder on my GrapheneOS phone is very freeing.
I definitely relate to that feeling!
I think the only things I’m actively using is google calendar(which I would like to replace at some point) and youtube.
I guess my phone is running android, but I’m not much of a phone person so I barely use it.
Google Maps is the one thing left for me… have tried moving but find other gps apps meh in comparison. I use MacOS for work with office 365. My personal computer is Linux, I use proton for my email. Librewolf browsing. DuckDuckGo for searching. If you count it, I suppose I do use Brave on my work computer, chromium base is needed for some websites I use a lot for work. My cell phone is an iPhone (thanks work)
Waze is also by Google but: Works without gapps installed and without login. Has live traffic data and same features as maps.
What does the profile switching look like on Graphene? I see people talk about it but haven’t seen it touched on as far as day to day usage. I just bought a pixel and am curious to try it out.
I have two gmail accounts which i need for now but i check them with Thunderbird. I have to have Google play store and services on my phone because my banking app will not work without them, both stripped of permissions and no background data. I use Aurora store and F-Droid for everything else. All search engines at home and work changed to DDG or Ecosia. Organic Maps is ok , i read in this thread Comaps is good so i’m gonna try that. Firefox everywhere with either Brave, Ecosia or Chromium browser as backup.
I use a Google Pixel 6 Pro with GrapheneOS, Google Voice for probable spam, YouTube, and Google Maps for search. Once the GrapheneOS phone comes out that will probably be my next phone (and fuck Google with their planned obsolescence, makes me not want to buy another Pixel). Google Voice I don’t care but I could switch to another paid JMP.chat number if I need to. YT is difficult to leave (both for content and algorithm) and the Google Maps alternatives suck for searching.
I am still in the claws of Google. I use shitty Android (which is better than Apple). I use a Gmail account (and a self-run mail account). I use Chromium, but plan to pick a more lightweight, libre browser. I also plan to buy a Ubuntu Touch capable phone. [Edit: I use Duckduckgo.]
I don’t feel too bad about being dependent of Google because I’m optimistic to replace it step by step.
I also had the idea of a federated search engine, but I have other stuff with higher priority.
I forward all gmail’s to my new domain, exported my YouTube subscriptions to newpipe and freetube - the only thing I’m working through is TVs… That is still using my actual YouTube account… Google Photos is, unfortunately a thing still, as-is Google Keep. I like using my S-Pen stylus for random notes.
Not planning to change OSes for banking app compatibility. Although, after thinking about it, I really should consider just using a “clean” browser (librewolf, is what I use on desktop) and “dirty” browser (chromium - very little privacy plugins for temperamental websites) – so I can care less about an app supporting a feature.
Maps + location, calendar, contacts, google docs, google drive, all have been moved to self-hosted and private services I run myself.
All that’s left is email, and that is actually quite difficult to ditch. I have a protonmail account whose philosophy I don’t agree with, and a tuta account, which has nasty delivery problems.
So I actually don’t really know how I’m going to solve this.
I’m as distanced as I can be for now but have one more big cord to cut - Google Fi. It’s just by far the most affordable carrier for our use here, and frankly every alternative sucks ass just as much anyway, but I’d still like to move to something else sooner rather than later.
Otherwise, my gmail accounts are still active but rarely used, both forwarding to Tuta. Been using GrapheneOS for over a year now, Aurora and the Play Store are last resorts for app installs. I only use youtube through a self-hosted Invidious instance. Photos has been long replaced with Immich, Drive long emptied and replaced with OpenCloud. For navigation, Magic Earth’s been the most reliable, not FOSS but so be it, CoMaps is good for browsing/exploring but kind of terrible for driving.
I’ve almost completely moved everything away from google. If you ever used sink it there is YouTube version in the works. And I’ve started using this
