Hello,
I've searched the forum but couldn't find a rom that satisfies my minimalistic needs.
I don't need HTC Sense
I don't need facebook, footprints, friend stream, google search, gmail, news and weather, peep, twitter, stocks, talk and voice search.
Just need a phone that can sync with my google account, all other applications should be optional (may be installed later if needed)
Is there any froyo based minimalistic ROM like that? Or do I have to cook one for myself (I don't know how to cook a rom)
Thanks.
aysecikvealpella said:
Hello,
I've searched the forum but couldn't find a rom that satisfies my minimalistic needs.
I don't need HTC Sense
I don't need facebook, footprints, friend stream, google search, gmail, news and weather, peep, twitter, stocks, talk and voice search.
Just need a phone that can sync with my google account, all other applications should be optional (may be installed later if needed)
Is there any froyo based minimalistic ROM like that? Or do I have to cook one for myself (I don't know how to cook a rom)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you remove sense you loose all the sense widgets.
BUT!
Go on OpenDesire!!!! and test it (you just loose FM Radio).
Else wait for a Rom without Sense. or try Spartan (as i remember)
That would be really something.
There have been posts about this here and there, but most of them are just asking for advice on how to do it. I plan to follow through and document the solutions I find.
Why, you ask? I don't like Google having so much data on me. I used to not care but in today's environment with SOPA and new NSA data centers and whatnot, well... maybe I'm paranoid but I don't necessarily want anyone to so easily have such a complete profile of all my searches, contacts, location history, etc. Anyway, if you think it's dumb, ok, got it, move along please.
So if I don't like Google then why use Android? Well, a couple of reasons. First of all, Google is not Android. Android is maintained by the Android Open Source Project, which in turn is made up of members of the Open Handset Alliance. Yes, Google is the lead member of the Open Handset Alliance, and yes most of the developers working on the Android Open Source Project are Google employees. But I've been following Android for long enough now to know that Google and Android are for all practical purposes separate entities.
The second reason is because Android is simply the best mobile operating system on the planet right now, and it is free open-source software. I use Ubuntu on my laptop, and I'm not interested in switching to Windows or Mac, so that pretty much rules out iPhone or Windows Phone right there.
But isn't Android really Google's OS? Yes and No. As I mentioned, Google does pretty much run the AOSP, along with device manufacturers. But AOSP is very "provider agnostic." Much of what you see on your phone is not from AOSP. The Galaxy Nexus is a GOOGLE device, not an AOSP device. Gmail, Maps, Market, Location Tracking, etc are all GOOGLE ADDITIONS and are NOT a part of AOSP! When you build AOSP from source (or Cyanogenmod), you end up with an agnostic, neutral device that has practically no mention of anything Google whatsoever.
But what about what you DONT have in AOSP? No Market??? No Gmail??? How can you possibly use Android without these things? Well that is exactly what I intend to find out.
Please feel free to contribute to the discussion with ideas and questions. Hopefully this thread can eventually be helpful for someone else who comes along and wants to do something similar.
More posts to follow as I progress....
EDIT: I should add, I also will try to avoid other "free" services like Yahoo! and Hotmail-- basically anyone who wants to run bots through your mail to sell you ads or sell your data to others who want to sell you ads, etc. I will be trying to use open-source or for-pay services where possible (if it's "free" then YOU'RE the product!).
I commend your ambition, but this is nothing new. There are already non-Google Android handsets an tablets on the market. The Kindle Fire, for example, is non-Google.
You can do the same with a GNex. Just don't add a Google account or use a ROM without the gapps. Install the Amazon App Store, change your default search, and away you go.
please...stay safe
Personally the only Google apps I use are Gmail and the Play store, with an occasional use of maps and goggles.
Having a market is really just for convenience, you could install with APKs like on Windows you have to install from EXEs or MSIs. And if you're that against google you could just use the Amazon marketplace for stuff, though I've heard they take longer to receive updates.
In all honesty I don't know what to suggest except flashing 100% and not signing into Google services in any way or form. What you are asking is not possible unless you use apks from non market source and using Hotmail or something.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus expect possible typos.
If somebody figure out how to use Calendar, without creating google account for at least one time, or tell me the alternative calendar (not just widget) that will not sync with google, it would be nice. For example Smasung TW Launcher has it's own calendar, that you can choose, without google, but pure ICS does not have.
I have tryed many alternative, such as Jorte, Pocket Informant, etc, but they are far away from stock ...
I use:
1mobile.net
4shared.com (You also get 15gb cloud space free)
appbrain.com (get app from 4shared)
I absolutely love Google and all of their services. You're crazy! Good luck with it though.
Somebody needs to come out with a tinfoil hat edition ROM.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
sashavegas said:
If somebody figure out how to use Calendar, without creating google account for at least one time, or tell me the alternative calendar (not just widget) that will not sync with google, it would be nice. For example Smasung TW Launcher has it's own calendar, that you can choose, without google, but pure ICS does not have.
I have tryed many alternative, such as Jorte, Pocket Informant, etc, but they are far away from stock ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).
Stay off the grid bro
Sent from my francoPhone
ChongoDroid said:
Stay off the grid bro
Sent from my francoPhone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly! Lol.
Once you're connected to the internet, you're pretty much open to everyone... You can go offline if you don't want any of these... It's not only google... There's ways you can go anonymous like using proxy.... Using search engine that don't track search data... Google has an option for you to opt-in or opt out... Just like the previous responses, you can use amazon but don't think amazon doesn't track you also... How would they know what to recommend you... Google don't force users to stick only to them... And that's why I like google for this reason only...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
matt2053 said:
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There should be some third party app that will do these things, well you use linux, you should know that there's a lot of alternatives... Try if the software you use in ubuntu are available for android
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
Try this one, if you use thunderbird. Seems decent...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callicia.birdiesync
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
AndroidNeophyte said:
Once you're connected to the internet, you're pretty much open to everyone... You can go offline if you don't want any of these... It's not only google... There's ways you can go anonymous like using proxy.... Using search engine that don't track search data... Google has an option for you to opt-in or opt out... Just like the previous responses, you can use amazon but don't think amazon doesn't track you also... How would they know what to recommend you... Google don't force users to stick only to them... And that's why I like google for this reason only...
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The point isn't really to be 100% anonymous. That would require a dumbphone with prepaid sim or VPN/Proxy setups etc, and that's not what I'm look at. The point is to make an experiment and see how "non-Google" AOSP really is and how useful it is as a mobile OS on its own, without Google proprietary add-ons. Many people say you "have to have a Gmail account to use Android," or "you have to sync your contacts through Gmail" etc and I want to show people how they can do it without Google if they so choose.
AndroidNeophyte said:
Try this one, if you use thunderbird. Seems decent...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callicia.birdiesync
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4g with Beats Audio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I saw that one and I plan to try it out. I do use Thunderbird, thanks!
AOSP + open source Exchange alternative for syncing Calendar/Email/Contacts hosted on your own server (ie Zimbra)
Sideload all apps
Voila!
matt2053 said:
THIS is the point of the thread. Replacing Android Market with Amazon App Stores is completely simple and obvious. Getting contacts and calendar syncing, things like that are not so obvious. Mainly because I am not only going to avoid Google, but other services like Yahoo! or Hotmail, etc (anything that's "free" so they can monetize your data).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
XDA monetizes your data. Every website does; that's how they pay for hosting and bandwidth.
Use a different calendar app and sync your contacts to Outlook, or just back them up somewhere.
Alright, but you should really start off removing the antenna from your smartphone. Then compile AOSP, don't flash GApps, sideload all APK files.
There, now you're off the grid. Enjoy boredom and next to no convenient functionality.
Can you please suggest me an other launcher that can do all sense's sync abilities?
Because i want to flash no sense roms. But others' launchers can't sync contacts like sense... Example, sense contacts note the people's facebook or others ID numbers in google contacts list. Then when you flashed some other rom, it can completely renew all of your contacts basically.
I have already now syncing people like, facebook, Twitter, foursquare, Skype, tango, what'sup msg ext...
Is there any application that can do all basically?
(I hate to install any contacts application to change my own. I'm searching all in one roms)
Thank you for all...
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA
What people tend to do is use the google sync to sync the contacts. For the rest you'll need to download the apps to sync the other services.
There are some apps that have several in one. For example imo messenger (not sure if it's that one) has msn, skype and several others.
What you could do is go into the market, search for facebook for example, and read the description of the other apps. Some of them will sync facebook and twitter.
Regarding the roms, there will be a seperate file to download called google apps which is for no sense roms. They are usually listed in the op.
Not sure if there is a single rom that does what you want. There is a reason it's a no sense rom.
Sent from a dream.
?
why is there so amny sesnse stuff?
if you want a rom that does it all for you , you should use a sense one and stay on it cz aosp roms you must do everything by yourself, its just pure android as google release it
Sense is hard to replace, now I'm using a custom ics rom, with standard launcher plus beautiful widget and pure messenger that are good apps but aren't free.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA
New android One X owner. Had an iphone before and I'm a bit confused over certain things. I have done my homework.
I haven't found any appealing reasons to root the phone... But there's certain things I'd like to know to set up this phone!
One thing I am having trouble getting used to is that the space between the icons on droid is too big. Can it be fixed with or without root?
Is it possible to sort apps manually or into categories, i just find the A-Z/time sort choices.
Essential Apps, the best one for each own thing? Swiftkey 3 for keyboard, airdroid over ESfileexplorer, Avast for antivirus security(necessary?) Dropbox for cloud..
What softwares do you use to sync music, videos and other content. HTC Sync Manager or is there better?
Is there a page like idownloadblog that keeps you easily up to date, posts guides, apps, tweaks from both sides of the river. Official and pirate stuff.
MOD EDIT : As explained , we do not like warez on XDA
Asking a lot so help me with whatever you'd like I'll look aroound meanwhile Thanks,
u can find everything in here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps
Welcome to the Android world mate!
1. Try a custom launcher: for example Nova Launcher from play store. The problem might also be that you are used to the tiiiiny screen of your former i-device.
2. Launcher settings, don't know if it's possible on stock Sense launcher.
3. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1938854
4. No knowledge on that area.
5. www.xda-developers.com (forget about the pirate stuff though)
6. No. At least you won't get any help here @XDA to find such site.
We have absolute zero tolerance on warez and other questionable content. You might get banned for requesting such things. If you have money to buy a 500€ piece of hardware, you must be able to afford a 1€ app. Right?
loved the nova launcher
i'm having a though luck finding a quick compose sms widget
gopro and handcent sucked, the things is , that i'd like is something like chomps sms (bitesms) quick compose but not in notification, on the home screen as a widget.
do you know any such widgets+
android is awesome, do not understand why appstore and cydia is so much more developed. cant even find a simple note taking app like writeroom..
One thing I am having trouble getting used to is that the space between the icons on droid is too big. Can it be fixed with or without root?
Try Apex too.
Is it possible to sort apps manually or into categories, i just find the A-Z/time sort choices.
Apex or Nova
Essential Apps, the best one for each own thing? Swiftkey 3 for keyboard, airdroid over ESfileexplorer, Avast for antivirus security(necessary?) Dropbox for cloud..
It was all depends on your preferences.
What softwares do you use to sync music, videos and other content. HTC Sync Manager or is there better?
Since you come from iOS, try AirSync + Doubletwist player to sync your itunes playlist.
Is there a page like idownloadblog that keeps you easily up to date, posts guides, apps, tweaks from both sides of the river. Official and pirate stuff.
up to date, guides, tweaks, mods just look here in XDA. if you cant find them, you're not reading them enough. hehe.