Boycott US

Hey, Sunshine, if you're interested, I highly recommend contributing to OpenStreetMap if/where you can. The built-in iD editor for desktop web is phenomenal and very easy but powerful, and the third-party Vespucci app for Android on F-Droid works very well. OpenStreetMap is still missing data in relatively large cities (let alone probably out in rural areas), and that especially includes sidewalks, residential buildings, addresses, and contact information. Even just making sure the information is complete and up-to-date the next time you visit a business, park, etc. (and marking the 'Last Checked Date') is profoundly useful. I'd be free to answer any questions you might have!

To the point of replacing Visa/Mastercard: it would be great if the EU could continue in line of SEPA and create an EU payment processor. Now, I want to be very clear, it should be owned by the member states' governments, and profit (if any) should go into the EU budget. No neoliberal bullshit of "oh we're going to put out a contract/give out loans for anyone to set up a payment processor and the market will decide". It should be a state owned payment processor, to finally stop the likes of Mastercard, Visa, etc. from leeching off every single consumer transaction in the economy.

Hell, I'm in the US and this sounds like a great idea. Tired of being tracked and monetized for every single thing I do.

I will keep my old Apple iPod classic, since it is paid for and does not track me. I never thought I would regard it as such a treasure since it is the one way I can listen to music without worrying about being attacked by 4 billion parasites.

Back to flip phones? Or what alternative are you guys looking at?

Google and Apple are a bunch of bootlickers imo to the Trump administration.

GrapheneOS is a good alternative to iOS/Android, although still Android-based

What are you replacing google maps with? I've been getting more and more annoyed with it for a while.

It keeps wanting me to do U turns on ultra busy roads when I could just make a left turn at a light.

How does one realistically move away from Google maps?

Google maps is still tough for me. What do you use?

I picked Apple to be the one tech company that gets to stick around for now. I canceled my Apple One bundle but there’s still a dependency on maps and mobile OS. Will only buy used and when necessary going forward. My phone is 2.5 years old and I think I will be able to get at least another 2.5 years out of it.

I can’t give them up for work tho 💀

Yeah now do steam next... I didn't think so

JCB is a japanese alternative to the American credit card payment processors.

It didn't participate in visa and MasterCard's collusion to boycott and bankrupt manga, anime and art sites.

I long ago gave up on Twitter, prior to it becoming X. I was briefly on X but closed that account. Facebook I still have an account, but from what I understand it cost the Zuk more to have a barley active account then have a closed account, but it will probably be closed soon. Reddit is something I am trying to get rid of but it keeps sucking me back in, I have however removed myself from all the groups that are not Canadian centred. The only reason why I have a google account is for youtube, I got off of all the other services because of ads and all of that. I moved all of my subscriptions to things to Apple’s hide my email so I would get less junk mail. I also got a pihole setup on my LAN to see less ads so less google ad sense. I was never really a windows user so that is not a problem for me. I was fine with Apple Maps but now if I need a map I use open maps or whatever it is called. I have decided that I will not buy another apple thing, rather get things updated/repaired at shops local to me.

I have gone through my web services and cancelled everything that is not Canadian. I have moved my blog off of square space and onto Hosthero with a .ca address and I use it to create all my emails for things I may signup for. Unlimited emails so that I can signup for unlimited free trials to things, like I did with Apple’s hide my email!

Yes I agree ARM needs to be accepted a little more so Linux computers using it can be used as better (non Apple) desktops. Payment methods need to be developed even more in Canada outside of interact. I will have difficulties moving away from iOS because of FaceTime and messages.

Does anyone know an app that has the same features of Google maps about the info of local stores/restaurants/bars etc?

Eh, there are a lot of people here who don't use most or any of those services as it is. And there are far more "American Tech" products you all use out there that you're probably unaware of, and many things you think ARE American tech are actually Chinese or other country's tech, so I don't know why not just frame it as not giving money to tech companies broadly and just shutting off social media like you should anyway.

This framing leaves you open to just move your money from one branch of the same oligarchy to another while thinking you're making a difference.

I like how it took the threat of annexation to mildly inconvenience yourselves.