this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2023
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K, I'm still not using Google search engine anymore. And once I find a replacement for any other Google services and devices I have, it's out with those as well.
Both leaving reddit and leaving google s.e. were two things that I thought would be harder than they were.
Just need to install Linux as your primary OS and your transition to software freedom will be complete.
Doing so on the desktop is easy enough. Getting rid of Android appears to be a much harder challenge, though.
Android is opensource. You can get phones that support ROMs like LineageOS (would recommend a FairPhone) or /e/ (godawful name, good ROM) for example - you can buy the Murena phone for this.
Linux phones are about 5 years away from mainstream usability, IMO.
I'm really looking forward to Linux phones. Have been for years. It's sad that Mozilla and Canonicals ventures didn't pan out because both had really fun ideas. Hell I say they had the right ideas, it just wasn't the right time.
Until banking apps except the use of custom ROMs it will be a major stumbling block to switching to them.
I've never had an issue using banking apps from Lineage. I use 3 different pretty mainstream ones
I second the recommendation for Fairphone w/ CalyxOS. Feels just like having a Google Pixel running Android. Just way way more private.
Is this gonna turn into a new meme?
Fingers crossed that linux gets better support and development on phones
Leaving google isn't hard.
Leaving YouTube specifically, however... Well, it's been getting easier as content seems to be less and less frequent or quality.
I use piped/newpipe etc. and simply support creators i watch via patreon/direct donations/merch. Less money for shitty ad company more money for creatives.
Maps is the last one to replace. There are so many ads now that I'll tolerate a lower quality alternative.
There's are some OpenStreetMap-based apps that are worth checking out. Some of them are made for specific purposes, while other are for general navigation. I've tried some of them through the time with various success, though I've still haven't found a favorite to stick with for good. But I believe making the switch is definitely possible and probably worth it!
You can install all the mentioned apps through F-Droid:
Additionally, use Transportr for public transport navigation almost anywhere in the world, and GMaps WV, a restricted WebView wrapper for accessing the web version of Google Maps. Intended for use when OpenStreetMap isn't enough.
I use OSMAND
This is true, I still use youtube and I don't see it changing soon since there are no viable alternatives.
Closest I'd say would be a service like Odysee. Can't really say whether their practices are better than yt or not, but I can at least confirm I've found a few channels I don't wanna sub to on yt also have accounts on Odysee. As to whether or not they made those accounts/channels is a different story.
Peer tube but no one actually makes content for it far as I can tell.
https://grayjay.app/
I've been using it. It's actually pretty great.
I still worry that leaving Reddit is going to make it tilt to the right. I spent a decade posting there in the hopes that it would nudge people towards sanity.
I think it probably already is somewhat, but there comes a point where trying to change the system from within becomes futile and complicit.
I'd rather be out here making a better place.
The right use it and all other social media sites for coordinated disinformation. No matter how much you try to combat it you're going up against people/ideas with deep pockets and a lot of resources meaning your voice is just a drop in the bucket.
Sure, but there are a lot more of us, and we make more sense.
It's important to present people with the contrasting view when they're presented with disinformation. It's natural to believe the first thing you read if it's just a narrative with no dissent.
leaving reddit is easy leaving google is pretty damn difficult
This is something I wrote in another thread earlier but it's relevant here too
I replaced gmail with protonmail and everything else with nextcloud. Couldn't go back.
Hosting your own nextcloud I’m guessing?
If so how did you install it?
Their docker stack is pretty simple to setup
Honestly. Off the back of this debacle I switched to Firefox and duckduckgo. Previously I used to use the shit out of incognito because I hated that when I searched for something once that I then get that thing popping up everywhere else in ads etc. Since the switch I no longer get the feeling of being stalked.
NoScript helps a lot, too. I suppose other extensions also. It’s horrifying how many sites embed Google and Facebook tracking, including ones that really shouldn’t like medical sites and banks.
My concern is saving my email and photos before my account is randomly banned one day with no customer service and no recourse. God only knows what data they already harvested from when I used to back up my photos with their service.
Just grab a copy using Google Takeout, then after that use Syncrify, FolderSync, Resilio Sync or something else to automatically copy your phone media to your computer.
Definitely the first step is to get more SSDs. I was traveling a lot and barely used a desktop or even a laptop for 6-7 years. I’ll check out those sync systems, thanks.
On the topic of this, what is the best alternative out there? A few years ago I've tried a couple options, out of curiosity, but the search quality was super poor for anything that's not in English, and the accuracy of found content wasn't always there
I reckon Kagi is the best search engine out there. It's paid though. Second I'd have Qwant followed by DDG.
Best? Kagi. Best free? Probably bing or searx
https://ecosia.org as a search engine :) Uses bing in the background (and newly also google), but your data isn't sold (AFAIK).
Or https://duckduckgo.com
If you want opensource there's YaCy