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Technology and Internet Emerging and current tech related issues. Internet, DRM, IP, and other technology related discussions. |
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Alternatives to Google software - F-droid vs. Play
Due to the recent Project Veritas Google disclosure, I have committed to phasing out Google software from my devices and thought a thread on alternative software might be helpful to others exploring alternatives.
F-droid is an app store that has its focus to offer free and open source software (FOSS) Android apps only. The apps on the store are well categorized, and you will find a vast collection of apps for free. Uniquely, the entire site and app store is run by volunteers and relies on donations. So if you find an app you like, do consider making a small donation to keep it running. F-Droid is popular among Android developers as they have easy access to all the codes of the apps. They can use part of the codes to make apps of their own. The apps don’t have reviews or ratings and are not always as stable as can be found in Google Play.If you are a developer, then it’s a go-to site for you. https://f-droid.org/ DISCLOSURE: I freely admit to being buried up to my nose in the Google universe (Youtube/Gmail/Chrome/Play/etc.) for quite some time now. After switching 50/50 to a Firefox/DuckDuckGo with extensions such as Ublock and autocookie delete, searches and youtube are completely different experiences. No autofill in searches for example and no rabbit hole of recommended videos on youtube. Its been an eye opening 6 months running both side by side. Its been a real blessing to be more targeted in my research and less dependent on Googles algorithms for results. Maybe no one cares - thats cool. I just wanted to put it out there. Last edited by musick; 06-26-2019 at 4:45 PM.. Reason: Disclosure |
#2
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I start with the progun dog pile then duck duck go.then its Bing and yahoo. If I still need it I try google search last and always last ! Today Senator Ted Cruz questioned the ghouls at google and they sounded so innocent denying everything. Typical libtard will lie when the truth would serve them better. Google is a private company and they have every right to be in the tank for democrats. They have every right to censor speech and everything else that goes with it. Im am always looking for new ways to cut democrat media and companys from our lives ! Thanx OP |
#3
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I've been using duckduckgo/Edge and *****ute. I'd love to find an android alternative. Maybe a pure Linux phone build.
Edit: seriously? Bit chute is a naughty phrase?
__________________
NRA lifetime member 2AF Defender member When did I go from being a "citizen" to a "taxpayer"? Jon Lovitz: ‘I can’t wait to go to a hospital run by the DMV!’ Peace, love, and heavy weapons. Sometimes you have to be insistent." - David Lee Roth Last edited by njineermike; 06-26-2019 at 5:56 PM.. |
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What steps do they take to make sure apps do not have viruses or spyware? |
#5
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Lineage OS - Android without google F-Droid - Google play store kinda but can be used to add aurora or Yalp to download things from google play For pcs I moved to ubuntu since debian is a pita to configure and get things running with normal software. Also use ublock origin and stop all requests from the router to google or their services A good youtube proxy alternative is invidio.us! Check it out! |
#6
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I'm waiting to see how the Librem 5 phone plays out, phone with linux Pure OS due out 3rd quarter 2019. However I've seen their release dates come and go a couple of times before but looks to be well worth the wait.
https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/ |
#7
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I use the DDG (duckduckgo) cell app and is works well enough. Stopped using Gargle for a long time now.
I have used DDG as a start page on Firefox (on desk/laptop machines) for a long time and do the YT video browsing from inside the browser. Start Page was highly mediocre last time I tried it, but might want to kick the tires on it and see. IIRC if has some Gargle bits being used there. IKD? DDG for good relevant searches. *Signal for privacy txt messages on cell and desk/laptop machines.
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass -- |
#8
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[QUOTE=njineermike;23148587]I've been using duckduckgo/Edge and *****ute. I'd love to find an android alternative. Maybe a pure Linux phone build.
Edit: seriously? Bit chute is a naughty phrase?[/QUOTE] Maybe just the first 5 letters of b1tchute. Good thing you're not searching for salt water fishtanks. |
#9
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are you using windows 7 and above? That is more intrusive than google! |
#10
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Now I wouldnt download any app (open or not) from any platform the first week or month it was released or until it was thoroughly examined by others much more qualified than I. If an app has a back door or suspicious code it will come to the surface quickly. |
#11
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If you're using Chrome, try switching to Brave, a privacy-oriented Chromium fork
-Windows, Linux, Android, MacOS, iOS versions -excellent built-in ad blocking capabilities -earn BAT crypto with their opt-in Brave Rewards ad program (currently desktop version only) -use said BAT to tip websites & YouTube channels that have signed up with their program (CalGuns should sign up. Will be able to receive BAT via referral link and in-browser tips. https://brave.com/creators/) |
#12
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Need to get a coupon for a purchase or are you registering to a forum that requires using a link in an email and dont want to use your long-term or other email? 10MinuteMail.com is worth a look.
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#13
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My old MS machines are not allowed to play on the www. Sent using a long string and 2 used soup cans
__________________
"Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress." -- Frederick Douglass -- “I didn’t know I was a slave until I found out I couldn’t do the things I wanted.” – Frederick Douglass -- |
#14
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__________________
NRA lifetime member 2AF Defender member When did I go from being a "citizen" to a "taxpayer"? Jon Lovitz: ‘I can’t wait to go to a hospital run by the DMV!’ Peace, love, and heavy weapons. Sometimes you have to be insistent." - David Lee Roth |
#15
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Great topic. I always try to find open source versions first and f-droid is the first place I check for apps. I trust them way more than apps on the play store.
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That being said, people that aren't highly privacy conscience or people that rely on a phone for work may want to wait a while on it. Another reasonable option is to run AOSP software on their android phone and not have the google play services installed. This would be a more reliable solution until Purism and others get the major stuff smoothed out. The Pinephone seems interesting as well. Hopefully the two phones will benefit each other on the software side. Not nearly as privacy oriented as the librem 5 though. I have also been de-googleing my life lately. Like you OP, google had crept into my life without me realizing just how much. I have now setup my own nextcloud server on a VPS, got a domain, and switch to fastmail which uses my domain for an unlimited amount of email addresses. I now can type in an email address specific for each site and if I start getting spam to that email address, I know who sold my information and can easily filter out mail that gets sent to that address. I REALLY wish I had done this years ago. If anyone has questions about setting up their own cloud server, vps, or similar email setup I'll do my best to help. Last edited by WoodTurner; 07-01-2019 at 10:34 PM.. |
#16
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Most EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) reccommended software is pretty behind the times, at least in the distro cat, but I am not going cellphone free like Richard Stallman... On my PC I use Firefox, and never login to any Google services/pages w/out a private window (chrome saves even icognito browsing data, unlike Firefox, it seems).
I also don't do as much... Grey...-area stuff, like I used to, when I had not a lot to lose. Last edited by the86d; 07-05-2019 at 10:02 AM.. |
#18
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ha ha ha ha ha Its based of Chromium, that is the base for Chrome! Also as of late brave lets more ads in and also fb/goog/t are not blocked nor is anti fingerprinting turned on by default! |
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