yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
Absolutely. Perhaps it would be a bit of a responsibility, but maybe we could turn the op of this thread into an alternatives list to help people switch away from Google...

Starting with Roms that don't include Google analytics.

1mobile app store

Textra, evolve, gosms, handcent SMS apps

Ubuntu one, drop box, yandex cloud storage

Dolphin web browser

Map quest, waze maps

We need a good web based email provider. Getting away from gmail will be the hardest part.
[Nexus 4 General] Kubino:
safe cloud storage are Wuala (from Switzerland) and Jottacloud (from Norway), both are out of USA so they should be NSA-free. Next cloud storage and with big free space is Mega with 50 GB free :).

Web based e-mail provider, I'm using My Opera Mail (https://mail.opera.com/) but Opera will close it in March 1, 2014 :( so I must find some another e-mail provider.
[Nexus 4 General] styckx:
I'll change the op soon enough to a more definitive list. When I first researched this I found a few threads here (on xda) and a few on Reddit from people seeking similar solutions. Most near all weren't that productive. Some the OP was ridiculed for asking about a Google free solution. I started this thread on a whim since I knew the N4 community was a bit more open minded in nature.. It turned out better than I thought. More people were open to this then I ever thought.

Good stuff

Sent from my Nexus 10
[Nexus 4 General] chrisrozon:
Waze is Google, btw
[Nexus 4 General] user822:
Waze sounded like a cool idea.

I read "Google" after 3 minutes of testing and uninstalled it immediately. That ruined it for me.
[Nexus 4 General] ghiri:
I like the idea of this thread!

I am only using Play Store from Google at the moment. I tried to make a fresh install of Purity ROM without Gapps installed but I could not restore all the apps with Titanium Back Up. I live in The Netherlands and the apps were related to transportation (9292OV, NS Xtraplanner, SNCB) and I think they need Google maps to work.

I will try again in a week after I finish with my exams. Keep it up!
[Nexus 4 General] bladebuddy:
This headline today sort of blows out you're theory of Google.

Doesn't look to me that there that bad infact the opposite.

Phone : Nexus 4 /Rom : cataclysm / Kernel : Stock.
[Nexus 4 General] kishke:
Waze was bought by google mainly for the patents, the original company is hasn't been touched and it's pretty much and autonomy, it was al part of the agreement.
[Nexus 4 General] chrisrozon:
Hey -- enough with the rational thought and facts, young man. Those have no place in this thread!!!!
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Pffft. I'm positively certain the gigantic, growing international data bank of Wazers played no role in their decision. /roll eyes
[Nexus 4 General] ferrocene:
I have a hard time believing this line of thinking is still used by people, but here we are. I thought it was reserved only for The Onion. If it wasn't for the rest of this comment I would be laughing at the joke.
[Nexus 4 General] paul c:
Today I read that the NSA has been extracting user data from apps such as Angry Birds! Never mind the more obvious apps like Google Maps.

http://elpais.com/internacional/2014/01/27/actualidad/1390854460_566211.html
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
I wonder why most reports gloss right over the fact Facebook is collecting data via Golden Nugget. Zuck's pal Peter Thiel who funded FB as a startup also funds InQTel...CIA's VC outfit to infiltrate tech. Surely no conflict of interest there where privacy is concerned. Speaking of the Onion...I'm reminded of that classic skit Zuck is a CIA Spy...prescient even if the agency acronyms aren't perfect.

[YOUTUBE]8BZxLM3BpOk[/YOUTUBE]
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
It may take a while for me to give up Calender and Gmail, but what I CAN do is use it through a sandboxed browser, retaining full control of my sigint by not having google framework/GApps,etc. GApps Sandboxed Browser (1Market/F-droid) even has Google Voice calling, and a bunch of other Google services without the tracking and Android overhead: https://f-droid.org/forums/topic/googleapps-sandboxed-browser/
[Nexus 4 General] Keetz:
Wow...I'm starting to learn a lot!

Would you guys have a list of ROMs that don't have Gapps or Google Analytics? So I can see if I can function in truth without Google...this seems to be a pretty groovy project...
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
I chose AOSP-based Purity on my Nexus 5. Quick install, ART optimised along with other desirable features.

Even before stumbling upon this thread it had been in the back of my mind for a number of years, especially with regard to Android, about the paradox of open source versus walled garden and how Google has managed to deftly convince the populace it is *not* what it really is. My wife says G's business model, like most tech companies, is parasitic: it relies upon users generated content in a consistent (and growing) datastream (sigint) to sustain and thrive, so it's only natural to see the erosion of TOS and privacy, and even the ownership of your content YOU produce within their service. Rather than parasitic, I call it vampiric: sigint is lifeblood, with new fresh sources (eg. Waze) acquired and bled voraciously while gaining both public adoration ( acquiring top talent, don't be evil, do some noble projects) AND simultaneously insulating themselves from liability ( patent acquisition, media and policy lobbying) with a design to make themselves "too big to fail'. Immunity, immortality...only a silver bullet or stake through the heart will do. We have the tools to do so...it's only a question of will, and who controls it.
[Nexus 4 General] Keetz:
Just wondering, does PURITY ROM come with a file manager? I don't want to use Play Store for ANYTHING...including downloading one!
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Negative. I use ES and on occasion Astro, from alternate sources.

Edit: also ES FileExplorer has its own updater,fwiw. Available on 1Market.
[Nexus 4 General] Keetz:
Damn...all my apps are in APK form, and I can't access them without a file manager. I guess I'll have to do up a flashable zip of ES File Explorer. I'll go hunting for a way to do so...
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Once in Purity all you need is a browser to get everything else...I emailed myself the 1Market store app, grabbed GApps Sandbox Browser and Dolphin from 1Market and off to the races. So far phone's very snappy and great battery life.
[Nexus 4 General] milestegfreeze:
With all the new buying of robotics companies I really can see Google as big brother+Skynet...

Run Sarah Connor
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Coming to a branch near you: http://gigaom.com/2014/01/27/drone-with-robotic-legs-can-perch-on-a-branch-like-a-bird/
[Nexus 4 General] milestegfreeze:
In an android magazine I've just read they're present some alternatives to Google apps.

Gmail ---> K9 mail

Google play store ---> amazon app store, aptoide, getjar, androidpit, f-droid

Google search ---> duckduckgo

Google maps ---> osmand (open street maps)

Google chrome ---> dolphin

Hangouts ---> whatsapp

Google note ---> evernote

Play music ---> spotify

Play books ---> kobo books

Google flux ---> flipboard

Google agenda ---> acalendar

YouTube ---> dailymotion

Google drive ---> skydrive, box, drop box

Text editor ---> king soft office

I don't know if it has any utility but I wanted to share...

---------- Post added at 01:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:14 AM ----------

Nice video but this one is scary in an other way

Did you've heard about Boston dynamics?
[Nexus 4 General] stormjenkins:
Slim Roms can be used without Gapps, its a great ROM
[Nexus 4 General] styckx:
Hey guys. I've meant to update the OP with a more organized list etc. I've been very busy though. If someone wants to format something out and PM me it to copy and paste in I will. Full credit given of course.

Sent from my Nexus 10
[Nexus 4 General] Nuu~:
An okay list, but for some applications you just jump from one proprietary data-mining application to another.

For example, the Amazon app store, whatsapp, skydrive, Dolphin Browser etc. are no better than the Google alternative.

As far as search engines go, you should use ixquick or startpage (if you need Google results loaded by proxy).

Dolphin is no better than Chrome as it's also proprietary software and has been proven to send user data to the developer. As an alternative, use Firefox.

The only real alternative for privacy-focused online storage services is, sadly, a self hosted server running Owncloud.

If someone know a free and privacy focused alternative to whatsapp, please let me know.
[Nexus 4 General] Juanito216:
It was odd when a photo I took ended up online without my permission. I'm supposed to be OK with Google about that? http://phandroid.com/2014/01/29/google-mob-sourced-video-patent/
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
Yeah..and I have over 7000 photos in high res on Picasa...I've got some work to do insofar as Owncloud. I have them backed up to unlimited Pogo, but I no longer trust them either..only one National Security letter away from being absconded, if they haven't already.

---------- Post added at 10:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 AM ----------

Does anyone run a recommendable packet capture/tcpdump app that can present pcap files on the phone? Busybox has basic tools, but I'm looking for a simple widget/interface to start/stop/view results. Cheers!
[Nexus 4 General] jherbold:
Some thoughts

Getting rid of Google is actually fairly easy at the expense of some usefulness. Getting rid of all cloud services is a bit trickier but can be done. Getting rid of all apps that access to net - you have just a phone. I went that far.

I find I am not comfortable at either extreme. Like everyone, I need to find a balance between privacy and convenience. As an experiment I'm going to load gapps but neuter Google's data collection as best as I can by setting sync off for all except one or two services, turning off location services, Google Now, etc.

I'll visit my dashboard in a few days and see how it looks. Major thanks to the OP for this very enlightening thread.
[Nexus 4 General] milestegfreeze:
I am not yet a Google free user but I hope soon join the rest of you. I use xprivacy to manage "data collecting" from apps.

Maybe it can be useful for some of you
[Nexus 4 General] wideasleep1:
For some inexplicable reason, my Nexus 4 has been a breeze compared to my Nexus 5. Both on Purity, stock kernel, but Aptoide and 1Market seem to have no issues on the N4, but seem quirky and refuse to download certain apps on my N5. Baffling. Anyway...I highly recommend downloading Bittorent Sync to do your own personal cloud, synced to all mobile devices and any home machine, especially anything on 24/7/365. That sole app is worth the effort, in any attempt to reduce or eliminate your sigint. If unable to extricate from Google Services entirely, the GApps Sandboxed Browser I mentioned earlier gives quick access to main services via browser, and I'm convinced with the Google Framework missing means both phones run faster. My N4 flies! :)
[Nexus 4 General] jherbold:
Yandex has an app market. Haven't seen it mentioned yet.

http://store.yandex.com/
[Nexus 4 General] gtg465x:
Just to clarify, are you only opposed to Google collecting data about you or are you against any large corporation that might collect data? Because if it's just a Google hatred, you could always just get an iPhone or Windows Phone. With those you can be Google free and have a much better experience (IMO) than a totally stripped down Android device.
[Nexus 4 General] howard bamber:
Thought I was the only one. I'm totally google free now. I use tor browser, handsent messaging, Aptiode, which has cleaned its act up. I could go on. Found an app on xposed framework which breaks the Google account link which is where I started. That was the main thing, having to use Gmail to use my phone. I've made my own "non gapps apps" package which I put on the rom of choice. I'm looking at getting sailboat os, or something like that as most roms are based on android. I'd like a duel boot system

Sent using reversed alien technology...
[Nexus 4 General] stormjenkins:
Interesting.... What is you're"non gapps apps" package consisted of?

I am experimenting with this google free idea too. I read in previous posts about owncloud and would like to try it out using my own server. This process definitely will take more work than usual but I see the benefit of cutting certain ties. This is what I have come to love about android is the choices(this is my first android device).

I have only tried Fdroid so far, but what are others experiences using alternate app markets? Which ones are more "reliable"?

Thanks

SJ
[Nexus 4 General] howard bamber:
Hi I use Aptiode. Some say it is dodgy but it's 100s of individual app shops. Any app you click on will show if its safe, been tampered with etc. It uses the latest anti malware, anti virus, software. I've never had trouble. As I said Handsent, for messages. Firefox and TOR browser for the Web. Mail. com, for mail. Box for storage. Just go to the app store. Type in the Google product ie maps and look at the alternatives. Read the reviews. I did this until I had what I wanted, which is pretty basic, made an apps folder and saved it to box

Sent using reversed alien technology...
[Nexus 4 General] rcoliveirajr:
What's the problem with Google bro? This company is so awesome for me :D
[Nexus 4 General] jherbold:
Current setup

Device - Google Nexus 4

Rom - Purity 4.4.2 (ART)

Custom host file - recovery flash http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1916098

Gapps - none

Plan - T-Mobile $30 unlimited/100minutes

Launcher - Nova

Browser - Firefox, DuckDuckGo default search

App stores - F-Droid, Amazon, 1Mobile

File handlers - ES (via recovery zip), Total Commander, FastFTP, owncloud

Maps - OsmAnd, BackCountry Navigator

Gasbuddy - bookmark, mobile web site via Firefox

Calendar - Standalone, synced to owncloud via CalDav Sync app

Contacts - native, synced to owncloud via CardDav beta app

Voip dialer - MagicJack

Password mgr - KeePassDroid synced to owncloud

Sports - ESPN ScoreCenter

Books - Amazon Kindle

Backups - Easy Backup app

Notes/Grocery list/Todo - Text Editor, files synced to owncloud

Expense mgr - Basic program, files synced to owncloud http://laughton.com/basic/
[Nexus 4 General] howard bamber:
What did you do with the part of the OS which roms don't change which is google o/s? The Android system and services frame work?

The first is listed as Google in an app search in the system. I'm on a non google phone. No playstore no nothing but that darn company is based in flashing roms can't clear it fully. Who knows what spying it does
[Nexus 4 General] ngr.hd:
Yandex Offers Fee-Free Android FirmwareKit So OEMs Can Ditch Google Services

http://techcrunch.com/2014/02/19/yandex-kit/
[Nexus 4 General] lilgiz:
After reading through this thread, I decided to try it out. I did a clean install of my home built RastaKat along with PA micro Gapps. Using the playstore, I installed my Tibu, Root Explorer and my other paid apps to make sure I had the latest installed. I then dirty flashed RastaKat without flashing Gapps. On boot up the first thing I did was manually remove the Google Play Services out of the data partition since it auto updated there almost immediately after the original boot. After that I reinstalled most of my apps with TiBu. There were probably about 4 apps which would not install, I'm assuming due to needing some Google services framework. Off the top of my head, Gas Buddy, Costco, Key Ring & iTriage did not install for me. I still have a few open source Google apps, but nothing proprietary. I having do miss Google Voice & My Tracks though, as I haven't found a suitable replacement yet.

I've been running this set up for about a week now and can't say I've had any issues of note. I believe I now have 3 pc's, 2 laptops, a phone and a tablet which are free of any proprietary software from either Microsoft, Apple or Google! :good: Edit: I forgot I have Windows installed on Virtual Box on one of my pc's

Thanks to the OP for the ideas
[Nexus 4 General] Neo0:
I just wanted to mention another alternative store: The Nokia Store shipped with the X series of Nokia.

The store does not require login and offers a few apps :)

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2664212

I hope it's the right link

Gesendet von meinem Nexus 4 mit Tapatalk
[Nexus 4 General] Kubino:
I'm finding some calendar which is not synchronize with Google account and allow import ics file. Any idea's?
[Nexus 4 General] PBaran:
Great post, thanks. One question: So if I completely delete my Google account, I can't re-download the apps I paid for from 1MobileMarket or AppBrain? I've checked both sites, and all the apps I paid for are there.

So far I'm enjoying it. I lost a lot of payware from the Play Store I've bought over the years but I'm learning to live without it. I'm thoroughly enjoying knowing my device is truly Google free at this point.[/QUOTE]
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
[/QUOTE]

I would contact some of the devs of the payware and see if they'll send you a copy or something.
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
This is exactly why this thread was created. It was only a matter of time before Google decided to start picking and choosing what information they want to look for and turn over to the police. (I wouldn't be surprised if there was some tax incentive in the future). While I am happy this sicko is behind bars, I am not happy at all with Google thinking it is OK to go through peoples personal e-mail, pictures and turn them over to the police arbitrarily.

http://www.dailytech.com/Internet+C...or+Turning+in+Child+Predator/article36345.htm
[Nexus 4 General] ArkLab1:
great post
[Nexus 4 General] BassBlaster:
Why are people so privacy conscious geez... No matter how much I try to understand I still can't wrap my head around it. Are you guys hiding secret missile plans in your phones or something?
[Nexus 4 General] Keetz:
No. We simply like to keep our identities. A lot of people can gain access to your personal information...even more so if you put it out there. Imagine your entire bank account wiped out, just because you were hacked via your phone...or your computer.

I value my money way more than any missile schematics.
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
This is a joke, right? That article is a perfect example. Google has their hands in most Android users email (gmail) and text message (hangouts) communications now. They apparently want to play moral watchdog. What if they decide they want ot join the "War on drugs"? What if someone talks about going to smoke weed with their friends or something and maybe Google decides they want to turn that information over as well? Where is the line drawn? Google apparently decides that arbitrarily. If you still don't understand after reading that article, then I can't help you. You fallin with the group of people who are not aware of what is happening in the world, especially in the United States.
[Nexus 4 General] calyxim:
Wrong my friend.

This article is a perfect example of google preventing the rape of a random innocent child.
[Nexus 4 General] rickd88:
That it is. Nobody is saying it isn't.

What is also is.... Is another example of privacy lost.

I'm pretty sure everyone agrees they are happy this scumbag is gone.

I think the concern was the slippery slope this can become. Remember the point behind being "google free" wasn't that google isn't a great service or doesn't have great products. It's that google invades your privacy.
[Nexus 4 General] prog19:
Google said that a large number pedo images have a unique fingerprint attached to it and the Gmail scans for that fingerprints in every upload made to their servers.

I'm a Brazilian without English Course, sorry and be comprehensive :)
[Nexus 4 General] Servaas:
Won't somebody think of the children!!!1! Is always a good argument for giving up everyones privacy.
[Nexus 4 General] :
Location services

What do you guys use for location services? I've been trying to make the same switch away from Google, have an owncloud and subsonic server setup at home.

Using Slimkat without GApps and apps that use location - weather apps for example don't work, either on GPS or network location. Is there a solution, or a third party location services framework that can be installed?
[Nexus 4 General] anne5louise:
It's nice looking into the accounts section and not seeing Google or them even being an option.
[Nexus 4 General] fahadsul3man:
i think google snooping around in mailbox and reporting it to police is standard procedure, wasnt garry glitter caught similarly when his laptop repair guy alerted police as he somehow found child porn on his laptop ? a while back
[Nexus 4 General] Wizard Knight:
Google does not hand things over arbitrarily or personally go through your emails. They found that dude because they are part of a group trying to stop the spread of child porn. Microsoft created an algorithm that scrubs images pixel by pixel looking for certain criteria that's fed to it from a child porn database. It's a very robust compare and contrast algorithm. If it pops a match, authorities are notified. Microsoft made the method available for free and a lot of email services use it.

Also, Google is very open about using your data for targeted ads but is also very open about doing it through algorithms so human eyes stay off your private bits.

You gain little to nothing by stripping yourself of Google services because that's only half the equation. If you email somebody else on Gmail, yahoo, whatever, that service can do the exact same things on the receiving end.

I understand the privacy concerns, but instead of going overboard and denying yourself useful or fun services, just be smarter about the way you use those services.

Also, if you use a free service of any kind, expect that service to do something with whatever you put on it to generate income.

Be smart.
[Nexus 4 General] jherbold:
I went Google Free shortly after this thread began - about six months. I regret I haven't been thinking clearly. I feel so stupid. Thanks for the heads up!
[Nexus 4 General] Sir_gpm:
Could you teach me to do that?.
[Nexus 4 General] Luzitano:
So... having algorithms going through emails to flag potentially dangerous ones that can even save lives is horrible but doing something illegal is perfectly fine? You really have that much to hide that you can't have a computer look through emails automatically to check for potential dangers?

Or you think they have a bunch of monkeys reading millions of emails "by hand"? Some people should take out the tin foil from their heads once in a while.

You think your internet provider can't go through what you look for on the internet? Understand something, you're not special, they are not after you and unless you do something pretty bad, you have nothing to worry about.

What you and others post on facebook or any other social network is a lot more revealing than what google will ever get from your emails.
[Nexus 4 General] :
The NOGAPPS project is a thread worth following. Answered my own question about location services as well, though I've not had the time to test any of it yet.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1715375
[Nexus 4 General] jherbold:
If you have Netflix and are interested in how big data fits into today's digital world - go watch a documentary film called "Terms and Conditions May Apply"
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
Yeah I'm not here to debate with Google apologists or those who say "Well of you have nothing to hide, then what does it matter?". The logic is no different from, " Criminals are the only ones who should fear a police state and martial law.".

---------- Post added at 11:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 PM ----------

http://junkee.com/google-maps-has-b...y-move-and-theres-a-website-to-prove-it/39639
[Nexus 4 General] wulsic:
[MENTION=4362467]gorilla p[/MENTION] I saw your link and i think they are following you if you have gps/location acces on because I always turn it manually of on each new rom and the last location data from me was in may when i had left the location access on.
[Nexus 4 General] gorilla p:
Yeah that sounds right.