Microsoft now permits uninstalling Edge, Bing, and OneDrive to adhere to the EU's Digital Markets Act.
ghacks.net
These changes are only applicable to users in the EEA. For those outside the region, Windows will continue to function as it is!
The changes to Windows for DMA-compliance include:
- You can now uninstall Edge and Bing web search using the built-in settings. Earlier, the option was greyed out.
- Third-party web search application developers can now utilize the Windows search box in the taskbar using the instructions provided by Microsoft and choose any web browser to show results from the web.
- Microsoft will no longer sign-in users to Edge, Bing, and Microsoft Start services during the initial Windows setup experience.
- Data collected about the functioning of non-Microsoft apps, primarily bug detection and its effects on the OS, from Windows PCs will not be used for competitive purposes.
- Microsoft, from now on, will need explicit user consent before combining data from the OS and other sources. It will also deliver new consent screens where required.
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For anyone looking for something like that right now - https://grapheneos.org/
Been on graphene for a few months now. Aside from a few apps that are over-reliant on the Google ecosystem, it's works fine. Would recommend. Battery is also a lot better with all the tracking and such removed.
GrapheneOS user here, compared to my stock android pixel it's night and day, no sense of my phone spying on me.
I use almost entirely FOSS on the graphene one, I now do most of my daily phone activities on the graphene, and use the stock primarily for work (I refuse to taint the graphene phone just so I can do my job).
The installation was extremely simplistic compared to other custom android versions I've run. It was literally: plug in phone, click button, phone restarted itself, clicked another button, done.
Hey I am also using GrapheneOS. And what you could do for work is setup a second profile that is not allowed to run when not active. That way it is fully isolated environment for work. Add to that that GrapheneOS lets you install Google related things inside a user profile without needing them to have root access. as some work related things might require google services.
I have a second profile set up already, exclusively for Google play services and anything else I don't want on the main profile.
I might make a third exclusively for work, but as it stands the second phone actually makes more sense in that regard in terms of taxation, simplicity of use etc. no faffing about with profile switching, just check which colour phone and then slam that fingerprint down on the sensor.
I do however welcome suggestions, perhaps I should make a post rather than just lurking in the comments for once...
The one issue I have with graphene is the incredibly broken backup, but they know that and are working on replacing it.
Other than that, rock solid.
I've not yet messed with backup, there's nothing on this phone I would miss if it were lost, stolen or broken.
I do however have it's entire contents backed up manually to multiple locations, so even if the worst should happen, it would simply be a matter of transferring to a new device.
More like LineageOS because Graphene is only available on very specific, hyper-expensive devices. Or just expensive if you want one that is already out of support.
Not really. Almost all the google pixels are supported. You do not need to get the pro versions if you don't want to.
Normal, non-pro are expensive AF too. The non-pro Pixel 7 is around $500. The latest ones I remember seeing for $300 and under are Pixel 5.
I mean if you are going to put GOS on it. Perhaps a second hand device is not a issue. Also non pro cost about 400 where I live.
$400 is a whole lot for a phone as well.
If you buy them second hand they are not expensive, I bought recently a Pixel 6 in backmarket for 200€ and it works perfectly.
6 barely has any Graphene support left - normal updates until next year and extended ones for just a few more.
In Graphene Os site, it says it has 3 years of support left. Normally my phones don't last that long. So it's fine for me, but obviouly I would recommend going for a newer Pixel version if you find a good deal. Edit: typo.
My phones usually last six years at least, three is nothing (and even then it is not "full" updates). Point is - Pixels are premium phones, so the ones that you would get for $200 would either be old models or quite used.