Topic: Huawei without Google - page 4. (Read 1267 times)

What we need is a Qubes OS for phones that is open source and modular in design with selective installing of modules say you don't want any camera software install or you don't want your GPS module to be enabled bluetooth or other services a block based module OS would be perfect and give the end users full control over what is on the phone and what is not.

Cyagenmod used to be the go to solution but again it had it's downfalls I really think the first person who can create a module based OS for phoned that allows the user to build there own spec OS will be a massive hit.

I am not anti-Chinese either. I'm not against any race, I'm only against the way some corporations/govs spy on us.

If my post in this thread wasn't helpful for you (I don't see why having a fully-free OS would be a problem at all) and you only wish phones didn't have sideloaded apps, then have you thought about going for an Android One phone such as the Pixel? If that isn't enough and you don't want YouTube, Play Music, Chrome etc on the phone you can go for flashing a custom ROM without the G-Apps on it.

I've had something similar. The suggestions, not the dysfunction.
We're having our kitchen renovated, and were discussing lighting - actually discussing vocally; we had sent no texts nor made any phone or computer searches. We don't have Amazon Echo or Google Home or any of that crap.
... And then my wife went on her phone and was suddenly bombarded with ads for kitchen lights.


Actually, I think it will. Try to run your OS from a floppy, and it will be a disaster. Sorry

I really don't care if people are spying on me. I suspect I'm a bit of an exhibitionist. I am annoyed by the manipulation of search results and the way sites like YouTube push things that don't interest me based on a misunderstanding of some of my posting and searches. One possibly amusing example is happening at the moment. Because I have been discussing and searching about hard drive problems, YouTube has started to suggest videos about erectile dysfunction. I'm not sure Viagra will help maintain hard drives in my computer.

btw - If a site blocks access until I agree to an EU cookie policy, I just quit the site.

Hey! I'm not meriting anti-Chinese stuff, I'm meriting people who are complaining that everyone surveils us. The Chinese state may be bad, but it's Facebook that's my mortal enemy. There, I've said it.

... And if you edit this so it says "I really care if people are spying on me", then I'll merit you, too. Go on. Do it. One word to delete.


Seriously though, the monetising of us poor users is getting absurd now, and it's really impacting our experience. It's not just nefarious behind-the-scenes behavioural analysis and nudging us to act (or indeed vote) in a certain way, it's now right out in the open and in our faces.

I had a rant about it a while ago.

I think you're in the UK, same as me, so we're both supposedly protected by GDPR and particularly the 'active consent' element. But websites are treating the law with open contempt. You can click once to 'accept all' cookies and trackers, but have to make many many clicks through different sub-menus to opt out - the exact opposite of how it is legally supposed to work. Anyway, I'm ranting again, sorry. Have a look at the thread if you're interested. But please, do care about these companies spying on us. They're not just subverting the web, they're subverting democracy.

Wow - so many merits for anti-Chinese sentiments.

I don't really care if people are spying on me. What does annoy me is that the big players are constantly messing with my settings, and installing rubbish apps that I don't want, and won't use. I don't want things like Alexa, Cortana, Facebook, Twotter (sic) and all the other trivial nonsense that goes on at the moment. I don't want crappy music superimposed on my surfing either.

It also annoys me when my searches are modified to push products just after I have bought something. Computers used to be tools, but now they are self-driving devices, and we are just passengers in our journeys on the net.

It's owned by Facebook though. And you know FB handling its social media and stuff.

But it's owned by Facebook, so removing all Google apps & services to sideload WhatsApp makes no sense imo..

WhatsApp does not require Google or any of it's services. Install WhatsApp APK by sideloading from Whatsapp website and you are good to go.

I wish I could go completely Google free, but my options would then be limited. One big issue for me was that WhatsApp really is a need and I believe there's no point in going for a fully free experience where you're off Apple/Google/Microsoft/whatever other company's track if the experience will not really be fully free. I believe WhatsApp doesn't even work if you remove absolutely everything related to Google from your Android phone, but I may be wrong.

Anyways, the point I was trying to make is, although I'd really like going for a fully free experience, there are apps I can't find an open-sourced version of so I still have to use some close-sourced apps.. yes, removing everything Huawei/Google related off your phone and having only a few close-sourced apps you really need is better than leaving all default stuff inside your phone. But I guess you get my point..

If you want to go off their radar as much as possible, you're going to go through a big headache. You'll probably just then find out how many apps you're using are not open-source and there's no alternative versions of them. You can't use social media either, and your communication with others will have to go through some app like Signal.

You can use a Replicant-supported phone and get their OS on it (or buy one from Technoethical), this is the best fully-free OS I have found yet. Other alternatives I have seen are CopperheadOS (I wanted to install it on my older Nexus but I have never tried it, apparently it isn't supported anymore for Nexus; keep in mind it only supports a few phone models) and LineageOS.

Removing all Huawei or Google apps and services will also remove the app store. You can then opt for F-Droid and get open-source apps off their store. Good luck!

As opposed to authorised access? When Google was questioned by senators, Susan Molinari (VP for Policy) admitted that Google lets app developers access Gmail inboxes and read through users' personal mail. In one example, a third party marketing company called Return Path read literally thousands of unredacted personal emails. This is a bit over a year old, and Google said they would tighten things up, but tech companies say a lot of stuff and tend to ride ahead of the law... does anyone seriously think that a company that provides services "for free" is really not one where users and their data are being monetised?


Absolutely true, I agree 100%. Personally, as a westerner living in a western country, I would rather be spied upon by China than the US/UK/Five Eyes. If I lived in China, the opposite would be true and I'd be trying to ditch my Huawei instead.

^ Pretty much this. It depends on who you want to be spied by, either by China or the US.

Basically data is the current gold mine now. You want convenience, that comes at the expense of security. There's no in-between.

You will replace Google and NSA spyware with chinese spyware. And chinese spyware is of lower quality, it means some 3rd party can get unauthorized access to it.

I really have a lot of problems trying to disable Google apps and Microsoft stuff. The new Google free phones from Huawei have a massive appeal for me, but it doesn't look as if we can get them in the UK for a reasonable price.

Do any of you guys want to be Google free on your phones?