Recent changes to the rules phone makers need to follow to get a Google approved version of Android have allowed for certain apps to no longer be mandatory. Google Play Games, Google Play Books, Google+ and Google Newsstand now join the ranks with Google Earth and Google Keep as apps that aren’t a required part of the Google applications package. They are still in the Play Store, are still regularly updated and will work just as well for those of us who want them. And this is how things ought to be. In fact, we’d like to see even more Google apps get sent packing, but still be there in the Play store for those who want them.
Good. The less crapware – even stock crapware – on our phones, the better. I hope Apple follows in Google’s footsteps, because iOS is accumulating a seizable amount of crapware too.
Only thing I really want on an Android phone is the OS and the Play store. I can download everything else
Exactly
Yes, I use a custom ROM and TK GAPPS Pico. I was wondering if I really wanted the _smallest_ package out there. But indeed, yes, it is all you need and I don’t miss anything.
This gives a good idea about how much really is part of the stock GApps:
http://i.imgur.com/yc4gPnt.png
Yeah, I could see the base install having things like a calculator, calendar, browser, and address book. Something a computer operating system should have as a base. Anything like the default email, browser, calendar though should be replaceable instead of embedded so far into the system you’d have to root it to get rid of it.
Funny – all those examples are things I wouldn’t regard as “core”. Which calendar? Which browser?
the OEM can have the option on which they prefer. But there is an expectation that a phoen comes with those features. If I had to set all that up upon opening a new phone then I’d lost a day to it!
How would you lose a whole day to installing a browser and a calendar from Play Market?
Moreover, Google should already know what you’ve installed, so everything should be installed automatically when you get a new phone.
So I agree – a new phone should come with Play only, and the rest is downloaded according to your account (or manually if you prefer)
Google, are you hearing this? No? Ok.
when you get a new phone do you seriously have it all setup with the apps you want to use in less?
Yes. Installing a calendar, e-mail client and browser takes literally a couple of minutes — including configuring them. Installing all the other apps I use and configuring them too takes about an hour, all-in-all.
Let alone it becomes a problem of choice. When the OEM puts on a set of reasonable default software as you have discussed you typical user just starts using it.
If that same user has to search for calendar on the play store now they have to read reviews evaluate the options maybe seek referrals. Installing base apps assist the user in immediately using the phone.
Normally, you don’t mind these apps what you mind is having duplicate options when Sony/Samsung installs there own album and movie viewer but is still required to keep Stock on the phone. This creates clutter
It doesn’t matter which calendar or browser, of course those are core apps. When a person buys a phone they expect basic functionality to be present, not something barebones where they have no calendar or browser until they download & install one.
Those google apps aren’t crapware.
Crapware is random apps you can’t remove that crash, make your phone slow, consume ram, and spam you.
I’m all for more apps in google play and less in the default install. But the crapware apps do things like “There’s a NFL gmae near you want to pay to stream it?”, “Please join this image sharing site every time you boot”, “Let us taylor news articles and ads to your tastes and fill your home screen”.
Yeah, its not crapware, but maybe bloatware?
A more/most appropriate name for what we all call bloat-ware and crap-ware, is Foist-ware. Based on their most prevalent characteristics of being there whether you want them or not, and are forced on you (often times hidden) by being uninstallable by normal users.
Although, we’d probably rather have just a clean, minimal OS install, if the device comes with pre-configured core applications that aren’t welded on (uninstallable), then that’s acceptable too.
Foist | Definition of foist by Merriam-Webster
Full Definition of FOIST. transitive verb. 1. a: to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant . b: to force another to accept especially by stealth or deceit
leverage-market-position-ware ??
I don’t think this change is not entirely unrelated to the EU’s antitrust probe. With Google books, music, newstand, Google was very clearly trying to leverage its dominant mobile OS position into gaining a foot hold in new markets. Putting any other market participants at a disadvantage.
Crapware is whatever a user deems as crap. As far as I’m concerned anything that I find useless and a waste of precious space is crap. Anything else it does/doesn’t do is irrelevant.
I’m looking at the 295 apps currently installed on my iPhone 6. What ‘crapware’ am I looking for, Thom?
Newsstand. iBooks. The Apple Watch advertisement app. Stocks. Podcasts. Etc.
All useless crapware I’m not allowed to remove.
That’s one of the great things about Windows phones, you can remove any and all carrier software, and even some Microsoft/Lumia software if you choose. That goes all the way back to when I started with Windows Phone on the HTC Arrive; all of the HTC and Sprint crapware could be deleted leaving the phone as a bare Windows device.
Hmmm the Podcast App was a download for my Company iPhone 6. It didn’t come with the phone.
That device has less than two screen fulls of apps. I don’t get the bloatware claim. This device was bought directly from Apple not via a carrier and is totally unlocked.
It is really stupid I can’t even remove ‘Tips’ and ‘Voice Memo’s’ and whatever.
I don’t particularly object to Apple installing these apps but I do object to them not being removable.
Oh yes, those I moved to one folder I created (named whatever I want) and moved to the last screen on my phone….a veritable non-issue…much ado about not much.
I’m more afraid that Samsung will put more bloatwares in their Galaxy series to justify their expensive prices.
Preloading crap onto a phone will never justify a hefty price tag.
That is what I really care about.
This is a step on the right direction, but only a step.
What I think is horrible are the number of duplicate applications that are installed with Samsung probably being the worst offender. It reminds me of the bad old days of Linux distributions where it seemed as though 3 of each were installed (it has gotten much better recently especially with the single live cd installs). That being said, the pre-installed applications aren’t necessarily the problem but the lack of being able to uninstall these bundled applications which result in gigabytes worth of storage being sucked up needlessly. When it comes to iOS though I am hoping that with iOS 9, bytecode and other moves towards slimming down code it should mean Apple can deduplicate their application packages as to avoid having duplication of assets when only one set is actually required and the move to 64bitness should hopefully also mean that 32bit support can be stripped out of iOS devices that have 64bit CPU’s.
I don’t consider Play Games to be bloatware. Most games require it to properly use their online features anyway. But Google had to remove something to butter the EU over, so it’s better for Google to remove something that has no real competitor, than remove things that do have competitots like Movies, Music, Search etc
Apple allows only one manufacturer to use iOS on their phones: itself. The story here is that Google is now allowing phone manufacturers to keep their “approved” badge even if they remove some of the less useful software (crapware). They were allowed to do whatever they wanted even before today, including removing the kernel, Google play and whatever they wanted and they still are. However they can’t get approved by Google if they remove too much. iOS is very different beast. Nobody is even allowed to even install it as is. It’s not about the crapware, it’s about everything. Manufacturers are not allowed, end of story. So no, Apple is not going to follow the footsteps of Google. Apple will continue to help Apple and install their home made crapwares on their home made phones.
Edited 2015-08-21 07:20 UTC