Google cloud backups were more reliable than GrapheneOS backups to USB keys, which is a shame. Backups in general feel kind of half-baked and have caused me some data loss. Only real issue I really have had with it.

Went from iphone straight to graphene. Hands down the transfer of backups/data. PTSD from iCloud vendor lock-in 🫣

Google Wallet or the ability to pay with your phone.

- Getting the right phone is not trivial. Product descriptions suck mostly and it is quite important in this case - I got through installation fairly easily being a dev but there are many people who would not. Jargon heavy explanations and lots of custom steps depending on the platform of the machine it's installed from. Some trusted distributor should sell pre-installed devices if not yet the case. - Google pay and wallet does not work. I know why that is, fiat is painful - For some reason google account login does not trigger for me - Contacts had to be manually exported and imported - Signal can be a hassle to migrate from manual backup. Generally less user friendly migration and linking to other devices compared to captured instant messaging apps - Many settings are not clear what they do and I don't think most people need 'hardened memory allocator' or such settings. They should be behind an advanced mode - Also "xyz app used play integrity api" doesn't mean anything to most users, I would expose that differently - Great variability in experience depending on how private and secure someone wants to be. For me iVPN blocked all network connections when VPN was off. I switched off because gmaps would not load directions while on VPN. The number of such hard to troubleshoot issues will grow as we march towards apps and services heavily relying on captured infra Storage scopes are a good idea but I find it hard to fine tune all apps and then debug yet another set of issues due to apps nowadays asking for too many perms. Sad reality. - Silent link and esims also hard to deal with but most people won't go there I guess These came to mind

The ability to use non google devices...

Two things: 1. How to transfer my old stuff, until I understood I want new installations And then 2. Where to install from without google play, as GOS' own appstore doesn't do the job

Thank you!

I see that GOS devs receive too many attacks from those who disagree with their designs. Answering things all over again. I can understand this. Yet something just feels odd to me. I've got a hopefully constructive rant already. I was looking for something without updates fuss (which was an issue in LineageOS for major updates) and degoogled. But not necessarily that overfocused on security in a *particular* way (and correspondingly LESS secure in some other way!), because I don't personally use that much my phone for anything critical and don't currently visit any Western countries. That's not the focus of GOS devs. They make UX-friendly options less available so they were harder to abuse (and possibly turn into yellow press cringe by attackers; at least that's my guess). It's less likely what majority of GOS users are looking for. I believe they want decent privacy and security, which are hard to get from any existing alternative though. There's always more than one way to make something secure; each way may be adequate in a particular circumstance. For nostr I hope that this thing is going to be merged soon for example

GitHub

Act as a proxy for other bunker · Issue #345 · greenart7c3/Amber

I hope this is not out of the scope of the project. I'm not comfortable storing a private key on my phone but comfortable storing it on another dev...

— go own my phone dumb corrupt officers, I don't that much care, even if it's rooted. Actually a rooted OS is paradoxically even more secure in my particular case, because I can easily make it do whatever I want. Compared to LineageOS the first thing was the damn PINs vs patterns debates; I had to choose between completely insecure (no lock at all; it's still an available option here!) and the inconvenient PIN/password, the *slow* one. Which I understand; I've seen the same research papers comparing vulnerabilities of both. Now for duress PIN, I discovered similar debates which are really annoying. There's a forum thread with a *possibly* pre-mature suspension threat (might be still healthy but really on the edge)

GrapheneOS Discussion Forum

Duress PIN limited usefulness - GrapheneOS Discussion Forum

GrapheneOS discussion forum

They have not left an option for those who want to be perceived as less suspicious to dumb attackers, which I believe is damaging for users or visitors of some locations. View quoted note → I have no idea whether they are interested in responding to my inquiry, but I definitely feel less motivated to sign up for their centralized forum or opening the gh issues after reading these annoying conversations. Sorry for disappointing. I respect these psychologically resilient guys and their positions; they're just not doing what I initially expected: GOS *SEEMS* to be more targeting NON-TECHIE journalists (who don't necessarily understand what they are doing, so they need all these preposterous restrictions) rather than the actual hackers. Prove me wrong GOS devs. At least I'm open-minded for your possible relativistic-nihilist critique you can throw into my naive ego. I'm hoping to learn something from you.

If your on ios then getting your data out of apple is a bitch. Android to G os is a lot better. Things you will give up: 1. Google wallet 2. RCS will struggle 3. Some apps break such as banking (often fixed by disbaling G os hardening in app setting) 4. Some Bluetooth compatibility issues (usually companies that are proprietary af) Its worth the switch - you can run sandboxed Google play and play store for non open source apps you must have. Recommend use profiles or the "private space' to segregate Google stuff... Other than this I've had no other issues (been daily driving for years).

Not painful, just getting used to compartementalize apps/ uses in different user profiles was a bit tedious at first. Then got used to it and made perfect sense. Might be having tap to pay would be nice, but not a deal breaker (just use the good ol cards lol) #GrapheneOS rocks ⚡

My greatest misunderstanding was around the GrapheneOS user profiles. They're awesome but the default profile from boot is always the Owner profile. I think next install I'll set up a clean normie profile as the owner & do most of my use in a secondary profile. Backup to USB (done per user profile) is handy when migrating phones.

I am in the process of transition from iphone. For now I have two profile, one privacy oriented and that one works very well even without google play (all done via obtainium and zapstore). But when I tried to replicate my normy profile, I have issue with the bank apps. Don't really mind tap to pay, but just want to be able to have app. And I didn't attempt to migrate contacts, neither photos. Starting new.

Nothing is missed. Almost all apps were dependable of gservices and many people do not realize how bad is that. Even now some people are using Aurora store on Graphene and I think that is a huge mistake, no matter how you feel that you are protected, it is not. If you really want to de-google,, FFS, just don't use any app that depend on gservices. Otherwise is useless. Yes for a regular clueless user could be a bit confusing and harder to use it without a default app store already installed in OS. For an experienced user that know how to download an apk file from a github repo is not hard. But now with Zapstore is making easier for any clueless novice user.

I mean, it's more or less a matter of how extensively you configure your phone with @GrapheneOS. I use several sandboxed profiles—in doing so, yes, it is tedious to use, and you lose in comfort and speed, but in the end, it is your decision on how to handle it. The one and only problem I have is with my banking application: I can't really install it, so I have to use a second phone just for that. 😅

I would start by watch this tutorial video by @BTC Sessions My big issue was the mis-reading of the installation documentation and getting eSim to work. The eSim needs to functional on the Pixel phone first before installing GrapheneOS. I missed this step and had to go with a regular Sim chip. Zapstore is my default store to use. I'm not an app junking so have very few additional apps installed.

silent link worked flawlessly for me

i hate that their browser vanadium does not have an import/export option

Data-only works well. Phone numbers and SMS can be hard to troubleshoot, much depends on other parties

Nothing. Really nothing. I forgot how it was with Android.

getting the phone itself. everything else was cake

The bookmarks? We have that:

"For me iVPN blocked all network connections when VPN was off" Need to turn off "Block connections without VPN" in settings i think

The browser is so locked out there are thing that just don't work...for example, apps that open a webview for sign in will likely fail. You will also have to be selective with apps. While you can use something like Aurora to bypass Google Play there are apps that just don't well without Play Services. Not a huge deal if you're aware and selective but don't expect things like banking apps or tap to pay to work. With that said, i have really enjoyed it and it made me realize how many apps I don't need on my phone lol

Honestly it's better than it's ever been. It feels a lot like Android before it was wrecked. Especially if you run the sandboxes play services. That's the main pain point with apps that demand it. But I don't use many of those.

PWA is the way, you'll become extremely aware apps like Costco will not work even while using the Sandbox Google Play Store

you'll be using Progressive Web Apps a lot

I moved from LineageOS to GrapheneOS, one opensource Android to another, so it was pretty painless. Just had to remember to unlock then re-lock the bootloader. Moving from stock Android to any opensource OS means finding open source replacements for common apps. That's the hardest bit, that and becoming responsible for backing up your own data.

Not my personal complaints, but here are a few: WhatsApp notifications not coming through. Maps application not as good as Google/apple. Airplay/Cast doesn't work.

Bought a pixel that wasnt unlocked correctly, had to ask for a refund and get another. Everything else was easy and I am not technical.

IPhone password manager, and Imessage. People don't like change, going to signal app.

Almost everything worked for me without problems. Apps, notifications, all those things people usually complain about. I moved from regular Android, and now in GrapheneOS for a couple of years. The only issues I remember having is one specific app that I couldn't install and I used Aurora. In another case I think I needed to change a setting for an app (some protection GrapheneOS puts). And I might have replaced some app with another due to problems, but I'm not sure. I did switch apps but that's mostly due to migration to open source or privacy preserving apps because I just want to.

You dont need another phone if you can use the bank website in the browser or web app if they support it. Depends on the ban though.

bank*

this wasn't there yet when i set up my current device. thank you!

None

I guess I’m in the minority. I’ve found it very easy to install (though the boot loader stuff is always a bit of fumbling on each android device). The only thing I wish was smoother and clearer is how to install google play services from certain perspectives. IE, if you want another profile to keep things separate, and need something like a bank app running, here’s what you do… Otherwise, FOSS all the way. Easy to use. There’s perhaps too many options and it’s easy to lose a bunch of time discovering which app stack you need to replace your old. Especially if coming from iOS.

I miss the battery life on my old Motorola running iodeOS

…but you don’t? I didn’t. Got an eSIM to work on a raw unlocked phone flashed with a fresh install. I think it depends on the carrier more than graphene.

My kingdom for a good FOSS maps and simple, but featured notes app. There’s a ton of little stuff that Apple really gets right.

Absolutely NOTHING

- most painful: forced to use a Goog... :/ phone - missing: phantastic Motorola/iodéOS battery life Besides of that, GrapheneOS is great!

Banking Apps and until know i do not know how to buy btc in grapheneos🙁 on IOS i use revolut and strike and that is working fine.

Most banking apps works on GOS just need to set it up

i have no need for a new phone, yet the GOS no longer provides updates for my model phone. so that is a drag.

You forgot to set up Sandboxed Google Play Services.

There is a plenty of note apps

There is literally no GrapheneOS maps app. What are you talking about?

PWA is a shit. JavaScript is a problem

Go talk with them on Matrix. I'm not sure they will answer you here

Retard alert

Lol What? Of which Maps App are you talking about?

GrapheneOS comes with no apps map. You can install your Good Google Maps

You just need to install Google Play Services in the profile you want to put your banking apps

There's nothing to miss, just use multiple profiles so you can isolate all the garbage apps that don't respect privacy or require google play services from your everyday browsing and comma.

Yes. And they’re all terrible. If you just want simple, markdown notes, you’re good. If you want it to require hours of setup and plugins to make it decent, there’s a couple there, too. Otherwise, they’re all mostly doing the same simple things with poor UX. That’s why the better ones require some kind of subscription. They know the free ones leave a lot to be desired.

Notifications from almost all apps

Banking apps that cannot be installed

It has been two years and I don't miss anything.