I am considering sending in a FTC complaint

[tsklin]

I, like many others on here, now have unwanted apps restarting and running in the background constantly after the froyo update.  Some people may not care about background apps and think the update is a "success", but I believe that non-system-critical apps should only be started by me.  If Verizon/HTC/Google thinks that this will make me want to use Amazon MP3, skype mobile, etc. more, then they are wrong.  In fact, the more I see these services running on my phone the more I dislike them.

This post isn't completely about the update itself but more about the principle of not having entire control over what to install/run on our phones.  I understand if we cannot uninstall the system critical apps, but we should at least be given a choice on the non-critical ones, and to have the apps constantly run themselves is simply ridiculous.  The people who are hurt most by this are the consumers, who are wasting their time doing hard resets, taking out their batteries, etc, while being stuck with battery draining phones. 

[Tidbits]

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tsklin wrote:

I, like many others on here, now have unwanted apps restarting and running in the background constantly after the froyo update.  Some people may not care about background apps and think the update is a "success", but I believe that non-system-critical apps should only be started by me.  If Verizon/HTC/Google thinks that this will make me want to use Amazon MP3, skype mobile, etc. more, then they are wrong.  In fact, the more I see these services running on my phone the more I dislike them.

This post isn't completely about the update itself but more about the principle of not having entire control over what to install/run on our phones.  I understand if we cannot uninstall the system critical apps, but we should at least be given a choice on the non-critical ones, and to have the apps constantly run themselves is simply ridiculous.  The people who are hurt most by this are the consumers, who are wasting their time doing hard resets, taking out their batteries, etc, while being stuck with battery draining phones. 

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That's up to you, but this has to go deeper than just Verizon.  This will go down to EVERY manufacturer of software electronics in the world.  I wish you good luck on your conquest and it could very well succeed.

Amazon MP3 is from Google which using Android you so love to use is provided in their TOU that you will ahve it installed.  That goes for Twitter, Facebook, Google Goggles, and the likes.

If you understand how Linux systems work you will find those apps may be in ram, but actually doing nothing for your or against.  Linux systems love things in ram, and any empty ram is wasted ram.  We are not talking Windows OS where you want as much ram as you can free.  It's a different mindset.

[infiltwb]

The only way you can remove those apps is by rooting the phone and going into the individual APK files and removing/renaming them.

That does void your warranty but it works.

As far as stuff running in the background, froyo is very good at managing memory. If your running a task killer(ATK etc) pull it off the phone. That will wipe your battery out quickly as its going to fight w/ froyo non stop.

[w40d1n1]

ATK is not the issue, neither is Linux/Android memory/task functionality. User choice and freedom is the issue. Knowing what I know now, after the forced Froyo update, I would never have agreed to the contract.

[cstrait001]

If the FTC weren't headed by Obama appointees, I would laugh and tell you that the government's time and resources shouldn't be wasted on frivolous matters such as whether you or Google knows best as how to manage apps on your phone. However in the times we live in where we expect the government to right any perceived wrong against us with a Johnny Cochrane like zeal, sadly someone will sympathize with you.

Whatever happened to consumers speaking with their pocketbooks? Get a Windows or RIM smartphone and see how much luck you have customizing it. Or, get an iPhone, but please don't ask for my tax dollars to be spent for people who are unhappy with their software updates.

[AZSALUKI]

or just get over it and the next time you sign a contract, read it. it's 4 more apps in your app drawer to add to the dozens that you have in there, that you rarely or never use. this isn't some type of social injustice. next time your contract is up....go month to month, don't sign a contract, and just pay retail for the device that you want. then ignore any update messages.

[budone]

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AZSALUKI wrote:

or just get over it and the next time you sign a contract, read it. it's 4 more apps in your app drawer to add to the dozens that you have in there, that you rarely or never use. this isn't some type of social injustice. next time your contract is up....go month to month, don't sign a contract, and just pay retail for the device that you want. then ignore any update messages.

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Going back to my post last week about the ME generation. Note how many times the OP has posted prior to this one.  Defense, your witness.

[w40d1n1]

> or just get over it and the next time you sign a contract, read it. it's 4 more apps in

> your app drawer to add to the dozens that you have in there, that you rarely or

> never use.

You are missing the point that others keep making.  That is, it's not about the addition of apps, its all about not being able to uninstall the apps, nor being able to prevent them from running and restarting.

> this isn't some type of social injustice. next time your contract is up....go month

> to month, don't sign a contract, and just pay retail for the device that you want.

I honestly don't believe my contract says anything about "you will not be able to uninstall applications nor prevent them from running".   I think Froyo forced this action on to VZ, I highly doubt that VZ could intentionally figure out how to make an app auto start and restart.   I don't know what the equivalent is on froyo, but this issue is probably as simple as VZ using autostart instead of runonce on Windows. 

[AZSALUKI]

well if you guys do start to take action, please include my cable company. they KEEP adding (and sometimes even removing) channels that i don't want and will never use. it takes me longer to scroll up and down the menu....it makes it more difficult to find the channel i'm lookin for and there are only so many spots for channels on my box!!!!! i don't recall them ever telling me they could do this!?

[budone]

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AZSALUKI wrote:

well if you guys do start to take action, please include my cable company. they KEEP adding (and sometimes even removing) channels that i don't want and will never use. it takes me longer to scroll up and down the menu....it makes it more difficult to find the channel i'm lookin for and there are only so many spots for channels on my box!!!!! i don't recall them ever telling me they could do this!?

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Hey now, I used that anaolgy in another post!

[AZSALUKI]

where do think i got it? lol....i've never claimed to be original!!

[budone]

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AZSALUKI wrote:

where do think i got it? lol....i've never claimed to be original!!

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[bbarnill]

The bait and switch is typical of Verizon.  They did the same thing years ago with internal GPS capable phones that they DISABLED only to offer the service back via the Verizon Navigator service.  Now they've sold space on your phone to Skype, CityID, et.al. and demonstrated a "{word filter avoidance}" to their customers by disabling their customers ability to remove the bloatware from the phone that WASN'T on the phone before the unasked for, forced "update" was foisted upon them.

They will only relent, as they did before, when a class action lawsuit is brought against them.

[budone]

What percentage of computer users REMOVE programs that are loaded on their systems? Less than 2% if that... and they can remove it if they want! 

Most wont even remove the icon on their desktop for the programs let alone the AOL, Earthlink or whatever programs may be added.

[angie8564]

I talked to Verizon about this issue and they said it was done by HTC so I called HTC. They said they are aware of the problem and are trying to resolve it. When a solution is developed they will post it on their website www.htc.com/support. Hope this helps some people calm down. It's all good peeps

[Jeff1953]

Another valid complaint...when you plug the phone into your computer, your brower opens, or is redirected to verizon's v cast manager page, imploring you to download it. There's another thread here on it.  Verizon told me pretty much, that's the way it is.

[budone]

You can shut down the option of that stuff wanting to be loaded to your laptop.

[alewisinnc]

How please?  I connect to my office computer to charge the phone as with the update the battery won't last the day.  It's annoyance that I can't have happen during a meeting.

[budone]

One thing I noticed with the update were things I had set not to sync or sync at a longer interval was changed. I have GPS on 24/7 but is only used when needed, 7 email accounts, news, weather. Use the phone not alot, but I do text and I get most of a day out of it. I also still do the bump charging.

If you go to MENU>SETTINGS>ABOUT PHONE>BATTERY> what is the uptime and awake time?

[w40d1n1]

The Cable Company analogy is flawed, unless of course your Cable Company is force installing always-on applications like Microsoft Messenger and Garmin GPS Navigator, on your cable box.  If they are, you should tell your story to one of the plethora of Tech writers who would be interested in reporting this.

[AZSALUKI]

i'm sure you know i was being sarcastic....but they DO force channels on me that i don't want and that slows down my cable browsing experience....same general concept.