I have not any prior experience with installing custom ROMs, but after trying it out (and getting stuck, and googling and finding answers) I successfully did it. Below is my home screen if anybody is curious:

I use OpenBoard for my keyboard. Unfortunately I am still dependent on Play Store since some of the apps I need can only be found there. Sometimes it feels meaningless committing to this whole thing because I’m not perfectly private; then I think this is better than using a regular iPhone or Android phone.

So far I’m liking it. I am naturally inclined to feel hesitant about using this as my main phone and plugging in a SIM since it’s custom, but I’m slowly making the transition.

Feel free to share any beginners advice or your own experience using GOS for the first time. Cheers!

  • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOP
    5·
    4 months ago

    I’m more curious about the privacy aspect of using Aurora over Play, especially considering since I will be logged into my G account.

    • yonder@sh.itjust.works
      10·
      4 months ago

      When starting Aurora, you can choose between an anonymous account or your own. You can still use the anonymous option even if you are logged in to other services with google. If you go logged on anyways, I guess Google will not know your every tap with Aurora? I would think logged in, google play store and aurora would be comparable (not private).

          • Wild Bill@midwest.socialOP
            4·
            4 months ago

            I have heard Aurora is more insecure and you can risk getting your Google account blacklisted or banned using it. Do you have any experience with this or know how common it is?

            • Midnight1938@reddthat.com
              2·
              4 months ago

              Thats easy, use the anonymous accounts. Only use your real one to install paid apps you already have (i dont) then logout

            • communism@lemmy.ml
              1·
              4 months ago

              If it’s of any help, I (n=1) used one of my personal google accounts with Aurora Store for years because I had one paid app I needed. On my latest phone I now use anon accounts because I no longer need that one app. But for the years I was logged in, I was never banned or anything. What I did, when I needed to purchase the app, I did it on a separate google account to my usual one I use for youtube and gdrive (I know, bad, I don’t really use gdrive anymore but I haven’t migrated the files I already have on there accumulated for years, and every time I start using a private youtube frontend it never sticks and I forget about it quickly. sorry lol). So if I got banned I would only lose a purchase and not anything else.