LineageOS
lineageos.orgUsing it on my POCO X3 PRO and it's perfect. Bootloader unlocked, Lineage OS installed and now I have a brand new smartphone without chinese crap.
Running Android 11 on a Nexus 7 2013 as my daily driver.
As a supported device with an "official" release I get mostly weekly updates. With some the device gets boggy, but over time it just keeps getting better.
I've been battling with a Sony with an "unofficial" release. I really do prefer the Sony hardware quality over the Nexus, but it takes some serious masochism and rodent mazing to put a custom ROM on Sony.
Lineage is a useful and important project.
However, be aware that their focus has mostly been on security and not so much on privacy.
What this means is they worry a lot about hackers breaking into your phone but they don't worry much about daddy Google tracking you all over the internet and into the real world.
Also, not sure why this is news now since the last update was in April.
Last time I tried LineageOS it only came with whatever Google blobs were necessary for the phone to function, e.g. Fi stuff for Pixel/Nexus models, and that sounded like it was optional if an owner wanted to use a different carrier.
I think the bigger weakness on the security front is the blobby nature of the kernel and firmware for the properietary parts of the SoC. It's certainly better than running out-of-date official Android releases though.
LineageOS comes with the Google Play Framework, which last I checked myself, contained the core components of Google’s telemetry and data collection.
I am wrong, the sub-comments are right. GPF hasn't been installed by default for quite some time now: https://wiki.lineageos.org/gapps
It does not. However, most people install ROMs that have them preinstalled.
GPF is still optional.
It is an it’s not, too many apps rely on Google Play services these days for most consumers to have a functional device without it.
You should check out microg lineage builds. Running it on my phone for a few years now without a single google app.
You should check out /e/OS. It's Lineage with microg by default and with all the Google contacts stripped out of the source. Been running it myself for a few years and installing it for friends and family --- without a single Google app.
You can also run LineageOS with no gapps or microg just fine. F-Droid has an amazing selection of apps.
Yes, you can do that --- but it won't fully eliminate the privacy issues. Contact with Google servers is hard coded into the Android source in various places. /e/OS strips this out and replaces it.
Also, most people won't forgo a lot of convenience apps/features that depend on Google services. MicroG allows most of these apps to still work without privacy invasion.
I use /e/. It's a pretty good experience, a bit above LineageOS for microG.
The major downsides are a bit of a weird launcher, camera app (OpenCamera ... but worse?) and them occasionally pushing their weird services (some account and the absolutely terrible search engine). Those are all easily fixed, though. What stays is a pretty solid version of Android with almost everything working (the best experience I've had with microG), which is a pretty big achievement without Google Services (... and with Android).
You may want to install additional location (NLP) providers, my experience with the pre-installed ones was not very good. I also have occasional issues related to the camera (probably specific to my device).
A fun side-fact is that they use Bromite (great version of Chrome) as the default browser without crediting the author, just calling it "Browser". As a techie I don't like this obfuscation, but for non-techies it must be great.
> A fun side-fact is that they use Bromite (great version of Chrome) as the default browser without crediting the author, just calling it "Browser". As a techie I don't like this obfuscation, but for non-techies it must be great.
They seem to have that issue with a lot of things.
At one point they were stripping existing copyrights out of the apps that were taken from other projects.
Changing the display name of an app definitely is one of the more innocent things to do, and most developers likely wouldn't even object. As an example, LineageOS uses Etar as the calendar app (with their permission of course), which is named "Calendar" in the app drawer.
The major downsides are a bit of a weird launcher...
i use Discreet Launcher. It's kind of an acquired taste --- very Zen like, simple and functional. Now that I'm hooked, I won't use anything else
Using it on my note 3. Little Buggy. I need to perform adb commands to fix delayed sms and non working gps in google maps when I apply an update. You look in the forums, its supposely fixed. Other than that its rock solid and I can still use an almost decade old phone like its 2022. Still waiting for the next equivalent in terms of hardware build and future-proof features. Back in the days the note 3 had much bigger ram (3gb) and 4k video. So now I will switch when I see 8k, 12gb and night photo that doesn’t look like AI dulled crap but actual pixels. Hoping the galaxy 22 ultra will be the one. Note 20 was close.
I use Note 3 as well. 8 years old and still kicking. Sometimes drops wifi or gps and NFC is not working for payments, but overall I don't complain. Android 11 with frequent security updates. I doubt that the next phone would last so long.
Interesting - I still have my good old note 3 as daily driver, although my use case has changed (It is the need for better modem/antenna tech) that makes me upgrade.
I am testing the IPhone 13 now. It is quite a jump in UX, hardware capability (5G, camera, storage space not so much). Also, your flashlight app does not spy on you.
The Note 3 was truly a masterpiece when it came into the market. Also, the the exchangeable battery was very practical. And 8+ years in use: what a economical and ecological device.
If I find some time, I will have a look at lineageOS. Any hints?
I use crDroid (https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-11-hlte-official-crdr...) and it is really good.
Using a custom ROM on my second-hand Mi A2 Lite enabled me access to Android 11. Next step is to flash an ungoogled ROM for maximum privacy.
Anyone here with thoughts on maintaining a device for Lineage? My (currently-unused) Moto Z Play is no longer supported by either Motorola or Lineage. Wondering how much work would be it to keep a port functional.
I'm wondering how much I can de-Googlefi my life (see multiple other threads about G Suite legacy free going away) while also keeping Google Fi for voice and data. :\ It seems like if I keep any single thing, a hook reaches out and drags me fully back in.
To activate Google Fi service on a phone, I need Google Fi app which drags in at least open gapps but I don't know if that's adequate without jumping to the full Google Play Services.
They have done everything possible to keep you fenced in on the Google ranch.
The ranch isn't run to benefit the cattle. The only reasonable and private alternative is to totally avoid the Google brand whenever possible.
Can you just uninstall after activation?
Why did Cyanogen cease development???
It was around the time of CyanogenOS and the OnePlus One. I kinda suspect the more corporate stuff happening sketched people out. OnePlus ended up switching to their own skin anyway, not sure what that was all about.