Off-Topic Discussion

Just so everyone is aware of who owns what, and what alternatives exist: What US Tech Giants Own Meta Alphabet Microsoft Amazon SpaceX & Tesla Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads Google, Gmail, Gemini, Android Activision/Blizzard, Xbox, LinkedIn Amazon, AWS, Whole Foods Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X (Twitter) Oculus, Giphy, Confirm.io, Friend.ly, Karma Chrome/OS, Google Photos, Pixel GitHub, Skype, Azure, MS Office, Windows Audible, Goodreads, Twitch, MGM, IMDB SolarCity, xAI, Grok, Cursor Fitbit, Nest, Waze, reCaptcha iRobot, Ring, Wag, Blink, Kuiper Kaggle, Looker, Tenor, Blogger, YouTube More Meta More Google More MS More Amazon More X/Tesla Alternatives to Big Tech Maps OpenStreetMap (OSM): Free, crowdsourced, open-source alternative powering many independent apps. Not controlled by tech giants. Organic Maps: Open-source mobile app using OSM data. Excellent for offline navigation without a cellular data plan. Note on MapQuest: MapQuest is owned by System1 (a US ad-tech broker that also owns Startpage). Their ToS explicitly tracks behavioral data across third-party sites—they’re just an ad broker trying to stay relevant, not an anti-monopoly alternative. Cloud Storage Nextcloud: Open-source platform for files, calendars, and contacts. Host it yourself or use independent Swiss/EU-hosted providers. Proton Drive: Swiss-based, end-to-end encrypted cloud file storage. Tresorit: Swiss/Hungarian zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage designed for high-privacy sharing. Office Suite LibreOffice: Free and open-source. Highly improved in recent years, and good for general daily use. Email Proton Mail: EU-based, privacy-focused email with a free tier. Supports custom domain hosting, too, AFAIK. Tuta: German-based, open-source, fully encrypted email service. Password Managers 1Password: Canada-based cross-platform password manager. Proprietary, but highly secure and well-regarded. Bitwarden: Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager. Offers free cloud sync across platforms and can also be self-hosted. KeePassXC: Completely open-source and offline. Password vault stays stored locally on your device, but does not have native sync. Web Browsers Firefox (and forks like LibreWolf, Waterfox, Zen, Floorp): The only major browser engine not controlled by Google or Apple. Recommended add-ons: uBlock Origin, SponsorBlock, LocalCDN, and Facebook Container. Avoid Chromium-based forks: Brave and Vivaldi use Google’s engine (limiting privacy ad-blockers under Manifest V3). Brave also has a history of crypto-mining/affiliate link controversies and questionable leadership. Use Vivaldi for when you need a Chrome-based browser. YouTube Clients Android: PipePipe, NewPipe, and Grayjay allow channel following, ad-blocking, and SponsorBlock skipping without a Google account. Linux/Desktop: FreeTube and NewPipe. Search Engines DuckDuckGo & Ecosia: Privacy-focused portals (powered by Bing; Ecosia plants trees) that provide cleaner results than Google. Mojeek: UK-based search engine with its own independent web index (completely independent of Google and Bing). Qwant: French search engine hosted in Europe adhering strictly to EU privacy law. Kagi: A paid, ad-free alternative. US-based, but it being a small, paid, privacy-focused service means user data isn’t monetized or tracked. Social Media Open-source, federated social sites based in Canada: Reddit Alternatives: lemmy.ca, sh.itjust.works, and piefed.ca (operated by Fedecan, a Canadian non-profit). Instagram Alternative: pixelfed.ca (photo sharing run by Fedecan). Twitter/Microblogging (Mastodon): Free Canadian hubs include thecanadian.social, ottawa.place, and oceanplayground.social. Paid/co-op options include cosocial.ca and tenforward.social. Forums: NodeBB is Canadian open-source forum software that networks via ActivityPub. (I also host a federated TTRPG forum if anyone wants an invite!). Yellow Flag on Bluesky: AT Proto/Bluesky funnels traffic through US-based systems backed by the same VC investors funding major technocrats. Book Reviews Rambling Readers: UK-based Goodreads alternative built on the federated, open-source BookWyrm platform. Chat & Messaging Signal: E2E encrypted messaging (requires a phone number for registration). Delta Chat: Decentralized, encrypted messenger using invite codes/QR codes. XMPP: Federated chat network with client flexibility; can be self-hosted. Matrix: Modern, decentralized channel/room-based protocol (like an upgraded IRC with rich mobile/desktop clients). Operating Systems Linux has matured significantly—even non-technical users and older family members can navigate modern distributions cleanly: Linux Mint: The best desktop transition for Windows users; interface feels very similar to Windows 10. Ubuntu: Popular, widely supported OS with a macOS-like UI. Runs well on older hardware. Kubuntu: Ubuntu base with a familiar Windows-style layout, but slightly more feature-heavy. Android App Repositories F-Droid: An open-source “store” focused entirely on free, privacy-friendly, local-first apps.