De-Googling!

How I have been approaching de-googling of my online life (having thrown my hat into the ring with Google over 10 years ago!)

• I decided that the time had come for me to extract myself from the 'Googlesphere', and to see how I could be operating without needing to use any Google services. This can prove tricky at first, because one may not be able to see "another way", but after a while, and perhaps with a few compromises on the way one interacts with the web, if at all, it does seem possible to have a decent online life without Google on both desktop and mobile (almost...).
• Some of this is also de-Microsofting. Winboat has provided a solution to run my car diagnostic apps in a (licensed Windows) VM via Docker, so I no longer need to run a native Windows install on bare metal.
• I have been able to download and install apk files for most apps for the phone without Google Play! (exceptions: mobile banking app, and parking apps)

Program, Service or Device	Desktop	Mobile	Notes
Computer	Linux Xubuntu	-	As for the last 15 years
Mobile Device (Google Pixel Phone)	-	GrapheneOS	Wipes Google Android
Browser	Brave	Vanadium / Brave
Email	Thunderbird Desktop	Thunderbird Mobile
Messages (texts)	-	Messages (GrapheneOS)
Photos	Piwigo (browser)	Piwigo (app)	online
Online Servers	IONOS / Hostinger	-	These were already in use
Websites & Domains	IONOS / Hostinger		Some web stuff remains on Google Sites (non domain)
Notes & Lists	mySQL/php/LibreOffice	Notally/ Fossify Notes	final solution still under consideration
Office Suite	LibreOffice/mySQL	Notes & Lists	rarely if ever use on mobile
File Storage (online)	Hostinger/MEGA	Hostinger / MEGA
Firebase (RTDB & Storage)	Hostinger - php/SQLite	Hostinger - php/SQLite/AI2	My own creation: "infernus" !!
Vehicle Diagnostics (Audi/Volvo)	Winboat	-
Find Hub	-	FMD	Find My Device - FMD on FDroid (uses SMS)
Contacts	Thunderbird	GrapheneOS Contacts
Maps	OpenStreetMap	OpenStreetMap (browser)
Calendar	Proton	Proton
Meet	Brave Talk	Brave Talk	does everything I need
Chat	-	-	not bothered
Scripting	javascript/php/bash	java/javascript/php	not forgetting html/css ;)
Pay with Device	-	-	Just use bank cards...
Weather	Browser	Breezy Weather
Forms	html/css/php/mysql	-	do it myself, as required
App Inventor	Code Server	-	also uses script extension to auto-login with passphrase

What else ?

• Google Nest Display and Google Mini Nest. The display was generally used for link up to Google Photos, this has been replaced with a digital photo frame. To keep the peace in the house, I will hang on to the Mini Nest for "Hey Google" !
• Chromecast. Google killed off one of our Chromecast devices. Both TVs offer casting on their own, so should be OK with that.
• Online banking. My bank requires Google Play Services to install its app on my phone. This can be done on GrapheneOS which sandboxes Google Play Services and allows install of apps from Google Play. On the desktop I can continue to sign in as previously, nothing Googly required.
• Google Pay. Just using card payment options in apps that were using google pay.
• Better half uses a lot of social media (Facebook/Whatsapp/etc) so for her will have to see how this all fits in and where she has used Google sign in and so on.
• Moving forward. Isolated my remaining google account to my Chromebook.

I have been trying out GrapheneOS on an old phone, Pixel 4a, need to be brave enough to make the switch to my Pixel 8a !

2 months later, got brave enough, and installed GrapheneOS on my Pixel 8a. Took an hour, and no issues. All setup and running as required within two hours. Also deleted Chrome from my main PC, so now can only access my remaining google account and files via my Chromebook. I need to hang onto it for a couple of websites created with loads of support info, and many apps scripts and spreadsheets. Need to watch gmail for any important contacts I have missed in transition. I am also likely to explore more from Proton as time goes on, and they become more feature-full.

Outcome: apart from needing Google Play services / Play Store installed in a separate profile on the phone to be able to access Online Banking (which is non-negotiable), and my Chromebook, I am now de-googled!