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