If you are an Android user and want to stop using Google it sounds like it is impossible, but there is a way (or two!)!
A while back I was shown F-Droid but it wasnt that well developed. Its an app store in which every listed app is open source and has been created by people who are respecting your privacy.
I checked it again recently and it has been majorly updated, and in fact there has been another version called Yalp of which is (was) better than Fdroid, but when I tried it, it seems inactive.
The newest version up and running still is called APK pure and like the f-droid app, it is an app that you download onto your phone
..on APK pure you can download any of the Google apps, even Google Play Store and you are not connected with Google because you don't need an account.
I have already converted my phone to non google apps.
Even with just using Fdroid, I was able to find all the standard apps like Contacts, and Gallery and its great knowing that Google doesnt anymore have access to my contacts or the photos I'm taking.
Camera
I am using an app called Open Camera, and its a very nice camera app to use. It has many features and what I like most is that you can flip cameras unlike the camera app that was already on the phone.
To be honest I never used a smartphone camera up until winter last year because I didnt like the idea of smartphones because of privacy and had a cheap second hand digital camera.
A screenshot of OpenCamera app
One thing many people forget or dont know about..
..is that each picture you take, contains data called metadata, which reveals information about what time and where exactly the photo was taken. This is very bad because you would take a photo and share it, and unless you do something about it, your data could be used against you in some way down the line.
Its not a bug in smartphones that let them be used as a tracking tool, its a feature of the smartphones... - remember that!
Removing Metadata
Theres an app called ScrambledExif which is so simple to use that I didnt think I was using it correctly but when you click the app it says how easy it is.
Another App that I really Love is called RedMoon. Even the name is cool! Its a filter for blocking out BlueLight. I read of many people ordering glasses to wear to block it but I know very well what happens to glasses before long, they get broken.
And finally the two most useful apps that nearly everyone uses are Facebook and Youtube.
I am using a facebook overlay called Frost, I am only using facebook though to find carshares mostly, I have no friends and I do not condone using facebook 😝
There are also overlays for Whatsapp and twitter, but with apkpure store you can just install from there..
The best though I think is New Pipe it is a smooth non spying version of Youtube, and also has a very simple download option offering different video qualitys.
With the option to use APKpure, it is now possible to download and use all of the apps without connecting to Google.
Have a Great Day!
