This year I’ve been removing Google from my life. Today I installed LineageOS without Google Apps, taking yet another step to a degoogled life.
Due to clearly some poor planning I forgot to lookup some alternative apps for the basic stuff I never think about… I’d rather install FOSS apps that are available on F-Droid or at the very least, an app that is available on Aurora Store. Would rather not be installing random APKs.
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Dialer app: I installed “Koler”, which seems decent enough
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Contacts: Doesn’t need to be super fancy, just something that allows me import my contacts from a VCF file.
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SMS: Currently using QKSMS, not sure if anything else is recommended…
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Camera: I barely use my camera app, just need something to take the occasional photo.
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Gallery: The default is probably good enough, let me know your thoughts
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Launcher: I used Niagara launcher but I never got used to it, to be honest. I guess I’m looking to something more traditional.
Shoot me any other FOSS apps you think are great! Thank you so much.
When installing lineage, I usually go for simple mobile tools.
It has been acquired recently but you can still grab the tool or the fork called Fossify.
Should cover the apps required above.
I did consider the Simple Mobile Tools but I guess I’m waiting until Fossify sorts everything out and makes a F-Droid release!
F-Droid has paused updates for the time being so it shouldn’t be a problem.
True. You can still use the apps for now as they haven’t been updated yet.
in the last techlore video they say that fDroid updates are frozen.
plus some more info
Could you link the Fossify repo? I only find one with a 404 error
Thank you!
Contacts & SMS - Contact you
Gallery - Aves
Camera - Open camera
Launcher - Kvaesitso
Music - Symphony
Contact you gets a dialer, it is included in nightly, the devs told so on matrix. It will get released when it’s ready
Thanks a bunch, friend!!!
Instead of LineageOS, see if DivestOS exists for your device. It’s more secure and private than LineageOS, and forked from it.
For your launcher - try Neo Launcher and its companion, Neo Feed.
QKSMS is best for SMS at the moment.
For contacts and phone, try using whatever comes stock with DivestOS. It’s probably the AOSP base of what Google uses for Google Contacts and their Phone app.
I use Google Camera for my Pixel solely because of the processing you can’t get elsewhere that lets me use my phone’s camera to its full potential.
Otherwise try Secure Camera from GrapheneOS team, and/or Open Camera.
The FossifyOrg forks of the Simple Mobile Tools suite is also worth investigating.
Graphene comes stock with all the necessary non-Google apps or you can use FossifyX apps
Could you link the FossifyX repo? I only find one with a 404 error
Here you go: https://github.com/FossifyOrg
Thank you!
I don’t own a Pixel device so the GrapheneOS is not an option for me.
The SMS app is using a very old runtime, the other apps work. The Android filemanager sucks a lot, same with the Gallery
So this just looks like the Community has to take care of the projects and/or find alternatives
Alternatives
File manager - Material Files
That one doesnt have the security vulnerability and I think it is also better. But they are pretty much equal.
Simple Gallery - Aves
I prefer Simple Gallery though, it is pretty great
Simple dialer - Welefon
Very basic, I personally use ACR phone for call recording, with disabled internet permissions. The Dev asked on Reddit about opensourcing the App and got negative responses, so maybe unlikely.
Simple Keyboard - Florisboard
Currently unmaintained but awesome. I hope it gets revived.
Simple Calculator
My favourite: Mint Calculator
All these look way better and have unit transformations.
Simple SMS
AOSP SMS/MMS, Quik Sms
Deku SMS has encryption support
AOSP SMS is poorly hard to find. That would be great on F-Droid. It also uses old libraries.
Simple Music Player
Many others
Some Gems
Some apps have no good replacement
Simple Gallery
Also in my opinion just the best. The Amaze Videoplayer and tools are great though.
Simple Contacts SE
That is the better version with some enhanced features.
Simple Calendar
I just got way better results than using Etar. The Widget is great too.
The developer of the Simple apps recently sold them to a shady company that will probably fill them with ads
Yes thats why this list exists
open contacts 👉 https://www.f-droid.org/packages/opencontacts.open.com.opencontacts/
launcher: lawnchair 👉 https://www.f-droid.org/packages/ch.deletescape.lawnchair.plah/
I really like Lawnchair, it’s unfortunately the developer is no longer maintaining it. Thanks for the tips!
are you sure?
they just updated lawnicons
Yes, in the link you sent you can see
NOTE: This app is no longer maintained, its repo was archived.They seem to be working on a new version, but the last alpha 4 was released in august last year so who knows? https://github.com/lawnchairlauncher/lawnchair/releases
:(
at least it works perfectly for now
Yeah, I’m happy with it. I don’t need fancy features, really. I’m a basic person :P
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ICYMI the “simple” apps were sold to some shovelware company and will require a subscription soon (or maybe they already do). So you might want to look for an alternative if that’s what you are using.
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