It can't be said often enough. if you think the product is free or you don't know who's paying for the development costs, then you and your data is the product and what's for sale.
Then change. The perception of their services conveniences is higher than it really is. I dumped their shit (except I still use LineageOS android which has Google traces in it) and I've never looked back.
ProtonMail for email
Self hosted Nextcloud on a raspberry pi (use NextcloudPi). Sounds daunting but it's pretty easy. Nextcloud syncs, calendar, contacts, files like Google drive, photos, and much more. I also have a rss news app on my Nextcloud server. You can also sync browser bookmarks to it.
I will admit that I still use Google maps. I need to just buy a Garmin GPS for the car and use that. There are alternatives to Google maps like osmAnd but it's pretty shitty. Waze is also owned by Google.
If you venture down this path, create a road map of what Google products you use, and an alternative to it. On the road map, make the jump with the most important product first. For me it was moving to ProtonMail. Then the next important (for me was Nextcloud). Don't actually abandon the Google service until the alternative is up and running and installed on your devices. That way when you make the jump, the boat is beside you and you don't risk falling into the water.
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ianadba ago
It can't be said often enough. if you think the product is free or you don't know who's paying for the development costs, then you and your data is the product and what's for sale.
prairie ago
I'm such a whore for the convenience of Google. Realizing that they've skimmed all this and I've taken it laying down saddens me.
boggle247 ago
Then change. The perception of their services conveniences is higher than it really is. I dumped their shit (except I still use LineageOS android which has Google traces in it) and I've never looked back.
ProtonMail for email
Self hosted Nextcloud on a raspberry pi (use NextcloudPi). Sounds daunting but it's pretty easy. Nextcloud syncs, calendar, contacts, files like Google drive, photos, and much more. I also have a rss news app on my Nextcloud server. You can also sync browser bookmarks to it.
I will admit that I still use Google maps. I need to just buy a Garmin GPS for the car and use that. There are alternatives to Google maps like osmAnd but it's pretty shitty. Waze is also owned by Google.
If you venture down this path, create a road map of what Google products you use, and an alternative to it. On the road map, make the jump with the most important product first. For me it was moving to ProtonMail. Then the next important (for me was Nextcloud). Don't actually abandon the Google service until the alternative is up and running and installed on your devices. That way when you make the jump, the boat is beside you and you don't risk falling into the water.
Good luck