Google-less Update

Almost a month in, and I'm hanging in there. Getting a little antsy for updates. I miss a few things, mostly remote desktop and hangouts.

Updating my contacts is a multi step, multi device process. I'll try to sideload some new apps this week, and maybe update CM (though I read some people had issues with the 3/3/14 nightly build).

We'll see how much longer I can last.

I think the phone is definitely more responsive without all that Google junk on there bogging it down. It's still super snappy.

Life Without GAPPS - or - Android without Google Play Services

I'm giving it a shot.  We'll see how it goes.  A whole day into it now and it's only minorly inconvenient.

That's right, I'm running an android phone without a Google presence.

No Gapps, no Play store, no Google Play Services, no Google Account.

To be more specific, I'm running a nightly build of Cyanogenmod CM12 (Android 5.0.2 [Lollipop]) for the Nexus 4.  It's stable and relatively bug free.

In CM 11, I could use Privacy Guard to turn off some of the Google annoyances.  But so far in CM12, blocking location reporting to the Play store, or disabling even the smallest privilege to Play Services causes it to force-close uncontrollably.

I'm just getting tired of the Play store and Play Services waking my phone literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TIMES.  The same with my location.  There is absolutely no reason for the Play Store to query my exact location on the planet HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TIMES.  I'm not exaggerating.  This is not hyperbole.  That's how close of an eye Google is keeping on you.

So I'm doing something about it.

I switched from:
Browser: Chrome to Firefox
App Store: Play to Amazon and F-Droid
Email: Gmail app to IMAP email app
Maps: Google Maps to Sideloaded Google Maps (not attached to my Google account)
Messaging: Hangouts to built in Messaging app
Calendar: Google Calendar to GooCal (a few bucks from the Amazon App Store)
Contacts: Google Contacts to vCard export (my contacts change little enough to not be synced)

As you can see, I'm still using Google services.  I haven't cut that cord and probably won't.

But I'm probably less monitizable and trackable.

The biggest thing I'm going to miss (in order of pining):

• Chrome Remote Desktop
• Hangouts
• Google Maps linked to my account
• Google Music
• Google Keep
• Probably some other stuff that hasn't come up yet

These Google apps run fine without Google Play Services (albeit without account integration)

• Chrome
• Google Maps
• Nest (no Google account necessary)

I can always run some of the stuff I miss in a browser anyway.  Also, I'll probably start leaning on Microsoft services more since they've (finally) got their act together in a good way.  We'll see how long I last, and if I go back.

Windows Media Center

Windows Media Center is a mystical mysterious mystery.  It barely exists.  It's hiding, laying in wait on all Windows 7 computers.

All you need is:

• A reasonable, used even, quad core PC
• 4 Gig of RAM minimum
• 1 TB of disc minimum
• 1 TV tuner minimum, official support for 4
• 1 Antenna, higher in the air the better
• Some type of remote

You'll also need a bunch of wires, depending on your setup

• VGA or HDMI to your HDTV
• Audio if necessary
• Coax for the antenna, preferably RG6 for less signal loss
• Network cables

All this stuff may cost a couple hundred dollars if you're starting from scratch.  But how much to you pay for cable per month?  Though lots more people have dropped cable.  It's fun in any event.  Does take some maintenance, but it runs WAY better for watching live or recorded TV than any third party program I've ever used.

The software setup can be a little tricky, but that's for another day.

Kindle Fire CM11

Amazon finally allows prime video streaming on a standard android device! I'm pumped!

That means that I can run CM11 M10 on my first generation Kindle Fire with impunity!

I might still be a little restricted with the Kindle lending library, but most of those books aren't that great. It was the streaming video keeping me on MoDaCo.

Part of the problem with that setup was that it looked like the stock carousel rom, was still a little locked down. Also, it couldn't run Chrome. Also, also, it would crash sometimes because I had an old dual boot FireFireFire bootloader and TWRP recovery on there that would wakelock my battery into oblivion.

So now, it's a fresh start, I redid the thing right. From the ground up! It's awesome so far!

Though I did have to sideload an older version of Chrome due to some recently developed bug.

Windows Home Server 2011 and Windows 8

Getting my windows 8.1 laptop to backup to the WHS11 computer was a puzzle.  It turns out that the solution is a two parter:

1. Apply this hotfix to the Windows Home Server 2011: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2781272/en-us

2. Enable all ".NET Framework 3.5" options in the "Turn Windows Features On or Off" on the client PC

Probably restart everything and tada!  Enjoy all the things!  Because "all the things" is a catchy phrase right now.

Old Manuals

I have some old stereo manuals laying around that I don't want to waste the time scanning if no one needs them. But I'll post their names below. Send me a message if you would like a scanned copy.

Model 71/6A Sold State Stereo Amplifier

Getting Acquainted With Receiver Servicing - Lesson Number Four

Fisher Announces Model FM-200 FM Tuner

The Fisher 202-R Service Manual

Heathkit Assembly Manual - Model AJ-14

Raspberry Pi

I tried the Raspberry Pi, and it's neat. It would be good for a homebrew controller. But do you know what it's not good at? Being a computer.

Holy smokes, the thing can't run a Web browser. Maybe someday when X desktop can be accelerated through the GPU. But until then, no thank you.

I figured it would be under-speced android phone slow. Nope, it's Pentium I slow.