Topic: Huawei without Google (Read 1200 times)

I like the Huawei hardware. It seems to be well made, good value, and has some great features. What I would really  like is to be able to choose the software to run on my phone, as well as choose the hardware. I can do this with computers, and it is starting to become possible with mobile phones.

I have no real objection to data harvesting provided that the outcome is beneficial to me. For example, I like French brie,and I probably developed this taste in France over 60 years ago. The cheese was wonderful, but it is a long time since I have tasted really good brie. Certainly not since we were sucked into the EU. That dropped our food standards significantly, and we seem to be seen as a dumping ground for low quality French ( and other member states) products. The current supermarket brie is a sterile tasteless product, and it is not possible to improve it with ageing. I've switched to English brie from Somerset, and whilst this is not quite up the the standard of my childhood brie, which I ate with a spoon, it is superior to the low quality French export cheese. I would be pleased if the data from my cheese purchasing became part of an analysis project which led to an improvement in the product quality. Unfortunately, all that seems to happen is that I get a load of results telling me that I can save a couple of pence if I buy some inferior plastic imitation. Part of the problem seems to be the  disinterest of modern shoppers. All they seem to want to do is to order rubbish on line, and continue watching football or some other low vale TV programmes. I understand that sawdust has been found in some beef mince products, but no customers seem to have complained about it.

I've come to believe that the obsessive pursuit of privacy reduces the quality of life. We are social animals, and as a result, there needs to be a certain amount of observation and monitoring to ensure that we can preserve this quality. This becomes even more important as population density increases. However, I also believe that we should be allowed to preserve privacy in some parts of our lives. If I want to have a sexual relationship with two consenting women at the same time, then I don't thing that should be of any concern to anybody else - unless there is a husband that has been left out of course.

Once the de-Googling fun part begins, you may find yourself getting quite obsessed with your privacy and how your data is used. It's something I never thought I'd start doing once I begin experimenting with my older phones.

I wouldn't see this as not staying "within the letter and spirit of the law" though. It's just that you feel so much better when you know you have control over almost everything. It's the same thing as checking the "Never ask again" box when a browser asks for permission for your camera and never knowing when it'll be used vs not checking it and being asked every time the browser wants to use it. That feeling is great when it isn't only about the browser but the entire operating system.

As you're annoyed with the result-influencing apps, you may also want to turn to OpenBoard instead of whatever keyboard your phone uses by default. There are some options that may help with the anonymity of what you type. I'm not 100% sure if keyboards are to blame as well for the creepy Google results however.

Obviously though, there are things that will never be able to be 100% secure. Like I think I remember you said in other posts of yours, hardware has built-in backdoors anyway so trying to step to the side of the row easily makes you a target if the government suspects you. Then, custom ROMs are less likely to be stronger than the stock one from a security perspective. The ironic part about seeking more privacy is that you're probably going to be way more spied on by authorities than the average person is.

You have a very interesting way of looking at these things anyway. You're almost always giving me a little headache trying to understand the motives behind some stuff like, as @paxmao mentioned above, the fact that you hate Google but prefer the Chinese Huawei instead.

Whilst some may consider me to be unconventional, I try to stay within the letter and the spirit of the law, and I hope that I am not socially disruptive. I can be assertive of my rights, and this can lead me into some difficulties on occasions. I don't mind being observed in public, but I resent being spied on. For example, if I go into a supermarket, then I would expect the security staff to watch me in case I am likely to steal something. I have never done this, so I consider it as a means of keeping down prices, rather than an invasion of my privacy. If I am sitting at home ( or anywhere in fact ) and discussing the restoration of stationary engines with a friend,then I don't want to find that my next Internet searches prioritise results about metal paint or engine oil, rather than my current topic of interest. This ir why I would not allow Alexa into my home. I spent a lot of time trying to disable Cortana and other Microsoft spyware, and I haven't had much success. Google is possibly even worse, and I don't use facebook or twitter, or any of the other social media platforms that appear to encourage low level communications and recording users interests.

I don't know what Huawei is up to with customers data. I believe that the CCP has a significant interest in the company, and that CCP rulers have been recruited into the Eton/Oxford elite. You only have to do a bit of research in the activities of Tony Blair and others to be aware of this. But we also know that Google, Microsoft and others have even stronger links the US security, and thus the five Eyes Alliance. That is the military arm of the Eton/Oxford elite, so basically you can't get away from such surveillance. What you can do is to avoid commercial manipulation, and associated control of your computing and communication equipment, and I believe that this is less likely with Huawei. They seem to manufacture excellent mobile phones, and the prices are extremely competitive, and as I don't have any direct issues with the CCP, I don't see it as a threat. I have seen many news reports about life in China, and I would like to live there, but then, I spent a lot of rime in San Francisco, and I loved it, but I would hate to live there now judging by the reports I read about modern life there.

I don't know if I really need a privacy phone, but I want to experiment with creating one, and this is why I may convert my old phone into an E-phone. That won't happen this year though, as I need to do a bit more research about the concept. So I am probably going to end up with a hybrid phone with reduced Microsoft and Google influence on it. Obviously one of the first things to do it to get rid of Bing.

You are a bottomless pit of paradoxical fun. You would rather not have Google, but you are ok with Huawei.

Huawei is banned from using technologies from Google, which will be a disadvantage for them to go global, but that will be the motivation for them to create their own platform to compete directly with Google. This is very unlikely outside of China but with the domestic market, they can do it. The Chinese people are accustomed to their government banning social media from the US and using domestic apps.

It sounds like Huawei isn't confident with its HarmonyOS yet. Even the newly released Mate 40 lives with Android (without Google services of course). However, like it or not, Huawei's flagships are really good in design and camera. I don't know why Huawei's sales isn't really good in Asia but so good in EU. Maybe the Asian are mostly Apple's fan. Btw, I found a piece of news that might make you more convenient with your Huawei phone: Huawei unveils Petal Maps, Docs and adds more Petal Search functionality

I've  had the phone for over a day now, and I reckon I'm almost ready to read the manual/handbook.

First impressions are good. I had an initial problem with WiFi reception, but I put that down to Morrison's. Checking it as Asda, it appears to be better than the receiver in my P10. There is a yellow wash screen option to reduce eye strain, and I like it. The only problem that I had initially came from the Sim package I had been given. It was an O2 offer, and purported to have 10 pounds credit, but that seems to have expired in August. I'm using the sim card with no credit and the free Asda WiFi to post this. I'm also using a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard for the typing, but I need to register it, as it has no pound sign at the moment. I inserted a spare SD card that I have, and it is telling me that it is slow, and will affect the phone performance, I thought was was a nice check, and I'll buy a faster card.

There are 4 cameras, and I used the general purpose lens as a test. I thought it was stunning for the size of the device, but maybe I am out of touch with current developments. Although the device is supposed to be Google free, it comes with links to enable Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and a losd of other social apps. It also uses Bing as a search engine. The browser I'd a Huawei one, and I haven't checked to see if it is Chromium based. Everything that I use on the p!0 seems to be working, but faster. It is using a version of Android, and not the proposed Huawei OS. It doesn't link to Google apps, but links to a Huawei library, and I gather that is fairly comprehensive, but I haven't checked.

I'm going to have to change my original objectives in the light of my discoveries. I can switch to the Three network (Hutchinsons) and get unlimited data, texts and calls for 2 pounds less per month than I am paying at the moment, and I only get 15Gb of data. I'm thinking of transferring my existing phone number, and associated info onto this phone. That will obviously kill all the privacy advantages. Once the transfer is stable with the new provider, then I will try to flash the OS on the P10 and convert it into an E-phone of that is possible. I can then use that if I really need the privacy.

[decision time]

I'm in the Asda cafe (Walmart - ranked no. 3) with no power, and WiFi like treacle, but good value basic foods like fish and chips. The phone is being delivered to my Morrison's locker ( ranked no.4) WiFi a bit better, but loads of sites blocked, and no support for a node. They have power sockets, but the food is expensive, although slightly better quality. Delivery is usually between 11am and 2pm, but could be after 6pm. I can have afternoon tea and cakes in Sainsbury's ( no.2) with power sockets, and WiFi that is up to 100 times faster than Asda at the moment. If I get the phone soon, then I can go to Sainsbury's and play with it, whilst mu node continues to sync.

My life is full of these complex and difficult decisions.
I'm tempted to buy a salmon fillet, and cook it in the van at Morrison's, I can charge the notebook in the van on the way to the store. Then I'll use their WiFi from the car park, and wait for the phone delivery. Sainsbury's cafe closes at 4pm, so if it takes too long, then I'll miss afternoon tea there.

I made this post to show that I have a number of non-standard requirements for my computing and communication equipment.

Ah, I get it now. Thanks for the very detailed explanation.

I actually relate to almost your entire message, including the part about Bitcoin. But back when a BTC was 30 GBP, $10k was as unpredictable and uncertain as $1M is today, so I take that as just a paper loss.

The "cat health products" is something definitely happening with most of the corporations' products and platforms, especially with Facebook & friend suggestions and Google & search results, and that surely is creepy as hell.. hence why I became pretty much a privacy freak lately.

I may well play with some older phones at some time, but there are a few reason for choosing this one.
- Battery life is fairly good.
- I want to be able to tether the phone when WiFi is not available.
- The screen looks sharp and clear.
- Price and delivery is not too bad.
- I want to try the new Huawei OS when it is available.
- It is dual sim.

I don't play games, and I have no interest in most apps, and I find it annoying that I have to spend time deleting or removing them, I'm not bothered about government or police tracking me, but Covid test and trace may change that. What does annoy me is the way that Google and others mess with the system, and change my search results everywhere. If I am talking to a friend, and she asks me to have a  look at cat flea collars, they I don't want to spend the next couple of weeks deleting references to cat health products when I don't even have a cat.

I've got so many projects on the go at the moment, and so many things to sort out, that I just want to use easy stock options if possible, I'm really pissed off that I took so long to get started with Bitcoin, It was at £30 when I got my first few Satoshi, and it has now gone over £10,000, and I've still only got what most would consider an insignificant holding.

I watch financial, political and health videos quite a lot on the phone, and I use YouTube. I'm finding that many of the most interesting channels are being banned or de-listed, and they are switching to other media services. I'm hoping that those will have good support on the new phone. I don;t use contactless payment services, and I can be quite abusive about them, so the inability to use Googlepay or Applepay, or any of the others is no loss to me.

I have a genuine question though, as I've been watching this thread for a while now and this doesn't seem to be something you've contemplated yet: why don't you purchase an older (so cheaper as well) Huawei model with official LineageOS support and flash it so that you have much more control over what kind of apps your phone has?

One of the main things that keep me away from Huawei is that for most of their models it is a pain in the arse to change your Stock OS with a custom one. Unlocking the bootloader is a real headache. Other than that, I have a real curiosity to know why you prefer Huawei with Stock OS minus Google rather than any phone with a more privacy-oriented and almost entirely customizable custom ROM.

Im starting to get annoyed of my phone which huawei y6p and without google i cant download the games i want which is on playstore, so i look for alternative way, i manage to download tha games on other site, but when i try install it says device not compatible.

Well I need a spare phone, so I have just ordered this one.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086XH5SJK?tag=georiot-trd-21&th=1&psc=1&ascsubtag=trd-gb-4056148187785915400-21
I'll let you guys know how I get on with it.

I think the Huawei OS will be solid replacement for android.

Android were pumping the smartphone market by making their devices use more and more system memory so they become obsolete.

Imagine having a 32gb memory phone in 2020 lol.

Since the Huawei os will be linux, I think there will be .apk simulators or other ways of using google apps without google permission for pirates.

Yarr!

Data is pretty much the current gold mine and it's been exploited by authorities and those with the know how for several reasons. Google is one of the most fundamentals for every internet accessing technological device and most persons can hardly do without it. It's like the basic needs of life as we were taught in elementary school (food, water and shelter), that's the position google occupies and this have raised the vulnerability of a lot of users as most persons just use packages without knowing anything of it's development and node enter phase which could be used in spying on users. It feels unfair that these things are done but, you can't really escape it except you develope your own package. Perhaps, we've just got to live with it or use VPN to by pass them to some extent, you never can be completely out.

I think a smartphone is about as small as I want to go. I'm most interested in setting up a mobile coms centre in my van, and I'm going to try open Suse as an alternative to Ubuntu and Mint.

Harmony OS will be available on some smart TVs and smartwatches this year, and it should only appear on Huawei smartphones next year. The company has already announced that it will be possible to make a free upgrade from Android to Harmony OS for most new phones that will have EMUI 11. Personally, I don’t worry that Huawei won’t find an alternative to the chips as well as all the other components.

What do you think of their latest GT2 PRO smartwatch? I really like the really high quality workmanship and materials like titanium, ceramics and sapphire glass +200 watch faces

https://consumer.huawei.com/en/wearables/watch-gt2-pro/

It looks as if it does have WiFi and bluetooth, and it's Amazon that didn't bother to mention it.

I think some devices are starting to think about remote access. I've just bought a wild life camera that doesn't have bluetooth, and the WiFi has a remote switch. The switch looks like a watch with a couple of buttons instead of a face. I suspect this is to avoid people sensing the camera as they walk past with connectivity scanning enabled.

Really,? This is my first time to hear a phone that dont have wifi cause all phones today are with wifi. What model is that? Maybe its a phone from 2005.

I'm hoping that their new OS will arrive before thery run out of chips.

It's such a large well funded company, that I suspect they will be able to find an alternative source of chips, and that will be another massive  market lost to the US.