GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused version of Android, is adding Android Auto support

So you can have Android Auto while beinging degoogled. I do. As others have pointed out there is: https://github.com/sn-00-x/aa4mg

It's a bit of a faff to install, but works.

The problem I found is no SatNav that can take into account traffic. The best I've found is "Organic Maps", but it is open and works without the Google infrastructure. No getting round that traffic knowledge makes Google Maps better.

I have non AA things forcing me towards having to at least partly re-google.

I've been eying GrapheneOS as a way to compromise without being compromised.

Too bad the only affordable ones are those that have little to no support left.

That sounds like a reasonable position. Google would have an advantage in getting timely AOSP and security updates, but getting that stuff done should be a high priority for all manufacturers anyway. As for the rest of the list, there are things I don't know about - but at a glance it looks fair enough. So I guess there could and probably should be other phones trying to meet those conditions.

For example, they'll regularly suggest using sandboxed Google Play over F-Droid or Aurora Store

Because many of my used apps are only available in Google Play.

GrapheneOS gives you options that you don't have to use. I don't agree with you.

iirc they are the only phones that allow adding custom avb keys and then relocking the bootloader

I think it's available on the Pixel 8. Graphene OS enabled USB-C video out a couple of months ago.

To be fair, in terms of adding features, they probably care more about parity with stock Android (as their secondary focus, since their primary is security) vs actually superceding it.

Has anybody else figured out how to add it back to the Pixel? If so, you might be able to convince them to pull the work of others over.

Daniel Micay says he will retire from lead developer and move on to management role, yet I think he is still committing a lot of the code https://github.com/GrapheneOS/platform_manifest/commits/14

However, I do believe he is very devoted to improving the privacy and security for all users, despite his communication issue. So I personally still uses grapheneos.

Similar alternatives are divest and calyx, but it seems like graphene is still the best for me and probably for most beginners and experts alike.

It works with microG but you still need the proprietary Auto app.

Permanently Deleted

Would they? Why? I'm asking as I'm unaware of what restrictions are in place for it to work.

Edit: i meant to ask: "would they have to approve it?"

Here's an example and why I'm not on a custom ROM. My job has "restaurant credit" as one of the benefits. That's 200 euros a month in a card that can only be used through Google/Apple pay.

So either I skip the money or I need a second phone with me all the time.

Privacy isn't a binary choice. Obviously I would love for there to be an alternative to Google Pay but no such service exists.

The most private form of payment is to use cash but that's just hugely inconvenient in 2024. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to pay from my phone when I don't have my wallet on me but custom ROMs don't allow it.

I'm just fundamentally against those tablets in cars. I've never seen a single good implementation of it. This first question I always have is... what can this do that my phone cant do easier, faster, and better? And 100% of the time I've had to ask this it has been nothing. I just use a phone grip on either my dashboard or my windshield and that accomplishes the same thing without having to use the massive, clunky, and usually dysfunctional tablet stuck on my console. Another enormous complaint is that most cars that work like this also remove aux/tape/cd and then BURY the bluetooth audio option underneath a bunch of finnicky android auto shit that has so many different problems all of which wouldn't exist in the first place if i could just set my phone in a clamp and plugged in the aux cable. The only benefit android consoles have i can tell it has is being big if you have bad eyesight.

He's probably gonna reply aux cable lol

I use a phone holder... It has better viewing angel, don't require any connection (except bluetooth for audio) and even better, it don't cost a new head unit, both in price and in e-waste.

It could use passenger mode.

On trips I have to unplug, search maps, start directions, and plug in the phone again because the keyboard is locked out. The car interface sucks for finding and comparing data like gas prices or restaurant reviews.

what baseless_discourse said. a windshield or dashboard mounted phone clamp. it is far cheaper, easier, and downright better, for myriad reasons. viewing angle is better, music playing is unspeakably easier, system resources are almost guaranteed to be better, software compatibility is better, etc.