G is for Goodbye Google
In my ethical living journey with Sam, the next step is to #degoogle.
I had already made - what I think is probably the most important - step by changing my search engine. For several months I have now been relying on #Ecosia (planting trees with each search!), occasionally supplemented by Kagi (free 100 search trial). Also using the Ecosia browser for work (Chrome compatible) and #Firefox for home/personal. So Google hasn't been able to compile data on me that way for awhile.
I've also signed up for #Filen data storage at an amazing lifetime rate - I hope they stick around. German company that runs on renewable energy. I also did a trial with #Sync (Canadian company) and would highly recommend them if syncing and sharing data is important to you.
I use the Maps app on my iphone rather than Google Maps for driving because I find it gives better instructions without changing routes on me. But for planning trips, I have to say I still use Google Maps. Open Street Map looks great but it doesn't seem to have the Giving Directions feature - am I wrong?
In my work I use Google Earth Engine - a platform for processing satellite data - can't degoogle that unless they quit providing the service and am forced to.
Trying to remember to go through #Invidious to view videos on YouTube.
Google Chat - Again my workplace is all Google and I have to use it. Otherwise, Zoom is a well known alternative. Sam's page also also brought my attention to #Jitsi, which looks very easy to use - you don't have to make an account or anything.
I looked into private email alternatives and found some great options, but I decided to continue to use my gmail as it would be too much hassle to change. However, I am going to access it through the #Thunderbird client on desktop instead of the gmail website. This has the advantage of my mail being backed up on my desktop instead of just in Google's cloud if I do decide to switch emails in the future.
So not completely degoogled but that's the amount that makes sense in my life for now. When retired I can degoogle more. LIke I said, I do think the Search and Browser are the most important and painlessly replaced. #Google Search definitely used to be the best but kind of sucks now with the bloat of sponsored results.
#EthicalRevolution
like this
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️🦋, Lisa Stranger and gr_perso like this.
N. E. Felibata 👽 reshared this.
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️🦋
in reply to fionag11 • • •like this
fionag11, redj 18 and Lisa Stranger like this.
Lisa Stranger
in reply to fionag11 • • •I loaded Waze on my then-new phone before I knew it had been assimilated. It's still there because I figured the horse was out of the barn, but I should maybe give it the boot.
I haven't found a good substitute for Google Street View, so I do still use their maps on desktop sometimes.
@𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️🦋 I'm not one to have a zillion subscriptions, but I shell out for Proton. I think I've renewed twice now, so at least 4 years.
𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕖𝕒 🏳️⚧️🦋
in reply to fionag11 • • •Lisa Stranger likes this.
Lisa Stranger
in reply to fionag11 • • •Lisa Stranger
in reply to fionag11 • • •daise_flowers
in reply to fionag11 • • •Lisa Stranger likes this.
Digit
in reply to fionag11 • • •Oh, so close and so very far. I had hoped for some inspiration in that regard. They got me in 2005, in a moment of being soft in the head, with "don't be evil", and so, I'm long time already in that same boat. This is not degoogled. This is a hostage situation.
In a hostage situation, you dont wait for your best chance of escape. You take your first chance to escape. And it will be a hassle.
... I say hoping to inspire myself to thoroughly get out of gmail.
As someone boycotting Amazon since 2004, it just seems so weird, so wrong, to have this one piece of GAFAM poking a big gaping wide open hole in my opsec.
proton's my second email, but it's slow and painful, and couldnt use it for main email churn.
what we need is a single button click email migration, to something good. n_n
redj 18 likes this.
fionag11
in reply to fionag11 • •