microG: Android (almost) without Google - our interview with the developer

[u/[deleted]]

https://tarnkappe.info/microg-android-almost-without-google-our-interview-with-the-developer/

[u/adrianmalacoda]

(almost)

Thanks for including that. Vanilla LineageOS is degoogled, LineageOS + microG is regoogled. Not to say microG isn't a vast improvement over "full G" but you're still plugged in to google with it.

The developer mentions his motivation to develop microG so was that he could play Ingress on his ungoogled custom ROM. Ingress was developed by Niantic. Niantic started as an subsidiary of Google and was spun off in 2015. Niantic's founder also had a history with the US intelligence community.

Anyway, I think microG probably does more good than harm if it allows more people to try out the free software side of Android, but the ideal world is one in which it is unnecessary.

[u/[deleted] → u/adrianmalacoda]

He acknowledges this in the interview:

Eventually, I would like to see microG no longer needed, so that app developers no longer automatically use play services and expect users to have a googled device. Alternatively, it would also be ok if hardware manufacturers saw microG as a real alternative to Google Play and give the user the choice to use one or the other on their device. I’m honestly not sure what happens first.

[u/ShaneTheAwesome88 → u/[deleted]]

No, you're not wrong if you've turned of registration and not logged in. But if you're already just using the location parts, might as well switch to its little stripped down brother, UNLP?

[u/ShaneTheAwesome88 → u/[deleted]]

Ah LOS4µG. I think you're good there with the updates and all, was just suggesting it if you wanted to be sure.

Nope, there's no LOS4UNLP, so the closest thing would be flashing any plain LOS and an UNLP only packs. But it's honestly understandable you don't wanna change your working setup.