If you can afford it, make your next phone a Google Pixel and put GrapheneOS on it. Despite the phone being google, all the google crap will be removed by the OS.
Nextcloud self-hosted to replace Google Drive.
Install as many apps as possible from F-Droid and the rest via Aurora Store.
I’m really reluctant to recommend Nextcloud. The software is buggy, it’s not e2e encrypted, and you’re liable to data less if your VPS goes down unless you’re good at managing cloud resources.
Depends on the person. I keep my NC on a Raspberry Pi in my home with a few backups on various media stashed off-site, all encrypted. Some people do want to go this far, some people don’t.
I don’t find NC to be buggy, rather it has a learning curve if you’ve never installed server-type software before, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to DIY it can be a rewarding experience.
The e2e part is true. This frustrates me because if I encrypt everything inside I can’t access the contents via the web interface, which is my main way of accessing my content. The e2e plugin they have doesn’t work on Raspberry Pis because it just causes the Pi to freeze constantly. My most sensitive files are kept in encrypted containers.
I would say if someone just wants a managed solution, go with Proton Drive.
For most people, Syncthing is better. You don’t even need a server, just another device of similar capacity compatible with Syncthing.
Nextcloud has a few easy cheats to get it working smooth these days. Docker all in one images are a thing. The only additional step I had was a cache and cron and I haven’t had one error.
Yeah, if all you want to do is keep your data synced across multiple devices, syncthing is great. I even have it running on my NAS so I have a solid source to go back to for all devices, even if all my other devices are off or sleeping.
This is the best advice. Your phone tracks you more than anything else and it has a ton of private data. Get that cleaned up and you’ve drastically reduced the amount of data being sent to Google and friends.
It is somewhat ironic, though GrapheneOS onlysupports Pixel phones. Having messed around with custom Android ROMs before, I can understand why the dev team are choosing a narrow selection of devices to maintain builds for. Just take a look at how many different Samsung phones there are out there - it would be a nightmare to try and support all of them!
Pixel, Moto, and Nexus have all been some of my favorites because the direct Google support means nobody is going to stop you from unlocking the bootloader and having your way with the system image.
missing just a lot of little features I’ve grown accustomed to. biggest ones I can remember are the tiny weather widget and the thing where the display doesn’t turn off if ur looking at it. also the UI wasn’t all that great imo
I remember now, what pushed me all the way away was my bank app not working
fair. in my opinion, banking apps are not worth having on a phone due to the security risks. there are several alternative launchers available on f-droid :)
If you can afford it, make your next phone a Google Pixel and put GrapheneOS on it. Despite the phone being google, all the google crap will be removed by the OS.
Nextcloud self-hosted to replace Google Drive.
Install as many apps as possible from F-Droid and the rest via Aurora Store.
I’m really reluctant to recommend Nextcloud. The software is buggy, it’s not e2e encrypted, and you’re liable to data less if your VPS goes down unless you’re good at managing cloud resources.
For most people, a service is better.
Depends on the person. I keep my NC on a Raspberry Pi in my home with a few backups on various media stashed off-site, all encrypted. Some people do want to go this far, some people don’t.
I don’t find NC to be buggy, rather it has a learning curve if you’ve never installed server-type software before, but if you’re the kind of person who likes to DIY it can be a rewarding experience.
The e2e part is true. This frustrates me because if I encrypt everything inside I can’t access the contents via the web interface, which is my main way of accessing my content. The e2e plugin they have doesn’t work on Raspberry Pis because it just causes the Pi to freeze constantly. My most sensitive files are kept in encrypted containers.
I would say if someone just wants a managed solution, go with Proton Drive.
NC is definitelly quite buggy. Almost every update something breaks and S3 integration is also a bit broken and has been for a while.
I have been running Nextcloud since 2015 and can not confirm this.
Interesting. I’ve been using it for 3 years and it has never broken for me. Maybe it depends on certain factors.
For most people, Syncthing is better. You don’t even need a server, just another device of similar capacity compatible with Syncthing.
Nextcloud has a few easy cheats to get it working smooth these days. Docker all in one images are a thing. The only additional step I had was a cache and cron and I haven’t had one error.
Yeah, if all you want to do is keep your data synced across multiple devices, syncthing is great. I even have it running on my NAS so I have a solid source to go back to for all devices, even if all my other devices are off or sleeping.
This is the best advice. Your phone tracks you more than anything else and it has a ton of private data. Get that cleaned up and you’ve drastically reduced the amount of data being sent to Google and friends.
Even though you’re saying install GrapheneOS, it still seems a bit odd to suggest a Google Pixel 😆
It is somewhat ironic, though GrapheneOS only supports Pixel phones. Having messed around with custom Android ROMs before, I can understand why the dev team are choosing a narrow selection of devices to maintain builds for. Just take a look at how many different Samsung phones there are out there - it would be a nightmare to try and support all of them!
It’s one of the closest devices to AOSP spec, so not a bad starting point for Android, regardless of flavor.
Pixel, Moto, and Nexus have all been some of my favorites because the direct Google support means nobody is going to stop you from unlocking the bootloader and having your way with the system image.
This is exactly what I have diine and also suggest.
I’m rocking an older pixel. I got it on swappa for cheap. I rather send my money to someone other than G.
CalyxOS and grapheneos are great options. The multiple user feature is useful if you want to keep work apps, bank apps, etc separate from other apps.
not a fan of graphene, ive tried it. have a pixel rn.
what havent you liked about it ?
missing just a lot of little features I’ve grown accustomed to. biggest ones I can remember are the tiny weather widget and the thing where the display doesn’t turn off if ur looking at it. also the UI wasn’t all that great imo
I remember now, what pushed me all the way away was my bank app not working
fair. in my opinion, banking apps are not worth having on a phone due to the security risks. there are several alternative launchers available on f-droid :)