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posted by takyon on Wednesday January 09 2019, @06:44PM   Printer-friendly
from the if-you-don't-like-it-you-can-keep-it dept.

Samsung is facing a battle with end users concerning its agreements with software companies to set some preinstalled software on Samsung mobile phones to be undeletable. Users have found that applications like Facebook can't be uninstalled, which has caused some distress given the recent data breaches and lack of respect Facebook has shown towards its users in the past decade. Some users have sworn off getting another Samsung phone if apps can't be uninstalled. The argument that users can just hack the phone to get root access, and then force remove the apps does not hold with non-technical users and anyone who can't risk bricking their device. Samsung has refused to comment on this, and specifically will not provide details about agreements it has with software vendors to force their applications to always be installed on Samsung phones. By comparison, the iPhone does not ever come with pre-installed third party applications.


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  • (Score: 5, Interesting) by DannyB on Wednesday January 09 2019, @07:59PM (11 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday January 09 2019, @07:59PM (#784252) Journal

    After my Samsung Galaxy S5, which was a great phone, I decided to try something different because of the pre-installed bloatware.

    Over the life of my S5, Samsung had decided to add even more non-removable crapware to the phone . . . after the purchase. Eventually I could not even do OS updates and have the things I wanted to have. And when I bought the phone, having 32 GB of storage was considered fairly generous.

    After the S5 I bought a Google Nexus 6P. It came with very little pre-installed software. I just replaced that Nexus 6P with a Pixel 3 XL. Once you've had an unlocked phone with just the basic apps you'll never go back. I can always go to the play store and add apps that I want.

    I was also so pleased with how nice Google made the experience of moving from the old phone to the new phone that I mention it here.

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
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  • (Score: 2) by mobydisk on Wednesday January 09 2019, @09:47PM (4 children)

    by mobydisk (5472) on Wednesday January 09 2019, @09:47PM (#784292)

    I currently have the same problem with the S5. Even if I remove all the apps I have put on, I barely have enough space for OS updates. Every now and then I look at the pre-installed apps and go "I don't remember that being there!" But I always figured it was me. I didn't realize they were actually adding them on. If they think doing this will make me buy a new Samsung phone, they are mistaken.

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by DannyB on Wednesday January 09 2019, @10:59PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday January 09 2019, @10:59PM (#784322) Journal

      You are not mis-rembering.

      They were mistaken in my case. On my 2nd Google phone now, not likely to ever go back.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday January 09 2019, @11:00PM (2 children)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday January 09 2019, @11:00PM (#784323) Journal

      One more thing . . .

      On a Google phone, you are first in line for updates. And security updates are monthly, sometimes more. OS updates are prompt.

      That was something else I didn't get from Samsung.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 09 2019, @11:46PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 09 2019, @11:46PM (#784344)

        Wow, more random updates that turn on random menu items I had disabled and move them around. Just what I always wanted.

        • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday January 10 2019, @02:22PM

          by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday January 10 2019, @02:22PM (#784494) Journal

          The monthly updates don't seem to be disruptive. The major OS updates always have some changes, but are infrequent.

          --
          People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by The Mighty Buzzard on Thursday January 10 2019, @03:51AM (5 children)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Thursday January 10 2019, @03:51AM (#784451) Homepage Journal

    I still have a Samsung Galaxy S4 running rooted LineageOS with nothing but what I want on it. Not even any Google crap. When the wheels fall off or 4G networks get taken offline I'll start looking for another. Until then, I haven't seen a single compelling reason to buy a new phone.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by lars on Friday January 11 2019, @12:51AM

      by lars (4376) on Friday January 11 2019, @12:51AM (#784758)

      Same here, works just fine, has nice, new android, removable battery, microsd. I just bought a spare one for $50 CAD ($30 USD). Only wish would be waterproof, better camera.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 11 2019, @12:58AM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 11 2019, @12:58AM (#784765)

      We have Samsungs and the bloatware IS out of control. Should we consider Huawei? :)
      I have to investigate how hard it might be to root a Samsung and install LineageOS. Would it work with my provider though?

      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday January 11 2019, @03:15AM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday January 11 2019, @03:15AM (#784852) Homepage Journal

        It's not hard at all if you're methodical. Measure twice, cut once and you are highly unlikely to render it unbootable. Even if you do, it's generally not terribly difficult to fix without even cracking the case open or special tools.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday January 11 2019, @03:16AM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday January 11 2019, @03:16AM (#784853) Homepage Journal

        Sorry, missed the provider bit. It should. I haven't heard of providers giving a damn what phone you use as long as you pay the bill on time. I don't read every forum post on the Internet though, so best to check into it yourself as well.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
      • (Score: 2) by lars on Friday January 18 2019, @10:55PM

        by lars (4376) on Friday January 18 2019, @10:55PM (#788460)

        Here are the instructions I wrote out for myself:

        Instructions for koodoo s4 i337 white:

        TWRP first:
        You can install a new one over the old one, no problem, probably best to
        samsung usb drivers
        reboot computer
        d/l odin just get latest
        d/l twrp for jfltexx even though phone is a jfltecan google "jfltexx twrp" and get latest .tar (.img is for adb, not odin)
        boot phone with volume down and power to get into a built in recovery that all phones have
        connect usb, press volume up, odin will connect in odin click "AP" button and load the .tar
        clock options tab in odin, make sure only "auto reboot" and "F. reset time" are checked, click start to flash, should take ~10 seconds and show "success"
        TWRP installed, to check, power on with volume up, keep it held down after the phone vibrates, might need a second try

        Download a rom, gapps,Magisk v16, Magisk v16.3 (not sure here, guess get whatever is latest magisk, do some reading)
        Google jfltexx and the rom name to find a nice rom and matching gapps, goomanager seems to be a rom downloader/finder, might work
        add the zips to sd card

        Backup with twrp:
        Backup "system" and "data" under "backup" or "advanced backup" depending on twrp version.
        https://highonandroid.com/android-howtos/how-to-backuprestore-rom-using-twrp-recovery/ [highonandroid.com]

        Wipe:
        Select Wipe and then Advanced Wipe.
        Select Cache, System and Data partitions to be wiped and then Swipe to Wipe.

        Install:
        in this order, using built in "add zip": rom, gapps,Magisk v16, Magisk v16.3
        reboot, this took a long while, at least 15 min, maybe 30

        if it fucks up, install the backup, but that will take a long while too because it has to rebuild the cache

        You gotta install the samsung usb drivers and reboot first. Probably get the latest magisk too. Just get a spare phone to play with first. there are lots of dire warnings, but it's really just like reformatting a or doing a bios flash on a PC.