GrapheneOS has been around for a while, and it's a pretty neat piece of software.
  • soFanzy@lemmy.world
    4·
    1 hour ago

    I love graphene as much as the next guy, but this article is pretty terrible. Badly researched, just spitting out talking points that are either flat out wrong, not the point of graphene or just scratching the surface. Look up the graphene homepage, if you actually want useful info.

  • Muffi@programming.dev
    7·
    7 hours ago

    I would love to make the switch, but I am certain that absolutely zero of my government mandated apps will run on this thing.

    • echolalia@lemmy.ml
      2·
      8 hours ago

      Android auto also works fine for me. I haven’t used an android phone in years so I can only compair it to apple car play. There are extra configuration steps to make it work but its not hard (just have to read some messages and go through some menus)

      Apple car play “just works”.

  • Lightscription@lemmy.world
    3·
    12 hours ago

    Unfortunately, Tinder doesn’t work and that is helpful to get in touch with the ladies. That app is too hell bent on location data which GOS handles more privately.

    NFC should work, it is just scheduled to be deactivated after 3 months if not used for security reasons.

    I think GOS is very user friendly and has many positive privacy and security enhancements. I would like to see if they can surpass sandboxed Google Play and officially support other repositories and updaters like Accrescent. Also, a standard way of securing traffic beyond encrypted DNS would be good such as a tor client like Orbot.

    Looking into the Veilid ecosystem might also be a source for further development ideas.

    • pirat@lemmy.world
      1·
      13 hours ago

      I’m not sure how to read the Plexus entries, and they don’t seem to be clickable. Would you mind explaining how to use the site in a meaningful way?

  • M500@lemmy.mlEnglish
    12·
    1 day ago

    Can someone give an example of an app that doesn’t work? I always hear about apps that do work, but is it mostly banking or some other category that doesn’t work typically?

      • RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works
        42·
        22 hours ago

        <end of list>

        Some banking apps allegedly don’t work but i have never encountered one. If your bank has a mobile accessible website, it’s basically a non-issue.

        • refalo@programming.dev
          1·
          21 hours ago

          google wallet is not required to be tied to any bank accounts, and US does not even support NFC within banking apps.

          • RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works
            5·
            15 hours ago

            Both true statements. The banking apps that don’t work aren’t because google wallet doesn’t work, but because they use the same trust policies that Wallet requires in order to run (which GrapheneOS cannot meet because its not a “trusted” OS, per Google)

    • Broken@lemmy.ml
      81·
      22 hours ago

      Like you said, banking apps. The logic behind that is they use google to security check their apps. A random non-bank example would be the slick deals app. Without play services it would just open then crash.

      Many apps use play services for their notification system. So for instance, proton mail works fine but notifications do not.

      NFC is not supported, so anything that uses that won’t work.

      Not an app, but I was surprised that widgets don’t work unless you’re in the primary profile. Technically they work on any profile, but they randomly get deleted, and frequently. It’s a known bug that probably will never get fixed because the source of it comes from stock android.

      I will mention that you can have a profile running play services, which gives you access to many apps that wouldnt normally work. And it’s sandboxed so it has less impact on your information (I don’t know all the specifics but it does limit in some way how much it can snoop into the rest of the OS). Then you can also set up granular controls on your apps to limit them from snooping.

      • M500@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        11 hours ago

        Thanks! I don’t think this will work for me. Where I live, most of the payments are made directly through banking apps by scanning a qr-code.

        • Broken@lemmy.ml
          1·
          10 hours ago

          Yeah, that’s why I mentioned having a secondary profile. Some stuff like bank apps you just can’t get away from so a profile with play services running is a workable solution. If you have a pixel phone already, you can give it a shot. One very nice feature of GOS is that it’s super easy to install - and uninstall if it’s not for you.

    • featured@lemmygrad.ml
      3·
      24 hours ago

      Random applications that use the play integrity API won’t work on any third party OSes or ROMs. For example I tried to install some Intuit app on my GOS Pixel a while back (credit karma I think?) and it didn’t work at all

  • ZebraGoose@sh.itjust.works
    821·
    1 day ago

    Here’s a summary of the article and the seven key points mentioned about switching to GrapheneOS:

    Summary: The article discusses GrapheneOS, a secure, privacy-focused mobile operating system based on Android. It highlights the benefits of switching to GrapheneOS, its features, compatibility, and user experience. The article also addresses potential concerns and provides information on reverting to standard Android if desired.

    The seven things you should know before switching to GrapheneOS:

    1. Compatibility: Currently only supported on Google Pixel devices (Pixel 3 or newer) due to their strong hardware-based security features.

    2. App compatibility: Most apps are compatible, but some may require alternatives. A sandboxed version of Google Play can be installed for popular apps.

    3. User interface: Similar to standard Android, but with enhanced privacy controls and a decluttered, ad-free experience.

    4. Regular updates: Frequent security updates are provided to protect against the latest threats.

    5. Community support: A dedicated community of users and developers is available to offer help and tips.

    6. Reversibility: It’s possible to switch back to standard Android if you don’t like GrapheneOS.

    7. Privacy and security features: Includes end-to-end encryption, revocable permissions, randomized MAC addresses, and strict app data access controls.

          • Euphoma@lemmy.mlEnglish
            5·
            21 hours ago

            The university that I’m at is trying to get new students to use a digital student id that uses google wallet for scanning I think. They aren’t giving any new students physical student id’s unless they need it for something that doesn’t work with the digital ones.

            So yeah some people do need google wallet.

        • Dop@lemmy.world
          32·
          17 hours ago

          Why not? You van set up a separate profile and install gplay services so pretty much anything would work under these conditions I assume

          • experbia@lemmy.world
            4·
            10 hours ago

            “I assume” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here.

            as someone who runs GrapheneOS and looked into the possibility of doing contactless payments: no. it simply does not work. all the contactless payment apps can somehow detect you’re not running the stock OS for the phone and choose to lock themselves down.

            cashapp and venmo will also freeze your accounts almost immediately upon installation and login and, in my case with cashapp, insinuate you may be reported to law enforcement for fraud when you appeal with info about your phone lmao

  • sweetpotato@lemmy.ml
    2·
    1 day ago

    For how long will the older pixel phones be supported? Is it worth it to buy a cheaper older model like pixel 6 and have graphene in it?

    Cause I’m not giving more than 200-300 for a phone. I’ll stick to cheap android phones that lack nothing compared to expensive phones for my needs.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
      21·
      14 hours ago

      You can just run Lineage OS with MicroG or Calyx OS. If you have all Foss apps you probably don’t even need MicroG

      • sweetpotato@lemmy.ml
        3·
        22 hours ago

        Wait what do the android updates have to do with Graphene? Does the phone need to still be supported by Google and android for Graphene to be secure and work?

      • toastal@lemmy.ml
        52·
        1 day ago

        5a is EoL so no headphone jack for you. This is a nonstarter for portable devices to me.

        • Dust0741@lemmy.world
          21·
          19 hours ago

          USB C to AUX adapters work for me.

          Having a secure and up to date device should likely be more important

          • toastal@lemmy.ml
            4·
            17 hours ago

            Flimsy awkward adapters + having to choose between charging or audio? But they had matching earbuds with irreplaceable batteries to sell…

            • helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world
              3·
              11 hours ago

              Ugreen sells a dual adapter. I’m sure other make one too. Don’t choose, just have both.

              https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Magnetic-Adapter-Charger-Charging/dp/B0CJXWJ596/

              As for flimsy, unless you get apple’s piece of crap, they are resonably durable. Headphone cables were never know for duarbilty either.

              Lastly, just leave the adapter plugged into your headphones or aux cable.

              I’ll agree, they are awkward and I do miss my headphone port, but the solution work around is not that deep.

              • toastal@lemmy.ml
                1·
                6 hours ago

                While the greater knowledge tells us the jack integration costs the manufacturer less than a greenback, the narrator buys @ 20× the price a dangling dongle whose DAC quality is an unknown. Strolling with cellular apparatus in hand, the narrator’s new phone tails are inserted—one side waving in the wind & the other causing a weird, uncomfortable cinch in the junction with 3.5mm jack. Additional stress is forced upon the singlar USB-C port. Who will last longer on this phone, port, battery, screen? “This is fine” he tells himself lifting the screen searching “best Bluetooth headphone 2024” just to see what’s out there—even tho his headphones have no performance issues & a replaceable, detachable cable already built to last.