Would anyone post a quick guide on how to run WhatsApp l using atl?

There is some documentation on https://gitlab.com/android_translation_layer/android_translation_layer/-/blob/master/README.md and I am rather sure it’s the right project, but some sort of installer would be nice. I think installing all those dependencies by hand is not a good solution in the long run. Wasn’t there supposed to be a flatpack container to be downloaded somewhere?

I’ve been using docus (izzys fdroid repo) for some time and can recommend it.

Edit: it seems it’s no longer being maintained.

I would switch to jmp immediately if only it were available in Germany.

interesting!

Try oeffi, it’s a great app for public transport.

I’ve learned a lot about privacy/security from xmpp chatrooms, especially the room for the conversations client and the divestos chatroom. They both are kind of support chatrooms for the chat client/ android rom but privacy is often a topic and the programmers/ rom maintainers are also present and very knowledgeable. https://search.jabber.network/rooms/1

This is not bad for a start (common commands):

https://linuxblog.io/90-linux-commands-frequently-used-by-linux-sysadmins/

I use Syncthing-fork (fdroid). It lets you set you granular per folder settings like only sync on home WiFi.

I have been using ps3 controllers on Linux for a couple of years now. They are dead cheap used but you might need to replace the batteries if you need to use them wirelessly. The drivers were included in popos, so plug and play basically. Just get a compatible bluetooth USB dongle, or maybe the deck already has Bluetooth? The original ps3 controllers are very sturdy and work reliably. I would still be using my old ps2 controllers, which are basically the same, but the usb adapters seem to brake way to often and wireless play is rather convenient.

I’ve been using droidcamx to utilise any android phone as a webcam for a couple of years and it’s working great. Phones tend to have way better cameras compared to webcams so the video quality will be top notch in must most cases.

It’s cool they included this into android 14, though.

Could you explain why you wouldn’t use it?

I’ve been using it for a couple of years and am happy with it, it grants an extra layer of security I think, if you can wipe the device when lost/stolen. Also very handy if you misplaced the phone and its set to not ring, as with this it will ring at full volume. You don’t need to use their server for the app to function, if that is your concern. I use a secondary device from my household. You can send a text message to your phone to let it ring even when its set to silent mode/get its location/or even wipe it remotely.

Ok, yeah, you’ve got a point I think. But one could argue if microg is enabled by default, at least some info might leak to google as their push servers are contacted and a device id is created (even if the data is anonymized to some extend.). (Depending on if these settings are enabled by default in microg which I am not sure of).

Here’s some info from the divestOS faq (cmp.: https://divestos.org/pages/faq):

"Anything important I should know about microG?¶

The 'Google device registration' and 'Google SafetyNet' options WILL make microG connect to Google servers.
The 'Cloud Messaging' option WILL make microG maintain a persistent connection to Google servers.
The 'Cloud Messaging' option does NOT require a Google account.
The 'Google SafetyNet' option WILL download and execute proprietary obfuscated code from Google and is strongly NOT recommended.
While microG itself is open source, any apps talking to it will do so using the proprietary Google Play Services library."

It goes on to provide some guidelines if you want to use microg:

How should I configure microG?¶

"Depending on the apps you want to use there are a few different ways you can use microG.

Some apps don't need microG but check that they were installed via Play, in this case you only need microG Companion/FakeStore and to install the app via `Aurora Store` (via session installer) or `Obtainium`. This mechanism only works on 18.1+ currently, adb workaround still necessary on older versions.
Some apps will work with microG simply installed without any Google connections, in this case it is strongly recommended to revoke Network permission from the microG app.
Some apps need push notifications via Google, for them you must let microG maintain a persistent identifiable connection to Google. Enable 'Google device registration' and 'Cloud Messaging' in microG.
Some apps require a captcha to be performed by the user, for them you can enable the 'Google SafetyNet' option.
Some apps require SafetyNet to work, while the option to enable it currently exists it will not work in the unprivileged mode that DivestOS uses and will be removed in a future update."

So depending on your thread model, you still would want to disable some of the options in microg to have absolutely no leakage of data to google. For example I am not comfortable any more with using push notifications since it was revealed that state actors use this info to tail users communications.

Here is a thorough analysis of /os’s security and privacy.

https://www.kuketz-blog.de/e-datenschutzfreundlich-bedeutet-nicht-zwangslaeufig-sicher-custom-roms-teil6/

Tldnr: it’s alright but but grapheme, divestos or calyxos should be preferred if those are available on your device.

Problematic seems the unique device id /e os generates and sends on every update and also security updates for the integrated webview browser have been severely out of date in the past.

You don’t really need the sever at all if you have another phone in your family that can send a text message. Now that I think of it it might not be a bad idea to set up a sever as backup. But the public sever from the developer should be fairly safe to use as well…

I’ve been using xmpp for several years now. Even running my own server for family and friends. It’s a great feeling to be fully independent imho.

I’ve used a Bluetooth heart monitor worn around the chest (was around 20 $ ten years ago) to measure the heart rate before. It works well with open tracks and should be more reliable compared to a device worn around the wrist. I am not sure the gps tracker on a watch works be better than the one on your phone anyways. It might be a problem with your phone killing background apps like opentracks. Check https://dontkillmyapp.com before pulling the plug on a new device.

Another option would be to install an im server that is low on resources and not eating your sdcard. I think xmpp would work a lot better on a pi. Prosody, ejabberd or snikket should work nicely.

Are you implying the tabs backups are not written into the profile folder? Because think 10 - 20 GB a day is still something to be convened about. https://www.servethehome.com/firefox-is-eating-your-ssd-here-is-how-to-fix-it/

I have used Firefox in ram for a couple of months now without problems and am pretty happy with it.

Conversions on android keeps a websocket connection open to receive messages. It’s supposed to generate very little overhead in battery consumption. The unified push app on android uses the same technique to provide other apps with pushes. So you could set conversations to be the push provider on your phone and would not need the unified push app any more. This way you would be using the same amount of battery as before.

The conversations xmpp support channel is very helpful if you have further questions: someone there will also very likely know if any apps with unified push support exist.

xmpp:conversations@conference.siacs.eu?join

https://www.messenger-matrix.de/messenger-matrix-en.html

^^ Good comparison with other IMs.