Develop Bugs

Android Without Google

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.

How to get a list of purchased apps?

Other than looking at my CC purchase report. Report is OK. I can filter by "Google" and I believe that all the paid apps are included.
But is it possible to do that in Google Play Web or App?
In the Web I can find only all Apps I downloaded and All Apps which are installed. But they are not categorized as purchased or not.
Any ideas?

I wish google would do this also in their play store app, I'm sick of seeing every app I have downloaded over the last 3 years in the all apps tab an I can't even delete them from the list.

slayr76 said:
I wish google would do this also in their play store app, I'm sick of seeing every app I have downloaded over the last 3 years in the all apps tab an I can't even delete them from the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I can see only a list of every ****ty app I downloaded. It's really annoying that we can't filter the list.

Ditto! I remember the "old" Google market where you can look at just the purchased apps, but now with Google play you can't.
I wish they can create some way to sort.
Now, you might be able to see all you purchased apps on a pc. I think.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I might be wrong, but I think there is a list of those apps if you look through the Google Wallet website.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

RTContent said:
I might be wrong, but I think there is a list of those apps if you look through the Google Wallet website.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice ! I never even thought of that. G.W. is useless in Canada so far, so I never would think to check that, but lo and behold. Thank you !
It would be nice if Google Play Store could do that though, but at least this way I can view the list, then search the market for specific purchased apps, rather than scrolling thru a jumbled, unorganized mess of crapps I have installed in the past.

Valkillmore said:
Nice ! I never even thought of that. G.W. is useless in Canada so far, so I never would think to check that, but lo and behold. Thank you !
It would be nice if Google Play Store could do that though, but at least this way I can view the list, then search the market for specific purchased apps, rather than scrolling thru a jumbled, unorganized mess of crapps I have installed in the past.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I do agree though, the Play store app needs search filters that allows that.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

You can see a list of all purchases if you log into the Google Wallet site, however it also includes all purchases from the play store (music, magazines, offers), so it might still be too much information. My advise would be to install appbrain on your phone and sync the apps to appbrain. It will compile a list of paid applications for you and is a handy way to see how much you have spent in the market. The only short fall of this method is it will not account for apps that were purchased and removed prior to syncing.

Finally!!!
A solution we were looking for: http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...apps-in-one-place-with-the-legacy-play-store/
So we have two ways so far:
1) Google Wallet page
2) Hacked old Playstore app

[Q] New Rom / missing features of basic apps

Hi!
I just installed the KITKANG rom (cf. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2549776) and a the first glance, it is pretty nice. But then I noticed a few things I really dislike such as
- The Web Browser does not reformat text (to make it fitting on the screen) if you zoom in manually by gesture. The browser I had on my previous image (caynogenmod 7) did this. And I don't want to miss that feature anymore.
- The contacts application seems to work by syncing contacts tothe Google cloud, only. My old contacts app had the choice to store contacts locally on the phone without Google sync.
I have no idea how to get this missing features back, again. Any comments / pointers?
I.

- Install another browser that has this feature
- The newer 'people' app may not have the option to store locally, but why do you want this? The whole point of an Android phone is to sync with your Google account.
It is dangerous to only store your contacts on the phone, because if you ever lose the phone, you lose all your contacts.
If you sync your contacts to your Google account and you lose your phone, your contacts are still safe :good:

eddiehk6 said:
- Install another browser that has this feature
- The newer 'people' app may not have the option to store locally, but why do you want this? The whole point of an Android phone is to sync with your Google account.
It is dangerous to only store your contacts on the phone, because if you ever lose the phone, you lose all your contacts.
If you sync your contacts to your Google account and you lose your phone, your contacts are still safe :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@ browser issue: I meanwhile learned that the issue cause by a change of the the rendering engine in Android to WebView. So, almost all browsers are affected by this. (For details, google "Text Reflow Removed From WebViews In KitKat, Probably Not Coming Back"). Opera is an exception, because it comes alone with its own machinery. However, I tried Opera and is is slow on my HTC Desire. As many, many other people complaining, I cannot understand why the Android development folks dropped such a fundamental feature. The Android Browser of Kitkat tends to be unusable now! And I consider a smartphone without a proper browser as unusable as well. Which at the end might prevent me from buying another Android smartphone...
@ contacts: I totally disagree. Well, yes, from Googles perspective, your statement might be true. But for the user, Android is at first just an operating system to run your smartphone. Think about why Google wants your data...! - I want to *own* my data, so I don't want to use cloud services. Strange that you think syncing of data is equivalent to syncing to Google! Of course I sync all my data. To my own PC. If I'd loose my phone, I won't loose my data, just re-install it to my new phone from my PC.
It is nice that Google offers syncing. But enforcing to sync *is* evil...

inmado said:
@ browser issue: I meanwhile learned that the issue cause by a change of the the rendering engine in Android to WebView. So, almost all browsers are affected by this. (For details, google "Text Reflow Removed From WebViews In KitKat, Probably Not Coming Back"). Opera is an exception, because it comes alone with its own machinery. However, I tried Opera and is is slow on my HTC Desire. As many, many other people complaining, I cannot understand why the Android development folks dropped such a fundamental feature. The Android Browser of Kitkat tends to be unusable now! And I consider a smartphone without a proper browser as unusable as well. Which at the end might prevent me from buying another Android smartphone...
@ contacts: I totally disagree. Well, yes, from Googles perspective, your statement might be true. But for the user, Android is at first just an operating system to run your smartphone. Think about why Google wants your data...! - I want to *own* my data, so I don't want to use cloud services. Strange that you think syncing of data is equivalent to syncing to Google! Of course I sync all my data. To my own PC. If I'd loose my phone, I won't loose my data, just re-install it to my new phone from my PC.
It is nice that Google offers syncing. But enforcing to sync *is* evil...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see this descending quickly into a rather philosophical debate, but on the basis of your reasoning I wonder whether an Android smartphone is suitable for your needs in the first place. I didn't know your stance on personal data from your first post.
I agree with the text reflow browser, a really useful feature. Opera has it like you found out, though the Desire is just an old phone now which struggles to run it. Plenty of newer Android devices will run it just fine. The depth of the Play Store is such that you'll almost certainly find an alternative suitable for your requirements, so perhaps test and consider that for future smartphone purchases.
As for syncing with cloud services, it comes down to user trust and needs I guess. You're right you don't have to use Google, but an Android smartphone really does work best if you use their services.
No, I don't think that syncing of all my data is equivalent to syncing to Google, I use other other accounts too and don't sync everything. In my opinion I think it's possible to find a reasonable middle ground between paranoid tin hat and being ignorant about all personal data. For me, I disable all location tracking stuff and usage stats for any apps (not just Google ones), as I don't need them and feel uncomfortable sending this data. But I do sync other google services like Gmail / contacts because I find they work and are convenient for me. You believe it's evil, I believe it's useful and convenient, just a difference of opinion.
For your workaround, if you don't want to sync contacts, you could disable contact sync within the settings. Would be equivalent to local storage. Or install a different contacts app to manage and store contacts locally.

To avoid this philosophical debate, I'll try give a short answer.
I am using Android for about 5 years now. Without using Google cloud services. And have been a happy Android user. Sounds quite funny to me if someone wonders if Android would be the right thing for me.
Using cloud services is not really a matter of trust. I.e. I am not afraid that Google looks into single items and makes use out of it. But if you have heard about "big data", you can imagine what the result can be when all the data of some many people gets available for ... things you cannot even imagine..
I tried to add a contact with Google sync switched off. It just don't work. The app hangs...

inmado said:
To avoid this philosophical debate, I'll try give a short answer.
I am using Android for about 5 years now. Without using Google cloud services. And have been a happy Android user. Sounds quite funny to me if someone wonders if Android would be the right thing for me.
Using cloud services is not really a matter of trust. I.e. I am not afraid that Google looks into single items and makes use out of it. But if you have heard about "big data", you can imagine what the result can be when all the data of some many people gets available for ... things you cannot even imagine..
I tried to add a contact with Google sync switched off. It just don't work. The app hangs...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're revealing more about your preferences and Android experience to date with each post...it's not just me wondering whether Android is right for you, in your second post you said so yourself
Anyway each to their own.
Have you tried installing a completely separate contacts/dialer application? You could sideload or use a different app store to find one. A few I know of:
- Contacts+
- Ex dialer
- RocketDial
- Go contacts ex
I'm certain at least one of them will be able to create phone contacts only.

What apps are you looking forward to on your Galaxy Watch?

I can not wait for a working Philips Hue app. I am checking the Gear store every few days. A few have been added since but there are either issues with it working on and off or the Widget not working. I need the widget!
Also, a Samsung Multiroom speaker update for Tizen 4! I searched this up before getting the Galaxy Watch and it looks like there is one for Tizen 3 but nothing for Tizen 4 yet.... Boo
What are you waiting for?

Yeah, it's frustrating to see so many apps available for WearOS that are not available on Tizen. I have the LTE enabled Galaxy Watch and would love to be able to leave my phone behind at home sometimes and still have access to the functionality of my favorite apps. Hoping these app developers start getting us some content on Tizen! Here's my wish list: Alert360, Amazon Music, Uber, Lyft, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, Skype for Business, Google Maps.

epolojr said:
Yeah, it's frustrating to see so many apps available for WearOS that are not available on Tizen. I have the LTE enabled Galaxy Watch and would love to be able to leave my phone behind at home sometimes and still have access to the functionality of my favorite apps. Hoping these app developers start getting us some content on Tizen! Here's my wish list: Alert360, Amazon Music, Uber, Lyft, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype, Skype for Business, Google Maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I knew what I was getting in to when I bought the watch but with many devs not updating their apps, the app list for the Galaxy watch is less than the already sparse Gear S3!
The Spotify app is pretty good so my local music needs are fulfilled but apps like Skype, SfB and Uber would be an excellent addition to the watch.
WhatsApp, I can do with the replying to notifcations. I don't need to look through previous convos.
Google Maps, I paid £1 for a companion app. Works really well for turn by turn navigation. It dosn't give you the birds eye view but it guides very very well and hasn't failed me yet. Start a journey on Google Maps (On your phone) and it will auto start the compantion app on the watch. Its called "Gear Navigation". Free app for watch but paid app app on Google Play.
Having Uber on my wrist.. Might make it too easy!

I think there is an Uber app for Tizen now

Having just transferred from gear s3 to Galaxy watch, ALL my apps (and they are a lot) that were bought for the gear (tizen3) now work for Galaxy watch (tizen4). There is a Phillips hue app in the store and an Uber app too also for Galaxy watch. You may need to change your country store to USA to see them all (there is a topic for this under the gear forum). The Uber app only though works only with a Samsung phone.

I would like to get a podcast app.
Spotify don't have podcasts on the watch app.. Why, just why?..
Audible would be another app, then I can leave my phone @ home.

I believe Tizen has a bigger market share than WearOS now, surely developers will notice?

I talked with customer service at Audible.
They have an app for the apple watch.
I sugested that they make an app for the Galaxy watch too.
They thanked me and forwarded the request.
If there are more Audible customers here, it will probably help if you did the same.
Chat with them here: https://www.audible.com/contactus?n1=something_else&n2=other

Is there any application that I can use for remotely turn on or off Wi-Fi, flash light, sound... On my Samsung device from my Galaxy watch? I think there was some application on Gear S3 but I cannot remember how it calls....

petsrdjan said:
Is there any application that I can use for remotely turn on or off Wi-Fi, flash light, sound... On my Samsung device from my Galaxy watch? I think there was some application on Gear S3 but I cannot remember how it calls....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use 'Toggles + Widget' and it works great.

TraFalGarZ said:
I use 'Toggles + Widget' and it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the one I looking for. Thanks ?

Personally, I just want an app that stores notification history so that I can access old messages. There is 1 old app called NWS that does this but it drains the watch battery like MAD (5% per hour just from this app).
I am getting so frustrated by the lack of this simple feature that I will either make the app myself or return the watch.

stakoz said:
Having just transferred from gear s3 to Galaxy watch, ALL my apps (and they are a lot) that were bought for the gear (tizen3) now work for Galaxy watch (tizen4). There is a Phillips hue app in the store and an Uber app too also for Galaxy watch. You may need to change your country store to USA to see them all (there is a topic for this under the gear forum). The Uber app only though works only with a Samsung phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't seem to find how to change my store country to US. Can you give me a link or tell me how I can do it? There are two apps which I want from the US country store: Spotify and Twitter Trends.

tofylion said:
I can't seem to find how to change my store country to US. Can you give me a link or tell me how I can do it? There are two apps which I want from the US country store: Spotify and Twitter Trends.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, please see below, this is one of the several threads on the subject, basically you need a vpn app on your phone to produce a US IP address and the Sim card removed:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/gear-s3/help/galaxy-app-store-region-change-disaster-t3628782/page2

stakoz said:
Hi, please see below, this is one of the several threads on the subject, basically you need a vpn app on your phone to produce a US IP address and the Sim card removed:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/gear-s3/help/galaxy-app-store-region-change-disaster-t3628782/page2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I've tried it as you said without the sim card and it worked flawlessly. All that's left now is to find more apps to download

A Good GPX tracker as Oruxmaps and a Wunderlist integration.

Ghostracer - ultimate tool for runners

Runtastic

Shazam would be nice to have

zello - walkie walkie app

Go the Google way?

So, eBay willing I will get my Huawei Mate Xs in about 10 days time.
And I have a difficult decision ahead of me. Do I Google or not?
Installing GMS and the Google apps will make my phone more like my existing Android device. But it will also introduce inevitable stability (and possibly security) issues.
Sticking to the Huawei apps avoids these, but limits my options somewhat.
What do you guys think. Do I Google or not?

If you can do without Google docs and drive, I say skip the Google hack. It's kinda risky. Even if you use the Mate XS as is without the hack, you can still use some Google services.
Gmail still works through Microsoft Outlook. Google calendar works through Business Calendar. Google Maps load fine even though can't sign in. Chrome works. Facebook Instagram WhatsApp all work.
So the only thing I use often that's missing for me is really Google drive, doc, YouTube. For latter I just go on the web browser to watch and it's ok. Not as good as app but not terrible.
I made a video of the whole setup if you're interested.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzmPXS7KrA&
rcs1000 said:
So, eBay willing I will get my Huawei Mate Xs in about 10 days time.
And I have a difficult decision ahead of me. Do I Google or not?
Installing GMS and the Google apps will make my phone more like my existing Android device. But it will also introduce inevitable stability (and possibly security) issues.
Sticking to the Huawei apps avoids these, but limits my options somewhat.
What do you guys think. Do I Google or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

radioraheem2 said:
If you can do without Google docs and drive, I say skip the Google hack. It's kinda risky. Even if you use the Mate XS as is without the hack, you can still use some Google services.
Gmail still works through Microsoft Outlook. Google calendar works through Business Calendar. Google Maps load fine even though can't sign in. Chrome works. Facebook Instagram WhatsApp all work.
So the only thing I use often that's missing for me is really Google drive, doc, YouTube. For latter I just go on the web browser to watch and it's ok. Not as good as app but not terrible.
I made a video of the whole setup if you're interested.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzmPXS7KrA&
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. I'm using stock browser, email, and messenger. I can do almost everything just as if I was using Google.

misleading
radioraheem2 said:
If you can do without Google docs and drive, I say skip the Google hack. It's kinda risky. Even if you use the Mate XS as is without the hack, you can still use some Google services.
Gmail still works through Microsoft Outlook. Google calendar works through Business Calendar. Google Maps load fine even though can't sign in. Chrome works. Facebook Instagram WhatsApp all work.
So the only thing I use often that's missing for me is really Google drive, doc, YouTube. For latter I just go on the web browser to watch and it's ok. Not as good as app but not terrible.
I made a video of the whole setup if you're interested.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzmPXS7KrA&
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all due respect that video is not yours. its Ben from ben gadget review. please stop lying

rcs1000 said:
So, eBay willing I will get my Huawei Mate Xs in about 10 days time.
And I have a difficult decision ahead of me. Do I Google or not?
Installing GMS and the Google apps will make my phone more like my existing Android device. But it will also introduce inevitable stability (and possibly security) issues.
Sticking to the Huawei apps avoids these, but limits my options somewhat.
What do you guys think. Do I Google or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can have the best of both worlds by downloading vmos. I have the Huawei mate xs and it is working well.

The issue I have with VMOS is that I know *nothing* about the company who makes it. You are giving an awful lot of power to a company where the owners are unknown, that has no obvious revenue model, and where the code is closed source.
I sent a message using their contact us form, to understand what they were doing and to see if I could help with commercialisation (I'm a reasonably successful tech entrepreneur).
But I got no response.
So... I might use VMOS to run Uber in, but I'm not connecting my Google account to it.

Just got mine, tried without... but it was just not possible, there were about 10 apps I use regularly that do not want to work without Google services. Plus there are several apps I have purchased that I could either not use at all or would have had to use the free version full of ads - just not an option.
The videos posted in this thread were really hard to follow, ommitted important steps etc.
For me this one was great, even if it was still a pain and I needed 3 hard resets before getting there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYOU_YxrHhc
Now I only have 2 apps I can't use: Google Play music (but that plays fine in the browser so no big deal, also on VMOS if needed to be offline), and... the most stupid of things, the McDonald's app for getting coupons. That damn app is more protected than games and banking apps, it's ridiculous... it won't run on VMOS either.
EDIT: Damn it's been a while since I've been here, [email protected]

radioraheem2 said:
If you can do without Google docs and drive, I say skip the Google hack. It's kinda risky. Even if you use the Mate XS as is without the hack, you can still use some Google services.
Gmail still works through Microsoft Outlook. Google calendar works through Business Calendar. Google Maps load fine even though can't sign in. Chrome works. Facebook Instagram WhatsApp all work.
So the only thing I use often that's missing for me is really Google drive, doc, YouTube. For latter I just go on the web browser to watch and it's ok. Not as good as app but not terrible.
I made a video of the whole setup if you're interested.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzmPXS7KrA&
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about youtube music or banking apps?

Youtube Music works for me. Google play music didn't but since that's going to be killed shortly and once should migrate to YTM and use that it's what I did.
Banking apps most of mine work, only one doesn't.

im think for buy the huawei xs but if the xda dont want unlock root ....

I'm getting mine tomorrow and I'll try it without GMS and see how I like it. Biggest drawback I see is the lack of native Youtube app support, I prefer not to use the browser version.