@futurebird

I spend way to much energy and frustration trying to figure out alternatives to an android device for running my consulting business (mobile payment processing is the big issue). So I'm stuck with an android device which means I'm stuck with a google account.

@BLTpizza @futurebird

Exactly. Razor sharp forensic ecology but linked to profound insights about what it is to be human.

With a bit of autism along the way

@futurebird My Google account was stripped of it's data as much as I could, and now only serves to run the YouTube app on my game console. I don't use Google search either.

@futurebird I'm mostly using my Google accounts for spam and because I need them for my phone. And I use YouTube, but I block the ads and don't save my history.

I haven't used Google to search for years though.

@futurebird Alas, my e-mail is Gmail and I have yet to see a privacy-focused alternative that's actually as advertised. (I'm not very trusting of "privacy-focused" stuff since DuckDuckGo's browser started sending user info to Microsoft, Proton started dabbling with AI, and Mozilla's whole…everything.) And self-hosting just means spending the rest of your life fighting against spam blacklists.

@futurebird i can Not un-Google my Android 10

@futurebird I'm mostly there, I haven't been happy with google map alternatives sadly. That's the last big hurdle for me.

@roknrol @futurebird FreeTube doesn't require a google account. Maybe it used to? I know it has the option to connect to one. But it works fine for me logged-out.

@futurebird I have an account because I've had it for decades and there's the rare occasion where someone tries to contact me there. I could set up a forwarding address but I don't really want that connected to my new emails. I try not to use it for anything.

@futurebird @GinevraCat I am 99% Google-free. The only service I use is YouTube, but I watch signed out. I deleted all of my previous Google accounts. It was fairly easy, since I never used Google for email. I still had old Yahoo or Hotmail accounts (which have since been deleted) when everyone was switching to GMail. The only other Google service I use, but it is only thru Tor, is Google Translate to read some foreign news articles.

@privacy_guru @futurebird @GinevraCat instead of Google Translate, try DeepL:
https://www.deepl.com/en/translator

@futurebird I'm in the boat of "I have a work account but not a personal one".

@Linebyline

Mea culpa, that's only for the age-gated videos, which I refuse to watch because I'm not giving Google my f'ing ID. Just remembered seeing the error before.

@futurebird

@futurebird to people answer "I have no google accounts", what's your phone? An iPhone?

@tricethetraveller @futurebird The reason GoS uses Pixel devices is because Pixel's hardware security rivels Apple's and they are one of the few phones that allows you to relock the boorloader after flashing alt. Operating systems, improving its security, unlike other Android forks like LineageOS.

@geliga @futurebird I have GrapheneOS installed and doesn't require a Google account.

@weirdfish @futurebird @GinevraCat I can use this for websites too?

@futurebird @Elischeva91

Other. I have Google accounts to participate in places where the knowledge share is a Google Drive. I'm sure they all have Gmail, but I don't actually use Gmail.

@geliga
> to people answer "I have no google accounts", what's your phone? An iPhone?

nope
an android without installing google mail or play store but installing #fDroid.
You can accept android TOS and than skip the rest.

@futurebird

@futurebird

I'd love to replace Gmail, but I simply don't see any viable alternative.

Not only is there no other free service that looks like they'll stay around, but I believe a Google account is *required* to use the "Play" store to install software on Android.

And a smart phone is a requirement to participate in the modern world. I work as a dishwasher, for instance, and must clock in and out with an "app".

I couldn't have my job without a Gmail address (or Apple equivalent maybe).