I’m considering purchasing a Mudita Kompakt as I’m attracted to its minimalist approach and focus on digital wellbeing. I also love e-ink and I’ve been looking for an e-ink phone for a long time. However, I still need to use certain apps for my daily life, and I’m wondering if MicroG would allow me to use them on the Kompakt. Or that I should find another way
Specifically, I need to use the following apps:
Banking apps (which typically require Google Play Services for security)
Google Authenticator
Google Maps
Beeper
Bold Smart Lock
Ring
Gmail
Has anyone had success with sideloading these apps and using them with MicroG on the Mudita Kompakt? I’m particularly concerned about the banking apps as they tend to be heavily dependent on Google Play Services.
Are there any specific challenges I should be aware of? Are there good alternatives for any of these apps that work better without Google Services?
I’d greatly appreciate any insights or experiences you could share!
Personally, I recommend that you stay with a Google Android smartphone, given your needs. You can still ‘minimize’ it in other ways, but your dependency on those Google and Google-requiring apps means that Google Android is the simplest way to get what you say that you need.
You may want to deGoogle a Google Android cellphone (say, with LineageOS or CalyxOS), install MicroG, and see whether you can use all of the apps that you listed. If so, then you may have a solution for adding those apps to a Mudita Kompakt!
True, and learning whether something will work is ultimately up to the person asking the question. I will never put any Google or Google-requiring apps on my Kompakt. If someone wants to try that, then he or she is welcomed to do so.
True I mean I would like to keep my phone degoogled too but I think microG is basically stripped of most of the google services while the only remaining ones I believe are spoofed. I was considering that if I find an app to not work without it, as long as it truly is safe. Will do more research on microg. Also we got the same last name! haha
I agree that using Google products is not the best approach. However for work (banking, auth, email, beeper) are needed. I have a high responsibility job with teams across multiple timezones so being able to check messages and mail outside 9-5 is just needed. that being said, if there are alternatives to navigate, communicate and auth I’m more than open to check.
My current setup is an iphone SE 2022 with the display set to greyscale. No insta etc, just the occasional reddit and youtube scroll which I want to stop as well as it’s not intentional.
Reason I really want to switch to the Kompakt is the design (small, light weight) and the lack of entertainment. Just use it for what it’s intended with nu additonal fluff. Also I’m sensitive to light so the e-ink display is just something I’m dreaming of. The only thing holding me back is the use of of authenticator, banking, messaging and two home devices. I really really want this so any experiences or workaronds or alternatives are welcome and very much appreciated. Unfortunately I don’t have an Android device laying around for testing.
Have you considered the Hibreak Pro? It’s bigger than the Kompakt and it is a fully fledged smartphone, but, it’s eink.
I am using a boox Palma (very similar to the Hibreak but no cellular) as my primary device at the moment when I have WiFi available and it’s a great experience but it definitely doesn’t drag you down Social media or video rabbit holes due to the screen and refresh rate.
Alternatively, could you get the Mudita Kompakt as your primary while having a secondary device like the Palma which you can access your other apps on as needed, whether on WiFi or hotspot
@erikz I will ask our team about this to make sure, however, I think the answer might be NO. Just looking at the list of the apps you said you NEED, 3 of them require GOOGLE services- which Mudita Kompakt does not support.
Google Authenticator
Google Maps
Gmail
I recently tried out an app for a Forum community member and this is the message I got
Not related to the topic, but I just saw on your picture that there is a line of shadow on the top of the screen above the statusbar. Is the screen not fully laminated? Is that normal with e-ink screens? I don’t recall that I have that on my ebook reader.
Thanks @urszula ! Yes I understand that Google services are not supported. That’s why I’m mentioning MicroG as alternative as this will (if I understand correctly) emulate / spoof the safety checks allowing you to run (limited) Google services. Again, alternatives are acceptable too and there are alternatives for navigation/email/auth. I guess the biggest culprit would be banking apps… Curious for your teams repsonse!
It looks like the shadow of the bezel, which is normal for e-ink. E-ink screens are recessed from the bezel so there is room for the front lights to shine on them. Its only visible from specific angles typically.
I have installed microg on my Kompakt; most things work, like authenticator and beeper notifications.
The only problem is with location services, since the microg companion app crashes when you try to set it up. I have not found a solution yet.
honestly… I feel for the Kompakt things like microg almost defeat the purpose of the point of the phone. not that people shouldn’t be able to side load it if it’s really needed. im looking to see if I can simply bank without an app instead, as its really obvious its just another instant gratification app, check every transaction notification, check every balance, etc. as useful as those things are… I feel (for me) these things can be done on the computer purposefully.
so im glad this isn’t on this phone, and probably imo never should be as it simply adds an intrusive google spying app on there, and aids in distraction from other apps. but maybe the option should be there to side load it
