Hi there,
I would like to use this tablet for my kids (mainly to watch videos, netflix - including download - youtube and some kids games). What's in your view the most efficient, simple and stable Rom for this? (stock doesn't work with most apps and some lineages are not working well with Netflix from what I tried).
Many thanks!
Shalandaar said:
Hi there,
I would like to use this tablet for my kids (mainly to watch videos, netflix - including download - youtube and some kids games). What's in your view the most efficient, simple and stable Rom for this? (stock doesn't work with most apps and some lineages are not working well with Netflix from what I tried).
Many thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's hard to say. Let me tell you right off the bat, I don't have a Netflix subscription, so there's not much to suggest with that. But still.
I'm using LOS 16 + the new kernel 3.4. I consider it the most stable choice at the moment.
My complete device configuration:
OS: LOS16 (link);
Kernel: 3.4 (link);
Magisk: 25.2;
Google Apps: microG magisk module (link);
Netflix
The latest version of the app requires Android 7 or higher, so stock Android is unlikely to help. Another problem is that Netflix uses a thing called "App Check with Play Integrity." This means that it will be even harder to run Netflix on modified firmware. Nevertheless, I was able to run it on LOS 16, though I don't have a subscription.
Maybe this module for hiding root and re-signing the device might help with Netflix.
YouTube
There were no problems at all. 720p at x1.25 plays fine. Better - no, the device is too old.
I don't use the official client as I haven't installed GAPPS. I use YouTube ReVanced instead. It has a lot of features, but I'd rather not give a direct link to it for ethical reasons. You can always find the latest builds in the Telegram feeds if you want.
Games
All light games that support Android 9 (in my case) and above are likely to run.
Of course, it's hard to call them childish, but it will give some idea of what the device can do now. Here's what I was able to run and it's playable:
Can knockdown;
Carmageddon;
CS1.6 port;
Delta Touch (Doom ports);
Quad Touch (Quake ports);
GTA: SA;
KOTOR (50/50);
Smash Hit;
Terraria (50/50);
XCOM.
I think anything easier than that should work.
The only thing better to keep all the data on the SD card, 16Gb internal memory runs out quickly. I have Link2SD works great for that.
SteelK said:
It's hard to say. Let me tell you right off the bat, I don't have a Netflix subscription, so there's not much to suggest with that. But still.
I'm using LOS 16 + the new kernel 3.4. I consider it the most stable choice at the moment.
My complete device configuration:
OS: LOS16 (link);
Kernel: 3.4 (link);
Magisk: 25.2;
Google Apps: microG magisk module (link);
Netflix
The latest version of the app requires Android 7 or higher, so stock Android is unlikely to help. Another problem is that Netflix uses a thing called "App Check with Play Integrity." This means that it will be even harder to run Netflix on modified firmware. Nevertheless, I was able to run it on LOS 16, though I don't have a subscription.
Maybe this module for hiding root and re-signing the device might help with Netflix.
YouTube
There were no problems at all. 720p at x1.25 plays fine. Better - no, the device is too old.
I don't use the official client as I haven't installed GAPPS. I use YouTube ReVanced instead. It has a lot of features, but I'd rather not give a direct link to it for ethical reasons. You can always find the latest builds in the Telegram feeds if you want.
Games
All light games that support Android 9 (in my case) and above are likely to run.
Of course, it's hard to call them childish, but it will give some idea of what the device can do now. Here's what I was able to run and it's playable:
Can knockdown;
Carmageddon;
CS1.6 port;
Delta Touch (Doom ports);
Quad Touch (Quake ports);
GTA: SA;
KOTOR (50/50);
Smash Hit;
Terraria (50/50);
XCOM.
I think anything easier than that should work.
The only thing better to keep all the data on the SD card, 16Gb internal memory runs out quickly. I have Link2SD works great for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fantastic, many thanks, will try all of this over the weekend!
Related
Anyone with the ADT-1, do you have full access to the play store or is it a curated list of apps?
For my uses I'm really going to want to have access to a VPN application like Anyconnect or OpenConnect, is that a possibility with the Player?
Right now, since it's only a preview with a preview of the Play Store, the app base is very limited to choose from. Like 20-30. So far though, I have been able to sideload many APKs just fine (root explorer, XBMC, XBMC Updater, etc.). I still haven't gotten the OTA that was released yesterday though, so I don't know if the experience will change; however, I'm willing to bet there will be some kind of curated experience.
Update: Found the OTA package for Molly to LPX13D. Updating now (after master resetting by mistake - lol). Will follow up with what the updated experience looks like.
Update 2: So, I'm on the new build. The overall experience is pretty much the same, with some minor UI/UX changes. The Play Store no longer says preview on it; however, I still only have the small list of apps. More specifically: 4 Android TV apps; 3 TV Remote Games; and about 15-20 Gamepad Games.
Mi|enko said:
Right now, since it's only a preview with a preview of the Play Store, the app base is very limited to choose from. Like 20-30. So far though, I have been able to sideload many APKs just fine (root explorer, XBMC, XBMC Updater, etc.). I still haven't gotten the OTA that was released yesterday though, so I don't know if the experience will change; however, I'm willing to bet there will be some kind of curated experience.
Update: Found the OTA package for Molly to LPX13D. Updating now (after master resetting by mistake - lol). Will follow up with what the updated experience looks like.
Update 2: So, I'm on the new build. The overall experience is pretty much the same, with some minor UI/UX changes. The Play Store no longer says preview on it; however, I still only have the small list of apps. More specifically: 4 Android TV apps; 3 TV Remote Games; and about 15-20 Gamepad Games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can I find the LPX13D build for ADT-1?
jimmyjamesbob said:
Where can I find the LPX13D build for ADT-1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link to the OTA is http://android.clients.google.com/p...a.signed-molly-LPX13D-from-LPW39.92b93576.zip
If you have rooted the device you will have to fix the update-script to remove checks of install-recovery.sh and build.prop as well as installing a custom recovery for the modified build to install.
Two questions related to apps from the Play Store...
a) Do I need to root in order to sideload apps? Or can I do it similar to a phone/tablet where I just have to allow "unknown sources"?
b) The three apps that will be my "killer apps" will be the DirecTV app, Amazon Prime, and HockeyStreams (HSDroid in the play store). Any reason to believe any/all of these will not work if side loaded?
Thanks in advance... this will likely drive my decision to buy a Nexus Player!
sloheim said:
Two questions related to apps from the Play Store...
a) Do I need to root in order to sideload apps? Or can I do it similar to a phone/tablet where I just have to allow "unknown sources"?
b) The three apps that will be my "killer apps" will be the DirecTV app, Amazon Prime, and HockeyStreams (HSDroid in the play store). Any reason to believe any/all of these will not work if side loaded?
Thanks in advance... this will likely drive my decision to buy a Nexus Player!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of right now you can adb install any application (or at least on the ADT-1).
sloheim said:
Two questions related to apps from the Play Store...
a) Do I need to root in order to sideload apps? Or can I do it similar to a phone/tablet where I just have to allow "unknown sources"?
b) The three apps that will be my "killer apps" will be the DirecTV app, Amazon Prime, and HockeyStreams (HSDroid in the play store). Any reason to believe any/all of these will not work if side loaded?
Thanks in advance... this will likely drive my decision to buy a Nexus Player!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some apps have compatibility issues with ADT-1. I've tried the Comcast VOD app and HBO Go. They load, but are missing elements for navigation and don't function properly.
smiley2billion said:
For my uses I'm really going to want to have access to a VPN application like Anyconnect or OpenConnect, is that a possibility with the Player?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering this as well. I know that Android has native support for PPTP and L2TP/IPsec protocols and that I can set up a VPN on my Nexus 5 with no additional software. Does the Nexus Player / ADT-1 have this functionality, or has it (as I suspect) been removed?
Thanks.
Hi all,
I received a review copy of the WinkPax G1 gaming tablet which includes a gaming controller, that can work alone or as a dock.
This is it: http://www.banggood.com/3-in-1-Winkpax-PAX-G1-MT8783-64-bit-Quad-Core-1200x1920-IPS-Tablet-PC-with-Handheld-Console-Game-p-1103815.html
The problem is, that is comes with a very bare bones Android 5.1. No google Play Services or anything. I have installed Amazon Underground, but it has few apps for it, installed Chrome from apkmirror. But I need the Google Play store.
Any idea how to get it working ? I have installed at least 20 different Google Play Services versions from 6.x forward, and they all crash when starting up.
The device is based on the MT8783, and seems to have a pretty good LTE chipset, 2GB RAM, 32GB flash, and build quality in the better end.
How do I back up the included ROM ? And is there an alternate ROM I can deploy to it ? Or an alternate way to access the Google Play Store ? I have updated ROMs from the PC on an older device, and I do have fairly good tech skills. But I can't really find the info I need.
I'm not able to add a nvidia account (nvidia games app) on lineage os 14.1. Doesn't load.
Might be missing something here, but I thought you needed to be on the stock ROM (or close to it - like a custom ROM based on stock) in order to use NVIDIA games app, accessories, etc.?
It's a known issue. I've been in contact with nvidia over it, and was told it was a known internal issue, but it still hasn't been fixed yet. The 'workaround' is to sideload the nvidia games app version 5.6, log in, then update in the play store. Should work fine from there.
I really wish I knew what was causing the login hang. The newer versions log in fine on stock, so I'm missing something on the custom ROM side. But it worked on <=5.6, so it's something they changed. Kinda frustrating all around. I'm kinda waiting on O to release for foster, so all these apps get updated. If it still doesn't work then, I'll dig more into it.
Now when Pixel 7 dosent support 32-bit apps at all it killed a lot of useful apps I use.
One of them are different Instagram modded aps with better features.
Does anyone know one that is compiled as 64 bit which works on pixel 7 Pro?
halling said:
Now when Pixel 7 doesn't support 32-bit apps at all it killed a lot of useful apps I use.
One of them are different Instagram modded aps with better features.
Does anyone know one that is compiled as 64 bit which works on pixel 7 Pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK you for asking this question / confirming what I was beginning to believe was the problem with all my attempts to install/restore my Instagram Modded apps yesterday! I hope there's a solution, as all those sponsored posts make my eyes bleed. ;-)
halling said:
Now when Pixel 7 dosent support 32-bit apps at all it killed a lot of useful apps I use.
One of them are different Instagram modded aps with better features.
Does anyone know one that is compiled as 64 bit which works on pixel 7 Pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm looking for one too. I tried so many apps in the net but non work.
also interested.
I find it baffling that google have done this. why? why suddenly withdraw 32bit support on the p7 when its not necessary to do so. its just messing people up. I've got a vital app I use for work that is no longer in development. so never going to be 64bit.
Apparently they made the call 2019 already, official apps in playstore since early 2021 just that now is the first phone where they just force it
Can anyone explain why a pretty mundane mod of the instagram app, which is 64 bit, is 32 bit?
jnss98b said:
Can anyone explain why a pretty mundane mod of the instagram app, which is 64 bit, is 32 bit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
32bit usually creates smaller APK files, I would also assume it is easier to compile but couldn't say for sure
Edit: I also wouldn't expect an updated 64 bit version of Instander any time soon with the war in Ukraine
Aeroinsta has the same issue
Dillonjaf said:
32bit usually creates smaller APK files, I would also assume it is easier to compile but couldn't say for sure
Edit: I also wouldn't expect an updated 64 bit version of Instander any time soon with the war in Ukraine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the dev of instander has confirmed on reddit he is working on 64 bit for next release in coming weeks.
whatsisnametake2 said:
the dev of instander has confirmed on reddit he is working on 64 bit for next release in coming weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazing news!
whatsisnametake2 said:
the dev of instander has confirmed on reddit he is working on 64 bit for next release in coming weeks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! I hadn't seen that because I only follow updates on Telegram. Thanks for correcting me
jnss98b said:
Can anyone explain why a pretty mundane mod of the instagram app, which is 64 bit, is 32 bit?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The official Instagram releases are not multi-lib (32-bit + 64-bit in one apk). There are separate apks for each abi. So far, the most cross-compatible version to mod was the 32-bit version since all devices till date have supported 32-bit abi, so the mod would work any device including a small segment of devices in some regions that are still only supporting 32-bit. That's changed for the first time with the Pixel 7.
craigacgomez said:
The official Instagram releases are not multi-lib (32-bit + 64-bit in one apk). There are separate apks for each abi. So far, the most cross-compatible version to mod was the 32-bit version since all devices till date have supported 32-bit abi, so the mod would work any device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense actually thank you
So the Instagram on the playstore isn't compatible? That's the one I have installed and working fine
Paz9 said:
So the Instagram on the playstore isn't compatible? That's the one I have installed and working fine
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Official Instagram is. The mods aren't because they're 32 bits (for now).
Edit:
Ghisy said:
Like I said earlier, an alternative is the mobile website with an ad-blocker. It does the job but it's not great. I could use that instead but I don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adding the shortcut to your homescreen to this mobile version makes it kind of a PWA: it launches full screen and ads are still being blocked if you have an ad-blocker in your browser. It's the best we can get for now I guess.
On my s21 I was able to install a version of Instagram known as Instagram ++. I know there are several variants of this tweaked Instagram APK but I'm not sure which to use on my pixel 7 pro? So far there seems to be issues with Instagram++ being 32 bit... Anyone familiar with this?
jake.99x3 said:
On my s21 I was able to install a version of Instagram known as Instagram ++. I know there are several variants of this tweaked Instagram APK but I'm not sure which to use on my pixel 7 pro? So far there seems to be issues with Instagram++ being 32 bit... Anyone familiar with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I though Instagram++ was an iOS app. I can't seem to find anything about this for Android.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Instander/comments/y8ztmh
craigacgomez said:
I though Instagram++ was an iOS app. I can't seem to find anything about this for Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Instagram++ Apk Download 10.14.1 For Android, iOS, iPhone & iPad 2023
Instagram++ Apk Download 10.14.1 For Android and iOS, Instagram++ comes into play, offering modified versions of the app that introduce a variety of new features and customizations, enhancing the Instagram experience in thrilling ways.
gbplus.org
Instagram++ Apk v10.14.1 For Android Download Photos & Videos
Instagram++ Apk is a free version of the Instagram apk. Download photos, videos, and had a lot of more privacy options. Instagram++ hxtweaks
apkity.com
Instagram++ Apk Download For Android & iOS & Pc 2022
Download Instagram++ APK The latest Mod Version V10.14.0 in 2022 Free For Android & Pc & The IPA File For iOS Devices » Instagram Plus Plus
deskrush.com
I am definitely more excited for the Instander update for pixel though rather than a ++ version
jake.99x3 said:
Instagram++ Apk Download 10.14.1 For Android, iOS, iPhone & iPad 2023
Instagram++ Apk Download 10.14.1 For Android and iOS, Instagram++ comes into play, offering modified versions of the app that introduce a variety of new features and customizations, enhancing the Instagram experience in thrilling ways.
gbplus.org
Instagram++ Apk v10.14.1 For Android Download Photos & Videos
Instagram++ Apk is a free version of the Instagram apk. Download photos, videos, and had a lot of more privacy options. Instagram++ hxtweaks
apkity.com
Instagram++ Apk Download For Android & iOS & Pc 2022
Download Instagram++ APK The latest Mod Version V10.14.0 in 2022 Free For Android & Pc & The IPA File For iOS Devices » Instagram Plus Plus
deskrush.com
I am definitely more excited for the Instander update for pixel though rather than a ++ version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, makes sense! I didn't see this because these sites are blocked by my DNS server as malware!
Hello,
(not sure if this should be posted here, or in Q&A forum)
I've been using alternative Android ROMs on my Linux phones for the last 10+ years (mostly CM/LOS). Recently, after watching some YT videos, I found that the concept of fully de-Googled is more than a concept these days. Since I don't really use Google's apps other than Play Store, and everything else should be taken care of by microG (which if I understand correctly is FOSS implementation of Play Services, that should also supposedly pass SafetyNet check), I decided to give it a go.
As far as I can tell, the most popular de-Googled / privacy-focused ROMs are GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, and /e/. In my case, /e/ is the only one I can officially use on my target Poco F1 device.
The issue is, that I still have to get apps from somewhere (and I'm not that much into FOSS, to use just F-Droid apps). Here the main choices are:
1, App Lounge (FOSS, built-into /e/ ROM, downloads apps from both Play Store and F-Droid) --> https://doc.e.foundation/app-lounge
2. Aurora Store (FOSS, downloads apps from Play Store only) --> https://auroraoss.com/
3. F-Droid (FOSS, dedicated for F-Droid apps only) --> https://f-droid.org/
The problem is, that it is really difficult to find any credible resource that would compare those; I'm especially interested with security aspects of those solutions (first 2 ones in particular). I mean don't get me wrong, I don't think that FOSS app can just inject malicious code without anybody noticing it (especially the one ones that are up in public for t hat amount of time with so many potential eyes on it), but I'm more afraid of external resources they may or may not be using (more on that later) or some incidental bugs. Just to be clear, I can live with certain app being updated a little later, but I find being completely locked out of updates for eg. my baking app (!) or downloading it from unknown/malicious source (!!!) to be completely unacceptable. In other words, I'd like to get apps from Play Store from as-official source as possible, with as minimal in-the-middle tampering as possible, any third-party user-based manual apk upload (like APKMirror) is out of the question. For FOSS apps, I can continue using F-Droid (having 2 stores for 2 separate app sources on one phone is not an issue for me).
That said, here's what I was able to determine so far; note, that I'm not a dev or security expert, just an enthusiast, so feel free to correct any misconceptions.
App Lounge
At first glance, this is a perfect choice for me, it supports both sources (Play Store and F-Droid). However it seems to be using something called `CleanApk` to obtain them, and here's when things become really confusing to me:
- The official doc claims that it is a source for closed-source apps. It even mentions the possibility to create store page for your app (!) as well as it asks users to report malicious apps (!!!). Call me paranoid, but to me it looks like anybody can just create scam banking/Facebook/whatever app and get it published (as there is 0 mention of any verification process, be that automatic or manual). Also, I don't see any info as to where those closed-source apps actually come from, and the entire info page really lacks any detailed info. Not to mention, that source / motivation / community / author / anything about this API is a mystery to me.
- When it comes to official App Lounge's doc, it seems like it does NOT in fact use `CleanApk` for Play Store apps (?), but if that is the case then I'm confused as to why they are using it for F-Droid ones:
- This part from official App Lounge doc also kind of confuses me, because it mentions that verifying app's signature is not easy when it comes to Play Store, but it is under the `CleanApk` question, which should not be used for Play Store apps (?); on the bright side, it seems like they working towards ditching `CleanApk` altogether, but AFAIK it hasn't happened yet.
- There is a lengthy 2-part article (actually the only external piece about App Lounge I could find), which doesn't exactly inspire me with confidence to App Lounge (actually /e/ rom in general...) --> https://nervuri.net/e/apps ; the upside is, it shows some progress over time in general, but the fact that anybody at any point thought that using shady API (that might supposedly be using `APKPure.com` as a source...) makes me really worried; note that even though it is written by "somebody from the internet" his concerns make sense to me (though again, I'm not any sort of expert). Also I don't want to have to read change-log or analysis after every system update to potentially find out that they flipped and started using something different again.
Aurora Store
The upside of Aurora Store is, that it is older, was posted on XDA and github couple years before App Lounge; it is based off some other project, that is even older. It is also independent from /e/, in fact it has been used in other ROMs (eg. CalyxOS), so I think it may be more stable and tested. However, here the issues are:
- As opposed to questionable resources/doc for App Lounge, there is basically almost no info about Aurora Store. The page itself has only download links, there is also a Github page, that links you to FAQ, that doesn't exist, and to XDA page that seems to be outdated. Generally, every official resource seems to be inconsistent in some way (like XDA page mentions work in progress when it comes to some features of V3, when 4.x.x was released years ago), so it's hard to determine how it actually works. I am about 99% sure, that it uses Google Play API as a source (which is mentioned on YalpStore page which Aurora is forked from) but I haven't found it explicitly stated anywhere in Aurora Store (the best we get is that it is "FOSS client to Google's Play Store"). That said, I hope this is just my nitpick, as it is FOSS and is used by some other ROMs, so I hope that somebody read this code.
- Last commit is from 2021, so it seems not to be in active development. It is fine with me, as long as it is safe and works, but I'm afraid it might be abandoned, and break in case of any changes to Play Store API (as opposed to App Lounge, which seems to be in active development alongside /e/ ROM itself).
- Since this app is completely independent from /e/, I wonder how would system apps in /e/ itself get updated without App Lounge active.
Practical tests
I have decided to use my secondary cheapo Pixel 3a as a playground for /e/ ROM, installed Aurora and F-Droid on the top of pre-existing App Lounge, and started comparing the behavior. Since both are supposedly using Google Play Store (though again, not 100% sure), you would think, that results for "closed" apps will be the same. Well, mostly yes, but there seem to be some edge-cases / exceptions.
Notes:
1. I'm not promoting any of those apps, those are just examples.
2. All tests done on the same physical device (Google Pixel 3a), around the same time, using the same network.
3. Device rebooted, and all apps force-closed right before the tests.
4. F-Droid: 1.16.3; App Lounge: 2.4.8; Aurora Store 4.1.1.
5. Checked version and sometimes update date, I wasn't interested in description, comments, etc.
6. Obviously I haven't checked every possible app, just some examples that I though might be problematic.
Results were:
1. First I tried a few "big" apps, no surprise here, the all seem to return the same version (checked FB, YT, Netflix, FB, Steam etc. not that I use all of them). For example, Steam returned 3.5 (2023-02-24) in both clients.
2. The only exception that I was able to find, was actually TikTok, 28.9.4 in App Lounge, and 29.0.3 in Aurora Store; maybe this has something to do with ban or source of this app, but again, I'm checking on exact same phone using the same network.
3. I decided to check some lesser-known but frequently-updated app, and the only one I could think of, that would fit that criteria was FairEmail. This example is also interesting, because it is hosted in both Play Store and F-Droid. It turned out, that both Aurora Store and F-Droid featured the same version (1.2060), but App Lounge had only 1.2052. I should also point out, that this app gets very frequent updates sometimes, so it is strange that App Lounge seems to have missed probably ~8 versions (albeit over short period of time).
4. I started checking some Poland-specific apps (though quite popular ones), and I was able to find at least one irregularity being Allegro app: 8.11.1 (2023-03-21) in App Lounge and 8.13.1 (2023-04-05) in Aurora Store.
5. I also checked some older and lesser-known apps, and for example Cyberlords game exists in both stores in the same 1.0.8 version (last updated in 2020).
6. On the other hand, quite ancient ADW Launcher (last updated in 2018) does not exist in App Lounge at all (it cannot be found), but can be installed from Aurora, I also confirmed that it actually still exists in Play Store.
7. I also checked some very niche Polish-specific app Semafor, it exists in both stores, can be found, the same version.
8. I was also able to find that one of the old games Move the Box by Exponenta (last updated in 2017) exists in Aurora Store, but is nowhere to be found in App Lounge.
9. The same goes for Rss Reader by Svyatoslav Vasilev, which is not even that old (and includes commercial/donate version) exists in Aurora Store, and is missing from App Lounge.
Link to screenshots -->
https://imgur.com/a/v6BquUG
Conclusion/questions
1. Which store would you recommend based on everything I provided? From my side, I'm leaning towards either Aurora Store, or coming back to Google Play Store.
2. Where do those apks come from in the end, am I understanding correctly that in the end they should come from Play Store API in both cases?
3. When it comes to my tests: am I missing something here? If the official descriptions (or rather my assumptions) are correct, and both of those clients are using official Play Store apks accessed using likely the very same API, them how would that disparity in versions or visibility would even be possible?
4. Any other Play Store alternatives, that I missed?
Small pushup topic
I am very suprised that no one has any comment about this topic. Specially when it is very wellwritten and documented.
I've been using App Lounge with e/OS but I am not able to answer to your question although as you well say, App Lounge unite very well both F-Droid and Play store App.
Great topic, thanks. For the last few years, I use a combination of Aurora Droid + Aurora Store for open source and normal apps. The big downside is that paid apps aren't supported with an anon login through Aurora.
Right now I'm on a stock ROM, but with no google account. Previously I did a more hard-core degoogling with a custom rom wirh no google play services and MicroG. I found it to be too flaky for me (for example, I need uber to work on my phone 100% reliably). So this level of just not having a google account but still leaving play services installed seems like the right middle ground.
Also, Aurora Store is under relatively active development, not sure where you see no updates since 2021. It's at https://gitlab.com/AuroraOSS/AuroraStore
Note that just in the last few days there's been a breaking issue where the pool of anon accounts needs to be rebuilt, so until that gets fixed you probably won't be able to get started with Aurora Store.