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.
(Score: 2) by mobydisk on Wednesday January 09 2019, @09:47PM (4 children)
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
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)
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)
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
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.