Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a project that doesnt have google stuff but you lose alot. Like no app store and things like that. Also Android is a google project. Like WP is by microsoft.
No there is no site like you are looking for.
Android is not a company but an OS like IOS, Windows, Linux and such.
The issue is mainly that if your device is not widely used then there may not be anything available for it. You also need to find out if the bootloader is locked or not and if kernel source is available for the device.
Google doesnt brand phones persay. The android operating system is theirs.
master-richie said:
Hi ... I'm a n00b when it comes to phone hacks but not technology so please don't dumb your answers down on account of me.
We bought two Tmobile Samsung Avants a cpl days ago (one to use and one as a spare) because the price was right and I'm leaving a WM device for Android. HOWEVER I don't like the idea that Google, who has no personal or business relationship with me, has access to all my personal information just because I'm using a phone they've branded. So I'm looking for an Android ROM that doesn't have Google tentacles in it.
I've been researching this since we got the phones but I'm not clear on what ROMS are avail for my phone ... it doesn't look like cyanogenmod has one (although they have one for my gf's old Exhibit T599!! ) - is there a repository, website or thread I haven't found that has a list of what's out there? am I stuck rooting the phone and MANUALLY removing everything? The phones have Kitkat installed.
I saw a youtube vid where they've ported Lollipop to the Avant - would that come de-Googled?
Do Android ROMs from Android come without a Google footprint? Some users have posted that Android as an independent company is not necessarily Google and their OS is NOT a Google product so my thoughts are you can have one without the other.
Any help / info is appreciated. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Edit: Make sure your phone is the same model as the ones that SlimRom is created for.
dictatorkara said:
Google has not shown itself to be a malicious company. Is it a little creepy that they know everything about you? Yes. Will it make your user experience better? Probably. When you flash a custom ROM it removes all of the Google apps but the Google apps are really useful. Play Store, Maps, Gmail (can store all your contacts so if you get a new phone you can just import them), etc. are all very useful in my opinion. I don't personally need Google Music for example so I deleted that. All of my music comes through Spotify and Bandcamp downloads. But I can't imagine my phone without the Play Store and Gmail. It would make the experience very annoying. Cyanogen Inc. is looking into pushing their ROMs on to retail Android phones so the phone would come with Cyanogenmod and have their own equivalent to GApps. But, that won't happen for a while. The best bet to get Google out of your hair is to root it and delete the apps you don't need, or use SlimRom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
zelendel said:
This is not true. Even without gapps there are still many google base system files that are built into the system. There is only one Google-less project that is being worked on but they do have issues as the OS is not built to run without them. Even Slim Rom still use alot of googles stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
dictatorkara said:
I didn't say you can completely de-Google an Android device. But, you can make it appear to be de-Googled, although the system files you mentioned will still be there. But you can completely opt out of Gmail and the like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
What is SlimROM? where can I get more info on it? I saw the post you had linked to originally which prompted me to post my OP because I couldn't find any other info on it
master-richie said:
I used to have an IT company not too long ago and I run a bunch of commercial grade servers in my house - My needs aren't the same as the typical phone user with respect to data redundancy, cloud computing, etc - I have that capability already. I pretty much use my phone to snap photos, internet browsing, texting, making calls and sometimes use the gps when driving. What I don't need is a copy of all my activity, contacts, calls, texts and browsing history stored on google servers to be sold or given to entities that I a. wouldn't consent to b. have no clue it's happening.
I don't really care if there is a Google footprint left in the phone, I just want to remove Google's ability to mine my personal data from my phone which also includes registering my device via a google+ account.
With respect to playstore, isn't Aptoid a suitable alternative?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Dont use that. They are all warez and are known for including data miners, Keyloggers and screen recorders.
Ill be honest. You picked the wrong OS for that then. GPS itself uses google software to connect to the satalites.
This is your best option
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1715375
Related
Hello all - Got a brain twister for all you geniuses out there -
I'm running a NON_ROOTED Samsung Galaxy SII i727 Skyrocket on ATT
Currently running the ICS 4.0.4 ROM
A few months back - I lost the ability through Google Search to find anything located on my device. Google search is limited to only searching the web now.
The option to define ON-DEVICE SEARCH called "Searchable Items" located in Google Search Settings Menu - well, it is GONE.
After I decided to do a full factory reset and wipe the slate clean to start over again - thinking something got corrupted - I found it's still missing.
So, I spoke with Google and a rep there told me that there was some legal nonsense they could not discuss but it was removed from the official ROM - no other details.
I spoke to a Support Mgr at Samsung - who was surprised to learn that the removal is inconsistant accross the product line (works on one carrier but not the other - works on one device for one carrier but a different device for a different carrier)
Anyone have a work around for this? Preferably one not requiring me to root the device? It's never been very stable even running a factory rom so i'm not really looking to play with experimental ROMs and end up in crash central with a rooted cooked rom - it's my only phone, although frankly at this point I might reconsider my position on that...
Please help!
Regards,
Chris
I'm not sure what items you want to search, but I'm running embryo 6, android 4.1.2 and Google search does have some on the phone items that can be searched. Contacts, apps, etc. Is that what your trying to search?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
You can thank apple for that...
Basically here is what happened in a nutshell.
Apple sued Google's partners, Htc, lg, motorola, and samsung over there global search feature that is implemented in android. Before this, you could search the following things: Music, files, web, apps, pictures, and the like.
After the case, apple won. Which means the carries and companies had to "update" there phones to remove the global search feature found in android or the companies customization. This is probably why you can no longer do universal search on your phone. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find an app for you that would do what it used too. Google now allows you to search music in there music app, as well as youtube etc. But you need to be in the app for what your searching for. Universal search was nice, sadly apple won. The way I see it, they are losing the war.
If you really cannot stand not having universal search and want extra features, try a custom rom out.
Example: pcworldDOTcom/article/259828/samsung_removes_local_search_feature_from_galaxy_s_iii_as_patent_suit_nears.html[/url]
Hi everyone,
I have been researching and I've compiled a list of all the options available to use an Android device with Cyanogenmod without a Google account and I was wondering if anyone has a better solution considering the options I've found are all lacking.
Here is what I found including the issues for each option:
- Amazon web store (Not every app is available)
- Third party repositories, like apkmirror (Security implications of running apk that anyone can upload)
- F-Droid (Not every app is available)
- Getting the apps I need from the play store once and then backup the apks with a file manager (No updates) or I am going to need a different phone with a Google account and the play store.
Moral of the story, it's not easy to run an android phone without a google account.
Ps. A solution that I think could work (but I wasn't able to find a project that works) is an open source apk downloader (maybe on github) that get the apps straight from google via command line but all the projects I've seen are either out of date or not working...
Any suggestion is really appreciated! Thank you all!
Keep an android device with google play installed, then move the apks of things i really want, or bought already.
But honestly, after some choices I've made (running my own dropbox-like service on my server) I could definitely live with just F-Droid. Of course I'm not using some stuff like facebook or snapchat, so my needs in terms of apps isn't as extensive as others. Sometimes it does feel like i'm hamstrung when the next new fad comes and goes, but I'll live without them.
surfinpika said:
Keep an android device with google play installed, then move the apks of things i really want, or bought already.
But honestly, after some choices I've made (running my own dropbox-like service on my server) I could definitely live with just F-Droid. Of course I'm not using some stuff like facebook or snapchat, so my needs in terms of apps isn't as extensive as others. Sometimes it does feel like i'm hamstrung when the next new fad comes and goes, but I'll live without them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi surfinpika,
thanks for your input, I am starting to feel like your solution (of having a separate device with just the google account setup) is the cleanest option.
I am not into facebook or snapchat or the next fad either... but f-droid wouldn't cut it for me, stuff like keepass2android or some of the other apps I use are definitely not there. I wonder what are the security implications of using F-Droid compared to getting the apks from apkmirror. Considering my level of paranoia I wouldn't feel safe with either option.
_polymar said:
Hi surfinpika,
thanks for your input, I am starting to feel like your solution (of having a separate device with just the google account setup) is the cleanest option.
I am not into facebook or snapchat or the next fad either... but f-droid wouldn't cut it for me, stuff like keepass2android or some of the other apps I use are definitely not there. I wonder what are the security implications of using F-Droid compared to getting the apks from apkmirror. Considering my level of paranoia I wouldn't feel safe with either option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One issue I can think of with this approach is that both the device with google play store and the device where the apps are going to be installed will require the same CPU architecture.
Won't be able to download the apk on a cheap android (most likely ARM) and install it on ARM64...
_polymar said:
One issue I can think of with this approach is that both the device with google play store and the device where the apps are going to be installed will require the same CPU architecture.
Won't be able to download the apk on a cheap android (most likely ARM) and install it on ARM64...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, luckily my back up is the same architecture as my non-gapps phone.
And there are also ways of getting some of the apks straight from the sources, like keepass2android from the project's website. but even if it is google, they sort of give a sense of security in that the apk won't be messed with.
It's such a mess though otherwise, hard to separate the google from the android, and no other viable OSs are any better. hope some competition at least makes a nice little niche to get away from the big G.
Dear forum members,
im new to the whole "custom ROM"-theme and im rly excited about it. As you can imagine im kinda overwhelmed with all the info i found on youtube and other platforms.
Im on an Honor 9 phone. My wife is on an iPhone 6. We both got into the topic privacy and security recently, so i found Robert Braxman on Youtube, a techie guy who makes videos about custom ROMs, linux phones and so on. I found it very interesting, especially in times of mobile phone tracing, that it's possible to opt-out of the whole privacy madness, for example with an ubuntu touch phone or an de-googled android phone.
So i got a nexus 9 and managed to install Ubuntu Touch on it. It works great but my problem is, that i need certain android apps, that i cant find on Ubuntu Touch. To be precise, i work professionally on Instagram with my business, so i need a possibility to use the Story and the Live Stream feature. Now im thinking about what to do.
I found e-foundation on the internet and i think it's impressive what they do. Do you think in my situation it's a good solution, to get 1 or 2 de googled e foundation phones so we can keep working with them? Or would the whole Instagram think be stupid, because we would have to install google play store to download it, so the whole privacy advantage is gone again? Or is there maybe a solution to install instagram without having to install google play store and to USE instagram without having to log in with an gmail account. I've read something about microg or so, but i dont know what it is!
Sorry for my rly long text, but i think it's good, to describe my struggle as precise as possible for you guys!
Thanks and regards!
johnthreesixteen said:
Dear forum members,
im new to the whole "custom ROM"-theme and im rly excited about it. As you can imagine im kinda overwhelmed with all the info i found on youtube and other platforms.
Im on an Honor 9 phone. My wife is on an iPhone 6. We both got into the topic privacy and security recently, so i found Robert Braxman on Youtube, a techie guy who makes videos about custom ROMs, linux phones and so on. I found it very interesting, especially in times of mobile phone tracing, that it's possible to opt-out of the whole privacy madness, for example with an ubuntu touch phone or an de-googled android phone.
So i got a nexus 9 and managed to install Ubuntu Touch on it. It works great but my problem is, that i need certain android apps, that i cant find on Ubuntu Touch. To be precise, i work professionally on Instagram with my business, so i need a possibility to use the Story and the Live Stream feature. Now im thinking about what to do.
I found e-foundation on the internet and i think it's impressive what they do. Do you think in my situation it's a good solution, to get 1 or 2 de googled e foundation phones so we can keep working with them? Or would the whole Instagram think be stupid, because we would have to install google play store to download it, so the whole privacy advantage is gone again? Or is there maybe a solution to install instagram without having to install google play store and to USE instagram without having to log in with an gmail account. I've read something about microg or so, but i dont know what it is!
Sorry for my rly long text, but i think it's good, to describe my struggle as precise as possible for you guys!
Thanks and regards!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to download Instagram from the Google playstore, there are many sites that host the app for download, such as, APKmirror.
As for logging into Instagram with a Google account, if Instagram has an option that allows logging in with a non Google account, you can log in with a non Google account. If all they support is logging in with Google then you are stuck using a Google account which then robs you of privacy from Google at least as far as Instagram is concerned.
Sent from my SM-S767VL using Tapatalk
I got a P40 Lite 5G in the last couple of days, and didn't think or know about the Huawei / Google issues. I'm not from the US, so it was something I heard in the news, but wasn't sure if it would affect us.
I'm probably fine without having google services on my phone for personal use, the alternatives should be fine - never been a big fan of getting tracked like that anyways.
BUT, we use GSuite at work and I need Google Chat on my phone ... so it's a pretty hard stop for me
I'm not opposed to rooting the phone and installing a custom rom, but:
1. Does this solve all the problems, does google apps/services work fine on a rooted phone and custom rom? Or does google block it based on the hardware? (Is that what the spoofing circumvents, or would it still not work?)
2. Doesn't seem like there are any custom roms available even?
I searched through the forum here and did not see anything that looked like it works, I did try Googlefier, MicroG, etc - none worked so far. (My EMUI is already updated, which I understood you shouldn't do - didn't know).
That said, most of these posts were from a few months back, not sure if anything has changed by now?
Any help/advice appreciated, please
wb90 said:
I got a P40 Lite 5G in the last couple of days, and didn't think or know about the Huawei / Google issues. I'm not from the US, so it was something I heard in the news, but wasn't sure if it would affect us.
I'm probably fine without having google services on my phone for personal use, the alternatives should be fine - never been a big fan of getting tracked like that anyways.
BUT, we use GSuite at work and I need Google Chat on my phone ... so it's a pretty hard stop for me
I'm not opposed to rooting the phone and installing a custom rom, but:
1. Does this solve all the problems, does google apps/services work fine on a rooted phone and custom rom? Or does google block it based on the hardware? (Is that what the spoofing circumvents, or would it still not work?)
2. Doesn't seem like there are any custom roms available even?
I searched through the forum here and did not see anything that looked like it works, I did try Googlefier, MicroG, etc - none worked so far. (My EMUI is already updated, which I understood you shouldn't do - didn't know).
That said, most of these posts were from a few months back, not sure if anything has changed by now?
Any help/advice appreciated, please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know we can't root the phone.
The best work around I've found is using vmos to create a sandbox for Google login. It's not perfect but it does the job I need.
If I'm not wrong, you can still use the web browser version, like Doc, Sheet, Slide, Keep, Calendar and etc. So most probably you can still use Google Chat in your mobile browser without problem.
Yeah, but google chat doesn't have a mobile web version ... you can put Chrome into "Desktop Site" mode, but it's not a great experience.
Also, the important part for having it on my mobile is the notifications of new messages if there's any issues...
I thought id highjack to ask my own questons about the p40 lite 5g in relation to the dualspace method
how often do i have to reinstall dualspace?
Is the process of upgrading google apps any more complicated than stock android?
Are there any google apps that cant be installed?
are there any apps that have only partial functionality?
Do the apps crash any more often?
do the google apps have ads in them?
are the ads intrusive?
does it need to be rooted?
How does dualspace affect the phones and apps performance?
I didn't find any functionality of DualSpace ... on Mate40 pro.
Maps isn't working ok, banking apps isn't working (security warnings) ... Nothing new for me.
Hi,
I purchased a new phone a Motorola Edge S (hardware SKU XT2125-4), unfortunately it is a China ROM phone which means it didn't come with Google play store. This was side loaded and I am able to install apps from google. But I have SO many issues with this and I am hoping someone has something helpful to actually use this phone
1. When I try to use Google setup a nearby device (to transfer everything over to this phone), it simply can't find my new phone (despite having bluetooth and location on for both phones
2. I can't restore contacts from google drive even though I can connect
3. I downloaded the MAGISK app, however the file browser is unable to install as the app is not allowed. The toggle to trust the app can not be changed.
I am at a loss as to how to actually use this phone as essentially it's useless at the moment. Any help would be appreciated.
It is already running Android Version 11
Baseband version M55_HI20_209.334.01.60R NIO_PVT_SUPERSDS_CUST
Kernel Version 4.19.136-perf+
Build Number RRN31.Q1-20-17-6
I can provide any / all other information if needed
If the solution is to root the phone, I'm ok with that too, but see point 3.
I'm in the same situation. Purchased the XT2125 as well. Got the Google stuff working by side loading the play store, services and framework. However, initially, while everything else was working, the contacts wouldn't sync. After a few hours of searching, finally came across an article which said that I also needed to side load an apk called google contacts sync and give it permission. Contacts started syncing after that. Fast forward a couple of days and a system update later, SMS are delivered with really long delays and outbound ones fail. Google maps crashes constantly and navigation just doesn't work. I don't know what to do with this phone now honestly, since I need Google maps navigation on a regular basis. Have tried reinstalling maps, resetting permissions, clearing cache and data but nothing seems to work. And with the SMS delay, I can't sign on our complete transactions on a lot of apps because the SMS usually arrives after such a delay that the code has expired. Feels like such a waste of money this phone even though it's supposed to be great bang for the buck.
I am hopeful that when they release the Moto G100 (same phone actually), that we will be able to flash it with this ROM to make it usable.
Slartibartfast70 said:
Hi,
I purchased a new phone a Motorola Edge S (hardware SKU XT2125-4), unfortunately it is a China ROM phone which means it didn't come with Google play store. This was side loaded and I am able to install apps from google. But I have SO many issues with this and I am hoping someone has something helpful to actually use this phone
1. When I try to use Google setup a nearby device (to transfer everything over to this phone), it simply can't find my new phone (despite having bluetooth and location on for both phones
2. I can't restore contacts from google drive even though I can connect
3. I downloaded the MAGISK app, however the file browser is unable to install as the app is not allowed. The toggle to trust the app can not be changed.
I am at a loss as to how to actually use this phone as essentially it's useless at the moment. Any help would be appreciated.
It is already running Android Version 11
Baseband version M55_HI20_209.334.01.60R NIO_PVT_SUPERSDS_CUST
Kernel Version 4.19.136-perf+
Build Number RRN31.Q1-20-17-6
I can provide any / all other information if needed
If the solution is to root the phone, I'm ok with that too, but see point 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait it's like that with motorola too
I thought it's only like that with xiaomi
Seems like even with motorola it doesn't come with google apps if it's a china rom
Though it was only with xiaomi where if it's a china rom it doesn't come with any google apps guess im wrong
Slartibartfast70 said:
I am hopeful that when they release the Moto G100 (same phone actually), that we will be able to flash it with this ROM to make it usable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think it's being released in a couple of days. Anyway, I did a factory reset and the maps issues sorted out. Had to go through the pain of sideloading google again but the device is being shown as google play certified, but yeah, would be nice to just have the international rom on it.
Were you able to make any headway with your device? I didn't put a sim in mine but the rest of it seems to be working ok, except Youtube Vanced isn't signing in with a google account.