9 mo. ago • 88%

Can installing an open source os on a pixel phone count as de-googling?

I mean they're still the ones who made the hardware

13 comments

Yes. If you install Graphene and no play services your phone is de-googled unless you use Google services through a web browser or install another app that contacts them. Google does not have magical hardware level telemetry.

30
- Yep! Since the Nexus phones, big G has kept dev's in mind when designing their devices. This is why there's so much control available on Pixies and previously on old Nexus phones.
  
  8
- Call me a paranoid haha.
  
  Ok so which open source os do you recommend? I was told CalyxOS is good how does Graphene compare?
  
  4
  
  If the internet can be believed, Graphene is the absolute holy grail. That's why people buy Pixel phones specifically so they can flash Graphene.
  
  10
  
  Have a look at some of the threads on !privacyguides@lemmy.one for comparisons, my read on it is that GrapheneOS is trying to be as secure as possible which brings a lot of privacy with it, and CalyxOS is a bit more permissive because they're just trying to degoogle. What this means is that only Pixels meet GrapheneOS's standards whereas CalyxOS will run on other devices, and CalyxOS uses MicroG to spoof Google Play Services while GrapheneOS comes without any but allows you to install a sandboxed version of GPS if you need it.
  
  You can have a read though GrapheneOS's website to get the pretty in-depth details on what it does, why it does it, and how to do it yourself. I've been using it for a couple of years now and I'd recommend it, happy to answer any questions if you need!
  
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  Permanently Deleted
  
  1
- How can we* know this for sure? It seems so uncharacteristic of the company.
  
  *or I, a pleb.
  
  2
  
  They don't care. It doesn't impact them economically in any noticeable way because the user base of these ROMs is too small for it to matter.
  
  Also, you can see all traffic on your local network using Wireshark. Reiterating that computers aren't magic.
  
  4
You will never be completely degoogled, so technically you’re degoogling in my book.

8
- Well not entirely true. There are a few Linux phones, like Pinephone that break free of Google.
  
  I don't own one but I'm leaning towards getting the pinephone pro, even if it's a little rough around the edges.
  
  I'm not sure what sort of applications are available in it's "store" but I think it would work as a daily driver for basic use.
  
  I personally hardly use any apps anyway, mostly just phone, sms, and Firefox.
  
  2
Yes it does, most privacy concious people ( means they also want google out of their life ) choose pixels because of their hardware features.

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Ironically, they're some of the last phones to even enjoy decent custom ROM support. Even newer OnePlus phones have no custom ROM development going on last I checked

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