Nexus Tablet Without Google

[catalinia]

I'd like to know whether it is possible to use a Nexus, or any other android tablet, without having any contact with Google Play. Quite frankly, Google scares the hell out of me with their incessant attempts to invade my privacy so tat they can sell me to the highest advertisement bidder. They track you all over the internet, snoop into your gmail and even send cars into your neighborhood to find out where you live. They been fined and cited for invasion of privacy many times but always try to find some way around the law. These are not people I want to have anything to do with.

Much as I dislike the totalitarian State of Apple, I'll buy an iPad before I'd help Google in their invade my privacy. But I'd prefer to buy an android tablet if I could avoid Google.

 

[pbelfi]

Not to sure that it can be done......the only thing I can think of is maybe installing the Amazon app on your device, and install apps from there....of course they don't have the selection that Google Play has.....As far as your privacy issues that you have......well I don't think it can be avoided! There is NO privacy on the internet! I have to laugh sometimes when I see people complain about Google and privacy policies, yet they plaster everything about themselves on Facebook, which in my opinion pose more of a threat than even. Google!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

I'd like to know whether it is possible to use a Nexus, or any other android tablet, without having any contact with Google Play.

It's possible. I think you need a Google ID to configure the tablet initially, but it can be a throwaway ID. For the ultra cautious, buy the tablet with cash at a brick and mortar store, do the configuration at a public wifi hotspot, and when you're done with setup, log into the Google account from another computer (at the hotspot) and change the password on the Google account so your Nexus 7 can't log in behind the scenes. Finally, never ever ever use the tablet from your home network.

 

[anon(847090)]

you think apple doesnt know where you are at? they just dont tell you that.
one example Apple stores your Siri conversations for up to 2 years: Report - Sci/Tech - DNA

 

[mr_nobody]

It's possible. I think you need a Google ID to configure the tablet initially, but it can be a throwaway ID. For the ultra cautious, buy the tablet with cash at a brick and mortar store, do the configuration at a public wifi hotspot, and when you're done with setup, log into the Google account from another computer (at the hotspot) and change the password on the Google account so your Nexus 7 can't log in behind the scenes. Finally, never ever ever use the tablet from your home network.

What he said. However, you are ending up with what amounts to a crippled device in some sense. As you have pointed out, Google gets something from the transaction but so do you...it is not purely one-sided as you suggest with your tin foil hat conspiracy theories. In any case, it's your device to use as you see fit...

[edit]: You could go out of your way to buy a cheap android tablet that is not google certified and thus no google play access or google apps, again a crippled device imo...

 

[Ntchwaidumela]

It's a Google device!

 

[Jennifer Stough]

Lol. Android is a Google created OS. You can't have the best of both worlds. Maybe you should look into a windows tablet and never use Google.

Sent from my Verizon Droid DNA

 

[asus_usa]

The Nexus 7 is a Google branded device and Android is their operating system. I'm sorry but there is no way around them if you want to use their device running their own operating system. Using a throwaway Gmail account, you can do the initial set-up to get the tablet up and running, I suppose. Beyond that, though, without Google Play the tablet is pretty useless. I guess you can strictly use it to browse the internet and not download any apps from Google Play.

I'd like to know whether it is possible to use a Nexus, or any other android tablet, without having any contact with Google Play. Quite frankly, Google scares the hell out of me with their incessant attempts to invade my privacy so tat they can sell me to the highest advertisement bidder. They track you all over the internet, snoop into your gmail and even send cars into your neighborhood to find out where you live. They been fined and cited for invasion of privacy many times but always try to find some way around the law. These are not people I want to have anything to do with.

Much as I dislike the totalitarian State of Apple, I'll buy an iPad before I'd help Google in their invade my privacy. But I'd prefer to buy an android tablet if I could avoid Google.

 

[anon(847090)]

with 1 post OP might be a troll. if OP is troll then its funny how they are getting **** hurt

 

[Aquila]

Possible, but stupid. It'd be better just to get over it. Google already knows everything; you giving them permission is a formality.

 

[catalinia]

Apple doesn't track you like Google. Their business model is to sell at a fixed 30% markup and make their money that way. Google's business model is to invade your privacy and to sell it to advertisers. Apple doesn't have trackers on virtually every web site. Thy don't have subsidiaries like doubleclick and google-analysics that was to record your every site visit. They don't snoop into you email. They don't send cars into your neighborhood trying to find your home by locating your SSID. As someone one said, with Apple you are a customer. With Google you are the product.

Sure, complete privacy on the internet isn't possible. But there are degrees.Apple can get info on you when you use their product, mostly they know what you download. But Google is everywhere. It doesn't matter whether you use the Nexus or you computer. They get it all and a far more pervasive and invasive than Apple. Google is the worst. OK, maybe Facebook is worse, but at least people choose to go on Facebook. With Google, you have no choice.

It's pathetic that some people think that complaining about privacy invasion is trolling or funny. Corporate America has convinced people that privacy doesn't matter and that there is no harm in giving big business the personal details of your life. Well, they are wrong. That information lives forever and you have no idea how it will be used or where it will end up in the future.

Anyway, It's too much trouble to try to work around Google with a Nexus. I guess I'll bite the bullet and buy an Ipad. I really don't like the idea of being locked into their totalitarian regime, but it is the lesser of two evils. And I do mean evils. The technology world is bringing us back to age age of Ma Bell when you had no choice but to pay whatever Bell wanted and accept any crap that they handed out. Now there are 2 Ma Bell's. I suppose that's progress of a sort.

 

[retsaw]

You perhaps need to get a little perspective, Google didn't send cars round to"find out where you live", they did it to improve their maps service (I think street view is a great addition to it), they recorded Wi-Fi data while doing not as a means to snoop, but to use for geo-location for people that GPS doesn't work for (or just takes too long to get a fix), they got fined because they recorded more data than they needed to when they did this, but everything they recorded was transmitted unencrypted (in the open) and is unlikely to be of any use to anyone, complaining about it is like complaining about people recording a conversation you are having with someone on the other side of a public street, if you wanted the information to be private you should have made it private.

That said, the people who said it can't be done are wrong.

You can do and a Nexus device is a perfect device to do it with because they receive a lot of developer attention for custom ROMs. I don't know if you can log on without a Google account, but if you are paranoid you can do it with a throwaway account using some random free WiFi, I recommend doing this to test it is fully working before doing anything else. Once you have verified it works, then you can unlock the bootloader, and install a custom ROM without any Google services, install the Amazon app store or some other alternative app store for your apps, and carry on living a happy Google free life.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[anon(847090)]

so, OP is a troll and an apple fanboy. fun to see you getting **** hurt

 

[RichardRight]

Apple doesn't track you like Google. Their business model is to sell at a fixed 30% markup and make their money that way. Google's business model is to invade your privacy and to sell it to advertisers. Apple doesn't have trackers on virtually every web site. Thy don't have subsidiaries like doubleclick and google-analysics that was to record your every site visit. They don't snoop into you email. They don't send cars into your neighborhood trying to find your home by locating your SSID. As someone one said, with Apple you are a customer. With Google you are the product.

Sure, complete privacy on the internet isn't possible. But there are degrees.Apple can get info on you when you use their product, mostly they know what you download. But Google is everywhere. It doesn't matter whether you use the Nexus or you computer. They get it all and a far more pervasive and invasive than Apple. Google is the worst. OK, maybe Facebook is worse, but at least people choose to go on Facebook. With Google, you have no choice.

It's pathetic that some people think that complaining about privacy invasion is trolling or funny. Corporate America has convinced people that privacy doesn't matter and that there is no harm in giving big business the personal details of your life. Well, they are wrong. That information lives forever and you have no idea how it will be used or where it will end up in the future.

Anyway, It's too much trouble to try to work around Google with a Nexus. I guess I'll bite the bullet and buy an Ipad. I really don't like the idea of being locked into their totalitarian regime, but it is the lesser of two evils. And I do mean evils. The technology world is bringing us back to age age of Ma Bell when you had no choice but to pay whatever Bell wanted and accept any crap that they handed out. Now there are 2 Ma Bell's. I suppose that's progress of a sort.

Maybe you should make a YouTube video about how evil Google is. Oh wait..... Since you're giving up Google, you can never again use YouTube, since they own that......

 

[Eduardo06sp]

Lol. Android is a Google created OS. You can't have the best of both worlds. Maybe you should look into a windows tablet and never use Google.

Sent from my Verizon Droid DNA

Actually, Google bought Android.


What you can do is root the tablet, then install Root App Delete to remove any unwanted applications. According to the reviews, it warns you when you are about to remove the files that play a vital role in your tablet.

If you'd like, you can root your tablet without unlocking the boot loader. Or just go ahead and unlock the boot loader then root with the click of a button.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[npark2012]

uhmm......


Sure...google can be a bit nosey but you must understand something. There are far more things you should be worrying about than privacy. I could list a few of them here but you should do your own research (from a trusted source of course). As for the question of this thread, No and yes. Apple is no different than any other company out there, including google. Maybe google is bad at hiding their activities and Apple is a mastermind of trickery and deceit. But who knows? I could be wrong or I could be right. You as a consumer are the product. Especially if you're using a free service. This is 2013, we're at a point in time where privacy is becoming currency. There's no way around that. Even if you don't buy an Apple device or a Google device, someone somewhere is watching your every move. Google themselves aren't out to get you and your privacy. You may willingly or unwillingly be providing google or apple the necessary information for them to make money to make and maintain services that you get for free. Nothing is free in this world. If you're paranoid now, just you wait till google glasses come to the average consumer. You will be living in a rock at that point.

And also, people choose to use or not to use facebook or google or apple or microsoft. We have the freedom to choose what we want. If you don't choose to use google then get off this forum, walk outside, leave the city, go deep, deep into the jungle, build a hut and live your life as you see fit. If you only want apple, spend all your money on a solar panel charger and take your apple devices with you to the jungle, set up the solar panel for electricity, and you're good to go. See? You always have a choice. And with every choice you gain and give up something in return.

And as some have said, you can always unlock the bootloader, install a custom rom, and use another android market app like amazon. Simple.

 

[Diknak]

All you have to do is create a throw away Google account, don't use the chrome browser, and disable all syncing and location tracking. They give you all of the options to manage what is sent to Google. You can even disable the personalized ads.

Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[sucholski]

It is so simple, Give them whatever they want but never never true!!!
Cheers

 

[UJ95x]

It is so simple, Give them whatever they want but never never true!!!
Cheers

This post is over a year old

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.4