I can't willingly use that e-ink phone as a main device.

For the manufacturer to achieve "Google certification" they have to bundle the full suite of Google apps and services in a way that is.... Undoable.

You can disable some of the services and apps, but any attempts to "degoogle" the device are in vain as the system will restore anything uninstalled (via adb) on reboot. To get root is a pain and potentially leaves the device unable to obtain security updates.

The user has zero control.

I have spent more time setting up firewalls, blocks, and mitigations on this aggressively anti-user device than I have actually using it productively since getting it.

This makes me sad. I wish I wasn't "me" about it, but I cannot trust these companies or their services with my data, identity, or security. None of it has my wellbeing in mind, ever.

It just feels like I've got a phone with some kind of sexuallly transmitted infection that will never go away. I can't do it.

#herpes #degoogle