Help Lock Out Google

[Straydog]

Is there a way to lock out Google from the phone for updates and all interferences? When I entered my mail account I unchecked all updates and sync, but a little later all contacts were there.

Thanks for any welcome ideas.

 

[jj14x]

when you set up the phone, don't enter your Gmail ID at all (or enter a dummy Gmail ID that you create)
Or - go to settings/accounts and delete your google ID (note that your play store won't work either)

 

[Straydog]

Sorry, I am a long time computer user, but complete ighorant on Android, which I never used at all.

I set up the phone as you say, bur then I wanted to install some apps on iy, and I don't fins a way to get them from Google play without setting a Google account on the phone. So I set it, but I also cut all synchronizations. However, strangely, I still received contacts from that account and e-mail.

Now I deleted the Google account on the phone, because I prefer one that is not sending me trash to delete and on top have to pay for. So how do I download and install Android apps. please?

 

[jhawkkw]

Sorry, I am a long time computer user, but complete ighorant on Android, which I never used at all.

I set up the phone as you say, bur then I wanted to install some apps on iy, and I don't fins a way to get them from Google play without setting a Google account on the phone. So I set it, but I also cut all synchronizations. However, strangely, I still received contacts from that account and e-mail.

Now I deleted the Google account on the phone, because I prefer one that is not sending me trash to delete and on top have to pay for. So how do I download and install Android apps. please?

Google is the main source of apps, considering android is made by Google. You can try the Amazon app store, but it isn't as good as Google play.

 

[Goodspike]

To install from other sources you need to go to settings:

Settings/Security and then check Unknown sources.

 

[jejb]

I feel your pain. I also hate having to leave the Google account active on my phone. But it's less pain to leave it on than nuke it and then have to sign back on everytime I go to the Play Store.

You can go into your application manager and uncheck the notification box for applications you don't want to get notified of updates on.

 

[Straydog]

Google is the main source of apps, considering android is made by Google. You can try the Amazon app store, but it isn't as good as Google play.

Thanks. I know too little, but I do believe it is as you say, and that is why I am trying hard to find a way to get Google play apps without setting up a Google account, and I found that then I can drop them on the Downloads directory on my PC and install them on the phone. Isn't there a way? I don't know how, but I would love to. I feel frustrated.

 

[Goodspike]

I have a google account I only use for my phone. I don't see what the big deal is. I don't think I get any email on that account that isn't related to that account (e.g. a billing receipt) or something I send to myself that I don't want to get lost in a sea of other email.

 

[Straydog]

I have a google account I only use for my phone. I don't see what the big deal is. I don't think I get any email on that account that isn't related to that account (e.g. a billing receipt) or something I send to myself that I don't want to get lost in a sea of other email.

That is an idea that I will try and may adopt if it does not make me pay for what I do not need. If I have a PC I'll be glad to use the service, but do not need most of what they push against my will. Don't you believe that everyone should be allowed to choose instead of being imposed??

Yes, it is a "big deal" being spied, treated like a sucker, getting idiotic trash, and having to pay for all that. If you like it that is up to you. This is not new and they often get fined in Europe for privacy abuse. Search an you will find. Google have good things, sure, but most are like this.

Also, not all changes are real upgrades, like with maps. The new version displays a large rectangle on top-left covering a part of the map and I can't find a way to get rid of it. I use nearly all apps on windows whenever possible, not on full screen to allow for multi-tasking, but now I have to use the browser on full screen for maps. They never had coordinates, and now even the distances gauge is gone.

I will do my best not to sell my new phone with which I am otherwise very happy with. So I would really like to find a way aeound to get apps from Google play. there must be a way. Thank you.

 

[Goodspike]

I'm not sure you'll avoid updates by not being connected to Google. That may be controlled by your carrier.

You might be more interested in learning how to change various settings to avoid Google tracking you. There's one setting, off by default, that keeps track of every place you go, but even with that off, other services might track you. The now defunct Latitude comes to mind. It doesn't bother me, so I don't have a source, but I would assume somewhere there's a webpage that describes how to turn off all the tracking.

 

[jj14x]

Thanks. I know too little, but I do believe it is as you say, and that is why I am trying hard to find a way to get Google play apps without setting up a Google account, and I found that then I can drop them on the Downloads directory on my PC and install them on the phone. Isn't there a way? I don't know how, but I would love to. I feel frustrated.

From the play store? Not legally, no. Without a google account, how would google play store know that it was "you" who purchased it? how would it notify you of updates? Or if the app is later determined to be malware, how would you get notified? So, no - legally, you can't get apps from the play store without a google account on your phone.

That is an idea that I will try and may adopt if it does not make me pay for what I do not need. If I have a PC I'll be glad to use the service, but do not need most of what they push against my will. Don't you believe that everyone should be allowed to choose instead of being imposed??

Google isn't charging you any money for any of this (yet). Google accounts are free, access to play store, google+,gmail/calendar/contacts, maps, navigation etc is not billed to you.
What exactly are they pushing against your will? If you don't want contacts to show up on your phone, don't load up your gmail account with any contacts - there will be nothing to show on your phone contact list even if it syncs! (similarly, other google applications - what difference does it make whether it shows up on your phone or not? Google has the information regardless of whether it is synced to your phone)

If for some reason, you don't want contacts to sync to your phone, and still want it to show up on your google account (when accessed via PC), disable sync (settigs/accounts/google - tap on your account, and just uncheck anything you don't want synced) - or just set up a dummy gmail account as I had recommended in my earlier post.

Yes, it is a "big deal" being spied, treated like a sucker, getting idiotic trash, and having to pay for all that. If you like it that is up to you. This is not new and they often get fined in Europe for privacy abuse. Search an you will find. Google have good things, sure, but most are like this.

"being spied, treated like a sucker, getting idiotic trash, and having to pay for all that" - what?

Spying, by the Govt? Unless you've been living under a rock lately, you would know that a majority of software/email/hardware providers have been 'forced' to provide access to customer/subscriber information to the govt.
Spying, by Google? Umm - yeah - they make money by advertisements! What did you expect? Do you for even one moment believe that Microsoft, Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Cisco, All the carriers etc are not using your information to increase their profits??

Treated like a sucker - you need to explain that a little more - did they promise you something that they didn't provide? And then kick you around?

Getting idiotic trash - are you talking about spam mail? or something else??

Having to pay for... ? Is google charging you for its services? Or are you complaining about the charge that phone manufacturers charge you to use a phone?

What exactly are you talking about?

Also, not all changes are real upgrades, like with maps. The new version displays a large rectangle on top-left covering a part of the map and I can't find a way to get rid of it. I use nearly all apps on windows whenever possible, not on full screen to allow for multi-tasking, but now I have to use the browser on full screen for maps. They never had coordinates, and now even the distances gauge is gone.

If you don't like the new google maps, don't upgrade the app - or even better, find another one that you like! Unlike Apple, google doesn't force you to use their apps. You can pick and choose from any other apps that are out there!
BTW, I don't know what rectangle you are referring to on the top left of maps - I don't see it on the current version

Sorry if I sound frustrated - long day - and reading posts like this isn't helping - complaining about "stuff" without going into specific details that folks could use to help you with.

 

[jejb]

That is one thing I miss from my old HTC phones. In the mail app, it gave me a choice to ignore contact/sync info from different accounts. So I was able to tell it to ignore Google contacts without having to delete the Google account. I have not found that functionality on the S4.

Now mind you, there are very few things I miss about my HTC. Love my S4. But that was a nice feature.

EDIT: As far as downloading outside of the Play Store, some apps to have developer websites that allow that. You can directly download the APK, put it on your phone's internal memory and then install it. But not many do that. Most of the time, the websites just send you to the Play Store.

 

[jj14x]

That is one thing I miss from my old HTC phones. In the mail app, it gave me a choice to ignore contact/sync info from different accounts. So I was able to tell it to ignore Google contacts without having to delete the Google account. I have not found that functionality on the S4.

Now mind you, there are very few things I miss about my HTC. Love my S4. But that was a nice feature.

On my Sprint S4, I can go to the contacts application, and on the contacts tab, if I click the menu, I can choose "contacts to display" and that lets me pick which address book to display (and I can uncheck the google account there) - and once I do that, the google contacts don't show up in the mail app either (have to clear the cache first though)

I thought that op didn't want the google contacts to even be available as an option on the phone.

 

[Straydog]

I wrote a reply to people trying to help me, but when I clicked on Submit Reply the forum showed the login page, never came back to my reply after re-logging, I lost everything and even on Firefox, known for saving text in text boxes I could not come back. I know, I could have composed the post on a text editor and copy it to the actual post just before submitting. Or save it to the clipboard, but I didn't know about this set issue until it happened.

I apologise for those waiting for my reply and from whom I have been learning. I will come up with something else, but certainly not as before because that left me very much disappointed, upset and terribly frustrated. I firmly believe the Admin should review this forum setting. It used to be the same with Windows 7 Help Forums, Seven Forums and associated, but after complaints that behaviour was corrected. As a matter of fact there is no sound advantage on that forum setting option, but make people lose their complete posts if they interrupt their writing and do something else before finishing and submitting.

 

[jhawkkw]

I wrote a reply to people trying to help me, but when I clicked on Submit Reply the forum showed the login page, never came back to my reply after re-logging, I lost everything and even on Firefox, known for saving text in text boxes I could not come back. I know, I could have composed the post on a text editor and copy it to the actual post just before submitting. Or save it to the clipboard, but I didn't know about this set issue until it happened.

I apologise for those waiting for my reply and from whom I have been learning. I will come up with something else, but certainly not as before because that left me very much disappointed, upset and terribly frustrated. I firmly believe the Admin should review this forum setting. It used to be the same with Windows 7 Help Forums, Seven Forums and associated, but after complaints that behaviour was corrected. As a matter of fact there is no sound advantage on that forum setting option, but make people lose their complete posts if they interrupt their writing and do something else before finishing and submitting.

When you log in, did you check the box that says remember me?