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On phones: I'm considering a Pixel device with https://calyxos.org/ https://calyxos.org/ The main limitations will be the featureset of MicroG (no ~maps~/wearOS

On phones: I'm considering a Pixel device with https://calyxos.org/ https://calyxos.org/ The main limitations will be the featureset of MicroG (no ~maps~/wearOS/auto). Possible issues with important apps like those for banking. On cloud: Synology Diskstation is amazing. Only use it through a local VPN though. edit: maps work (see reply)

elliekelly 5y ago
Are the only phone options iOS or Android? I’m also considering leaving my iPhone behind because of this privacy violation but I’m definitely not moving to Google. That seems like two steps back.
- fragileone 5y ago
  Calyx is a degoogled Android ROM. It's probably the best choice until mobile Linux improves.
  - Engineering-MD 5y ago
    What are the benefits over graphene OS?
    - fragileone 5y ago
      microG support mainly, it's needed for some Play Services APIs like push notifications and maps, though the choice all depends on what apps you use. GrapheneOS is great also and even better for those with very high security and privacy requirements.
- jazzyjackson 5y ago
  I’m considering the Nokia 8110 (banana phone) KaiOS, somewhere between a smart phone and a dumb phone. Still has Google maps, not sure if you need a Google account tho.
- m4rtink 5y ago
  Sailfish OS (built on Maemo/MeGo legacy, for those who remember those) is what I have been using for years (and this is typed from). Also there are a lot of Linux distros targeting the PinePhone maturing by the day.
commoner 5y ago
> no maps I don't experience any issues using mapping apps on Android with microG instead of Google Play Services. Closed source navigation apps including Google Maps, HERE WeGo, and Magic Earth work just fine. Open source navigation apps like Organic Maps and OsmAnd also work with no problems.
- ByteWelder 5y ago
  Thank you for that insight! My comment was based on some (older) Reddit comments. I'm glad to hear there are working apps.
  - commoner 5y ago
    If you're not sure whether an app is compatible with microG or a flavor of Android without Google Play Services, Plexus is a helpful database of crowdsourced compatibility ratings: - Plexus: https://plexus.techlore.tech https://plexus.techlore.tech - GitHub: https://github.com/techlore/plexus https://github.com/techlore/plexus
- yosito 5y ago
  I have found that my Pixel with CalyxOS and microG doesn't have any text to speech engine. So the maps apps work, but with no turn by turn audio.
  - commoner 5y ago
    RHVoice is a free and open source text-to-speech output engine for Android. Try it out: - F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.olga_yakovleva.rhvoice.android/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.olga_yakovleva.rh... - GitHub: https://github.com/RHVoice/RHVoice https://github.com/RHVoice/RHVoice Alternatively, if you prefer Google's closed source text-to-speech engine (that is preinstalled on most commercial Android devices), you can download Speech Services by Google through Aurora Store: - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.tts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and... Instructions for configuring the default text-to-speech engine on Android are here: - https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006983 https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006... Most navigation apps come with their own voice banks for turn-by-turn navigation audio, and installing a text-to-speech engine isn't necessary for these apps. However, Organic Maps (which is a recommended app in the CalyxOS setup wizard) doesn't, and it relies on the default text-to-speech engine.
12knox 5y ago
I have the Wells Fargo app on mine running just fine.. As for apple/google pay stuff thats another story

elliekelly 5y ago

Are the only phone options iOS or Android? I’m also considering leaving my iPhone behind because of this privacy violation but I’m definitely not moving to Google. That seems like two steps back.

fragileone 5y ago
Calyx is a degoogled Android ROM. It's probably the best choice until mobile Linux improves.
- Engineering-MD 5y ago
  What are the benefits over graphene OS?
  - fragileone 5y ago
    microG support mainly, it's needed for some Play Services APIs like push notifications and maps, though the choice all depends on what apps you use. GrapheneOS is great also and even better for those with very high security and privacy requirements.
jazzyjackson 5y ago
I’m considering the Nokia 8110 (banana phone) KaiOS, somewhere between a smart phone and a dumb phone. Still has Google maps, not sure if you need a Google account tho.
m4rtink 5y ago
Sailfish OS (built on Maemo/MeGo legacy, for those who remember those) is what I have been using for years (and this is typed from). Also there are a lot of Linux distros targeting the PinePhone maturing by the day.

commoner 5y ago

> no maps I don't experience any issues using mapping apps on Android with microG instead of Google Play Services. Closed source navigation apps including Google Maps, HERE WeGo, and Magic Earth work just fine. Open source navigation apps like Organic Maps and OsmAnd also work with no problems.

ByteWelder 5y ago
Thank you for that insight! My comment was based on some (older) Reddit comments. I'm glad to hear there are working apps.
- commoner 5y ago
  If you're not sure whether an app is compatible with microG or a flavor of Android without Google Play Services, Plexus is a helpful database of crowdsourced compatibility ratings: - Plexus: https://plexus.techlore.tech https://plexus.techlore.tech - GitHub: https://github.com/techlore/plexus https://github.com/techlore/plexus
yosito 5y ago
I have found that my Pixel with CalyxOS and microG doesn't have any text to speech engine. So the maps apps work, but with no turn by turn audio.
- commoner 5y ago
  RHVoice is a free and open source text-to-speech output engine for Android. Try it out: - F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.olga_yakovleva.rhvoice.android/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.github.olga_yakovleva.rh... - GitHub: https://github.com/RHVoice/RHVoice https://github.com/RHVoice/RHVoice Alternatively, if you prefer Google's closed source text-to-speech engine (that is preinstalled on most commercial Android devices), you can download Speech Services by Google through Aurora Store: - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.tts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and... Instructions for configuring the default text-to-speech engine on Android are here: - https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006983 https://support.google.com/accessibility/android/answer/6006... Most navigation apps come with their own voice banks for turn-by-turn navigation audio, and installing a text-to-speech engine isn't necessary for these apps. However, Organic Maps (which is a recommended app in the CalyxOS setup wizard) doesn't, and it relies on the default text-to-speech engine.

12knox 5y ago

I have the Wells Fargo app on mine running just fine.. As for apple/google pay stuff thats another story