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submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by Timely_Jellyfish_2077@programming.dev to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

It feel like we’re losing to Google, day by day. They aren’t killing AOSP directly, but they are making it useless step by step.

Now it’s Google Play Services, Play Integrity checks, installation source checks… more and more apps just refuse to run without GMS. Banking apps? Most of them don’t work. And it’s only getting worse. I run vanilla AOSP on my main profile, no Play Services. I keep GMS only in my work profile for the apps that absolutely need it. But now even some regular apps that don't need any play services won’t work on my main profile anymore. They simply block your from running , like le chat.

Maps is google's most important app there is no way to run without play services. Sure we can use webview or gmaps wv, but they don't provide turn-by-turn directions. Earlier maps used to work without play services, but two years ago, an update stopped it from working. Now that old version is out of date and no longer works.

Google is slowly making GMS very important to run. The problem with GMS is they require to run as system app and has to have all the permissions by default.

Hope EU puts pressure to make google allow apps to run independently without GMS or atleast install them as user apps(like graphene os sandboxed play services).

If we keep going on like this, AOSP can only run fdroid apps in the future.

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[-] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 1 points 12 minutes ago

Run as many open source apps as you can is about the best option. Also, OSMAND does provide turn-by-turn directions.

What it does not do well is street addresses, so at times you may find that you have to use the GPS coordinates of the place you are going to in order to get directions.

[-] Schlemmy@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 hours ago

Maps?

Use OsmAnd and MagicEarth? I've been doping it for years now. Works fine.

[-] dessalines@lemmy.ml 10 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Of the largest android sellers, only samsung requires gplay. Xiaomi, vivo, oppo, realme, honor, are all chinese companies that require non-bundled google play for their domestic (and maybe other countries?) releases. Google can't alienate these sellers, and if they did, all of these companies would create their own AOSP fork (or just switch to HarmonyOS)

I recently bought a xiaomi android tablet that doesn't have google play services luckily.

[-] phase@lemmy.8th.world 3 points 6 hours ago

I use Shelter to enable the work profile. It permits to copy apps between standard and work profile. So it is possible to have google services (with an account set I mean) in the work profile.

Apps like for Banks can't be copied though. But most of the others can.

[-] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 10 hours ago

It is only slightly on topic, but I'd like to give a hateful shout out to Ticketmaster/Live Nation's new "mobile only" ticketed events that require you to have an iPhone or fully Google blessed Android phone. They do not allow you to use a QR code or printed ticket anymore, only their app with a constantly changing bare code or Google wallet (unsure of the IOS experience).

I am going to a concert this weekend and I either have to dig up some old phone that can work with this app or sell my tickets.

[-] deprecateddino@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

I've never had an issue loading my tickets in the browser.

[-] far_university1990@reddthat.com 6 points 5 hours ago

Someone rectnly crack their shit code. Can use offline app after extract secret once. Will link once find.

[-] zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 hours ago

Thanks, that might be a handy workaround.

[-] monovergent@lemmy.ml 13 points 11 hours ago

EU won't be too friendly either given the nature of their recent identification app. You should still write to your legislators, but they're a mostly tech-illiterate bunch, so expect it to be a low ROI activity.

Really do consider donating to projects like GrapheneOS. The GrapheneOS team are a very passionate and clever group, and I'd like to think that they can at least give us something to work with, even if Google completely cuts the cord. Hopefully they can also secure an additional revenue stream once they release their own phone.

If it really does all fall through and there's no deGoogled way to run Android apps, I'll keep a separate phone, preferably with a removable battery, with regular Android just to host the proprietary apps. Treat it as a work phone, i.e. power off when not needed, don't connect to my main home network, don't do anything that doesn't need to be done on it. Proprietary apps only make up a small fraction of my mobile workflow, so everything else stays on another phone that respects my privacy.

[-] Narauko@lemmy.world 15 points 13 hours ago

Yeah, this is a problem. I attempted to switch to GrapheneOS just a month ago and had to roll back to stock Android. One of my banking apps worked, but 3 others didn't. My 2FA app didn't work. I stopped receiving important texts as they were previously RCS and that refused to validate no matter what I did.

Google has made it extremely hard to degoogle.

[-] Dreaming_Novaling@lemmy.zip 1 points 5 hours ago

One of my banking apps worked, but 3 others didn't.

Same issue, I just did web browser instead

My 2FA app didn't work.

I suggest just exporting and using a different 2FA app, especially an open source one like Aegis

I stopped receiving important texts as they were previously RCS and that refused to validate no matter what

RCS on GrapheneOS is very finicky and requires using AppOps to enable READ_DEVICE_IDENTIFIERS, and you have to let carrier services and google messages have more permissions to work. You also might have to deregister your previous phone to use the number (i.e. my old iPhone still had my number in the settings, had to remove it). There's a very long GrapheneOS thread about it, but the link should be the solution.

[-] dropped_packet@lemmy.zip 9 points 12 hours ago

Why not just access your financial institutions in a web browser?

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[-] vas@lemmy.ml 5 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

With respect to 2FA, if you want to be more ready for any future next time, you could migrate to an open-source TOTP app. E.g. andOTP. I use this one, it's fine. The underlying standards don't change in decades, so you can choose any compatible client and be without trouble for years and years. And it may be good to do in any case, googlified phone or not. Good apps also tend to provide password-protected backups.

I have no knowledge about RCS though, never used it so can't tell. Otherwise GrapheneOS user for ~2 years, before that LineageOS, before that CopperheadOS for another few years.

[-] EnsignWashout@startrek.website 5 points 11 hours ago

Google has made it extremely hard to degoogle.

Just remember that there are no nice reasons why they are working this hard to keep your phone captive.

We can argue about how bad it will get, but there's only worse things coming from this effort.

[-] Narauko@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

Oh, totally, which is why I am working towards as much decoupling as possible. I plan to replace my Nest gear with Ubiquity for cameras and stuff as I can afford it, and eventually set up my own offline automation server. This can only end badly for consumers.

The collusion between services like Authy and Google indicates this to me, but it's also effective and means I have to pivot in slower degrees. I am encountering similar issues moving to Linux from Windows, so this is a full Silicone Valley issue.

[-] jim3692@discuss.online 35 points 15 hours ago

Hope EU puts pressure to make google allow apps to run independently without GMS or atleast install them as user apps(like graphene os sandboxed play services).

I doubt they will put any pressure. EU decided to rely on GMS for their upcoming Digital ID app. While they claim they want to switch to open source alternatives of big tech services, they designed their app so that it forces EU citizens to either comply with Google's ToS, or Apple's.

Related discussion: https://github.com/eu-digital-identity-wallet/av-doc-technical-specification/issues/18

[-] far_university1990@reddthat.com 1 points 5 hours ago

The app is reference implementation, not supposed to be used.

[-] kalistia@sh.itjust.works 10 points 10 hours ago

Furthermore, they do not seem particularly open to criticism on this subject...

[-] als 29 points 16 hours ago

I highly reccomend comaps which has turn-by-turn directions and doesn't require Google services.

[-] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 7 points 9 hours ago

transit routing still doesn't work iirc, though gtfs stuff is in development

[-] EnsignWashout@startrek.website 4 points 11 hours ago

CoMaps is quite nice.

There are also still companies selling navigation devices that mount in a car windshield, assuming the car doesn't already have one built in.

Pro tip - those navigation devices also often have an accident camera that records if it feels an impact - which is a good idea anyway.

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[-] the_abecedarian@piefed.social 47 points 18 hours ago

Linux phone operating systems aren't ready for daily use yet, but they are being actively developed. https://linmob.net/

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this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
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