The latest update for the popular Nova Launcher app includes Facebook Ads and Google AdMob.
Compare 8.2.4: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/698198/
With 8.1.6: https://reports.exodus-privacy.eu.org/en/reports/673643/
From 2 trackers to 6 trackers. From 30 permissions to 36. And two of the “trackers” are for ad stuff, like Facebook Ads.
I believe the owner also changed. It’s no longer Branch, but something called Instabridge Sweden.
Here’s me using it on gOS with network deny permission (suck it assholes, also haven’t updated since years? ago). I’d use something else but I use KLWP for my UI and it gives the least friction…
Keep an eye on your battery life. I blocked Nova on my firewall app and it was retrying a connection to Google’s Firebase every minute or so. I assume because it was failing.
Nah, battery life is 30+ hrs, not bad for a Pixel 7 (no Google services helps a lot), did change the battery 18mnths ago.
It’s crazy how much longer battery lasts after removing Google Services from Android.
Unfortunately for me, not only some of my apps require Google Services, but I also use a Samsung… I don’t even have LineageOS available. Even if I did, custom ROMs on Samsung can’t use VoLTE, which is a problem as they’re shutting down 2G/3G where I live.