[Android] A Day without Google

[lopri]

This is how I used my Nexus 4 past weekend. Blocked Google Service Frameworks and most other Google services via a firewall, such as network-based location services. Play Store/Music still work but Youtube/Google Maps don't. You can still use apps that use Google credentials, but those that rely on Google services (e.g. sync/locations) may not function.

The point that I am making is that it is possible to use Android without Google services if you are willing, with the bonus of an exceptional battery life.

 

[Oyeve]

Slow day at work?

 

[lopri]

Slow day at work?

This is how I used my Nexus 4 past weekend.

:hmm:

 

[zerogear]

Does it affect Sync and such?

 

[lopri]

Yah. Basically you ignore "Google" under Account settings in your Android. Manually sync when needed with firewall disabled, and enable it back once done syncing.

 

[Oyeve]

:hmm:

Hehe, yeah, im tired.

 

[OS]

I think when you switch to cyanogenmod Google services and framework is also removed. It's missing apps and maps now, I use web based mapquest for maps.

The play services framework was too big a backdoor and makes me think about quitting android. I also don't use any google logins on the phone anymore. Google probably subsidizes their nexus device costs with their ads. Google has become extremely invasive with their data mining and I've personally had enough.

 

[lopri]

Yah. Especially when things get updated silently without explicitly saying so, I get reminded of the price that I am paying for convenience.

 

[Shackanaw]

If you go into the Android settings menu, click on "Google" under Accounts, then click on your Google username, you can disable individual Google applications. There are quite a few here, and I'm not 100% sure how they will be affected should you choose to disable them, but I've been playing around with it for a couple of days on my Nexus 7 and Nexus 4.

The list (from my Nexus 7):

App Data
Calendar
Chrome
Contacts
Drive
Gmail
Google Photos
Google Play Books
Google Play Music
Google+
Google+ Auto Backup
Keep
People Details

Last night, my Nexus 4 (on which I performed a factory data reset a couple of days ago) was steadily draining battery overnight, and Mediaserver was listed as being responsible for about 50% of my battery drain. I thought that I had disabled Google Play Music in the sync menu, but when I looked, it was still checked, while the other sync options I had disabled were still disabled. Perhaps disabling it caused Android to freak out on me, or perhaps I never really disabled it. I will keep an eye on it and see if the issue comes back.

 

[zerogear]

What is People Details anyway, how is it different from Contacts? And Google+ for that matter.

 

[ponyo]

Interesting test and info. Over 8 hours of screen time in 24 hour period is really impressive. So I guess we can blame Google for the poor battery life on our phones.

 

[lopri]

@Shackanaw: I either disabled them, sync manually, or use non-Google solution. For instance, I don't use Google+ stuff so they are disabled system-wide. Calendar, Chrome, and Contacts are manually synced. Gmail is also disabled on my N4, I use Android's built-in email client instead to sync my Gmail accounts and other accounts. I don't use Google Drive so they are not installed on my N4. Play Books and Movies are also manually synced. I leave Play music synced, though. (I sub All-Access music)

I have no clue of what exactly App Data and People Details do, but I leave them synced. With this setup I normally get 4+ hours of screen time and 1~2 hours of talk time. That's a very heavy use scenario for me. So it's not surprising that those who use their phone heavily (including Google services) get less than 3 hours of screen + talk time.

The scenario in the OP is an extreme case and I wanted to see how much battery can be saved by disconnecting Android from Google services as much as I can.

 

[Jodell88]

I normally get 36 - 48 hours on my Nexus 4.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Turn on 3G and the phone's battery life plummets. This phone's weakness is the 3G radio.

What were you doing those 8 hours? Light use? Reading?

BTW, what kernel? Stock? Franco?

 

[Shackanaw]

After disabling Contacts, Contacts Storage, and Google Contacts Sync in the apps menu (Settings -> Apps -> All, then clicking on a given app and selecting Disable), I no longer see Contacts as an option in the sync settings for my Google account, but People Details is still there. I've now disabled sync for People Details... we'll see if the universe implodes.

This is on my tablet, so my contact list isn't as important as it is on my phone.