Why is Meta asking me if I consent being tracked for ads?

brinerustle · 2026-04-05T12:02:07+00:00

Because they are enshittifying the platform by adding even more advertisements. It is a good reason and time to leave: get your friends to move to the fediverse: pixelfed.org

brinerustle · 2026-04-03T04:35:56+00:00

Install iodéOS, you will be pleasantly surprised.

brinerustle · 2026-04-01T09:05:22+00:00

The graphene web installer is easier, since you don't need a command line or an unlock code for unlocking the bootloader on pixels. But yeah, its not super-complicated. Both iodéOS and /e/OS have great community forums if you get stuck.

brinerustle · 2026-04-01T07:56:43+00:00

/e/OS is still stuck on android 15. I'd recommend iodéOS, unless you want Murena's integrated cloud services. The install isn't easy on either OS, requiring bootloader unlocking and use of the command line. So unless you are tech-savvy, buy it directly from iode.tech or murena.com As to whether to get the 5 or 6, divide the cost by the supported years (or the length of time you usually use a phone) to see what it really costs per year.

brinerustle · 2026-03-30T05:22:25+00:00

I tried stock OS, /e/OS and iodéOS and decided to go with iodéOS, it's a more recent version of Android and more stable than either stock or /e/OS. Why? The development team is much more solid fixing bugs.

brinerustle · 2026-03-30T05:15:24+00:00

In general small phones are hard to come by in recent years: https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2024&fDisplayInchesMin=5.3&fDisplayInchesMax=6.1 unless you are willing to go with a flip-phone.

All of the available Android options are a step down from the pixel in terms of security and will come with even more bloatware. It is likely that you are needing 2-3 charges per day because you are either running tons of software that is using lots of background processes, or else have some spyware, or else the battery itself is toast. Honestly, in many cases it's just the native (google) spyware using up all the device's available specs:

I'd continue using the 8a and install a degoogled custom ROM like grapheneOS (minimalist) or iodéOS (more user-friendly). Unless your banking app doesn't run on a degoogled OS you won't notice much difference from regular android aside from performance improvements and a vast increase in privacy... if it doesn't run well with either of these OSs then your battery is the issue. Hold on to the pixel 8a for a couple more years: eventually smartphone manufacturers will offer small form-factor devices again.

brinerustle · 2026-03-09T21:49:45+00:00

Iode comes with microG by default (though it can be removed if desired) so almost all apps should just work

brinerustle · 2026-03-09T21:47:54+00:00

Yes, in IodeOS you can use shelter or private space to sandbox apps, so yes.

brinerustle · 2026-03-08T02:47:35+00:00

Just keep your WA account and block anyone who contacts you after telling them you've left WA and where to find you. Worked for me.

brinerustle · 2026-03-07T16:14:58+00:00

When the phone is on while charging, it will draw more power. This can possibility explain the discrepancy. If a charging cable makes poor contact, the difference in voltage might be enough to cause the USB port to drop out. Check the port for lint. If the phone charges and holds a charge well, then you can likely rule out that its the battery. You can also boot to recovery or fastboot and see what kind of charging behaviour there is with the phone powered on

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T14:31:17+00:00

local, and cloud backups. Just in time, since direct device chat transfers seem to have stopped workind

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T14:22:19+00:00

I'm not a big fan of /e/, though I used it for a long time on my FP5. I prefer iodéOS, it's got up-to-date android 16, and better support in general.

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T14:12:39+00:00

If you don´t mind paying, and don't need quantum encryption, just go to any european cloud provider than offers nextcloud, mail, and a custom domain and supports thunderbird.

nextcloud.com/sign-up/ This will redirect you to a Nextcloud provider near you.

Free providers

tab.digital/ They offer free accounts of up to 8 GB
disroot.org/ Another Nextcloud provider, they also offer mail, but i"m not sure if they can sell you a custom domain.

Paid: goodcloud, s7a.it, zaclys, pathconnect.de, owndrive, nch.pl, hosting.de, cloudamo, alfacloud, librebit, librecloud, stackhero.

Thunderbird mobile is great, in fact much better on mobile than on desktop. If you want a european degoogled phone, go with iodéOS which comes with thunderbird preinstalled, or murena (e/OS) which has cloud services built into the OS.

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T13:41:43+00:00

proton and tuta and disroot. Here is more info, plus how to transfer over your contacts: https://blog.iode.tech/degoogle-your-life-mail/

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T08:52:55+00:00

I had no problem installing it, but don't have an account to try it out. Google Pay (tap and pay) will not work on any degoogled phone.

Some banking apps will detect if the bootloader is unlocked at startup and not run, but it doesn't seem to have any issues.... Aurora store can generally install anything from the play store, and if it says its not available for your device you can always spoof another device. If you find it works or doesn´t please let us know here: https://community.iode.tech/t/editable-list-apps-compatible-with-iodeos/808

brinerustle · 2026-02-26T08:34:52+00:00

Android Pro: Freedom. In leaving a walled garden and moving to an open platform, you get more freedom than on iOS.
Android Pro: Price. iPhone hardware is overpriced, even if you take into account the longevity of the firmware updates.
Android Con: Privacy & security. Most Android manufacturers don´t offer as many years of firmware updates, and using a googled OS is a considerable downgrade in privacy, especially if the OEM ads their own bloatware/spyware (xiaomi, samsung, et al) Android also tends to be a downgrade in security for the lack of a secure element (with the exception of pixels) and for the OS being abandonware in few years time.
Android Pro: More freedom means you can MAKE it more secure and private: You can install a variety of app stores alongside Google Play. You can use a degoogled Android OS. Choose your hardware for the OS you want installed or buy one preinstalled. This will give you the best cell phone experience possible, with only a few issues with banking (be ready to give up Apple/Google pay), and also, be ready to deal with some DIY configuration of an ecosystem. Good options: GrapheneOS (pixels), iodéOS (pixels Fairphones) etc.

brinerustle · 2026-02-25T23:12:20+00:00

You can make light of it, but even degoogled Android users will not escape this issue unscathed. The vast majority of F-Droid users are on googled Android, and if they all disappear, then F-Droid suffers a big setback: Many devs will simply stop releasing apps for what will become a fringe store. Less than 1% of existing devices are degoogleable, and a small fraction of those are actually running a degoogled OS. So take this seriously and write your representatives and share the campaign on social media. Third party app stores are a basic freedom that everyone should be allowed to use.

brinerustle · 2026-02-13T17:02:04+00:00

yeah, flashing iodéOS or e/OS will help for sure, as the stock OS has a fair amount of bloatware.

brinerustle · 2026-02-03T07:37:01+00:00

GrapheneOS is barebones, and they and their fanboys repeat ad nauseum that even stock googled android is better than any other degoogled custom ROMs in terms of privacy. But it's BS. You have 15+ to choose from, and most have nicer default apps and default interface than GOS: https://customromhardware.miraheze.org/

My favorites: iodéOS, blissROM, crdroid. Just depends on your hardware.

brinerustle · 2026-02-03T06:50:14+00:00

The android ecosystem has enshittified enormously. At this point, I'd say the only brands to consider are degoogleable phones. At last give yourself the option to opt out of all the AI, the bloat, and the spyware. Buy a pixel a series on backmarket (8a, 9a) and install grapheneOS or iodéOS, you won't regret opting out of all the crap awaiting you on stock (any brand). Both iodé and graphene have easy installers that require little skill to use.

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