FediFollows

Google is up to more shenanigans (https://www.laptopmag.com/ai/gemini-phone-access-update), time to switch to free open alternatives:

GOOGLE ANDROID ALTS
@e_mydata & @murena
@volla
@iode
@nitrokey
@openandroidinstaller
@GrapheneOS
@calyxos

GMAIL ALTS
@Tutanota
@fastmail
@hellomailo (in French)
@mailbox_org (in German)

GOOGLE DOCS / DRIVE ALTS
@nextcloud
@CryptPad
@CollaboraOffice
@ONLYOFFICE

GOOGLE PLAY ALT
@fdroidorg

GOOGLE KEEP ALT
@joplinapp

YOUTUBE ALT
@peertube

(news via https://eupolicy.social/@alderik/114765467397075662)

Google Gemini is about to control your messages and calls, even if you say no

Google’s AI assistant is about to get full access to your calls, texts, and WhatsApp — even if you’ve disabled activity tracking.

Laptop Mag
Jun 29 at 3:50pmWeb
Show threadNate Metzger2d ago
@FediFollows I feel that it's important to note that @mailbox_org also has English pages in addition to German
Show threadFediFollows2d ago

@alphapuggle @mailbox_org

Yup, good point! I think all these offer multiple languages?

I was mainly trying to mark that the account is in German.

Show threadD12d ago
@FediFollows what is the reason Proton Mail is ommitted ?
Show threadFediFollows2d ago

@dani1

Protonmail made some very disturbing posts on their official account (seeming to back Trump) which caused a huge backlash, and they left the Fediverse.

Show threadMartin2d ago
@FediFollows @dani1 Their products are still good, no drama here.
They did pretty much leave the fediverse, that's true.
Regarding the product, as long as the owner's political views doesn't disturb the goal of the project (which it did not yet), I'm gonna keep using it.
They also stayed committed to act quickly in case Switzerland introduced surveillance.
Anyone refusing to use anything not coming from left-wing, indeed Proton is not for you, for everyone else, Proton is still a great choice.
Show threadRonnie Tucker2d ago
@FediFollows @dani1 do you have links to the posts they made? I'm a paid subscriber to them, so I'd like to see their posts and see what they have to say about them before I potentially move my emails elsewhere.
Show threadjoep schuurkes1d ago
@ronnietucker here's one source: https://theintercept.com/2025/01/28/proton-mail-andy-yen-trump-republicans/
Proton Mail Says It’s “Politically Neutral” While Praising Republican Party

The “privacy-first” company surprised its user base when CEO Andy Yen lauded Trump on social media.

The Intercept
Show threadWally2d ago

@dani1 @FediFollows

Most likely this:

https://theintercept.com/2025/01/28/proton-mail-andy-yen-trump-republicans/

Proton Mail Says It’s “Politically Neutral” While Praising Republican Party

The “privacy-first” company surprised its user base when CEO Andy Yen lauded Trump on social media.

The Intercept
Show threadNickolas Grigoriadis2d ago
@Wally @dani1 @FediFollows Interesting. Makes me regret the paid subscription.
Show threadtpaau-17DB2d ago
@FediFollows @Tutanota @fastmail @hellomailo @mailbox_org @nextcloud @CryptPad @CollaboraOffice @ONLYOFFICE @e_mydata @murena @volla @iode @nitrokey @openandroidinstaller @GrapheneOS @calyxos @fdroidorg @joplinapp @peertube FDroid isn't a Google Play alternative, it's just a different app store. Aurora Store is an open source, anonymous Google Play frontend you could call an alternative.
Show threadFediFollows2d ago

@tpaau17db

As far as I know Aurora doesn't have a Fediverse account?

Show threadJonChevreau2d ago
@FediFollows @Tutanota @fastmail @hellomailo @mailbox_org @nextcloud @CryptPad @CollaboraOffice @ONLYOFFICE @e_mydata @murena @volla @iode @nitrokey @openandroidinstaller @GrapheneOS @calyxos @fdroidorg @joplinapp @peertube Did they scrap the “Don’t be evil” mantra?
Show threadFediFollows2d ago

@JonChevreau

Oh yes, very much so. It's evil all the way for Google now, they have no moral compass.

Show threadMacCruiskeen2d ago
@FediFollows @JonChevreau They have a moral compass. It is pegged to 'E'.
Show threadGabe Kangas2d ago
@JonChevreau They removed it in 2018.
Show threadJonChevreau2d ago
@gabek So the slogan was changed to “Be Evil” ?
Show threadGabe Kangas2d ago
@JonChevreau Pretty much.
Show threadSnuffleupadon2d ago

@FediFollows @Tutanota @fastmail @hellomailo @mailbox_org @nextcloud @CryptPad @CollaboraOffice @ONLYOFFICE @e_mydata @murena @volla @iode @nitrokey @openandroidinstaller @GrapheneOS @calyxos @fdroidorg @joplinapp @peertube

I deleted the Google app on my Pixel which ostensibly got rid of Gemini. Some people online had convinced me that agreeing to the nag prompt would allow me to then say I wasn't interested -- which was not the case. So I had to go with the nuclear option.

Show threadZoë (english toots)2d ago
@FediFollows I thought @iode development stopped, did something change?
Show threadHairyNevus2d ago

@FediFollows

Accrescent is another Play Store alternative, and on the Fediverse: https://infosec.exchange/@accrescent

Small number of apps for now, but some pretty good ones in there.

Accrescent (@accrescent@infosec.exchange)

61 Posts, 1 Following, 1.46K Followers · An open-source Android app store focused on security, privacy, and usability. Currently in alpha.

Infosec Exchange
Show threadSpaceLifeForm2d ago
If no one tries to contact me, can I blame this on a bug in Gemini ?
Show threadNazo2d ago
@FediFollows There's also just plain old LineageOS. It doesn't provide the nice setup that most of those do where a lot is already preconfigured for getting apps and etc. For alternatives one must manually install F-Droid or whatever their preference may be.
Show threadSirRGB2d ago
@nazokiyoubinbou
Yea, thats what lineageos microg also does :)
https://lineage.microg.org/
LineageOS for microG

LineageOS for microG website.

LineageOS for microG
Show threadVex2d ago

@FediFollows

Does this include phones too old to receive updates?

Show threadPablo Martini (Geezer)2d ago

@FediFollows @Tutanota @fastmail @hellomailo @mailbox_org @nextcloud @CryptPad @CollaboraOffice @ONLYOFFICE @e_mydata @murena @volla @iode @nitrokey @openandroidinstaller @GrapheneOS @calyxos @fdroidorg @joplinapp @peertube

Proton is another!

Show threadjosh g.1d ago

@FediFollows can you also, like, just not install the gemini app?

I got the most recent android update talking about this crap, but I don't have Gemini installed and still don't AFAIK