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About to buy one and I just wanna know
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Pure vanilla Android.
There's a bunch of stuff preinstalled on it, but it's all Google stuff; I don't think there's any third-party apps.
It's not plain android, there's a bunch of Google bloatware.
JCopernicus said:
It's not plain android, there's a bunch of Google bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm curious as to what you consider Google bloatware, because the Nexus S is about as plain as you can get. Most of the time bloatware is stuff added by OEMs, such as the preinstalled demo games on the MT4G. Mind elaborating?
I can't speak for JC, but in my mind, anything that comes preinstalled on a device which I neither want nor need is bloatware. This, of course, makes the entire concept subjective, but in general with things like Android, I think less is more, since you can download nearly all of these things from the Market anyway. The consumer-side justification of "bloatware" (revenue for the provider, of course, being the primary, producer-side justification) is to present the user with access to a service they might otherwise not know to look for. ("Oh, hey, my phone can play TV/can display YouTube/has internet radio/whatever!"). For most of us though, particularly anyone savvy enough to be on XDA in the first place, most of it ends up falling into one of three categories:
-Don't care about
-Use a different app for
-Would have downloaded if it wasn't included.
In any case, I've observed that what most people have the biggest issue with isn't that stuff may come preinstalled on their phone, it's that you can't get rid of it, and if you do, you may well open yourself to a world of trouble should you ever wish to install an OTA update.
I would consider it plain android, as the "bloatware" on it is really only google apps, which come with all android phones. It doesn't have bloatware from a third party though like some of the other android phones. Either way, bloatware can be removed off any rooted phone with titanium backup
zorak950 said:
I can't speak for JC, but in my mind, anything that comes preinstalled on a device which I neither want nor need is bloatware. This, of course, makes the entire concept subjective, but in general with things like Android, I think less is more, since you can download nearly all of these things from the Market anyway. The consumer-side justification of "bloatware" (revenue for the provider, of course, being the primary, producer-side justification) is to present the user with access to a service they might otherwise not know to look for. ("Oh, hey, my phone can play TV/can display YouTube/has internet radio/whatever!"). For most of us though, particularly anyone savvy enough to be on XDA in the first place, most of it ends up falling into one of three categories:
-Don't care about
-Use a different app for
-Would have downloaded if it wasn't included.
In any case, I've observed that what most people have the biggest issue with isn't that stuff may come preinstalled on their phone, it's that you can't get rid of it, and if you do, you may well open yourself to a world of trouble should you ever wish to install an OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough points.
Unfortunately, we still run into that last issue even on the Nexus S. Folks were unable to update via the stock 2.3.1 OTA if they had modified system files, such replacing the stock Mms.apk or Gmail.apk with the black/custom ones from the Themes & Apps section or deleting any of their relevant .odexs. Even placing the missing files back on the system partition didn't seem to work, at least for me. It was a very curious update.
unremarked said:
Fair enough points.
Unfortunately, we still run into that last issue even on the Nexus S. Folks were unable to update via the stock 2.3.1 OTA if they had modified system files, such replacing the stock Mms.apk or Gmail.apk with the black/custom ones from the Themes & Apps section or deleting any of their relevant .odexs. Even placing the missing files back on the system partition didn't seem to work, at least for me. It was a very curious update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I soft-bricked my Vibrant trying to grab T-Mobile's OTA after I took it upon myself to delete all the extraneous crapware that came with it. They can be very touchy indeed. It's a steep learning curve for newbies. x_x
Next question,how is t mobiles 4G .I live in knox tn. Anyone know?
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?
evilsock said:
Next question,how is t mobiles 4G .I live in knox tn. Anyone know?
Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No HSPA+ (it's not 4G!) on the Nexus S. Don't ask me why, it boggles my mind too.
NexusDro said:
So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Amazon MP3 app installed. Just made me look at my app drawer to confirm, lol.
NexusDro said:
So it doesn't have the useless Amazon mp3 app anymore like the nexus one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, they put google earth in its place.
There is also that office app that is NOT a google product...so yea, there is a bit of bloat, but pretty much it is vanilla.
ZeroSX said:
No HSPA+ (it's not 4G!) on the Nexus S. Don't ask me why, it boggles my mind too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but it does still support up to 7.2Mbps down which you'll only get in a t-mobile 4g area.
I was just in Orlando and i was getting around 5-6Mbps on my N1 and in a Nexus S i was testing at best buy and it was pretty damn fast. puts my DSL connection at home to shame.
mcosmi said:
There is also that office app that is NOT a google product...so yea, there is a bit of bloat, but pretty much it is vanilla.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think Google has an office app for Android. Every device has launched with some kind of partnered 3rd party, either ThinkFree, or Quickoffice. At least, I think those are the two they've used.
If they didn't, you wouldn't be able to read any kind of text document on your phone and that's just kind of a silly thing to not be able to do, imo.
EDIT: And on that note, Google should probably make a office app! lol
Who really cares whats installed or not, EVERYTHING can be uninstalled.
after using ThinkFREE for a while on the Galaxy S, i can say it's really good
way better than the Docs To Go and/or QuickOffice which i'm using on the XT720
but truth is... you don't need any of those with Google Office online, it's so much easier to keep things and work with documents using Google Office Online
That is so pathetic. Just another reason to hate that company.
Anyway...my friend just got an inspire and is new to android. I'm just helping with the phone (I have a verizon android phone) and realized that AT&T finds someway to screw with consumers again. So, is there a way to get around this and install non market apps?
brian85 said:
That is so pathetic. Just another reason to hate that company.
Anyway...my friend just got an inspire and is new to android. I'm just helping with the phone (I have a verizon android phone) and realized that AT&T finds someway to screw with consumers again. So, is there a way to get around this and install non market apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use sideload wonder machine http://forum.androidcentral.com/android-sideload-wonder-machine/
Or root the phone and load a custom ROM that has non market apps enabled
the sideload wonder machine method is sipmple the only drawback is that the apps wont receive updates like they would from the market, if I'm not mistaken.
Also if I remember correctly if the app is to big for side load wonder machine, you can use adb push. There are always work arounds.
brian85 said:
That is so pathetic. Just another reason to hate that company.
Anyway...my friend just got an inspire and is new to android. I'm just helping with the phone (I have a verizon android phone) and realized that AT&T finds someway to screw with consumers again. So, is there a way to get around this and install non market apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why it's such a sweet feeling when you uninstall their application through TiBu........
You can also consider rooting the device. I did mine with no issues at all. It's VERY easy, just time consuming. From start to finish, took me about 35 minutes. I already had EVERYTHING I needed to do this though, including the ROM I wanted.
tribalartgod said:
You can also consider rooting the device. I did mine with no issues at all. It's VERY easy, just time consuming. From start to finish, took me about 35 minutes. I already had EVERYTHING I needed to do this though, including the ROM I wanted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congratulations on finally getting it man.
Roland_D said:
That's why it's such a sweet feeling when you uninstall their application through TiBu........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed. Buh-bye bloat.
Sent from my Inspire using Tapatalk
I am interested to know what apps are good that aren't on the marketplace. I would like to find some other cool stuff I can put on this phone. I put swype on and that was fun to side load. Would like to do some other stuff. Inform me please.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
You want good go to Amazon App store, in the past few days I got a full version of Shazam and then SoundHound. Both have full unlimited use with no expiration, also if you change rom's you can redownload them from your account for as long as you have the account. They give away a full paid app everyday on there.
MatUK.8 said:
I am interested to know what apps are good that aren't on the marketplace. I would like to find some other cool stuff I can put on this phone. I put swype on and that was fun to side load. Would like to do some other stuff. Inform me please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the Gameloft games for starters.
Sent from my mancave, wearing blu blockers while eating a twinkie using the XDA App
So as much as I love android there is one thing that I kinda of envy when it comes to blackberrys and Iphones and and that would be bbm/imessages. Now im well aware there are apps out there like gtalk or chaton which acts like imessages but I personally would like to see this built into the messaging app itself. I am no developer or anything but it seems that imessages works on the device when it is linked towards the email used for the app store so would it not be easy for google to implement this into their os? I mean on the start up of each android device it does ask you for your gmail password so I was just thinking that this just may be a really nice feature to come out with key lime pie or something. Does anyone else feel this way?
Is this any different from Google Talk? Instant Messaging tied to the Gmail account, rather than the phone number. It's just not as immensely popular.
Sent via SGS3 using Tapatalk
sweeds said:
Is this any different from Google Talk? Instant Messaging tied to the Gmail account, rather than the phone number. It's just not as immensely popular.
Sent via SGS3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thats the thing. GTalk is perfect but for example all of my friends who own android products havent even heard of it. Im just thinking if google linked GTalk to a phone number then it could be good.
I agree. This would be amazing.
Yes that would be awesome
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
So I guess a better question is what are the odds of this actually being implemented into the next update?
I have to admit that I do miss bbm from when I used blackberry's. But besides that mild feeling of exclusivity I don't really think its much different thn just texting
timkd127 said:
I have to admit that I do miss bbm from when I used blackberry's. But besides that mild feeling of exclusivity I don't really think its much different thn just texting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya i hear ya. I guess the only reason I feel something like Imessages would be helpful is because if we are in places with almost no service but there is wifi it would be pretty amazing. Then again i would be scared for samsung or google to implement this because the last thing we need is another apple lawsuit haha
blackguy101 said:
So I guess a better question is what are the odds of this actually being implemented into the next update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 in 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.
if google would make it part of the steup wizard and allow images/sounds to be transferred over gtalk, it would be amazing.
http://phandroid.com/2013/05/16/att-blocking-google-hangouts/
How do you guys even bother with such a crappy cell phone provider? Blocking boot-loaders, and blocking google hangout now? What the hell?
I am with Telus in Canada and they allow eveything.
well, they dont really have a choice, we might have unlocked bootloader and our carriers dont block much but they do own our ass a full year longer than in the US
GTalkEnabler , it's in the market and it allows gtalk and hangout video chating over 3g/4g
retested it with the new Hangouts
also I thought that was Google's doing, didn't know carriers can control such features within someone else's app o.o
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Nope, it was AT&T's doing. Just like they did with the Iphone's facetime. If they can do it to Apple, they can definitely do it to Google...
It is true, Canadian providers strangle us for 3 years instead of 2
soraxd said:
also I thought that was Google's doing, didn't know carriers can control such features within someone else's app o.o
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is, but by ATTs request. Just like they requested wallet not to be accessible for ATT users, just like they asked samsung to block the dropbox promo, they ask and others do
Sh$$ att is getting worse and worse. I think I am going to sell my phones.
polish_pat said:
it is, but by ATTs request. Just like they requested wallet not to be accessible for ATT users, just like they asked samsung to block the dropbox promo, they ask and others do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still don't know why Google complies with these "requests", they should just tell the carriers to pack sand and release the apps (or features) anyways.
I literally just did a hangout on the way home yesterday over mobile data. Is this an updated version of Google+? Maybe I won't update.
Nevermind- just followed the links and saw that this is the *new* hangout app which is going to replace Talk apparently. What I'm not clear about is whether this replaces the Talk apk or the Google+ current apk?
Did some more reading. So this is in fact a Talk replacement. From the Play Store:
First, title is Hangouts (replaced Talk)
and then
NOTE: If you aren't yet able to install Hangouts on your phone or tablet, or the Play Store "Open" button takes you to the old Talk app, hang tight, we are rolling out Hangouts to everyone over the course of several days. Rest assured Hangouts will be available soon for all Android 2.3+ devices, tablets included!
So they will push this out to all. Not really a big deal since you couldn't video with talk right now anyway. But from an integration perspective it sucks. I'm wondering why AT&T would block this and still allow the google+ app to do hangouts over their network. They must assume that many more would use this over the Google+ app.
It also notes that there will be no "invisible" mode. Kinda stupid to take that away. I use it all the time. I hope they don't force the updates.
Direct link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.talk
raitchison said:
I still don't know why Google complies with these "requests", they should just tell the carriers to pack sand and release the apps (or features) anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ATT is the client here...i dont agree with their policies but it is in their full right to make those demands. Imagine if you have kids, and you dont want your kids to go on X and Y sites, well you can ask the provider to block those websites. The kids might not agree with their parents but the fact is, it is their rights. And before the trolls come in and start saying that this and that doesnt hold up in my story, please, shhhhush, it's an analogy of principale and not a fact.
Does anyone know how to force the Hangouts update? I still have Talk and I can't figure out how to update to Hangouts. I can't from play via browser or the play app.
I found a APK online and when I try to install, it says "did not update" or something. I checked "install from other sources", but it didn't help.
anyone have any idea how to force the update without root.
polish_pat said:
ATT is the client here...i dont agree with their policies but it is in their full right to make those demands. Imagine if you have kids, and you dont want your kids to go on X and Y sites, well you can ask the provider to block those websites. The kids might not agree with their parents but the fact is, it is their rights. And before the trolls come in and start saying that this and that doesnt hold up in my story, please, shhhhush, it's an analogy of principale and not a fact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could see that argument maybe if you are talking about subsidized phones which (again arguably) are leased from the carrier, but the same restrictions apply if you have bought your phone outright.
In this instance (or in the case of Wallet) Google is a 3rd party software developer, to try for a similar analogy it's if my kids teacher told the grocery store not to sell me certain foods because they don't want my kid eating them.
mr_blanket said:
Does anyone know how to force the Hangouts update? I still have Talk and I can't figure out how to update to Hangouts. I can't from play via browser or the play app.
I found a APK online and when I try to install, it says "did not update" or something. I checked "install from other sources", but it didn't help.
anyone have any idea how to force the update without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are rooted just downnload Titanium Backup and Uninstall the Talk App, then download Hangouts from Play Store, that's what I did last night, if you are not rooted then I still don't know how to do it.
erasat said:
If you are rooted just downnload Titanium Backup and Uninstall the Talk App, then download Hangouts from Play Store, that's what I did last night, if you are not rooted then I still don't know how to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried exactly that, even rebooted after uninstalling Talk but before installing hangouts but I was still not able to start a video chat over cellular.
raitchison said:
I could see that argument maybe if you are talking about subsidized phones which (again arguably) are leased from the carrier, but the same restrictions apply if you have bought your phone outright.
In this instance (or in the case of Wallet) Google is a 3rd party software developer, to try for a similar analogy it's if my kids teacher told the grocery store not to sell me certain foods because they don't want my kid eating them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, but an outright phone is still "renting" service from ATT regardless. Its like when you buy or rent a modem from an internet company, or a car, or anything else for that matter, if the provider said no, then you wont get your candy. in any case, we have already determined that ATT are aholes, they block so much good stuff for their clients, i'm speaking about tethering, facetime and other, i dont know why US carriers are like that but here in canada, we dont have all those restrictions, and we are just north of you, we technically can share line and service...
Brava27 said:
http://phandroid.com/2013/05/16/att-blocking-google-hangouts/
How do you guys even bother with such a crappy cell phone provider? Blocking boot-loaders, and blocking google hangout now? What the hell?
I am with Telus in Canada and they allow eveything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't we just follow the instructions from said site and that would enable us access?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
mr_blanket said:
Does anyone know how to force the Hangouts update? I still have Talk and I can't figure out how to update to Hangouts. I can't from play via browser or the play app.
I found a APK online and when I try to install, it says "did not update" or something. I checked "install from other sources", but it didn't help.
anyone have any idea how to force the update without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can force the update by installing through the Play Store on a browser instead of the Play Store app.
Sushibagel said:
You can force the update by installing through the Play Store on a browser instead of the Play Store app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain how to do this? on the browser, it says its already installed
mr_blanket said:
Can you explain how to do this? on the browser, it says its already installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From your Web browser one you select install it will list all your devices even if it says you have it installed it should still work... Just make sure you do it from the desktop version the mobile one won't work I believe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app
Sushibagel said:
From your Web browser one you select install it will list all your devices even if it says you have it installed it should still work... Just make sure you do it from the desktop version the mobile one won't work I believe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate the help. It looks like I can update the Nexus, but not the S4...
But.. can i remove the google apps without root? like chrome for example, i don't use them
GTX90 said:
But.. can i remove the google apps without root? like chrome for example, i don't use them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its a system app then no, you need root
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
GTX90 said:
But.. can i remove the google apps without root? like chrome for example, i don't use them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regardless of the phone you can't remove system apps without root, but you can disable them.
So no point to buy a device with pure android, i'll look for another device, thanks!
If you buy a non-Google Android phone you'll probably get even more bloatware. I always disable most Google stuff like Google+, Play apps (except the Play store obviously) and all other Google apps. I only use chrome, calendar and contacts. I also disable most Google syncs. Only syncing chrome, contacts, calendar and app data (not sure if I can disable app data safely).
Lol. This is probably the most dumb choice I've ever seen anyone make, not getting a device because of system installed apps. Apps that most likely will exist in other OEM roms.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
GTX90 said:
So no point to buy a device with pure android, i'll look for another device, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every phone will have apps you don't need, good luck finding one that doesn't.
GTX90 said:
So no point to buy a device with pure android, i'll look for another device, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pure Android means purely built by Google, this is no way means no bloatware (and the bloatware is GApps, the thing we all install after installing a custom ROM).
I have to agree, this is dumb. Also, I would say the OP might be one of those "open source everything" people, which I won't get into my distaste for that viewpoint in this thread.
Why would it be so difficult or distasteful to buy, root and flash an open source ROM without flashing GAPPs? This just doesn't make sense from a normal viewpoint.
Is it even possible to get a new in box nexus 5 at this point? I don't buy used phones. I'd be willing to sell my like-new nexus 5 in red 32gb soon though...
Let me explain better: i see a review about nexus 5 and i see 2 browsers, chrome and android stock, i thought if i buy a pure android to get at last chrome or pure android browser, why i have to get both? i've both on my s4, i don't see the reason to buy another device that's like a samsung (not so similar but... ) because i don't see any reason to get a pure android like nexus or a samsung or others, thanks for replys!
I can't even
peachpuff said:
Every phone will have apps you don't need, good luck finding one that doesn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone and the m8 are the only phones I've ever owned where OEM stuff didn't severely detract from my experience, and I've owned a lot of phones. The most maddening was the Note 4 because if I flashed a ROM that wasn't Touchwiz-based I'd lose spen functionality and completely negate the whole point of buying the phone in the first place. Half of these manafacturers have their own apps store, I don't understand why they can't just put the superfluous stuff on there and make it optional.
edit: also OP's reasoning here is severely flawed.
GTX90 said:
Let me explain better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't explain it at all.
pringled said:
Half of these manafacturers have their own apps store, I don't understand why they can't just put the superfluous stuff on there and make it optional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They want to tie you to their ecosystem "oh i like this stupid little samsung app, oh my next phone will be another samsung" you get the idea.
peachpuff said:
You didn't explain it at all.
They want to tie you to their ecosystem "oh i like this stupid little samsung app, oh my next phone will be another samsung" you get the idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I understand their rationale, I just find it surprising how almost no OEMs take into account how many people find this to be a detriment/ try to avoid blowback or be different by catering to the likes of us by striking a compromise. Is it so much to ask for all corporate decisions to be based around me?I think not. Basically, and this is a pretty controversial statement, I don't much care for TouchWiz.
peachpuff said:
You didn't explain it at all.
They want to tie you to their ecosystem "oh i like this stupid little samsung app, oh my next phone will be another samsung" you get the idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a nexus 5? i've see a video where there's android stock browser and chrome, and i wanted to know if were possible remove chrome for example (without root)
GTX90 said:
You have a nexus 5? i've see a video where there's android stock browser and chrome, and i wanted to know if were possible remove chrome for example (without root)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can't its a system app
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
GTX90 said:
You have a nexus 5? i've see a video where there's android stock browser and chrome, and i wanted to know if were possible remove chrome for example (without root)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible remove system app without root, basically on all android phone. This is needed for noob users who dont really know what they make
If you are use google factory image, then you dont have double app, for example browser, camera etc because the stock replaced with the google ones. ( basically with full gapps too if you flash a good one )
If you want pure android, you need flash one clean aosp build with micro gapps.
Cyanogenmod can boot and working without gapps if i remember right Aosp build without gapps i dont know, but i think its not working without FC :/