Using default Google apps without syncing, a.k.a privacy

Ecir Hana · April 7th, 2012, 10:51 AM

Hello,

I just got my first Android device - Galaxy Nexus running 4.0.1 version.

So far I really like what I see but I have one (and really only one) problem: is it possible to use Android without Google account? Also People and Calendar apps? I mean, I don't want to upload my events and contacts to some server, I just simply don't like it. Currently, when I try to add an event Android asks for an account - is it possible to use the Calendar just locally?

What other options do I have - create a dummy account and then disable syncing? Does it really not sync? Or should I install some other calendar app which doesn't require the account? Should I root the phone, install Cyanogen and disable same obscure setting?

Please - I really want to like Android but sending my stuff somewhere is something too much for me - how to keep my contacts, events, locations, search history as much private as possible?

Is it even possible to see if an applications sends something out? And to see what exactly is it sending?

Crashdamage · April 7th, 2012, 11:11 AM

Just turn off sync for everything and none of your info will be uploaded. It's that simple.

Shotgun84 · April 7th, 2012, 11:11 AM

Welcome to the forum Ecir Hana and thanks for joining.

You don't have to sync everything to google, well at least not on gingerbread so I assume ics will be the same. If you go to settings, privacy you can untick backup my data. I don't have my calender synced to google either, when it asked me to sync I ticked the don't show again and carried on. I can now add entries to my calender without it being saved on googles servers.

Ecir Hana · April 8th, 2012, 11:57 AM

Thanks for the answers to both of you!