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Download apps without a gmail account

fredk1

Lurker
Aug 18, 2011
2
0
Hi folks. I just picked up an android phone. All I want to do is install a few aps and be done with it.

It looks like I have to set up a google account, associate a phone with it AND create a gmail account. I'm surprised google didn't ask for my firstborn as well. :rolleyes:

Is there a way to download and install apps without google getting its hooks into me?
 
Your Gmail Account = Google Account, you dont have to make an account twice. And yes the phone should be associated because the you dont have access to Android Market if you dont have a Google Account (same as you need an account for iTunes,Ovi,WMarketPlace, etc). It would also let the market app know what phone you have so that it will only show compatible apps, or when you are browsing the market on the web, it will show a notification if the app is compatible or not with your phone. Yes you can get apps from other sources apart from market, but its more likely to get malware apps outside the Market.

I dont even understand the aversion to making a Google account. You can make a Gmail account full of false information and not use it for anything else other than market access, if you dont want Google to know you even exist.
 
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Without a Google account you can't download from market.
So you have download apps as .apk from other app sites.
Download with your phone browser.
For installing go in the browser to Download and execute the .apk

EDIT: + ... Settings > Applications > check box Unknown sources.

Amazon App Store info ...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000626391&ref=sv_mas_4

Harry
 
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Call me paranoid, but the less google knows about me the better. I have no idea what data exchange goes on between my phone and google every time I log in.

Well that's kind of the whole point of a smart phone, to have all your information connected with one account. If you don't want that, then don't get a smartphone. It's really not that difficult to make a gmail account, all they ask for is your name and birthday, you give more than that information to many other companies.
 
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Well that's kind of the whole point of a smart phone, to have all your information connected with one account. If you don't want that, then don't get a smartphone. It's really not that difficult to make a gmail account, all they ask for is your name and birthday, you give more than that information to many other companies.

No, it is not really. It is to have access to information at the reach, not necessarily personal info or any account info.
You should not have to have an account of one kind or another to use a browser or such on a phone.

Google is just pushing its BS ethics of info gathering on users.
 
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No, it is not really. It is to have access to information at the reach, not necessarily personal info or any account info.
You should not have to have an account of one kind or another to use a browser or such on a phone.

Google is just pushing its BS ethics of info gathering on users.

That's what google does, gather information, and in exchange they give us Android, a free operating system for companies to use on their phones. You could always create a fake account if you wanted too.
 
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You should not have to have an account of one kind or another to use a browser or such on a phone.

We're not talking about "a browser or such", this discussion is about installing apps. A Google account is required to use the Play Store (a.k.a. Google Market) because apps are licensed to that account.

Google is just pushing its BS ethics of info gathering on users.

Leaving aside the point that it's easy for users to filter all information they "share" from their Google Account itself, the obvious (and very simple) solution, if that is your viewpoint, is to abstain from having anything to do with Google or Android. Choice is a wonderful freedom. ;)
 
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Well that's kind of the whole point of a smart phone, to have all your information connected with one account. If you don't want that, then don't get a smartphone. It's really not that difficult to make a gmail account, all they ask for is your name and birthday, you give more than that information to many other companies.

A smart phone is to use for your own liking is business etc. But it is NOT the idea that one Brand Name has the right to take all your information.
We tested that, and in Google's opinion, our account (Test Account) may be not correct, now they came with the notion, that we shall send them a government ID... Who the hell are those guys. They are not our Boss, secondly I purchased the Phone so kindly do not tell me what I can do with it. After all Google is just in the roots a search engine. They are not a authority, if they want for there advertising my private info, well than they will have to pay for it. People are to careless with their private data. In my opinion, there should be many legit Marketplaces out there. It should not be an obligation to give any private information, same for facebook or any other company. Its up to the people to put a stop to this nonsense.
People please be more careful, install on your computer ghost in your Browser. Check where all your info goes. Even some Banks when you log in online have links to third parties... Anybody who is not your Government or an authority does not have right to your private Information... this is where stealing starts... question is if you don't stop here where will it go?
Also we did try it with Itunes, at least we where able to call apple and we where able to get the apps without giving out any information. Try to Call google. You will have a hard time, so you are giving them all kinds of information but you can't get in touch with them. Only if you purchase Adds from them, than they will talk to you.... So again thing twice..
 
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Hi I was having some issues with my google acct on my android because my google acct was broken into and someone (I have my suspcions) added their phone as a trusted device on my acct so I went to a computer logged on and deleted my google acct and all programs associated with it no loss there since I didn't use much after that I exported my contact list to my sd card removed the card reset my phone back to factory default then inserted my sd card imported my contacts and I came to the relizaation that google wanted me on there to dl apps fr the market I thought not so I follows these steps and dl amazon apps which is working out pretty well they even gave me credit to dl a free song since I have a new acct all I can say is thanks and in agreement that you can skirt around signing up for google with these android phones yes its not as secure but as long as u use amazon apps it seems to work out ok thanks again :)
 
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A smart phone is to use for your own liking is business etc. But it is NOT the idea that one Brand Name has the right to take all your information.
We tested that, and in Google's opinion, our account (Test Account) may be not correct, now they came with the notion, that we shall send them a government ID... Who the hell are those guys. They are not our Boss, secondly I purchased the Phone so kindly do not tell me what I can do with it. After all Google is just in the roots a search engine. They are not a authority, if they want for there advertising my private info, well than they will have to pay for it. People are to careless with their private data. In my opinion, there should be many legit Marketplaces out there. It should not be an obligation to give any private information, same for facebook or any other company. Its up to the people to put a stop to this nonsense.
People please be more careful, install on your computer ghost in your Browser. Check where all your info goes. Even some Banks when you log in online have links to third parties... Anybody who is not your Government or an authority does not have right to your private Information... this is where stealing starts... question is if you don't stop here where will it go?
Also we did try it with Itunes, at least we where able to call apple and we where able to get the apps without giving out any information. Try to Call google. You will have a hard time, so you are giving them all kinds of information but you can't get in touch with them. Only if you purchase Adds from them, than they will talk to you.... So again thing twice..


THERE WATCHING US!!!!
Time to pur tinfoil on our windows??

Okay seriously, I get being concerned with privacy. I understand having a little bit of mistrust. Yea Google collects Data, but come on they aren't trying to find out your deepest darkest secrets lol
 
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seems to me that it defeats the purpose of android by not actually using google.

but, i guess the way to go is to locate some apps that you like, find the "apk" online somehow, make sure the "unknown sources" is permitted in your phone, and try to install the apk. the unknown sources btw seems a bit more hazardous than having a google account.

btw, i have about 10 gmail accounts, none of which use my real name or stats.

once you figure all this out, install a perfect ROM for you: paranoid android.
 
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Look let not sugar coat it, the government has tabs on you all the time not just from your phones. Nothing has every been private since the 1st telephone was invented , nothing. Even if you dont have an account with google, they still know what your doing if you have a cellphone period. Hate to sound harsh, but this is a reality check.
 
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The original question/issue is how to install apps without logging in to Google. Never mind all the idle banter, let's get an answer! These are our phones, we bought them, it's up to us to decide how WE want to use them, not up to Google, and especially not up to naysayers and detractors!
The answer was already given at the first few posts. You use a different app store. Sure the phone is yours, but the Play Store is Google's.

They need an account for them to recognize a purchase, so that it would be tied to your account and not make you buy something twice for separate devices. If you don't want a Google account, use Amazon.
 
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The original question/issue is how to install apps without logging in to Google. Never mind all the idle banter, let's get an answer! These are our phones, we bought them, it's up to us to decide how WE want to use them, not up to Google, and especially not up to naysayers and detractors!

You can install apps from somewhere like Amazon instead, sorted...no Google. And if you don't wish to see any Google at all on your Android phone, can always buy a phone from China....NO Google! :thumbup:
 
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This has nothing to do with being paranoid. Google track everything i do, and they give the police all information they want if they ask for it. I want to be anonymous in what i do online. This is ****ing stupid, i had to be in the ****ing jail for some weeks because the police had to go through every ****ing step i did some years ago.
 
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You're being very naive if you think Google is the only bad entity here. If you're fixated on privacy, do NOT use a smartphone. It's not an Android issue either, if you get an iPhone Apple will be tracking you (note that their current ad campaign is about 'security', definitely not 'privacy'). If you get a Windows phone Microsoft will be tracking you. Your ISP will be tracking you when you're using your WiFi, your carrier will be tracking you when you're using mobile data. Services like Facebook will be vacuuming up your data on a massive scale. Every email service that utilizes any kind of spam filtering and/or integral antivirus/anti-malware is scanning every message going through their servers.
 
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