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Probably a stupid question, but what can I do to 'degoogle' a Google Pixel 8? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
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Just switched to a new phone carrier, and they had a promotion that included a free phone: the Google Pixel 8. I'm not a fan of Google, but I am a fan of free, so I took the bait.

It's already bombarded me with pitches for their new AI bullshit. I've opted out of as much as the settings allow, but I'm under no illusion that doing so actually provides any real privacy.

So, damage control time.

On my previous device I used YouTube Vanced for music and videos, but I guess Vanced isn't around anymore, and I'm pretty out of date on what the current options are... any insight on streaming specifically?

 

*I'm a medic who's only surface-level competent with tech, so please idiot-proof any instructions.

Thanks all!

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[-] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

As was mentioned, you probably cannot switch to GrapheneOs until the phone is paid off (out of the first two years contract).

In the meantime you can:

  • Change all of your primary logins (site by site by site and app by app by app) to a non-Google email address. This should stop a lot of back channel tracking that Google does through their login framework.
  • Install F-Droid to get access to popular free and open apps. It startled me how much essential software isn't in the Play Store. These apps used to exist in the Google Play store, but lately the best I find in the Play Store are clones with ads jammed into them.
  • Use free or open software, specifically, when accessing Google services - for example, use SkyTube for accessing YouTube. These apps typically have anonymous use options which I trust much more than the equivalent setting (if it exists) in Google's own apps.
[-] smeg@feddit.uk 1 points 4 months ago

What does the phone contract have to do with what you can do with the phone? Contracts are for the SIM card (and the network access that comes with it) which may include the cost of a subsidised phone, but you're still paying that regardless of what you do with the phone, right? Or to put it another way I think they can network-restrict the phone but I don't think they can stop you putting GrapheneOS on it.

[-] Matt@lemdro.id 3 points 4 months ago

Google does not let you unlock the boot loader if the device is carrier locked. It needs to get paid off and unlocked before the boot loader can be unlocked to install custom roms.

[-] smeg@feddit.uk 3 points 4 months ago

Oh wow, I thought we left that sort of thing behind in the 3310 era!

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this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2024
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