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Comment by trumped | Hacker News Reader

You probably should install something like LineageOS to replace stock Android and avoid installing any Google apps/services if you want to be Google-free... (use f-droid or Yalp to find apps). Because if you replace all Google products with alternatives but have a Google service running on your phone 24/7, what's the point?

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Absolutely. Last year Google was tracking the location of Android devices that used its push messaging service (so basically all of them) even when privacy features were turned on. Installing a Google-free custom rom is the only solution to prevent this. I have been using LineageOS without Gapps for the past month, and it's worked superbly.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/22/google-tr...

One problem that I found with Lineage without GApps (using microG) was that GPS was done for. I couldn't use any map application for navigation, nor book a cab using Uber (their web interface kept denying my payment methods), etc. There were times when I was at a tough spot with friends and family -- trying to book a cab but couldn't. Again, using Uber is sending a tracking signal but it's either that or paying 2x the amount to a local cab.

So google play services is the necessary evil that I have to keep using even after switching to Lineage. I'm back to using them again, but PlayStore and PlayServices are the only two google apps that I have currently. I try getting most of my apps from FDroid -- my filter for "good" apps is mostly how active the repo is, not great but it works.

I've moved my mail over to Fastmail, and looking alternatives to Google Drive (Backblaze B2 is one that I'm thinking of). The problem with all of these non-google alternatives is although they're only slightly inconvenient for me, they're almost impossible for my family to use (B2 for example doesn't have an app).

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