There is a Magisk module to replace the Assisted-GPS Secure User-Plane Location (SUPL) provider to something that doesn’t use Google.

https://github.com/Magisk-Modules-Alt-Repo/supl-replacer

Thanks!

This of course requires using a JS management extension.

What’s a good extension for this? What do you use?

Wire.

Yes. I use a FireFox extension called ViolentMonkey that allows you to install scripts.

There is a script called Simple YouTube Age Restriction Bypass: https://github.com/zerodytrash/Simple-YouTube-Age-Restriction-Bypass?tab=readme-ov-file

Install the script in Violent Monkey and you should be all set to watch age restricted videos in Firefox without signing in.

Not exactly, no. For instance, I don’t use the Google Play store (i use Aurora Store instead), but I have gotten Android Auto working on my phone. What Google features you’ll be able to get working also depend on the device and android version.

I guess it depends on if they are actually designing any of their own hardware. I was assuming they were, but now that you mention it, yeah why would they.

If GrapheneOS doesn’t look like it will meet your needs, LineageOS w/microG may be best for you.

The main issue is that the learning curve is higher to get it to a state that’s a balance between security and privacy. You have to learn how to install it for your device, set up root with Magisk or the like, install modules that allow your device to pass/bypass google’s SafetyNet Device Assestation, install the module to avoid connecting to google via GPS, set up AdAway, AFWall, Blocker, LSPosed if needed, and get android auto set up if needed. That’s not even including all the device-specific tweaks you’ll end up needing/wanting, or how to manage updates. It’s a lot of work, but in the end you get a phone that acts like a computer you control instead of an “appliance” that works against you.

So Proton ditched Mastodon but is still on Twitter, aka the Nazi cesspool, and Reddit. Both US propaganda platforms with heavy censorship.

Bad, bad move.

I have been defending Andy Yen’s idiotic comments because he’s not American and doesn’t understand the hyper-reactive nature between US Americans and US politics (because our government is literally run by nazis now), but this decision isn’t helping; it will fuel and reinforce the negative image already held by those who have canceled their accounts and those who are on the fence.

This is just…not accurate.

My current phone has 12GB and quite frankly it’s amazing to have that much!

I know 16GB seems ridiculous, but with LLMs gaining popularity, running one locally on a phone really needs at least 8GB, and 16GB would be much better.

I think it’s just the way things are going.

Their shipping estimate sounds like a pipe dream. There is no way this ships in March, or April, or probably even May.

Never, ever put your money into an Indiegogo project. It’s not investing, as you don’t earn any money. It’s not purchasing, as there are no guarantees of products finishing or shipping. You also don’t have any consumer protections or rights, even if the project violates Indiegogo’s terms of service and commits fraud, unless you reside in the same country as the company leading the project.

Don’t ask me how I know; I am still bitter.

Edit: Hardware-wise, this phone is doing a lot right: microSD, headphone jack, sim slots, NFC, and what seems to /maybe/ be a user-replacable battery without needing a new water seal on the back of the case after opening it up. IMO it falls short on RAM (16GB is the new minimum and this phone only has 8) and they used a screen with a freaking notch in it.

Software-wise, they don’t seem to be doing anything new, except for offering a somewhat ready-to-go product that tried to de-google Android. This could be nice for people who don’t want to spend weeks or months learning how to secure their phones themselves.

Also keep in mind that AT&T (and I believe Verizon too) do not approve of any new devices with unlocked bootloaders on their network, and as such, this phone does not support the full range of bands used by these companies. Of the three main cell network providers in the US, only T-mobile allows full access to all their bands with devices that ship with official unlockable bootloaders.

Thanks!

There is an app called Private Lock that will put the phone in lockdown if the accelerometer is triggered to a certain degree. It can work even when the screen is off.

It doesn’t look like this has been updated for 6 years. Does it still work on Android 14/15, or is there another newer app that does this?

Oh right! And I forgot that an app called AfWall+ also blocks network connections on a per-app basis and can be active all the time. There’s even a magisk module called ‘afwall boot antileak’ so that nothing gets network access before AfWall does.

The only realtime active firewall I can find for Android is NetGuard, but because of the way Android works it uses a VPN connection.

I guess what I am saying is that running an active firewall 24/7 on an Android device isn’t practical for most people, and blocking connections at the router level only works until you leave home, unless you set up your phone to automatically VPN back to your house when your phone disconnects from your home wi-fi.

But yeah, FUTO and Heliboard are both excellent!

This is inaccurate. The reality is that the company promises that searches aren’t saved and there is no search history associated with your account.

The problem is that we have no way to verify that is actually true. It requires trust.

I use Kagi. I pay $5/month for 300 searches. I am acutely aware of the fact that my searches might not be completely private.

They still offer the most accurate search results of any any search engine since ~2008 Google.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It’s been (IMO) illegally used and weaponized against the US American people for decades. ICE constantly uses unconstitutional tactics to detain, interrogate, and hurt people.

You can turn off javascript to get around the pop-up.

I have been using Hushed for this for years. I don’t think it’s the best service, but it’s not blocked by most things and it’s cheaper than JMP; I pay $35 USD for a year of talk and text (something like 6000 texts and 2700 minutes of calls per year).

Librewolf is great, I am glad it’s working for you!

Here is the reddit post I found that was most critical of it.

What this means to me is that when these settings break a site, it’s difficult to tweak the settings to get those sites to work with individualized settings. Personally, this is much easier for me to do with browser extensions that provide a some of Phoenix’s hardening features.

At least in the US, anything you create on a company computer can legally be the property of the company. Any computer programming, hobby projects, writing, media creation, or anything else you do on a company-owned device will most likely belong to them unless it is explicitly stated otherwise in a contract.

Sorry to say, I don’t think there is any way to practically or legally separate personal use on an ipad from work use when it’s company issued.

Am American. Can confirm that we are hyper reactionary. I read the tweet and shrugged it off, and rolled my eyes at the people claiming that Proton was now “dead” to them for bending the knee to Trump and were seeking out alternatives.

All of our American healthcare horror stories are true. Never take medical systems advice from us; our system is so evil and broken that our only possible recourse is “deposing” CEOs.

I just looked into using Phoenix but after reading some valid criticisms of the project, along with the pain of setting it up and keeping it updated, it didn’t feel worth it for me.

And to be clear, Phoenix is not a browser, it is a Firefox config.

My database is absolutely encrypted and I only local sync it.

Edit: I doubled checked the details of my setup. I am syncing between Android and a mac using Joplin and Nextcloud. I have them set to sync over wi-fi only and the database is encrypted, but it’s not a LAN only connection when syncing.

If they did this in Europe, I would argue it is a GDPR violation and it would be impossible for Apple to remove the data they collected. I hope the EU fines Apple out the nose for this.

An opt-out that you can’t opt out of because Apple already opted you in and took your photos?

This seems like it is going to be a huge lawsuit. Since a class action won’t deter them or help us, let’s all sue Apple individually in small claims court and kill them by death from a billion cuts.

Wait, it’s called homomorphic encryption? All we’d have to do is tell MAGAs that Tim Apple just started using homomorphic encryption with all the iphones and the homophobic backlash would cause Apple to walk this back within a week.

I’m only half joking.

It’s not that simple. If I don’t want any of my photos scanned, I would have to avoid every iphone, ipad, and mac with this feature turned on, effectively meaning I can’t send a photo to anyone using an apple device.

I have had trouble with it finding addresses as well. I use Magic Earth for driving because it can actually find most all the locations I search for.

You don’t need to apologize: that user could have clicked your link to the cricut site and easily figured it out. They are being willfully ignorant and intentionally vauge.

Your browser is most likely blocking HTML canvas data. Uploaded photos will often look like colored vertical lines.

Doesn’t Google Messages require access to your contacts to even run? My experience was that it didn’t even ask permission; it just gave itself permission when I first launched it.

I learned about Swappa years ago and exclusively use them for buying and selling all my smartphones. I have no idea why they aren’t more popular, except for the fact that repair shop resellers use it too, but they are pretty easy to avoid.