“Kagi Search” looks cool. The examples of searches look far superior to even that of google.

But it’s $5 per month. (No ads) Or $8 for couples. Even so I think I will try it. The search results look really good.

Has anyone here used Kagi Search?

Yeah I’m with you there, the pixel camera app is a must for me too. What I love about GrapheneOS is how easy it is to block permissions. So with google pixel camera app, no network and no location permissions means that it cannot report back to google unless I allow it to. It’s a safe way to use the odd google app in a limited way when you need to. The other google app I use is the g-keyboard, because it is so much better in some ways. But again it is very restricted and I turned off the features I don’t want, like voice typing.

I use Organic Maps. But it does not YET have traffic data. So if it’s an area with traffic jams, I use Google maps. But most of the time organic maps is great

I came across “Organic Maps” and it’s really impressive. I now use them 50/50. The only real difference for me is that Google maps shows the traffic jams. So if it’s a long journey I use Google, but if I’m not in a rush and just need directions I use Organic.

“Brave search” seems to work good for me with Firefox. Protonmail is awesome yeah 👍🏻 There are alternatives to everything, just finding the good ones!

+1 for GrapheneOS on a Pixel. I use GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro. It’s just awesome. I will never go back. Camera is awesome too.

Wow thank you for sharing your personal experience and thoughts. I think you hit the nail on the head. To add to that, I have noticed with a family member of mine (who has been trying to loose weight for 20 years, unsuccessfully) that mental wellbeing = willpower. If something get you down, the weight usually goes up. It’s hugely complected of course. My heart goes out to all.

Indeed

Wow you use a lot of tech! Good share, thanks. I’m with you with Google maps, however check out “Organic Maps” I was very impressed with it (here in the UK) it finds shops and businesses, but no reviews obviously. I still use Google maps most of the time (on a separate phone that lives in the car), but Organic is really impressive, way ahead of the other map apps, definitely one to watch. Paying for YouTube is a great idea. I may do that also actually. I run a server with Mail-in-a-box for email. Yes it is just email basically, but I personally do not need or use more than that. And I love having unlimited aliases that all point to my main email. Also NextCloud is amazing yes. I love NextCloud. The other services you use I just don’t have a need for. But yes google = convenience. I bet there are good alternatives to document sharing. And I use Hover.com for domains.

I am one that switched. I have Linux Mint which I use 99.9% of the time, and a windows 10 laptop that I use 0.1% for that one windows program.

I think more people are wanting to get out of the grip that google, apple, and Microsoft have over them. Many are overwhelmed because they are in so deep. It took me months to get out, which I did about 6 years ago. I never looked back though. I know people that want out, but are not strong enough to commit to switching all their services and apps.

Actually if everyone paid for software instead it would be very cheap. Maybe like $1. Think about it, it only takes a tiny fraction of the people that use free open source alternatives to make a donation to keep those products going. I use all the alternatives to google. The only google product I use is YouTube. And I find alternatives VERY affordable and voluntary donations mostly. Take for example Microsoft Word and Excel, I switched to LibreOffice 6 years ago. It’s 100% as good. We are here on Lemmy instead of Reddit. And Firefox is every bit as good as chrome. I get it that once your are in the google system it’s hard to get out, and is a lot of learning and work to move over, but daym it feels good once the only google you use is YouTube. Supporting a load of little projects instead of the mighty google feels good also. The alternatives have come a long way. I made I list of alternatives and as a project switched over one by one. I have never looked back and don’t miss all the google demands for phone numbers etc. I am now in control instead of google.

Well yes exactly. It’s all just big personalities online that say that these things happened. Who knows really what the guy is like. A few big names online say these things about him, but I personally have never had any Interaction with him. So it could all be true, or partly true, or not at all. I guess no smoke without fire… but there is always 2 sides to every story.

Because GrapheneOS is a debatable triggering subject for some people. Basically the OS itself is amazing and very good. But the project leader is apparently arrogant and offensive. And offended a load of big known online personalities. Apparently he says his OS is the best and better then everyone else etc etc. So the question is: do you use and support a project where the product itself is amazing and just what the world needs, but where the project leader is offensive? Some say yes, some say no. = Controversial subject.

Personally I use GrapheneOS because I need a good camera and I like having a flagship modern phone. Currently I’m using a Pixel 7 Pro. I also like the privacy and security features that graphene offer. I don’t see another project out there that can offer me the same. The product is good.

Yes I agree. The product itself seems to be very good indeed. The problem people have is not with the product, but with the personality of the project leader. Personally I have used GrapheneOS for the past 3 months on a Pixel 7 Pro and I love it. My reason for choosing GrapheneOS was that I need a phone with a top quality camera, and I want a phone that is less than 3 years old. That alone sets GrapheneOS apart from many other projects as many only support older phones with low to mid range cameras. Then you have the privacy, security, and setting customization that graphene offers and it’s a clear top choice for me. Even if the leader is arrogant as some say, his product is good, and exactly what I need at the moment. So with no other projects offering what is important to me, I choose graphene for 2024. It’s solid.

I have been using GrapheneOS on a Pixel 7 Pro for 3 months now. I am BLOWN AWAY at how good it is. I have 3 user profiles. Main profile has no google services at all, and 95% of my apps are running there. Then I have a second user I can switch to that has sandboxed google services and my banking apps on it. I then have a third user that also has sandboxed google services running where I can install any random app that demands google services. (I have only 1 app on that user) . So 99.9% of the time my phone is running with no google services at all. (Side note: without even the sandboxed google services installed, apps need to be left open in the app switcher in order to receive notifications. If you swipe all your apps away, then you won’t receive notifications. This is not a problem for me, as I just keep my messaging apps open in the app switcher. But if it is a problem for you, you would need to run the sandboxed google services).

I see GrapheneOS as a way of removing 99% of all the tracking, spyware and things that I dont like, while still having the convenience of having all the apps and features that are available on a regular smartphone.

There is a learning curve, and many settings to learn and customize. But definitely worth it.

To get a Pixel, instead of paying £900 for a new pixel 8 pro, I paid £300 for a second hand Pixel 7 Pro on eBay that was in perfect condition. So for £300 I now have a privacy phone and an AMAZING camera, which was very important for me the camera.

I will check it out thanks

Thank you, I had somehow forgotten about Friendica! And it is on the fediverse so it’s a win win

This confuses me… I thought that a project being attached to a crypto/Blockchain was a good thing? Because things you create on the Blockchain stay yours and are secure and the project can somehow self fund itself. All very confusing, but something like that. Are you saying that ALL Projects built on a Blockchain are suspicious? Very interesting

Thank you for looking them up! They have been recommended to me by friends. But I will stick with Lemmy and Mastodon.

Thank you, I think I will stick with Lemmy and Mastodon, possibly try Friendica at some point too.