[TimGebhardt]

From high horse: Well one more reason Android is better than iOS.

Coming down from high horse: Oh crap, my phone's software is programmed by an advertising company...

Conclusion: My life is being bought and sold out of my control.

[vetinari]

While you are on your high horse: go to Settings | Location access and note the description below Wi-Fi & mobile network location item. Also note the checkbox on the right.

I remember that the system asked about it first time it needed location (and every time you turn this option on). The downside is that Google Now does not work without it.

[pserwylo]

From under my tin foil hat: I know it probably isn't perfect, but I'm running Cyanogenmod, without Google's location services, browsing with Opera labs because it supports the Ghostery extension that blocks trackers while browsing and is easy to change the search provider to DuckDuckGo (though the default is always Google for some reason), only using Google maps as a fallback after OsmAnd offline maps and MapQuest for online apps.

I do miss Google maps, and have used it every now and again, and the GPS in my old Samsung Galaxy S may as well be nonexistent, so not using location services sucks. Opera renders some popular websites poorly (quite possibly not their fault) but it is good at other things. I also still rely on Google Play (fdroid doesn't have enough stuff, and I don't mind paying for some stuff) but alternatives like Amazon are probably just as bad. Overall its not so bad.

One day I'll try to use my phone without any of my Google accounts and see how I go.