Seeking Feedback on My Remaining Proprietary Apps and Other Questions

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I have posts on 6 and 13.

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Congrats on your journey! It sounds like you've made a lot of progress in the last 2 years.

I highly recommend OpenWRT. It runs on cheap hardware, is open source, and has a lot of options. I don't have any strong recommendations for hardware, but I've seen people recommend the Flint 2 routers and the sometimes go on sale. Regarding remote access to your LAN, 2 common options are setting up a VPN (aka road warrior) for remote access and using Tailscale. If you're not great at networking, I'd recommend setting up Tailscale. It can run on your router, or another always on server at your house if you'd prefer. It's not FOSS, but is easy to set up and I recommend it. You can always swap it out with something FOSS later on your journey. This is a little advanced, but once you get set up and comfortable with your router, I highly recommend looking into VLANs (software setting on some routers like OpenWRT). I have a specific SSID that does not have external internet access. I put any questionable devices on that SSID/VLAN (like cameras, doorbells, IOT things) so they are secure but I can still access it locally from my server. I make sure to only buy IOT devices that work locally without internet.
For maps navigation, I use Magic Earth (not FOSS). For me, it's the right balance of privacy and usability. For browsing google maps, you could check out GMaps WV which is basically a PWA (progressive web app) for Google Maps.

A couple questions are about GrapheneOS app strategy. My approach is:

Main profile has only FOSS and privacy respecting apps enabled. I use a limited number of privacy abusing apps (e.g., Google Camera), but they do not have network permissions. In your case, I'd use Nova launcher but block internet access using permissions.
In my main profile, I install and then immediately disable privacy abusing apps that require network permissions. I then create a new profile for each app (e.g., 1 profile just for Lyft, 1 profile just for Southwest, etc.). I also have Orbot installed and disabled. I "install" these apps by editing the profile and "Install available apps" from my main profile to only install the app (e.g., Southwest) + Orbot (if I want to force it only use the Tor network).
I like this approach because it makes app updates easy (I only need to update all apps from my main profile). It isolates apps, since apps can see what other apps are installed and there are risks to using "bad" apps in the main profile. It allows me to configure apps to only use Tor. It disables them when not in use since I set the profile to not run in the background. As a side benefit, it makes it more difficult for me use these privacy abusing apps so it incentives me to use FOSS and privacy apps instead.

Reolink + Frigate is commonly recommended, but I'd be careful before starting that project. Frigate is one of the more difficult items to self-host for new people, especially if you want to make sure the camera is on a restricted VLAN.
You could also look at lawnchair launcher, but it hasn't been updated in a while.
I like the GrapheneOS keyboard, but I use the FUTO Voice Input with it. That is a separate app from the FUTO keyboard. I make sure the network permissions are disabled on the FUTO Voice Input.

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Uber has a pwa available. Would it help you? At least it would minimize privacy invasion.

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I have a GL.Intel Flint 2. It's very easy to use. It makes it easy to install VPNs, Wireguard or OpenVPN as well as Tailscale support. It has an Adguard feature built in or you can use a custom DNS service. The one thing I dislike is the inability to setup VLANs (if I'm mistaken I would love to be informed how to set one up).
I use GMaps WV to look up stuff on Google Maps if it's not on OSM, then I'll route with Organic Maps with Sherpa Onnx TTS.
I have heard Uber works well in the browser
Use a Wyze Video Doorbell 1 flashed with the Thingo firmware
Material Files is probably the closest you'll get
Immich, Aves, or Ente photos
Lawnchair launcher. Hypatia is discontinued now
Don't worry about the licensing with Futo if you're still using closed source apps, you'll just hinder yourself. Look up FUTO on YouTube or Louis Rossmann to understand why they made the licensing that way.
Soon WhatsApp will have interoperability with Signal, use Signal.
OpenTracks. Strava has had many many privacy issues. Privacy issues that can turn into security issues in person.
If I require the use of a non privacy respecting app I'll put it on it's own profile.

I will finish by saying you should evaluate what's actually necessary vs a convenience. You'll find that you can do without some features that you may use once in a blue moon or can be done less conveniently with a cable, etc.

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Why make the text so large in your comment? It really threw off the flow of the thread for me

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The font size? Or the amount of text?

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I assume it was the pound symbols so I removed them.

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Ride With GPS is an organization I choose to trust because I know 3 of the employees personal. Their privacy policy is pretty clear, although the app's data collection settings are great.

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See if RTranslator meets your needs for a gtranslate alternative.

Also, Heliboard has swipe/glide typing and can use other STT/voice type apps. I recommend Heliboard + FUTO Voice Input.

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Didn't Signal say they refuse to integrate with WhatsApp?

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I didn't hear about that. You could be right

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Replacing ring is easy. Use the doorbell on your house.

More seriously, ask yourself why you need it. The world is a better place when we trust each other by default. Doesn't mean nothing will ever be stolen, but it's better than survailing the neighbors walking their dog

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Lyft & Uber & Southwest I may just disable these except for the rare occasion where I need them. What’s the risk of enabling, using, then immediately disabling?

Just use browser? Go on website whe ever you need a ride, close browser when done.

Or, if on android, put the apps in a "work profile" (there's an app on F-Droid that allows this: Shelter), give minimum permissions necesssry when using, and when finished, revoke permissions, pause the work profile, and, if necessary, delete the entire work profile.

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Huh, it must have been, because it's all looking normal now. And here I was assuming it was a questionable artistic choice, good on you and thanks for following up on it.

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For 0 you may want to check out Revolt. Similar to Discord… not as polished / stable though.

If you run Discord groups the switch may be easy. If others run the groups… the “I told you so…” comment would still apply

https://revolt.chat/

Not affiliated with, just trying to promote alternatives when possible.

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I'll give it a shot. I don't run groups anymore since they stick with the elected leader of our group and that is no longer me!

I've been playing with this loosely affiliated group for close to a decade if not more. We started on mumble and reddit, and it actually changed the group when we switched to discord. It really disincentivises long quality posts in favor of shitposting. Also the reason I'm on Lemmy. Gotta get my long format, threaded discussions somewhere!

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Thank you for recommending Shelter 🫶

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https://www.androidpolice.com/signal-threema-nothing-to-do-with-whatsapp-eu/

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Good to know. Thank you

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I didn't realize they had it as a webpage. We were already well into the app-era when I gave in and signed up for Uber. If the webpage works, that's all I need for those one-offs when I couldn't avoid using Uber. One app gone is even better than one app replaced!

I am on Android, I'll check out shelter at some point. That name did come up in some of the conversations I've been reading.

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Seeking Feedback on My Remaining Proprietary Apps and Other Questions