Every detail and bit of use is logged in my Google account (apps used, how many times they were used, timestamps of use, URL's visited, every place I visited, ect...). I know location data was a definite expectation as I've seen maps of where I've been in the past but this seems insanely excessive, not to mention that it also knows what Google notifications I've dismissed.
Pay for an account that isn't Google?<p>Yes, you're logged, yes, you have a free account, yes you can disable a good deal of it in your account settings. It's not just on your phone either.<p>Ubuntu has OS analytics<p>Windows 10 has very detailed OS analytics<p>Android has a fair bit for the OS<p>You've confused a couple things. Your subject says phone but the body of your text just talks about using Google services and websites.<p>It's not just Google that knows this stuff, if they won't be the ones that knows it someone else will. OS level analytics are a good thing. Games have a fair bit of data that goes to the devs on phones and PCs. Free online accounts it should just be a given that stuff is happening with your data.
Seems like a lot of Google products have gone from being universally useful to only being useful when you buy into the ecosystem. I've noticed that in the past year or so, my video suggestions on youtube have been terrible (totally off topic, things I've already watched, ect...). I have a hunch that it's because I have youtube's history features turned off. I'm going to turn them back on just to see if the applications get more useful.
Yeah I would love to use a smartphone that doesn't require to have an account! It's simply not possible with iOS or Android as you need an account if you want to download apps.<p>Also I would love a smartphone that doesn't come with many preinstalled apps I don't need.