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> I'm not looking to fully de-Google but I want Google as apps and not my OS. This is entirely possible as other posters have explained. But I think it kind of
by drnick1 4mo ago
> I'm not looking to fully de-Google but I want Google as apps and not my OS.
This is entirely possible as other posters have explained. But I think it kind of defeats the point of Graphene, at least somewhat. Google is already profiling every aspect of your life by reading your emails, files, calendar, location, etc? In that case, OS access becomes moot.
I think that GrapheneOS makes most sense as part of a broader move towards privacy-respecting alternatives. I see the sandboxed Play Services as something useful perhaps in a secondary user profile, for the odd commercial app required and only available from the Play Store.
- fooqux 4mo agoI agree and have moved mostly away from everything Google. But it's hard to replace maps. I know open street maps exists but it's hard to beat Google's data gathering.
- handedness 4mo agoI've settled on running CoMaps in the Owner profile, with Google Maps/Waze/etc. in the Owner profile's Private Space for when they're necessary.
- fooqux 4mo agoCan that setup work with android auto? If so, I'll need to try that.
- NoGravitas 4mo agoI use CoMaps in the owner profile with Android Auto. Only caveat is that even with Android Auto developer mode enabled, I still had to install CoMaps from Play Store to get it to show up in Android Auto.
- donalhunt 4mo agoThere are players in the OpenStreetMap ecosystem attempting to change that. I know the team behind Organic Maps are actively working to make their app as viable as possible by sourcing appropriate data for example.
- DarkUranium 4mo agoOrganic Maps is amazing. I actually find that it blows Google Maps out of the water for cycling (which is why/how I discovered it). I haven't really used it for driving much because my own car has a builtin nav, so can't really comment on that. YMMV of course.
- flaburgan 4mo agoOrganic Maps has been forked to CoMaps as a community managed project btw
- Markoff 4mo agoTIL there has been some drama about Organic Maps, what is the difference between OM and CoMaps? Left from Maps.me to OM because of drama and intrusive features, do I need to leave OM for CM? edit: seems CM shouldnt have that annoying gift icon edit 2: CoMaps doesn't display (colored) hiking trails, so completely useless compared to Organic Maps, also can't even display tram lines after tapping on tram stop in Prague
- dvdkon 4mo agoPlease don't declare software "completely useless" just because it lacks a feature you need. I personally also need hiking trails on my map, but I know people who don't and happily use CoMaps.
- Markoff 4mo agowhat's the point of the fork if it's missing basic features of the original app? it can't even display tram lines when tapping on tram stop... and let's not get into making fork of a niche map app of a fork of a niche map app, already Maps.me was very niche app, Organic Maps even more and they make another fork because of their feelings about something?
- theandrewbailey 4mo agoI've been using HERE WeGo for almost a year. I had to install a text to speech engine in order to get voice directions. (I installed the GlaDOS one, now the evil computer tells me where to go.) https://www.here.com/products/wego https://www.here.com/products/wego https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://here-wego.en.aptoide.com/app https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html https://k2-fsa.github.io/sherpa/onnx/tts/all/index.html
- eblanshey 4mo agoI use Google Maps on Graphene. It works perfectly. You still get the benefits of the rest of the phone being degoogled. Just allow it to access your location only when you're actively using the app. When it's closed, it's closed.
- wolvoleo 4mo agoI think OSM is way way better. It has every little path in the hills I walk. On Google Maps I'm just walking in a featureless green blob. OSM even has unofficial trails that are no more than a worn-down line in the brush. Maybe for cars Google is better but I don't use those. But even there I see really detailed stats. OSMAnd is a really great full featured mapping app. A real tool that you can configure in detail. And Organic maps is more simple and quick like Google maps. There's just two things I still need Google for: most businesses don't bother keeping their opening hours etc updated on other mapping services, and in my city they have live data on the public transport network. This should really be mandated to be offered to open street map too.
- flaburgan 4mo agoDon't forget to update the business hours in OSM when you see they are missing / wrong
- thefz 4mo agoDifferent scopes and purposes. Google Maps is made to find commercial activities and addresses, OSM is there to map the territory around.
- fph 4mo agoI recommend Magic Earth. Free with traffic and navigation, and strong privacy promises (unlike Here Maps).
- Scrounger 4mo ago> I recommend Magic Earth. LOL Bruh... this has a 1.7 rating on Android based on 42k reviews https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmagic.magicearth&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmag...
- NoGravitas 4mo agoIt used to be really good, and then it went to a subscription model, with a lot of back-and-forth uncertainty about the change. I suspect the rating reflects that.
- jzer0cool 4mo agoWhat are some good alternatives
- drnick1 4mo agoThe best alternatives are self-hosted, e.g. your own email, CalDAV, CardDAV, and file servers, with e.g. K9 as email client.
- qurren 4mo ago> In that case, OS access becomes moot. Not really. 1. A non-Google OS can shut off background running access to Google apps, as well as supply Google apps with mock location data and other data 2. Google does other things to the OS that drive me nuts. Like allowing apps to restrict screenshots. I own the phone. If I want a screenshot, it should screenshot. This is not something for apps or Google to determine, and if the OS listens to me (not the app) it should allow screenshotting the display 100% of the time regardless of what the app cries about.
- Scrounger 4mo ago> Like allowing apps to restrict screenshots. I own the phone. If I want a screenshot, it should screenshot. This is not something for apps or Google to determine, and if the OS listens to me (not the app) it should allow screenshotting the display 100% of the time regardless of what the app cries about. PREACH! I hate this.
- strcat 4mo agoUsing Sandboxed Google Play doesn't defeat the purpose of using GrapheneOS and neither does using Google apps. It does not exist specifically to avoid Google apps or services. It exists to provide a highly private and secure OS retaining high usability and app compatibility. Being able to use sandboxed Google Play is an important part of what it provides. Many GrapheneOS users don't use it and many who do use it are only using it in a dedicated profile for a small subset of apps but that's not at all required to heavily benefit from GrapheneOS. Moving to more private apps/services over time does make sense but it isn't mandatory and users can choose what kind of compromises they wan to make.