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0 pointslern_too_spel3mo ago0 comments

Android is strictly superior to iOS in terms of privacy. On iOS, you can't even get your location without sending it to Apple or install an app without telling Apple which one. Unlike iOS, you can even replace your default maps app with a fully offline app. User choice is the key to ensuring privacy.

Google Fit was released in 2014 and implemented data migration to Health Connect when that launched. Similarly, Samsung Health synchronizes data with Health Connect.

The long-fixed bug tickled by Teams was in functionality iOS still doesn't provide. If I use Google Voice, Skype, Signal, or some other telephony service, Android lets me route all outgoing calls through that service automatically.

0 comments

cromka3mo ago

I am switching back to Android after nearly 10 years and:

- no native CalDAV support

- third party open-source DavX offers that, although it's hacky and the push support is even more experimental

- but, most importnatly, your Google account's calendar (which you need for Play Store) is still a default and any 3rd party app adding an event to your calendar will adds it to the Google one. You don't get to change the default calendar, you don't get to disable it!

- you ned to give Gemini full access to your Google Calendar (again) to get it to save your appointments or reminders. You can't use it with non-Google calendar.

None of these were an issue on iPhone, I was able to use my NextCloud instance to host all my events privately and securely, including with Siri.

I am actually super frustrated and find it odd that this is even legal in EU, because it definitely looks like protectionism.

lern_too_spelOP3mo ago

> - but, most importnatly, your Google account's calendar (which you need for Play Store) is still a default and any 3rd party app adding an event to your calendar will adds it to the Google one. You don't get to change the default calendar, you don't get to disable it!

That seems like a bug in Google's Calendar app. Can't you simply install a third party calendar app like Fossify Calendar and set it as the default for handling calendar intents?

cromka3mo ago

Are calendar intents handled by the designated calendar app? This particular app adds event directly to calendar, no modal dialog is shown. I assumed therefore this is done on the OS level?

I'll try your approach, though, and report back.

cromka3mo ago

I don't even see an option to to set a default calendar in Settings, it's just not on the list. I can change the digital assistant or a browser, but not Calendar. You sure it's a thing?

1 more reply

n8cpdx3mo ago

Google Health Connect is still not mature. Believe me, if it was, I’d have likely at least attempted to switch back to Android by now. [1]

Apple Maps can be uninstalled, and many people rely on Google Maps. There are plenty of alternatives. I like how convenient the iOS APIs make it to choose alternatives. The Transit app can read the address information from my calendar (a caldav calendar self-hosted on Synology) which makes it really easy to navigate to appointments.

Re:privacy: https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/03/meta_pauses_android_t...

[1]: https://www.androidauthority.com/android-health-connect-usel...

lern_too_spelOP3mo ago

Re: privacy. That same system for violating privacy works on iOS. Just run a local web server, and there you go.

The big difference is in what Apple won't let you do, like get your GPS location without telling Apple or install an app without telling Apple. It looks like Apple finally allowed changing the default navigation app this year, but only in Europe: https://www.androidpolice.com/make-google-maps-app-default-i.... If you want to change the default voice assistant, you still can't do that.

n8cpdx3mo ago

I wonder why meta chose not do the whole localhost thing on iOS. I guess their engineers aren’t creative enough.

The defaults aren’t really relevant because they don’t come up. You can disable Siri and use the action button to use any other app as an assistant.

2 more replies

mindcrash3mo ago

Re: Google Maps - I really like Organic Maps as a open source privacy friendly Google Maps replacement. They use geographical data from OpenStreetMaps so "pretty good" is a understatement.

They have developed a Android app (available through different and aforementioned distribution channels, ofcourse), but they have one for iOS too!

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id156...

Droid - Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmap...

Droid - Obtainium: https://github.com/organicmaps/organicmaps/wiki/Installing-O...

Droid - F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

cromka3mo ago

I am switching back to Android after nearly 10 years and:

- no native CalDAV support

- third party open-source DavX offers that, although it's hacky and the push support is even more experimental

- you ned to give Gemini full access to your Google Calendar (again) to get it to save your appointments or reminders. You can't use it with non-Google calendar.

None of these were an issue on iPhone, I was able to use my NextCloud instance to host all my events privately and securely, including with Siri.

I am actually super frustrated and find it odd that this is even legal in EU, because it definitely looks like protectionism.

lern_too_spelOP3mo ago

That seems like a bug in Google's Calendar app. Can't you simply install a third party calendar app like Fossify Calendar and set it as the default for handling calendar intents?

cromka3mo ago

Are calendar intents handled by the designated calendar app? This particular app adds event directly to calendar, no modal dialog is shown. I assumed therefore this is done on the OS level?

I'll try your approach, though, and report back.

cromka3mo ago

I don't even see an option to to set a default calendar in Settings, it's just not on the list. I can change the digital assistant or a browser, but not Calendar. You sure it's a thing?

1 more reply

n8cpdx3mo ago

Google Health Connect is still not mature. Believe me, if it was, I’d have likely at least attempted to switch back to Android by now. [1]

Re:privacy: https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/03/meta_pauses_android_t...

[1]: https://www.androidauthority.com/android-health-connect-usel...

lern_too_spelOP3mo ago

Re: privacy. That same system for violating privacy works on iOS. Just run a local web server, and there you go.

n8cpdx3mo ago

I wonder why meta chose not do the whole localhost thing on iOS. I guess their engineers aren’t creative enough.

The defaults aren’t really relevant because they don’t come up. You can disable Siri and use the action button to use any other app as an assistant.

2 more replies

mindcrash3mo ago

Re: Google Maps - I really like Organic Maps as a open source privacy friendly Google Maps replacement. They use geographical data from OpenStreetMaps so "pretty good" is a understatement.

They have developed a Android app (available through different and aforementioned distribution channels, ofcourse), but they have one for iOS too!

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/organic-maps-offline-map/id156...

Droid - Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.organicmap...

Droid - Obtainium: https://github.com/organicmaps/organicmaps/wiki/Installing-O...

Droid - F-Droid: https://f-droid.org/en/packages/app.organicmaps/

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse