this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2024

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DeGoogle Yourself

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What still requires stock Android and has no alternative way to access? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I'm about to degoogle my stock Android phone. For the past few years, I've used it to handle the non-open source apps that I don't want running on my main phone. As I've finally weaned off GApps, I realize that I might as well go degoogle the rom as well.

edit: to be clear, I'll be using sandboxed Play services on GOS

But since that phone is my compatibility guinea pig, is it likely I'll still run into an app that demands unmodded Android with no alternatives? In your experience, has any bank or other service required the app on regular Android, with no alternative for the desktop, browser, etc?

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah, only thing I can think of is the few banking apps that don't have web versions.

I was lucky enough to have all my banking and 2FA apps work perfectly on GrapheneOS. The only app that gave me a significant amount of trouble was iClicker, which my school uses for attendance. That was fixed by enabling Google Play location services, and there was a (fairly expensive) alternative anyway.

I did have to buy a new phone to use Graphene, because I got my previous one as part of a carrier's cell plan, and it had a locked BIOS. Though I think the purchase was worth it, and just moving my SIM card from one device to another was enough to get it working.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

to be fair banking apps refuse to work even with GSF if you have a custom rom.

i wonder when the play attestation bullshit will finally be cracked.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Uber/lyft. You can use uber via the web but not lyft. If uber ever stops working on web then thats it.

[–] MajorHavoc 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Lyft works fine with sandboxed GFS on GrapheneOS, though.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But the OP specifically said DeGoogled ROM, which would mean no GFS.

[–] MajorHavoc 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah. I don't mean to correct you. Just trying to give a full picture for folks reading along.

Lyft is a necessity for me, so I couldn't have switched to GrapheneOs without it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Both work with MicroG as fyi

[–] MajorHavoc 2 points 3 months ago

Good to know. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I was about to correct you because I've done lyft on web, but it looks like it's not supported anymore.

https://ride.lyft.com/not-supported

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Yeah, that's the unfortunate thing. It used to be supported, but they've killed it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

NFC payments with Google wallet, in theory if your bank provides the service in their app, you could still use this kind of payment, haven't tried it tho.
Also I only found a developer for which their games don't work, it's the developer of guardian tales.

Aside from that, with sandboxed play services there hasn't been any difference since I migrated to GOS.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Authy 2fa doesn't work on GOS because of Play Integrity. GOS has been talking with regulators in the EU about this.

An Amazon delivery locker doesn't open without Sandboxed Google Play installed, I've switched to post office deliveries. I had to change my account user name to my actual name ( my name is extremely common so no big deal really) but at least I don't have Amazon's shit app installed anymore.

Google Pay doesn't work.

Android Auto is hit and miss.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (2 children)

An Amazon delivery locker doesn't open without Sandboxed Google Play installed

Isn't it just a barcode or a code you type in?

[–] randombullet 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Mine are Bluetooth enabled. You stand near it and hit the button

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Neat, that shows you how often I use them! I'd be very surprised if there was no backup code option though, not everyone has a smartphone.

[–] randombullet 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

You wouldn't be able to pickup without a smartphone. If you are not home, you'll get a little note in your mailbox and go to a partner package shop

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I feel we're talking about different things. The only Amazon lockers I'm aware of are the ones in shops, offices, and other public places where you go to pick up your parcel and can do so just with a code. Do you have your own personal one installed at your house?

[–] randombullet 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

No the one in talking about is installed outside without a screen.

Looks like this.

https://grandaffi.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/amazon-locker-2.jpg

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Interesting, I've never seen one like that without a screen. So do they warn you when you try to order to one of them that it will only let you pick up from it if you have their app installed?

[–] randombullet 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Correct. You have to use their app. Tried using the web version but it said app only.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Wow, given that they already had lockers that your grandma could use with a code she wrote down on a piece of paper this really seems like a step backward. Clearly the extra money they hope to make from more app installs sounds more lucrative!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Not always, unfortunately.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

I still have to find that app that does not just run in GOS. There may be a few that I don't know about because I don't use them, but all the ones I use just work.

Granted, most of my daily use apps are FOSS and installed either from F-Droid or from source repo.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Authy

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Indian and Turkish banking apps. Webapps are banned there.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Same for Malaysian banking apps.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Oh that's unfortunate

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Yep. Even if I can open the mobile website, I need to generate a login code through their app.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 months ago

Loads of things that depend on google play services