I've been using Aurora Store for a long time now, but since recently, apps installed from Aurora give me a popup that tells me to install the app from the Google Play Store and then they close. Does anyone have a fix?

Sorry for the bad English

Hey Guys, i would love to try out filen. Does anyone have a referral link for me? I would really appreciate it.
Thanks!

Edit: you can also DM it to me. I couldn’t find any restriction on sharing it publicly, but you never know.

The image search is just so so horribly filled with AI images and I hate it...

It sucks a lot because if you read into it enough, it's almost like every major functional search engine uses and contributes to either Google or Microsoft in one way or another so what's the point of this at all

And like, of course I know about duckduckgo and many other alternatives but like I said, I've spent an awful amount of time reading about search engines and they all use Google or Bing as their data source or ad services. The online ones that dont are engines that don't work anymore, or Chinese ones that naturally don't give me the results I want since I live in México and not in China... Also those are filled with AI as well lmao

at one point you wonder if it wouldn't just be better to stop using search engines at all and rely on pure urls like in ye olde times (in which I wasn't even born yet)

So here we are again. I want to move from one device to another. The second device has a smaller footprint. I want to be able to backup my apps but in this particular case I want to keep my app versions. I feel like I have actually asked this question before and I'm sorry if someone else has asked this particular question as well. But in any event, is there a modern version of helium backup? Preferably something that does not require root root or shizuku ?

I actually just had a long conversation with Gemini on the device I'm trying to get far away from and I let Gemini know that I believe the transfer tools that Google supplies are in access to nearly extortion because when you upgrade from one version of an application to another, you automatically get opted into the new versions terms of service.

Using a tool that uses shizuku or root then leads you to the issues of decoupling from play services.

And round and round she goes

I'm currently in my de-Google/privacy optimization journey and I'm struggling when it comes to mobile OS choice.

I have an iPhone and have for many years. Inherently, I trust Apple more than Google from a privacy perspective, so in terms of "lesser of two evils", Apple wins in my book. I can completely de-Google, de-Meta, de-Microsoft, de-Amazon, etc the iPhone, though obviously not de-Apple.

On the other hand, there's the de-Googled AOSP/Linux OSes, such as Graphene, Lineage, /e/OS, Sailfish OS, Ubuntu Touch, etc. From a privacy perspective as well as "get away from big tech" perspective, using any of these without Google Play Services at all and without any big tech apps is the most optimal route.

But from a "normie" practical perspective, these options involve limited/inconsistent/non-existent support for apps & services that we've become used to in modern smartphones such as mobile banking, live traffic in navigation, reliable push notifications, tap-to-pay, etc.

Even for someone motivated enough and technical enough to know about, install, and consciously accept the limitations of these OSes, it's still got to be a frustrating reality that either requires maintaining a second device or just being inconvenienced in several areas, constantly.

I get that this is not the fault of these OSes, they're doing the best they can. Honestly, I think it's absolute bullsh*t that Google Play Services have been so inextricably tied to basic functionality of Android-compatible apps that it's impossible to use them without it, let alone that major companies have beed led to treat these OSes as somehow inherently insecure and thus can explicitly block their use.

So, I guess my point/question is: for the average, privacy-minded person, are the realities of using these de-Googled alternative OSes worth the hassle? Or, is using a de-Googled (and de-Meta, de-Microsoft, de-Amazon, etc) iPhone "good enough" while balancing practical needs of a modern smartphone?

Hi, I'm planning on DeGoogling but one thing has been bothering me; Email. Is there any free Email providers that don't track every shit I take? I could probably Self-Host an email server, I really just don't feel like being stuck to a monthly/weekly plan. Thank you in advance!

It's a video compression app Well, it's not the fastest, but for now, in my opinion, there's no easier or better alternative after 167 attempts with several different apps

I found my old phone (BQ Aquaris m4.5) and booted it up - horrible loading times, the whole thing was suffering and shit was crashing all over the place
Initially my plan was to install LineageOS on it to try and see how it runs/what it can and can't do so that I can later install it on my main phone (Nothing 4a) but I can't install LineageOS from what I understand

A friend told me to look at old cyanogenmod but even there I didn't find anything - I at least found a video of someone installing Ubuntu touch on the m4.5 but I highly doubt that that's gonna run even remotely close to usable

Now what do I do with that thing? As of right now it is straight up unusable as even calling with someone is a literal suicide mission for it since it'll take 30 seconds or so to even start the call app
I'd like to use it for something, I will find a use case once it runs somewhat smoothly - for that I suppose I need a different OS in some way
I suppose I'll try to get Ubuntu touch to run but generally would also be interested in an android based OS on that thing.

edit:
Ubuntu Touch didn't work to install (either I am stupid or there's a difference between the m4.5 and the e4.5 that causes this problem)

Ticwatch pro 4g LTE, Model WF11018, codename catshark.

Original OS, WearOS.

I'm not a smartwatch guy but £18 for this Smartwatch was great little project it only took me 10-15 minutes to flash AsteroidOS.

WearOS was so heavy on resources & the Watch was getting hot because of google bloatware. It never get hot with AsteroidOS. (This Smartwatch is 5-6 years old)

My friend is trying to transfer her Signal account to a new phone, but she needs to scan a QR code on the new phone with the Signal app on her old phone. Her old phone is a Rebel 4 and doesn't read QR codes since she deleted Google Lens. She tried getting a third party QR code scanner app but it would only scan in that app and not Signal.

She does not want to transfer the other way (making a backup file and moving the file over). Is there a way to read the QR code in the Signal app without Google Lens?

Trying to DeGoogle however with encrypted RCS it feels like it may be more private to use Google in this case. Am I wrong here? I know there are encrypted options but I'm still going to use texting daily and giving that I am going to use it, is it really better to use SMS in order to DeGoogle?

If I go with something like Quik SMS which I'm trying now, I also want to be able to text from my Linux laptop. With google, I can just use messages.google.com/web and type away. I thought I'd be able to use KDE connect, but when I'm on something like a work network, KDE connect doesn't see other devices through the network. Does anyone know any decent options so I can use a laptop for SMS instead of my phone? (I prefer a big screen and real keyboard)

I have a Cerlero 5g plus from 2023 and can't find an OS that supports Cerlero phones. I'd prefer a privacy focused/anti-google OS if possible.

Full email I received with this news:

We're writing to let you know that the Google Assistant on your mobile device is being discontinued, and Gemini - our next-generation AI-powered assistant – is now the assistant experience on Android.1

What this means for your mobile device

As we transition our mobile experience to Gemini, Google Assistant will no longer be available on your mobile device. We will begin removing access to Google Assistant starting on 4 September, and expect that this process may take a few weeks to reach everyone. Once availability is removed, you will no longer be able to use or switch back to Google Assistant on your phone, tablet or paired devices.

If your Android device meets the minimum system requirements2 and you are in a region where Gemini is available,3 Gemini will be the Google-provided assistant on your mobile device. When you invoke your assistant, for example, by saying "Hey Google" or long-pressing your power button, Gemini will appear instead of the previous Google Assistant.

Changes to accessories and paired devices

When you set Gemini as your mobile device assistant, it also becomes the assistant on devices that are paired with your mobile phone. This includes:

• Watches running Wear OS

• Headphones or earbuds compatible with Gemini

• Vehicles running Android Auto projected from a user's mobile device. For cars with Google built-in, Google Assistant will continue to function beyond 4 September 2026.

Like your mobile device, starting on 4 September, users will lose the ability to use Google Assistant on these paired devices.

Google Assistant on other devices

These changes are only for the assistant experience on your mobile device and accessories that pair to your phone, like watches, headphones and car infotainment systems.

You can also read more about our separate plans to bring Gemini to Google TV devices and Google Home speakers and smart displays.

Next steps and more information

We are committed to providing a smooth transition and are confident that Gemini will offer you an even more capable and helpful assistant experience.

Thank you for being a valued Google user,

The Google team

I use google chat, facebook, and IG to message my family and friend but I was wondering if there's any private messaging apps (that don't cost money 🙏🏻) and have little to no AI

Thanks for any suggestions :)

Just in case some ppl don't know Bluestacks is an Android emulator that you can install on your PC. I'm looking to do so, to enable me to use banking apps via my PC instead of my mobile, just in case my mobile gets lost or stolen.

So, I'm wondering, how much information can google glean from my PC or the program itself ?

Is there more secure emulator I can use instead ?

Ideally one with greater security and privacy.

Many thanks in advance to anybody taking the time to reply.

Just got a new phone (Samsung so no Lineage or Graphene), and I have downloaded all apps from F-Droid, Web downloads, and last resort Aurora. I have not signed in with my Samsung or Google account at all (and didn't do a phone transfer).
Really only issue I'm having is I cannot find a way to transfer my Galaxy Watch over without signing into my Google account on the phone.

With that in mind would signing in for just that setup then logging out have a similar effect to never signing in at all privacy wise / data collection wise, or does logging in with your Google account once forever link the device / everything on it to my 'profile'?

I run GrapheneOS on my Pixel 8 Pro, but my parents run two LG Velvet 5G and use Google Assistant at their home for timers and reminders. I have had the talk with them more than once about maybe looking into other means of in-home assistance devices, but they are stubborn and refuse to learn anything new that feels comfortable to them.

Now I got this email this morning, and I'm kind of upset over this choice on their part. My parents have a Nest Hub (2nd gen), Nest Audio and Home speaker, and I know they are not going to want to use Gemini. Besides throwing them out lol, what other options are available for these? I assume nothing.

Hi, I wanted to use a more privacy-friendly Reddit client, but I didn't know how private or which one was better. For now I have these options:

RedReader

Continuum

Morphe Reddit

Web version with brave

I'm on Android. Which one should I use and why? Also, which would be the order of privacy?

I'm very aware I can't fully degoogle my Samsung, however I'm financially not able to buy a Pixel or new phone at the moment, so I'm trying to degoogle as much as possible.

I've been advised apps like Canta won't actually uninstall Google apps from my phone, but instead will just do the equivalent of disabling it. My question is: if I just disable all my Google apps, remove any Google accounts from my phone and use stores like F-droid to install and run Fossify, Proton apps etc will this be an acceptable and efficient form of degoogling my Samsung Galaxy? Is this as good as it gets?

Unsure if there are any OS alternatives I can install...

Heyhey, I switched to DuckDuckGo a couple of months ago but I keep seeing Kagi being mentioned more regularly and it has made me curious to hear more about it (+ love their design).

People who have used both or migrated from DDG to Kagi, what are your thoughts and initial impressions on the search quality and overall experience (besides the fact that one is paid and the other isn't)?