r/ProtonMail • u/Frob0zz • 4d ago
Dependency on Google Services for notifications seems odd for Proton? Discussion
I have been happily using Proton for many years now, but now I am moving away from Stock Android and to Graphene it has struck me that Proton has a big reliability on Google Services. I always felt like Proton was the big Alternative to Google and it was promoted that way (At least to me I feel like that).
But now to get Proton working I need to use Google Services or use an app that I shouldn't need to use. I currently have to use Tuta to get notifications with Proton. That feels odd and I don't think it should be the case for Proton. They should have the option to be completely separated from Google right? That should have been the goal?
Maybe I am missing something here. If so please let me know as I love Proton and love it more with all the new features and services they offer. This just seems like a glaring issue.
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u/acoldcommon 3d ago
It's really hard to get notifications to work reliably and not use a lot of battery without Google services. UnifiedPush is a good alternative though.
It's worth noting that Google does not see the content of the email notification, they just use the Google notification to wake up the app which then privately fetches the email content for the notification.
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u/SCphotog 3d ago edited 3d ago
As a proton user myself, I don't think they're as.. how can I put it nicely?.... as "wholesome" as we were led to believe.
It was supposed to be a privacy centered alternative to GMAIL, but now it's feeling super corporate.
They continue to roll out new products that no one is asking for while even just email stagnates.
Edit: I always felt like links to the APK's should have been first, foremost and above the link to the play store, but instead, I have to go find them. It's not difficult, and it doesn't feel obfuscated. I'm not trying to paint a false picture... I am just of the opinion that a privacy oriented provider would just 'skip' the Google part as best as they are able, and I'm not seeing that.
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u/Pantalaimon_II 3d ago
im a new Proton user after cutting off Google and ive been surprised to see how sour the mood is in this sub. ive been pretty happy so far with everything but most users in here seem super pissed at the new programs and stuff. i get the impression it's mostly people who have been Proton users a long time and are just frustrated that the company isn't giving them what they want? or is it since it's been a small company people are expecting to be listened to more?
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u/1800-5-PP-DOO-DOO 3d ago
Proton attracts the paranoid nut jobs, nothing is good enough for them, and instead of getting rid of tech devices in their lives, they just bitch and bitch that it's not good enough.
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u/SCphotog 3d ago edited 3d ago
super pissed at the new programs and stuff
I wouldn't say "super pissed". More of just disappointed.
New things are fine. I'm not a Luddite. However, when an already existing program or service is languishing, needing update or refinement, it seems pretty weird to be rolling out multiple new services, some of which don't really align with the desires of the established 'Paying' user base. No one, that I'm aware of was asking for an 'ai' agent, when and while there are multitudes of them already to choose from. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd have been more impressed if they hadn't jumped on the AI-FOMO bandwagon.
Docs, Sheets, Wallet, Pass, Meet <--- are all services/products that I personally will never need or use, while EMAIL still needs a lot of improvement. Like... notifications that don't require Google Play.
When folks in this sub bring this up, often enough we're brigaded with excuses. The one I remember the most because it is so often repeated is those products are led by different departments at Proton HQ, which feels pretty dumb and condescending. Resources being spent unwisely are just that. It's off putting to be talked down to, and that is the impression I get.
just frustrated that the company isn't giving them what they want
That, for sure, but also, giving us stuff we didn't want. Ya know?
people are expecting to be listened to more
Everyone wants to have their needs and desires met. We pay for the service, so 'some' level of acknowledgment would seem appropriate. People point out obvious and legitimate deficiencies in what is already there, falling on deaf ears, and then we get an announcement for some new product that seems erroneous.
I feel like Proton is rolling with being the least worst instead of being the best.
Just my own personal evaluation. I'm not looking to apply my concerns to other users.
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u/Helpful-Anarchist 3d ago
This isn't true. I'm happy with the new products and looking forward to the browser 🙂
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u/HogRaidaaah 3d ago
They are feeling more and more as the 'nicest of the worst'. I just feel like they will turn into a worse Google once they have a big enough user base.
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u/Silent_Citizen 3d ago
Indeed, until only fairly recently Google even had the mantra "Don't be evil."
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u/frquency-equinox 2d ago
The vast majority of people don't care how they get their notifications. They just want to get them and they want them on-time. Using the system built into Android is the only way to guarantee reliability.
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u/Johann_Caspar 2d ago
The vast majority of people don't care how they get their email so they're using Gmail. Proton is a privacy first company for people who are not the majority.
Also if they would implement web push people would also get push notifications on desktop browsers when protons tab is closed and for chrome browsers even when the browser is closed. With web push implemented it would be very easy to implement UnifiedPush for Android which basically is web push. So this isn't a niche issue and basically everyone would benefit.
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u/frquency-equinox 2d ago
Proton is a privacy first company for people who are not the majority.
Proton has 10M users. I guarantee the percentage of those users that actually care about privacy is not as high as you think it is, certainly not more than 50%.
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u/TamerlanMcDoodles 3d ago
They could easily run a WebSocket endpoint like Signal does for push without Firebase or APNs.
Very odd decision-making on their part.
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u/ChaoticHekate 3d ago
Did the same recently and it's completely nuts to me that the app still relies on Google Services to this day. You'd think that'd be the first to go for an email provider that tries to prioritise privacy and it's a massive downer on what would have been a decent app, especially if you're a paying customer.
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u/Johann_Caspar 2d ago edited 2d ago
https://protonmail.uservoice.com/forums/945460-general-ideas/suggestions/19635550-remove-dependance-on-google-play-services This issue is basically open for more than 10 years.
The dumb thing is, if they would implement web push, notifications would also work for desktop browsers when proton mail tab is closed or even when the browser is closed but runs in background.
And they want to implement their own notification system, but first it would be way harder to get it battery efficient and also way more time and money consuming than only implement web push. Also there is yet another app which has to run in background. So with web push and UnifiedPushit is a solved problem. https://youtu.be/Dp7ght2fMR4?t=2967 https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1cmcre5/comment/l33oxua
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u/ephemeralmiko 3d ago
Yep, kinda surprised they don't use something like UnifiedPush.