this post was submitted on 20 Jan 2024
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Google Pixel

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Physical changes are also welcome, so things like skins, cases, screen protections etc... are fine to discuss.

For me, in this order:

  • Wi-Fi calling: it was very surprising that this was not on by default, and enabling it helped a bit with the battery life on my Pixel 7a;
  • Try custom launchers: I was happy with the phone but the very first annoying thing is the damn Google search bar and how there was no way to just hide it like any other widget. So I ended up installing KISS Launcher (it's FOSS and still maintained);
  • Bite the bullet and install GrapheneOS: you get more security, sandboxed Play Services, a more fine-grained permissions system and you can still install the default Pixel apps from the Play Store while cutting off their internet access, and most importantly you get rid of the Google bar (also enabled Wi-Fi calling as previously done).
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[–] Hildegarde@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

GrapheneOS is essential before connecting a pixel phone to the internet.

[–] joystick@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Grapheneos is the whole reason I bought a pixel.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

Big same. Sadness over no micro SD though. Hell they should just have nvme 2280 slots these days.

[–] ndowens@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I was tempted to install GrapheneOS, then I noticed a chance that banking apps may not work due to some check will fail.

[–] Andromxda@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)
[–] Hildegarde@lemmy.world -3 points 4 months ago

This thread is a year old why are you here?

[–] falkerie71@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago

Install GCam, few reasons:

  1. The new update that requires you to go into a menu to change exposure and white balance instead of just tapping on the viewfinder to show the two sliders infuriates me to no end.
  2. Custom video bitrate. Not every video I take needs to be full quality, and even then, full quality video on my Pixels so far are not worth it. Couple hundred megabytes just for 1 min of footage that doesn't even look that good? Nah.
  3. Photosphere >>>>> panorama. I don't understand why they decided to kill it off entirely.
[–] Klaymore@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 years ago

In the developer settings I set all the animations to twice as fast (half as long) so they feel snappier.

[–] kokesh@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Do all gestures work, when you use 3rd party launcher? Got P9 PRO XL and so far I'm on the default launcher. Came from Xiaomi 12, where if you switched launcher, gestures stopped working.

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I very much like CalyxOS, it's fast and polished, using microG (an open source clone of Google play services) so all your apps work, but your battery lasts longer since everything ribs locally if you like.

[–] AlmightySnoo@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Anything in particular that works better with CalyxOS + microG than with GrapheneOS + sandboxed Play Services?

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

There's a lot but not total function parity. Android auto is one I wish worked, but I have a motorcycle, so don't really care.

You've just gotta hope the sandboxing is effective. I'd rather just have something open source fool the apps into thinking it's Google, vs having a low-level malware written by very smart Google engineers, constantly checking the perimeter of the sandbox for an open door..

[–] Renohren@lemmy.today 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

If you use sandboxed Google services for notifications, you need to allow full network permissions to Google services. Kind of defeats the purpose.

[–] RubberElectrons@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's why I don't run Google services on my phone. CalyxOS instead uses microG, an open source replicator of Google play services. Since it isn't signed with Google's private keys, some things (particularly Google pay) don't work, but idgaf.

[–] kgw@cosocial.ca 1 points 1 week ago

@RubberElectrons @Renohren 😁 Have never seen "idgaf" before but, like the expression, "he was a man of few words and greeted me with two of them", it is instantly understandable. Cool!

[–] pr0927@lemmy.world 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Try Neo Launcher and its associated Neo Feed. Amazing control/customization.

I also recommend OpenBoard, but the newer maintained fork with gestures and other features.

Browser-wise - Mull.

Instead of Google autofill for passwords - something like Bitwarden instead.

[–] 70k32@lemm.ee 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Mull seems to be not maintained anymore...