Advice on leaving the Apple ecosystem

Questions
1

Hi everyone :waving_hand:

I’m an Apple user currently part of the walled garden (ecosystem) and quite unhappy how events are unfolding lately and the direction which the company chose (eg. AI).

Therefore, I’m in a transitioning phase, trying to break out so I started with my password manager. Although I wanted to choose an EU :european_union: product (Proton Pass) I wasn’t quite happy how it was working namely the browser integration was bit funky and bit too pricey for my taste. So here I chose Bitwarden (yeah, I know it’s in US, at least I went with the EU server), so now I’m using it mainly.

Next, while planning the exit strategy my thought went towards where am I going to move my data (media, files, books etc.) — and here I thought I could build myself a small NAS and get into selfhosting because I know my way around this, but this is still in the making and I’ll need approx. 3-4 months to reach production.

In terms of devices that I wanted to switch, I looked at OnePlus 15 (watch included for free) and OnePlus Pad 3 (case + stylus included for free) so with these I replace phone, tablet and watch in one-go.

Lastly the question of privacy-friendly OS (Android) for my devices, I was looking at /e/OS but unfortunately there’s no support yet for such new devices and I don’t know how to build the ROM myself, although I thought of using the selfhosted infra to sort-of make a lab for doing this :thinking:

Now here, with regards to Android OS’s I am hit by a chaotic mess of operating systems each having their own community and supporting (some of them) a broad range of smartphone brands. I wish there was a standardized way to build on top of a common platform somehow and at least give the opportunity to inexperienced people to enjoy such privacy-friendly OS’s.

Wrapping it up, as my journey still continues, I’m just asking for advice here which path should I go both in terms of Android device and privacy-friendly OS; what gave you great pleasure of using currently and how did you get there? :slight_smile:

Thank you!

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Advice on Apple Service Alternatives
2

You don’t need to stop using your iPhone just because you’re unhappy with Apple’s direction/ecosystem in general. Switching to OnePlus would be a downgrade in all aspects. Avoid /e/OS especially.

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3

I would urge against getting a OnePlus phone and installing /e/OS and instead go with a Google Pixel with GrapheneOS. Pixels are the only devices that meet the minimum security requirements for GrapheneOS and they have 7 years of support.

/e/OS is mostly a downgrade from AOSP and should be avoided.

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4

You can harden iOS or get a Pixel and install GrapheneOS. I moved to GOS and am loving it. It’s more DIY but it also keeps me on my toes about my OPSEC set up.

Like others are pointing out, getting OnePlus is a terrible idea. Please don’t.

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5

I’m both an Android and iOS/macOS user. I detest the Apple ecosystem and, as a result, avoid their services altogether. There’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

However, as was already mentioned if you’re set on Android as your next phone, you can’t do better than a Pixel running GrapheneOS. If, for any reason, you can’t or don’t want to run GrapheneOS, just use the stock OS on a Pixel.

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6

In this case, using iOS and hardening it would be better. Stock Android has AI built in the OS and there is no good way to disable it all. Much better to keep using iPhone in this case.

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7

I agree, but if someone is set on stock Android for whatever reason, Pixels are fine, much better than other stock options. iPhones, of course, especially the 17, beat anything that isn’t GrapheneOS. No argument here

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8

That would be a Google Pixel phone or tablet running GrapheneOS.

Review this install guide. The blue bubble options are entirely automated through your browser.

Web installer | Install | GrapheneOS

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9

There is one already. It’s called Android Open Source Project which serves as a strong baseline. It’s just that most not only fail to keep up with it, but they also struggle to make any improvements to it without reducing the privacy and security of the real thing in the process.

It’s difficult to do meaningful privacy and security work. Often it’s much easier to sell (dubious) services instead and merely market them as such. Don’t buy into that

10

/e/OS not good enough. I recommend Pixel with Graphene OS.

There is nothing better on mobiles above Graphene OS.

So far, all other solutions are good :slight_smile:

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11

You don’t need to stop using your iPhone just because you’re unhappy with Apple’s direction/ecosystem in general.

He definitely can, and there are alternatives Pixel or new Motorola phone (soon) with GrapheneOS.

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12

Is Motorola confirmed to be the OEM? Do you have a source? Last I heard it was unconfirmed.

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13

Not sure about this, but can‘t you block all AI web requests and/or telemetry with Pi-hole / Control-D / NextDNS?

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14
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Only bits of information point to it, so it’s still merely a guess

https://x.com/GrapheneOS/status/2015485941842870773 :thinking:

16

If someone is merely unhappy with parts of the Apple ecosystem, these issues can typically be addressed without changing platforms. iPhones are great devices, and replacing them with OnePlus of all things just for the free watch or a stylus is two steps back. That’s all I meant. In any case, running GrapheneOS entails some tradeoffs that not everyone can accept.

3 Likes
17

You can also consider Keepass, they have clients for all devices/OSes
or self-host your own Vaultwarden :slight_smile:

18

Proton apps do offer good value if you use the unlimited email alias feature which Bitwarden lacks. A big advantage is the apps exist for both Apple and Android, so escaping the walled garden becomes easier. Proton Pass has a dedicated app if you don’t like the browser extension. I don’t see how it could be considered ‘funky’ but that is subjective. Incorporating email alieses into Proton Pass does seem strange at first but makes sense once you get used to it.

If my Proton password manager didn’t support email aliases then I wouldn’t pay for it. Proton is worth the price for me but that is subjective. It represents a single point of failure, but you can’t get much better either. Integration is part of the value proposition.

My phone is GrapheneOS with a selection of Proton apps, Signal, and Brave Browser. This gives me peace of mind since Proton’s offerings are nearly complete. Drive isn’t production ready yet but will be shortly.

19

I do not like to put all my eggs into 1 basket and SimpleLogin is also just awful to use.
Maybe it integrates just fine into Proton Pass but I am honestly not too bothered copy pasting it out from Addy (which is ofc also cross platform).

Keepass + Addy + whatever secure email, especially if OP is fine with self-hosting something with a NAS or a quick sync like Syncthing.

They do cover a large spectrum yes, yet I wouldn’t say they are best in the own fields if taken individually.

20

iphones are great tracking devices with the latest spyware, that’s true.

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