Just a shiny male toy…
I haven’t run graphene, so I can’t speak for it. But on any other android variant, microG is a system-app, so that it can spoof Google’s services properly. That means patching the system.
Functional apps is the important bit, use of microG allows apps to provide push messaging etc without knowing Google services aren’t installed. There’s still some communication with Google as a result, but it’s fully sanitized.
I invite you to try installing common apps like Strava or Pokemon go without any Google services at all.
There’s also CalyxOS if you don’t want to run anything Google on your phone at all, but still have functional apps and such.
Unknown, I don’t want to run Google apps more than I have to. I only run photos and keyboard, both with network access completely blocked by the built-in firewall.
CalyxOS just works, is completely deGoogled and has better battery life because less shit is running by itself in the background. If you need any Google apps, you can install them voluntarily via the Aurora store (a version of the play store that strips serial numbers etc from communications with Google’s play store servers).
All my banking apps and work apps function, though I couldn’t get Pokemon go to work.
I’m on CalyxOS, it works great. Locked bootloader, ability to block connection of devices when screen is locked (defeating cellebrite’s method of choice), work profiles and firewalls etc.
Thanks! Stickers sound cool as I don’t like carrying much, just phone with stick on wallet & a little key chain for my motorcycle/house.
But I’ll bet the sticker is a bit chunky?
Same, though I’d like to know about the work access card trick.
If you drive a Toyota and the infotainment system has a “DCM” icon in the corner, your driving habits and location are being recorded to their servers.
E: this is happening via their own cellular modem built into the vehicle, with its own separate SIM or eSIM. Getting at the module seems to require access behind the dash, almost purposely making it difficult. Pulling the fuse will kill the front passenger-side speaker, though there are YouTube vids on how to reactivate the speaker while keeping the DCM module dead.
Why the hatched ground plane instead of solid?
Sorry, “google blobs”? A lot of work went into MicroG, and I think it’s a shame that you’d minimize so much good work to reimplement the lynchpin of Google’s control on your devices.
At this point I’ll presume you’re just misinformed, as no proprietary google code operates within microG unless you decide to run with device attestation, and there it’s running as a sandboxed service. At any other time, you are able to run open source code which spoofs your device details to Google, and spoofs google to all these other closed source apps in a reliable and readable, much smaller codebase.
Honestly, the irony of running blobs, when one is completely closed source vs the other which is fully open. Hahaha.
All your points are true, yet still depend on Google in sandboxed form. That negates everything else for me, who wants a reasonably secure device that works out of the box and also respects my privacy.
If a nation-state wants into my phone, it’s delusional to believe even graphene can hold them off, you need real opsec for that, and unfortunately all I’ve seen thus far from graphene guys is cosplaying that the NSA wants your porn selfies.
Graphene and micro g? Cool. Sandboxed Google? Nope.
Agreed, it shouldn’t be their problem. But, I am using applications just fine that are sensitive to root, even device attestation, but I don’t recommend attestation just out of principle.
Even pokemon go seem to run ok with just micro g and aurora.
There’s also CalyxOS, low drama and very reliable. Https://www.calyxos.org
I’ll mention that a pixel with CalyxOS works great as well, no google code code other than AOSP which helps battery life a lot.
Some things like voice controlled companion or android auto are being implemented, but I never really gave a fuck about that stuff, being on bicycle or motorcycle only.
I don’t care how nice the sports car is, if it’s not going where I want it to, I’m not getting in.
I saw the same when I lived in OC. It’s pretty lively up here in Seattle too.
I work in energy r&d, and have for several jobs over the years now.
My sadness is transmuted into passion for solving these issues from the ground up. Top brass is interested in “stock options” and blah blah blah, I’m just focused on solving technical problems to make efficient, powerful energy production that isn’t hard on the earth.
The money won’t matter if there’s nowhere to live. My efforts may not be enough, ultimately, but I’ll die knowing I tried to help solve the problems we’ve caused.