this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2023
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Do you need a Google account to use an Android phone? Here's what you'll lose—and gain—if you choose not to sign in.

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[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 26 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You can use the Aurora Store app to access Google Play without enabling the system-wide Google account.

You can also use Gmaps WV to use a subset of Maps' features completely anonymously (no navigation).

[–] ijeff@lemdro.id 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think Aurora hasn't been working right lately due to rate limiting?

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 6 points 1 year ago

It's only rate-limited when using their Google account (because everybody's using it). If you add your own you won't have a problem.

[–] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

It still works fine if you add an account. Either your existing google account, or you can go make a new blank one

[–] someone_secret@burggit.moe 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think that, rather than using Gmaps WV, one should rather opt to using Osm maps.They client is free software and the map data is collected by volunteers all around the world, doing their best to contribute to the project.

That way, you can still use navigation and you won't ever need a Google account (or an accoint for anything, really).

As for Google play, yeah, I definetely recommend Aurora store.

Personally, I use Aptoide to get my apps from, because that's entirely independent of Google servers and it's its own thing, so it's even better. However, I wouldn't recommend it personally because a lot of apps that existed on Google Play don't exist on Aptoide's apps repository and the third party repos are not very trustworthy

[–] jcg@halubilo.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

OSM is very region dependent. I absolutely love the software and how so many people across the world have contributed to it, but I really don't want to get lost and just looking at the map of my own neighborhood I'm afraid that would be the case if I go anywhere else. I'd at least keep the GMaps app on standby just in case.