[Android General] tomatosmoothie:
Hey folks,

Just sharing my experience getting out of the Google services/framework

I use LineageOS(a custom firmware) with my One Plus 2 and was previously using gaaps pico(the bare minimum) which had Google Services Framework which comes with Google Play Store.

I didn't like the permissions Google Play Store was asking for(almost all permissions) although I made a new Google account and used a gamers gift card to load money onto it to pay for apps, I was just uncomfortable with the privacy policy and all the metadata Google collects.

I searched high and low and found 'Raccoon' and 'Yalp Store' as alternatives to the Google Play Store, ironically I found them using Google Search , Yalp Store is what I went with to download apps from Google Play Store without the Google Services Framework (GSF) and it has the ability to check for app Updates(Yalp Store checks and updates apps using scrapping the Google Play Store, no need for Google Services Framework), I had a choice of using the Yalp Store random account to sign-in or one of my choice. So now I don't install any Gaaps with LineageOS.

I liked the idea of updating apps via Play Store (they are vetted the most in my opinion with respect to security) I don't mind apkmirror but it requires a scrapper to check for updates(which I was too lazy to write).

There were some hiccups using Yalp Store(I signed in with the account In used to pay for apps) for apps like Greenify, that I paid for would not unlock as it required Google Services Framework to do a license check.

There are no push notifications without GSF. The private messenger 'Signal' still works but runs in the background(does not take too much of battery at all).

It's been a two weeks or more without anything Google and even droping Whatsapp. I noticed really good battery life. Had to use various apps(essentials for me) like:

Mail: Bluemail for icloud email

Music: Phonograph (Not GSF dependant)

Video: VLC (Not GSF dependant)

File manager: Solid Explorer PRO (Very cool, uses your IMEI to do a license check initially)

Oneplus Galery and Camera (ported by one of the devs) (btw if you google the OnePlus Gallery on apkmirror, the beta version works fine with the OP2)

Messaging: Signal Messenger

Calendar (com.boxer.calendar): Not GSF dependant

Browser: Firefox and Firefox Focus

Notes: Simplenote

F-Droid: to check for updates to the Yalp Store app (not GSF dependant)

Newpipe (YouTube player which can be downloaded from F-Droid) - Is awesome, can check if your favorite YouTube channels have any updates without signing in, just like the 'YouTube Checker' add-on for Firefox on desktop. Super cool floating popup to watch videos! (non GFS dependant)

Backup: Super Backup (The super backup pro is GSF dependant and cannot complete a license check) I use this app to locally backup Contacts, apps, Calendar events and Messages)

BlueMail checks my email once in a day, just like the old days when they were no smartphones and one would logon on the desktop once a day to check mail, instead of having a fight or flight response everytime a push notification is sent atleast in my case (I can manually do a refresh and check, whenever)

To be honest, it takes some getting used to, but I'm happier in the sense I dont like Google collecting data for their AI and Machine learning, my data is not that important to them and my privacy is not due to any paranoia. I just dont like the concept anymore, I have nothing to hide, it's just the 'Google Free Stuff' comes at a cost, I just watched tech news today and found that Google Chrome, is now, planning to use Machine Learning to determine if the links you click in their browser are Malware, you know what that means right, they have to get access to all the 'links' you click 'to determine' which are Malware. Most people don't get it, others don't care because they feel they have nothing to hide, but, if you really want to go free of either Google or Apple. Stock LineageOS is the best way to go (personal opinion)

Without GSF you have to set a check for notifications(for various apps) at regular intervals, not that battery intensive but counter-intuitive if you dig push notifications.

Wow, feels great to share all that lol.

Also, I found the time to update my 'removal' script to remove all the default ringtones-alarms-notificaton(.ogg file) sounds and copy just the ones I want to use to their respective folders via TWRP flashing (it also removes stuff I dont use in Lineage OS)

https://github.com/forestfirefly/lineageosscript

Have a safe and secure 2018 and please do share any super cool non GSF dependant apps that you use, thanks.

Ps:- Using the LineageOS stock Dialer and Contacts app and really diggin it!

Thanks LineageOS Dev Team for all your hard work, you guys must get that a lot but felt the need to say it

Originally posted here

Update1:

Have moved out of iCloud email and have decided to go with the eco-friendly email provider posteo.de along with the 'K-9 Email' app to fetch email.

Update2:

Am using 'Here WeGo' maps and its not bad at all.

Also switched to APKUpdater(https://xdaforums.com/android/apps-games/app-apkupdater-t3444517) as Yalp Store was sharing my device info with Google (when using my own account, I noticed it in devices)

Update3:

Decided to use Raccoon by Onyxbits to download apks on my linux machine (Mod Edit: Link removed)

It's good and has the ability to check for updates for apps downloaded

It has the ability to download apps you have paid for based on the google ID you use to log in

Changed from Yalp Store as I found Yalp Store to use the google play api to fetch apps and if any other google framework like microG was to be installed it would get the account credentials from Yalp store, also, using it with the Orbot app, made Google flag my account as a "privacy guy", they seemed to know what's going on.

Using Spotify for music (does not require GSF)

Using Simple Calendar Pro for Calendar

Using firefox as my main browser usinf Opera with VPN for anonymous browsing

Using Firefox Notes for end to end encrypted notes instead of SImplenote

Waiting for RCS (Mod Edit: Link removed) Messaging as I've completely gone off WhatsApp for good! Signal Messanger is good for now.