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| 11pt | margin=1in | \date{\today} | Chad Michael "Hyperling" Greenwood | Big Tech Alternatives by Chad Michael "Hyperling" Greenwood | Big Tech Alternatives | *Projects and services for avoiding data harvesting and technocracy.* | by `Chad Michael "Hyperling" Greenwood` | Last Revised {REVISION_DATE} |
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Problem Statement
"If it's free, you're the product."
-- some guy
Privacy vs Security
There is a distinct difference between two methods of hardening (making more protected) a device. One focuses more on keeping your metadata safe, and the other your data. Many [TBD/TODO: solutions?] handle both at the same time, such as using a VPN.
Privacy is the first; it means that you would like to prevent others from seeing what you are doing, keeping others' eyes off your data. You would like your web browsing experience to be confidential. Privacy involves using browsers which delete sensitive data, messengers which use end-to-end encryption (E2EE), etc.
Security is the latter; ensuring that your device and its content are not accessible from others. This is more related to keeping others' hands off your data. Having proper security prevents your devices from being hacked and your online accounts from being breached. This would be more related to using a passcode on your device, having strong passwords, and [TBD/TODO].
Mobile
Android is the only mobile environment covered here. iOS is complicit in data harvesting and cannot be liberated. Some may argue that it's secure, and that may be true, but it is most definitely not private.
There are also Linux phones out there, such as the Pinephone and Librem 5, but they will not be covered in this document. Below are their respective websites if they are of interest to you.
Operating Systems
To have a private and secure mobile experience it will require a degoogled ROM.
Degoogling a phone has two steps and cannot be done without wiping the device, so be sure to make a backup.
- Install a custom ROM (operating system).
- Do not install GApps (Google Apps).
- MicroG can be installed instead and is covered later in this document.
Alternatively, a degoogled phone can be purchased online or you could have a friend
LineageOS
My favorite ROM, and time tested as the successor to CyanogenMod which I was using back in the early 2010's. The design is simple and sticks mostly to stock Android with optional extra features. After trying other ROMs I always end up coming back to this one, mostly for the network indicator and seconds which can be displayed in the status bar.
GrapheneOS
A good ROM, especially if you already have a Pixel device. Their web-based installation process is super quick and easy once you get your computer and web browser to recognize your device. An admirable feature of this ROM is asking at install time whether an app should be allowed network access. This can also be an annoyance. ;)
CalyxOS
One of the best ROM installation experiences I have ever had. It suggests a list of apps as alternatives to get you [TBD: on the ground running?] much faster. The supported device list is larger than Graphene's and smaller than Lineage's.
microG
App Stores
F-Droid
Aurora Store
Obtanium
Not an app store in itself, but an app manager. Add the location of the APKs you commonly use and it will manage installing and updating them as needed. The configuration can be copied between devices, and makes wiing and restoring a phone much quicker. it does not handle backing up local app data though, only installing the applications.
Navigation
For a list of definitions, please see see table \ref{my_table} below..
Table: (Title that I want) \label{my_table}
| Abbreviation | TBD/TODO | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| OSM | Open Street Maps | Online database of open source map elements. |
| POI | Point of Interest | A spot on the map, such as a park or business. |
Magic Earth
While not open source, this is the recommendation for those who simply want a new map app without much of a learning curve. It uses OSM as well as a few other sources [TBD/TODO which ones?]. The user interfac is very simple and clean.
This is the best option of you are navigationg to addresses, such as 123 Oak Street, as OSM alone does not have a complete list of building numbers.
Organic Maps
Simple app with a few moderate and advanced features.
This is the best option if you want a simple experience while purely using OSM data.
OSMAnd
Quite an advanced application. This app is even worse at navigating to building numbers, as it seems to have a preference for finding intersections. Searching for POIs.
Map Editors
There are mobile apps availabl for adding to and editing Open Streep Maps, which is what all of the navigation apps above are based on.
StreetComplete
Probably the most fun on the list, this app creates "quests" for completing information in your immediate areas.
Obtainium URL : github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete/releases
F-Droid : f-droid.org/packages/de.westnordost.streetcomplete
Aurora : play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.westnordost.streetcomplete
Organic Maps
This navigation app also allows adding and editing businesses!
Every Door
A more advanced editor, only handles points though, no drawing of ways or regions.
Vespucci
Fully functional map editor, allowing roads to be mapped and regions to be added. Can move locations around as well, which is not as easy or even possible in most other mobile editors.