Use Android Without Google
presented with all the permissions you’d normally see before installing the app. Although this trick bypasses the Play Store, it doesn’t avoid Google altogether because you still need to use its search engine.
Sideload apps from outside Play
Some apps are blocked from Google Play because they include tools that Google doesn’t want running on Android (certain ad blockers, for example). If you still want to install them, you just need to find the app in APK (Android Application Package) format – try the developer’s website or the comprehensive APK Mirror (www .apkmirror.com), then sideload them.
To do this, open S Settings on your you Android phone and look under Applications Applicati or Security for the Unknown Unknow Sources Source option. Tick this and you’ll be able to download downlo apps packag packaged as an APK, and install them directly on your device. There is a security risk involved in installing apps w in this way, so make sure the app you want is safe and comes from a trustworthy source.
Remove Google services by rooting your device
Some of Google’s stock apps and functions (such as Google Play Services) can only be removed by rooting your device. You’ll need to use a tool such as Towelroot (towelroot.com) or Kingo (www .kingoapp.com). To install Towelroot, go to the website on your phone or tablet, and tap the lambda symbol (λ) to save the app in
THE PROS AND CONS OF DITCHING GOOGLE The main benefit of removing Google from your Android phone is privacy. The search giant knows far more about you – where you are, what you do and what you like – than you might be entirely comfortable with, and eliminating its presence from Android will make you feel less exposed. There are clear downsides, however, because Google is responsible for some very good apps and services, and you may end up trading those for less capable alternatives. As we mention above, certain third-party apps rely on Google to work properly, so you could end up losing them in your quest to quit the search giant. Google Play delivers timely updates to apps, which you probably won’t get if you use alternative app stores, so you’ll have to wait longer for new features and bug fixes to arrive. You also won’t get the latest updates to the Android OS until custom ROMs have been updated accordingly.
Discuss living without Google at forum.webuser.co.uk
APK format, then install it. For Kingo, download Android Root for Windows from the website. Connect your phone via USB, run the program and follow the instructions. The usual caveats apply about rooting – it invalidates your warranty, leaves you open to more security threats and can even ‘brick’ your device (render it unusable). Once your phone is rooted, you’ll be able to remove all the apps you don’t need. But before you strip your device of everything Google-related, it’s worth noting that some third-party apps require Google Play Services to run properly. So bear in mind that if you disable this function, you may find that certain apps stop functioning.
Install a custom ROM on your device
There are several excellent custom ROMs you can install on your phone or tablet to replace the default Android OS, of which CyanogenMod (www .cyanogenmod.org) is arguably the best. This is like the latest version of Android but with a lot of additional functionality. If your phone is running an old version of Android, and there’s no sign of an update on the horizon, installing this will give you access to all the features and functionality you’ve so far been denied, and you can customise it to suit your tastes. Installing CyanogenMod is easy. Make sure your phone is set to install apps in APK format, then go to get.cm on your phone. Download and install the ROM and follow the onscreen instructions. You’ll need to connect the phone to your computer via USB and run the CyanogenMod Windows Installer from www.cyanogenmod.org to install the ROM.
10 - 23 February 2016
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