Change Google settings

If you are dependent on Google apps or if you need to regularly pull email and social networking status updates, then this article is not for you. However, if you would like to benefit from improved battery life, the satisfaction of causing less global warming and maybe some more peace of mind, well then... read on.

The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is indeed open source, as it is built on the GNU/Linux kernel and the code is freely available online. However, an Android device has plenty of Google bits that are closed source and deeply integrated into the OS. If an Android device maker wants to remove the proprietary Google bits, that firm can no longer be part of the Android Alliance. (Amazon and Yandex have already done this but they added their own closed source bits.) For an ordinary phone user though, it will be quite a greasy pole. But, let us give it a try anyway. Most people breeze through the initial Google settings without waiting to read what is shown on the screen. Why? What could go wrong? Essentially, Google says that it will save your Wi-Fi network password on its servers and prevent your phone from ever going to sleep again, ever — whether you are using the phone or not!

Microsoft has made it impossible to turn off data collection in Windows 10, but it does not have to worry about devices (PCs mostly) being connected to mobile data. Android devices have a multitude of connectivity options. Fear of class action suits has prevented Google from performing data collection with mobile data. So, Google provides options to turn these settings off. Well then, turn them off. Google has redefined Airplane Mode. It turns the mobile data (telco) off but Wi-Fi can be turned on.

If you believe in man-made climate change, then it