Are you looking to switch to Android for the very first time? I'm here to help. Just ask!
Over the years, I've been heavily embedded in the Android ecosystem. I purchased the HTC Droid Incredible in 2010 and never looked back. Since then, I've owned phones from HTC, Motorola, and Google, always using phones that allowed me to run custom ROMs or a stock Android or stock Google experience. I've compiled my own Android OS from source using AOSP and I've compiled and ran my own kernels. I'm also a former Android blogger, writing dozens of reviews of phones, tablets, watches, apps, and other services surrounding Android. I've traveled the world, attending various smartphone launches, attended conference, and Android meetups.
Before we get started, I'd like to say that Apple's current situations with Damus or Zeus is nothing new. Apple does this every year or so and is always involved in these sorts of scenarios with apps, banning and censoring them. Apple is one of the richest companies in the world. You can fight them all you want, but in the end, they always win. Look at the battle that Epic Games had with Apple over Fortnite as an example.
So, you've decided to give Android a try, but don't know where to start or you've heard bad things over the years and you're not sure about making the switch? Switching ecosystems is incredibly hard and a daunting task. I will not sugar coat that. I would not want to do it and I would not look forward to it. However, I hope this makes it easier for you.
**Buy a Google Pixel.**
Not all Android phones are equal. Not all Android phones are completely open. Not all Android phones have unlockable bootloaders. If you go the Pixel route, you'll have the most open phone with the most options available to you.
If you want to run a custom ROM such as Graphene OS, a Google Pixel phone will give you the best options. Graphene OS allows you to run a "De-Googled" phone. You can read more about Graphene here: https://grapheneos.org
Every Android phone allows you to install a third party app store. Every Android phone allows you to install apps that do not come from Google Play. This is by design. You do not need to do anything overly special to just install an app from Github or F-Droid, etc.
What's F-Droid? F-Droid is a FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) app store. You can check it out here: https://f-droid.org
Where should you get a Google Pixel phone? If you're looking to buy a new phone, I'd recommend buying directly from Google as you'll get the best support. I've had to return devices over the years and the times I've had to do so, it's been incredibly easy.
If you you're on a budget or don't want to buy a brand new phone, I highly recommend that you use Swappa. I've met the owner and many of the developers. They are great people. Any time I'e sold a used phone or purchased a used phone, I've only used Swappa. https://swappa.com
Which Pixel phone should you get? Well, that's up to you. The latest version is the Pixel 7 line. This includes Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. The "a" line is the cheaper or budge line that doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that the other ones have. It's similar to the "SE" line with iPhone. Normally, the "a" line is the best bang for your buck phone. My kids always get the "a" line. The "Pro" version, just like iPhone would be your Pixel with the largest screen, largest battery, and has extra camera zooming features. I always buy the "Pro" version. My wife normally gets he standard version, but this year, she wanted the "Pro" version because she was jealous of my 30X zoom.
I'm going to run an "office hours" Nostr Nest today at https://nostrnests.com/android to help answer you Android questions. If you have them, come ask. If you want to help people make the switch, feel free to join and join the conversation.
very good write up
Time to start experimenting moving from macOS to Linux and from iPhone to android. In case apple makes no move with nostr:npub18m76awca3y37hkvuneavuw6pjj4525fw90necxmadrvjg0sdy6qsngq955 , this will seriously make me reconsider my loyalty to the brand.
For a company that advocates freedom, privacy and diversity, this is seriously wrong.
There is a war in the works and consumers have power when they act on principles!
I'm already on that way and supporting others who have decided to go down that road. There are more people than I thought considering this, privacy being one of the main reasons for it. It's mostly the work and re-learning associated with it, that holds them back.
Being annoying is one part of why they are doing it. Slowly boiling
My password manager for years...commandline + git + gpg
https://www.passwordstore.org/
Anyone else using this?
I'm slowly moving there. Login by login for old accounts as I use them and new ones directly that way. Unless I need to share them. But, that's a different story.
Welcome to the club
Maybe related to: @note14ae9u38z0u7vf5mssckh37uw9rcjkm6cavz2upp2p8n49yjmy7zquwgx3u
People asking to push back on Apple. I pushed back enough for my taste. I had my discussions with app review. Good old Bitcoin drama. I don't care anymore. I decided to not put more money into that company and for me that was the right decision. I'll use my remaining devices until they break. They certainly are long living. But the replacements are at this time definitely not from Apple. That's my decision and certainly everyone has different limits on what they want to tolerate. If you want to push back, do it. It might help. For my part, I moved on.
Any news on a nostr based github replacement?
Some will push back, others will leave. Both move us forward.
It's nice and easier to handle than rss + direct apk download which I prefer tho
I don't think so. Many more would be targeted then. But it shouldn't stop anyone from de-googleing.