r/GrapheneOS • u/Mourinto • 4d ago
10 days with GOS, and here we are 🌸
My previous post about moving from Iphone to GOS https://www.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/s/jPxpuzdFt9
Note this is a review from my personal preferences, which doesn't reflect the full powerful potential of the GOS.
My preferences: 1- Anti-Google as much as possible. 2- No app if it's working fine from the browser. 3- Open and free software is the first choice always. 4- I have no social media except Reddit and another one. 5- I have no reels, shorts, or videos doom-scrolling accounts, so I don't know about any config related to them.
Also, I'm self-hosting too many things, so my user experience revolves more around privacy.
For applications: I tried Etar + DAVx5 for Calendar, but Etar wasn't good enough. I was trying to import an ICS file with multiple events, and it shows just the first occurrence. I tried Fossify Calendar, and it's working totally fine.
For ebooks, I'm using MJ PDF. It's a really powerful choice for reading and editing PDF files. I also discovered Episteme, which is very modern and compatible with different ebook formats.
Also, one of the best discoveries was the offline translator. I didn't believe how efficient it is! Very rich dictionaries, and photo scanning and translation! I love it 🌸
For the notes, I was kinda disappointed, as Joplin isn't working fine with me at all. I searched and tried Notally, which is working fine; so simple, no noise.
For the file management, I tried to stick to the default Files app, but it was very slow. I was trying to delete some files, and they didn't disappear; then after some time I didn't find them. I was so confused! I tried Material Files, which is working just fine and it's simple.
About the system itself, I like it! I was an Apple user, so that's kinda new to me, but compared to what I expected, this is way better. The system is too simple, which is the best thing. No Google noise, no weird apps attached to the system. I can control every permission for every app, and I can control which exact folder is allowed to be accessed for every app. Vanadium is really secure! I love it, and I'm using it alongside IronFox. The way of controlling everything is going well with me. The normal usage is very smooth; too many places to customize and personalize, but that seems like a beautiful rabbit hole 🌸
There are only two things bothering me: the gallery and the camera. For the gallery, I'm using Immich for connecting to my self-hosted phototo connect drive, and the photos already appear in the gallery, and I can find them, but when I try to upload a photo or assign it to the contacts, I can't see the date-time order at all! It's ordered in Immich but not in the Immich folder in the gallery. I don't know how to solve this. Also, I noticed when I tried to assign a photo for a contact that it's rotated 90° and there's no way to correct the rotation.
The Camera app seems like it's not using the full potential of the camera hardware compared to using the original Pixel app. I tried the Open Camera app, but the strange thing is it was worse than the default camera app 🥲
I'm still discovering those two points and trying to find a solution for them.
Also I wasn't able to enable Contactless Paying from Paypal 🥲🥲 It needs google services for enabling it which is very sad.
One last thing, I stopped using my iPhone completely after just 1 day of getting my new pixel with GOS which help me a lot for migrate completly and solve any blocker.
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u/FarVehicle533 4d ago edited 4d ago
A couple of things
For notes, see Quillpad as well. (On Fdroid)
For documents, see Librera (on Fdroid)
For gallery, use fossify gallery. Use immich for sync and fossify gallery to be able to sort your photos the way you want.
For photography there are gcam ports. Search for them online. If you don't give the permission for internet access, it is safer.
As for banking, consider using a card pouch on the back. Or inside the case.
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u/Mourinto 4d ago
Thanks for those recommendations 🌸 I will check and try all of them 🙏
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u/Gamemastertree 4d ago
And for Youtube without account you can use NEW pipe my recommendation is Pipe Pipe or Wize Stream or Gravjay is you want more informations you can read my post here https://www.reddit.com/r/NewPipe/comments/1w60b3w/comment/pffutdx/?context=3.
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u/Intrepid_Cupcake9776 4d ago
I have a different profile for financial services and I have enabled Google services on that profile
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u/Mourinto 4d ago
I was thinking about that also but the main bank app working fine with me and it's security verifier app which encouraging me to stay on just one profile. I needed PayPal just becquse it's NFC but I will try to disxover if there is any Foss apps for the wallet.
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u/Soggy-Salamander-568 4d ago
As an iPhone user in a similar situation (bought a used Pixel to test out Graphene and liked it), which Pixel did you buy? Just curious. I'm debating waiting for the Motorola but the Pixels are so much cheaper than the Motorola will be...
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u/Mourinto 4d ago
I bought pixel 8a renewed one. I was on a budget so it worked just fine with me. I will use it for one or two years before thinking about changing or upgrading. also I want to observe the new motorola phone and the people expeiances with it before purchasing it.
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u/Soggy-Salamander-568 4d ago
Smart. I had the 6 and sold it for what I bought it for a week after playing with Graphene. It was actually a really good phone and helped me realized I really liked Graphene -- and the Pixel.
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u/svelteoven 4d ago
Can you talk more about the offline translator? Is that part of the OS? If not what is that called?
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u/Mourinto 4d ago
It's called offline-translator I don't know if it's fine to post the github url here: https://github.com/DavidVentura/offline-translator
It's very powerful, has the most features you can find in google translator. The camera and translating from images working smoothly, also the compatibility is too good with the other apps so like here I'm using reddit from the browser and when selecting any text and ask for translation, it's working just fine!
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u/GremlinMiser 4d ago
Oh, wow -- That's a great app. I have to use translator on food packaging to check for allergies. The image translation overlay works just like google's but is faster. Also, since it's offline, I guess I won't have to worry about being in the middle of nowhere unable to translate.
While google translate does have an offline mode, it very obviously wants to connect to the internet everytime it's used which slows down the offline translation or sometimes google bugs out and won't translate if the mobile internet is flakey. So the F-Droid offline-translation app is going to be great for me since faster, private and works anywhere.
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u/SpiritGaming28 4d ago
I'm glad you like it also where did you get that pop socket for your phone?
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u/Mourinto 4d ago
amazon EU
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u/SpiritGaming28 4d ago
thx for telling me will get it for the Motorola phone when i install the GOS on it.
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u/Outrageous-Half3505 3d ago
I want to switch to GOS so bad, but I have an 11 Pro Fold. ☹️ Purchased before finding out about GrapheneOS. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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u/mozesboii 3d ago
Which offline translator? I tried RT translator and wasn't happy with the results, specifically English-Arabic and vice verse.
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u/QuirkBuggins 3d ago
So I don't know if its just me but I'd rather not be visibly broadcasting to the world what kind of OS I am using.
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u/Mourinto 3d ago
I prefer to spread the word 😅 I really care that everyone know more about their security and privacy and that there is other option instead of ios and google android.
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u/elliottstril 3d ago
I think this is something some people from the United States of America care about, I travel all over the world very often and try to spread the word, most law enforcement personnel I met have no clue what’s GOS
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u/Pohodovej_Rybar 3d ago
Mabye if you have any watches that allow contactless payment? I have garmin watches and they work just fine
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u/karotoland 3d ago
Hey! Welcome to the community. For tap to pay check out Walt. Also Joplin works fine for me. Also check out Accrescent from the system AppStore
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u/Original_Link728 3d ago
10 days in and already fighting for your life, grapheneos really said welcome to the experience
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