this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2025
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Privacy

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Google is somehow the only company that is able to completely ruin a calculator app. Even before installing, Google outs themselves with how much data they collect:

  • App info and performance: Crash logs and Diagnostics
  • Personal info: Email address
  • Device or other IDs
  • App activity: App interactions

And of course the encouraging message:

Data can’t be deleted

The developer doesn’t provide a way for you to request that your data be deleted

As soon as you try to install it, the app requests network access. I'm glad to be using GrapheneOS where this can be restricted.

The app doesn't crash on launch, which is a new concept for Google, since most of their apps won't even start without Google Play Services installed. Maybe that means the calculator app can calculate 1+1 without requiring installing the most invasive software known to man, right?

Of course it can't. It crashes the moment you press the plus sign. Thank you, Google, for requiring Google Play Services for your calculator app to do basic addition. You know what calculator doesn't require Google Play services to do math?

In all seriousness, OpenCalc is a near 1:1 match to Google Calculator, so I suggest anyone use that instead.

The cherry on top is Google's calculator app is bundled with a privacy policy, which on its own is a treat to read through: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Congratulations, Google, you can spy on math now.

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[–] sqgl@beehaw.org 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

If you install lineage without gapps for example, I think you'll have great privacy.

Lineage or Graphene, yes?

I just bought a second Pixel 4a and can therefore now afford the slight bricking risk to install Graphene or Lineage.

[–] simop_jo@lemm.ee 2 points 10 hours ago

Lineage and grpahene do different things. Research and find the right for yourself. And instead of lineage you could find a crdroid on if you for example want more customization