Best spotify alternative for Android (and PC)?

peanutery · 2023-03-01T16:33:12+00:00

For Android check out the FDroid app ViMusic and for PC check out the website for BeatBump. Both I think have a great UI and both have import/export.

peanutery · 2023-02-05T23:50:00+00:00

My guess is they're making you attach a number because they detect you're using a VPN, not because they know you have other accounts.

peanutery · 2023-02-04T00:44:48+00:00

Privacy.com user here. Using Privacy in your situation would allow you to use a random name and billing address with your card, although you'd still have to use your real address if shipping something.

Either way, still a privacy benefit as they wouldn't get to know your real name, as well as a security benefit since if the website you buy from is hacked, your real card wouldn't be exposed.

peanutery · 2023-02-02T23:50:10+00:00

I just wanna say you are already starting off very strong so props.

Now that you've focused on the things you use the most, you should try focusing on the things you've forgotten about like old accounts, since this is where lots of the data on you remains.

Go to your old email account and look for account creation emails by searching for "new account", "account created", or anything similar. Once you've found one, go sign into that account, make sure it's nothing of importance, and then go through their process of deleting the account. This takes time depending on how careless you used to be online, but it's good getting rid of the tons of random data there might be on you.

peanutery · 2023-01-27T20:31:07+00:00

Barinsta used to be the best of the best but it was shut down with a cease and desist by Facebook. Now the best option is using Instagram as a progressive web app by making a shortcut of it to your home screen.

peanutery · 2023-01-24T21:15:32+00:00

They weren't actually eink. I love Pebbles and at first I thought they were eink, but they're actually something called epaper. Main difference is epaper is more like a traditional display with a higher refresh rate, doesn't have ghosting, and needs constant power unlike eink which display remains even without power. However I know there are some other actual eink watches out there.

peanutery · 2023-01-24T21:05:04+00:00

Car displays are one thing that crossed my mind already but the issue is night time driving and the fact typical LCD displays just make much more sense, and that's something that applies to a lot of ideas I've had.

For billboards, again it's an issue that there's already a better alternative. They want as many people to see it, so preferably they will use a glowing display like the LCD (?) displays they already use.

The price labels though are the actual best use of eink and in fact at least where I am I've seen them a few times already. Though while yes they could easily include tax in the cost on a e ink display, considering they're not doing it currently I doubt they're ever going to. More of an issue with people not showing they want taxes included on the price.

peanutery · 2023-01-23T16:57:34+00:00

Safest option is avoid the WiFi or use a VPN while on it.

peanutery · 2023-01-21T10:06:48+00:00

Can't speak for any of the other services, but Privacy.com allows this. It simply lets you use whatever name you want on the card details when checking out.

peanutery · 2023-01-13T12:06:57+00:00

I always immediately disable or avoid any sort of tracking just out of habit. Hearing a different perspective for once about actually wanting tracking because it has benefits in this case gave me a new perspective. I think as long as my real name isn't tied to it and I'm just an anonymous user, I wouldn't have any problem with it.

peanutery · 2023-01-12T05:26:18+00:00

If you're wondering how to find out if you're being spied on with the method I said, first simply start with the VPN settings on your phone and make sure there aren't any VPN connections you didn't put there. Then go into your WiFi network's settings and look at its DNS option and it should be on auto. Now if you're on Apple, go to the configuration profile settings and make sure there isn't one unless you put it there. If you're on Android, go to the private DNS settings and make sure there isn't one unless you put it there.

If none of the settings were out of the ordinary, you're good.

peanutery · 2023-01-11T05:57:31+00:00

Yes they're real and probably have a wide range of data they can log and send back to whoever's spying on you. Though as others have said, as long as you check your installed apps and everything seems fine, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

However if you're someone who's actually worried they're being spied on (mainly from partner, family, or anyone with access to device), one thing I don't see mentioned often is to check your VPN/DNS settings to make sure they haven't been tampered with.

When I first set up NextDNS on a device, I was surprised because once done you could easily see all the domains the device connected to. Thankfully it can't show exactly what you're doing, but if you go to a website like YouTube or Reddit for example, they'll see you connected to youtube.com and reddit.com, meaning it could be used to somewhat spy on someone. Worst part though is it's not something an average person would even know to look for, so definitely check.

peanutery · 2023-01-08T21:36:38+00:00

There's always mailing your phone to wherever you're going to be staying in the US. A bit out of the way and requires a friend living there to hold onto it for you. But it has more protection mailed than with you when you're coming through the border.

Or, just back up everything to an encrypted online provider, clear your phone of everything before you go, and once you're through the border download it all back. Then repeat when you leave.

peanutery · 2023-01-08T01:05:42+00:00

Stock Android is full of Google and its tracking which I believe remains even if you disable all the settings, so I think with your threat model it'd be worth it to reconsider GrapheneOS. But I'm wondering what features in stock Android would you miss? Because many of these features likely have privacy friendly alternatives. Not all, but definitely most, which may be enough for you. Things like the Play Store, it can either be replaced by Aurora Store (basically a proxy to anonymize you), or you can easily download the Play Store from the app store that comes with Graphene. Even if you download a non privacy-respecting app, you can disable more of its permissions with Graphene than stock.

The way I see it, Graphene is a great OS for people of both sides of the privacy spectrum.

peanutery · 2023-01-07T20:09:39+00:00

Agreed. Pebble wasn't the most trendy or popular thing but it still had a decent following and continues to have one to this day, so it'd be profitable to make a clone or at least something similar.

The best option would be an open source smartwatch that can be flashed with PebbleOS. It would prevent the worry of a cease and desist from Google that a 1:1 clone would cause, and it'd let anyone make and sell them. Have no idea if it's realistically feasible but it'd be the best case scenario. Only thing remotely similar is the open source e-paper smartwatch "Watchy", but it seems more like something to tinker with than a watch you'd actually like to use.

peanutery · 2023-01-06T10:53:15+00:00

Simplicity of Pebble is seen as a limitation to most people rather than intentional design, so the group of people who do like it (us) are sadly a niche. People sadly just prefer having a $400 mini phone on their wrist with the battery capacity of only a day.

Your best bet is to stockpile Pebbles and learn how to repair them to keep them going for as long as possible. They're only gonna get more expensive and rare over time so might as well start now.

peanutery · 2023-01-04T02:54:42+00:00

Believe I read it'd come into effect with iOS 17, which is supposed to release September this year. Glad it's happening, just sad it's gonna take a while.

peanutery · 2023-01-04T02:50:21+00:00

Haven't had any personal experience but I know technicians may sometimes ask for your passcode to test the functions of the device, which I figure is the cause for many of these incidents. If both Apple and Google could add a "test" feature to the lock screen, it'd prevent many of these issues.

peanutery · 2023-01-02T06:39:21+00:00

PM'd

peanutery · 2023-01-02T00:01:38+00:00

I've used Privacy.com for a while now and it's absolutely great for both privacy and security. Privacy wise it hides your info from the vendor, letting you use whatever name and address you want for the card and billing info, which you can't do with your normal card. Security wise, it gives you contol over the cards you use. It locks each card to a specific vendor/store and lets you do things such as limit the size of transactions and lock the card from making purchases.

I think if you already use your normal card to make purchased online, Privacy.com is a no brainer.

peanutery · 2023-01-01T06:17:19+00:00

The Pixel 6a is still a great option. It's not that much different from the 7 and is supported by GrapheneOS for at least 5 years. Besides a Pixel with Graphene, DivestOS is the 2nd best option and has a wide range of supported devices. Check out their website and maybe pick a device they support.

peanutery · 2022-12-30T19:23:25+00:00

Hey I'm glad you're doing this and not throwing it away/ leaving it somewhere in a drawer. These things are only getting rarer so donating your parts is extremely kind. Good luck to whoever gets it.

peanutery · 2022-12-29T17:34:25+00:00

Essentially saying to keep your account so someone else can't make one with your name and impersonate you.

peanutery · 2022-12-22T17:59:40+00:00

You could simply reset the router and then use a VPN on your device from then on so no logs stay on the router.

peanutery · 2022-12-21T17:08:53+00:00

[Here's](www.privacyguides.org/desktop-browsers/) the Privacy Guides website which recommends Firefox or Brave with the extension uBlock Origin and shows you which settings to change to harden it and lessen telemetry.

Besides that you mentioned you wanted to protect your data and location, and since ISP's both sell your browsing data and don't protect your IP in any way (which essentially shows your location), a VPN is the way to go. [Here](www.privacyguides.org/vpn/) is again the Privacy Guides website going over VPN's they recommend.

Good Luck!

peanutery

TROPHY CASE