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Uninstalling PreInstalled Applications I will not Use

How can I uninstall applications that I am not going to use that the phone came with, such as CityId, Blockbuster, ...

I just spent over an hour with cusotmer support, they are refusing to help, claiming that without these applications my phone would nto work :smileyhappy:

Thanks, ALEKS...

Comments

Natashia86

Hello aleksgollu! Unfortunately, preinstalled applications can not be removed from the phone.

crb79

It is correct, you cannot uninstall them. However you need not worry as their size is small and if you don't use them they will just be useless junk in the apps drawer.

The CityId will ask you to buy the app after it's free trial, just click no and it won't bother you any more.

aleksgollu

I cannot trust the truthfullness of the answer:

"preinstalled applications can not be removed from the phone"

I would have respected the following answer:

"We will not allow you to uninstall these applications because of existing marketing agreements"

{edit for TOS violation}

ALEKS...

aleksgollu

Size is one issue, using up real estate on the application list screen is another...

But ultimately it boils down to the following question: "Whose phone am I using"

If the answer is mine then I ask:

"Can I get some kick-backs for hosting unsolicited advertising on MY phone"

ALEKS...

crb79

Your kickbacks are given in the form of the rebate and discounted price you paid for the device. Enjoy.

As I stated in response in the other thread, If you root your phone and remove those apps you run the risk of bricking your phone. It also voids your warranty.

gerio

Dude, please. Just get rid of of the friggin' Verizon phone and get a phone from Sprint.

But wait...heavens to Betsy, Sprint puts un-installable apps on their phones, too. Glory be...

Well, you will just have to get an AT&T phone then.

But wait....gee willikers, Timmy, AT&T puts un-
installable apps on their phones, too. Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle, who knew...

Perhaps you try T-Mobile...no, wait, they....OKAY, this is getting old, have you figured out where this is
going yet?

Geri O

LoydroidX

aleksgollu wrote:
Size is one issue, using up real estate on the application list screen is another...
Wow! You must have a whole heckuva lot of those apps. I don't even notice the ones on mine.

But ultimately it boils down to the following question: "Whose phone am I using"

If the answer is mine then I ask:

"Can I get some kick-backs for hosting unsolicited advertising on MY phone"
I believe LauncherPro will allow you to hide apps. LP is a free app, and no...I'm not getting any kickbacks for suggesting it.

I have channels on my TV that I never watch. Wish I could get a break on my bill.

crimedoggies

aleksgollu wrote:
Size is one issue, using up real estate on the application list screen is another...

But ultimately it boils down to the following question: "Whose phone am I using"

If the answer is mine then I ask:

"Can I get some kick-backs for hosting unsolicited advertising on MY phone"

ALEKS...

You knew when you CHOSE to purchase the phone that it had pre-installed apps that couldn't be removed, yet you still CHOSE to buy it. If you didn't know, then YOU didn't do YOUR research and so you have nobody to complain to but yourself. Either way, quite belly-aching about an issue that is a standard business practice everybody in the electronics world participates in from phones to computers to gaming consoles to cable boxes.

demmo86rt

So, the short answer is, no, you cannot remove these apps from the phone, however, if you did happen to manage to get these particular apps off your phone, it would not stop functioning.

guy_incognito

{please keep your posts courteous}.

The original poster has a legitimate gripe about the bloatware that Verizon (and yes...all of the other carriers) force us to have on our phones. Verizon should give people the option of removing (or at the very least hiding) these applications so that we don't have to look at them anymore. I just switched to an Android phone a few weeks ago, but when I had my BlackBerry, I was able to hide all of the crap that I didn't use or want - so why shouldn't I be able to do the same on this phone?

{please keep your posts courteous}

gerio

Guy, it doesn't matter. Okay, get that? It doesn't matter. Legitimate or not.

This topic has been beat to death around here. It doesn't matter if your Blackberry spits out gold coins, for whatever reason, Verizon has decided to no allow these apps to be un-installed.

And for 99% of us, that's fine and it's not a problem, even though I'll bet the most of are thinking "harrumph" at Verizon over the matter, just like I do. But it's not a problem or issue for that 99%. And when the 1% come in here, kicking and screaming about the offended sensibilities and moral damage that has been done because "IT'S MY PHONE!", then the response that you've seen is most likely what is gonna happen.

Can't you guys protest the war or global warming or something else that might be significant?

Flame me, Flame Verizon, Flame out, whatever. Doesn't matter, it won't change (for the foreseeable future.)

Geri O

crb79

What some of these people don't realize is that this is a PEER to PEER Support forum. Some do realize this and just can't seem to control themselves.

Honestly, if you know how to fix your problem, GO FIX IT. Don't brow beat the rest of us because your personal inadequacies with the device or the service.

If your BB was the best device ever, WHY DID YOU CHANGE???

I really try to help people with their problems and stay impartial, just sharing the facts. However, sometimes people just act very spoiled and down right silly.

LoydroidX

guy_incognito wrote:

I just switched to an Android phone a few weeks ago, but when I had my BlackBerry, I was able to hide all of the crap that I didn't use or want - so why shouldn't I be able to do the same on this phone?

I had a BB, but now I have an Android device. I had pre-installed, useless apps on my BB, and I don't remember being able to hide them...well, actually, they didn't bother me at all. Didn't impact the phone's performance, and I didn't even notice them.

Instead of focusing on those "crap" apps, try seeing what's good about Android. You might find out that what you liked about the BB can also be done on the Droid X ... and more.

If simply seeing those apps causes you absolute terror, you can try Launcher Pro. You can hide those "crapps" and be able to use your phone without fear.

B33

May I make a Suggestion If Preinstalled Apps Bother U that much give some other Device a Try: :smileyhappy:

aleksgollu

Hmmm

Given the amount of responses my initial post has generated, I think the issue does strike a very strong nerve...

Given that it had to be beaten to death several times, I think the issue does strike a very strong nerve...

Given that the post claiming that 99% of the users do not care that they are not in control of their phone, is one of the most passionate reposnes, I think the issue does strike a very strong nerve...

I do not think I (or any one person) can fix global warming, but verizon/google can easily decide to allow removal/hiding of the unsolicited applications - so can the other carriers.

We all will fix global warming, as its effects start impacting our daily life.

Verizon/google and other carriers will ultimately allow us to remove these unsolicited applications, as we continue the dialogue :smileyhappy:

aleksgollu

Well to be precise, the equivalent gripe in the TV world is dish network choosing to record and lock 3 minute "we have a new feature to use for you" segments on my DVR :smileyhappy:

freemyphone

Taxation without representation is tyranny! Attica! Attica! Attica!

I left VZW when they locked my BB GPS chip to force me to use an inferior product - VZ Navigator- over some other system that was 9.99 a month and they made it near impossible to utilize GPS with the other GPS solution. So I went to ATT and bought the same device with an open GPS chip and had more effective navigation. I left ATT as fast as I could and returned to VZW and accepted the locked GPS because VZW IS a better network and they responded to user complaints about locking the GPS chip and did the right thing. They recognized a poor policy and changed it.

I recently turned in a iPhone provided by my employer (thanks guys!) because ATT is still a crappy network and returned to my original Droid because I prefer open systems and phones that allow quality voice communication.

While it is a small app it annoys *me* that I can’t delete it/them. I don’t like “free” bloatware on my PC and I resent having *my* phone dictating what I can and cannot do. I pay, I follow the rules, but please do not limit my freedoms or I will vote with my dollars when I have a better alternative. VZW is great, they have a great network, great service, and great devices; I would ask though that they let me choose the apps on my device or eventually my loyalty will diminish.

VZW, please free my phone. And yes, I could hack it but that is not the point. The point is choice and freedom and I did not suspect (though history has demonstrated otherwise) they would force me to keep apps on my phone that I did not ask for, do not use, and do not want.

gerio

Oh, the fun I could have with this one, but in the interest of not further sickening the forum participants with more of the same rhetoric from me, I'll take a "kinder, more gentle" tack with this.... (oh, stop gagging, already!)

freemyphone wrote:
Taxation without representation is tyranny! Attica! Attica! Attica!

I almost spewed coffee all over my computer over this one. Have you looked around lately?

I left VZW when they locked my BB GPS chip to force me to use an inferior product - VZ Navigator- over some other system that was 9.99 a month and they made it near impossible to utilize GPS with the other GPS solution. So I went to ATT and bought the same device with an open GPS chip and had more effective navigation. I left ATT as fast as I could and returned to VZW and accepted the locked GPS because VZW IS a better network and they responded to user complaints about locking the GPS chip and did the right thing. They recognized a poor policy and changed it.

Was it that or was it part of the agreement with Google that facilitated this approach? I don't really know, nor have I used VZ Navigator, but I'll admit, I don't see why they bother with the proliferation of Google Maps and Navigation available.

I recently turned in a iPhone provided by my employer (thanks guys!) because ATT is still a crappy network and returned to my original Droid because I prefer open systems and phones that allow quality voice communication.

HERE, HERE! Is your employer okay with this? I ask only because some companies' IT guys aren't thrilled with the idea of the open-ness of Android for security reasons (although I thought IT folks held the iPhone with the same disdain. Who knows these days?).

While it is a small app it annoys *me* that I can’t delete it/them. I don’t like “free” bloatware on my PC and I resent having *my* phone dictating what I can and cannot do. I pay, I follow the rules, but please do not limit my freedoms or I will vote with my dollars when I have a better alternative. VZW is great, they have a great network, great service, and great devices; I would ask though that they let me choose the apps on my device or eventually my loyalty will diminish.

If you have been reading closely and accurately, there is NO ONE I can think of that has EVER said "Yeah, load up my phone with all the bloat-ware, crap-ware, and of-no-use pre-installed apps humanly possible. The more the better!" Tell me, has ANYONE ever read that from me or anyone else? I DARE anyone to show us a post of this nature. Whats sets off the folks like me is the never-ending stream of posts that use the forum as a punching bag to express their unhappiness over the pre-installed app situation. READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY, THIS IS THE ONLY LEGITIMATE, REASONABLE, AND LOGICAL POINT THAT CAN BE MADE. Here goes...

Posting on a user forum will not cause Verizon to re-think their policy of installing apps that can't be removed. If everyone gets upset enough to stop buying Verizon phones and service, then they will re-consider the policy. The End. Done. Stick a fork in it. You can bloviate, flame, expound, shout from the mountaintops, pound on the table, call names, point, laugh, what have you. Any company listens to the sounds of MONEY COMING and/or MONEY GOING. That's just how it is, right or wrong, I didn't make the rules. (Well, I thought it wasn't going to be more of the same, oh well, sorry!)

VZW, please free my phone. And yes, I could hack it but that is not the point. The point is choice and freedom and I did not suspect (though history has demonstrated otherwise) they would force me to keep apps on my phone that I did not ask for, do not use, and do not want.

One more little challenge...I would like to see someone's evidence that the pre-installed apps have harmed you, your phone, or hampered your use of the phone as it was designed to perform. Don't give me the "That's not the point, it's our phone, it's our right, it's our device to use as we see fit" argument. That's been done to death. SHOW the evidence that you've been harmed in some way.

And don't bother with citing "City Lights". It goes away after the demo period. And on both of my Droid Xs. I've NEVER seen it open or assert itself in any way once I performed a factory re-set on them. Heck, on the last Droid X I bought 3 weeks ago, "City Lights" has NEVER even shown its face with the "continue demo" choice that I saw when I bought my first Droid X in July.

Let the games begin...

Again, to the OP...I pretty agree with the premise. But I'm okay with reality (as it stands for the moment). And thanx for the "Attica" line. That was great!

Geri O

demmo86rt

Just to join in the fun:

You have to remember that this is a business decision, much like placing ads on a web page or, a little closer to the discussion, embedding them in an app you download from the market. Some people love to yell and scream, whereas some, or dare I say most, of us prefer to be mature adults and ignore the crap out of them.

Verizon has contracts with several companies to lock their apps onto phones in order to make money. Pure and simple. Like Geri said, if enough people were to not buy certain phones (enough to balance out the amount of money that Verizon makes through these contracts), then they might rethink this policy. Until then, it won't change, there is no use in getting an ulcer over it. I have answered enough posts about "why can't I uninstall this app or that" with "you can't, sorry, unless you are willing to void your warranty" and have no problem with that. People buy these phones, find an app they don't want and want to remove it. Understandable. But when the discussion turns to OUTRAGE, TYRANNY, VIOLATION OF MY CIVIL RIGHTS, I PAID FOR IT!!!!, it peeves me a little bit. Kick and scream all you want, but this is not the place for it, people around here are sensitive and you are getting them all riled up.

lokashant

If the apps aren't taking up much memory - OK.

What they are taking up is app page space. It is too crowded.

Can I put all the apps I want on the Home Page?

marsupilami

Do you know if Verizon will force applications on users on the I-Phone as well, or will Apple have enough muscle to prevent them from such behavior?

At ATT this is not a problem - though can't quite make a phone call.

marsupilami

Natashia86 wrote:
Hello aleksgollu! Unfortunately, preinstalled applications can not be removed from the phone.

Hi Natashia,

You seem to be a Verizon Employee...

Could you please provide us with an official policy from Verizon (and if it applies to by Motorola/Google or Apple) about what level of privacy protection you provide to your phone owners.

Who is forcing applications and application controls onto the phone owners/user. Is it Verizon, is it the hardware manufacurer, is it the operating sytem owner. I do not want to just rely one one manager's statement "aleksgollu" seems to be quoting in this thread.

I know that when I download an application I have to go through a configuration and authorize the applications to have access to GPS etc.. I want to know what other private information verizon/motorola/google allow these applications, in addition to hardcoding these applications to the phone.

E.g. if my GPS is on will CityGuide will be simply given access to my location even if I will never use this application and do not want it to know my location? Will Verizon separately sell my user information to CityID or Blockbuster. Will these compamies based on my location be able to start sending me unwanted SMS messages or other e-mail?

Gettting unsolictied SMS messages has been a problem I have heard repeatedly from friends who use Verizon.

Thanks

aleksgollu

marsupilami wrote:
Natashia86 wrote:
Hello aleksgollu! Unfortunately, preinstalled applications can not be removed from the phone.

Hi Natashia,

You seem to be a Verizon Employee...

Could you please provide us with an official policy from Verizon (and if it applies to by Motorola/Google or Apple) about what level of privacy protection you provide to your phone owners.

Who is forcing applications and application controls onto the phone owners/user. Is it Verizon, is it the hardware manufacurer, is it the operating sytem owner. I do not want to just rely one one manager's statement "aleksgollu" seems to be quoting in this thread.

I know that when I download an application I have to go through a configuration and authorize the applications to have access to GPS etc.. I want to know what other private information verizon/motorola/google allow these applications, in addition to hardcoding these applications to the phone.

E.g. if my GPS is on will CityGuide will be simply given access to my location even if I will never use this application and do not want it to know my location? Will Verizon separately sell my user information to CityID or Blockbuster. Will these compamies based on my location be able to start sending me unwanted SMS messages or other e-mail?

Gettting unsolictied SMS messages has been a problem I have heard repeatedly from friends who use Verizon.

Thanks

Why is Verizon not answering these questions? We know the site is moderated... How can attract I attention to the above questions?

My plant has ROOTs...

I like ROOT cause analysis

Have you read the book ROOTS

{edit for TOS violation}

rcschnoor

marsupilami wrote:
Hi Natashia,

You seem to be a Verizon Employee...

Could you please provide us with an official policy from Verizon (and if it applies to by Motorola/Google or Apple) about what level of privacy protection you provide to your phone owners.

Who is forcing applications and application controls onto the phone owners/user. Is it Verizon, is it the hardware manufacurer, is it the operating sytem owner. I do not want to just rely one one manager's statement "aleksgollu" seems to be quoting in this thread.

I know that when I download an application I have to go through a configuration and authorize the applications to have access to GPS etc.. I want to know what other private information verizon/motorola/google allow these applications, in addition to hardcoding these applications to the phone.

E.g. if my GPS is on will CityGuide will be simply given access to my location even if I will never use this application and do not want it to know my location? Will Verizon separately sell my user information to CityID or Blockbuster. Will these compamies based on my location be able to start sending me unwanted SMS messages or other e-mail?

Gettting unsolictied SMS messages has been a problem I have heard repeatedly from friends who use Verizon.

Thanks

If you never use CityGuide, it will never gain access to your information. Same with Blockbuster and any other bloatware on the phone. You have to USE it.

Wildman

aleksgollu wrote:

Why is Verizon not answering these questions? We know the site is moderated... How can attract I attention to the above questions?

My plant has ROOTs...
I like ROOT cause analysis
Have you read the book ROOTS

{edit for TOS violation}

Because this site is a peer to peer setup to allow users to share experiances and possible assist other resolve issues that they have already resolved, the moderators are usually just regular users that Verizon has decided to have watch that users are following the rules given by site agreement, the mods will have some information to handle some questions but they are not trained on answering and responding to polices, pricing or development questions.

Ann154

Wildman, I have read what Viking wrote somewhere too about what apps will be loaded on the i*hone and what would be available for download. However I'm too tired at present time to go looking for the link.

viking112347

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/01/11/apple_will_not_allow_verizon_to_preload_software_on_iphone.html

Wildman

That not a guaranteed source but if it is true it will be a good thing for user deciding to jump to Apple..... Guess Apple still wants to be the only one controlling their device :smileyvery-happy: .. Thanks for the read, I have to research that on Apples site to verify how true this is because I have a few clients considering the iPhone when it is released.

crb79

Wildman wrote:
That not a guaranteed source but if it is true it will be a good thing for user deciding to jump to Apple..... Guess Apple still wants to be the only one controlling their device .. Thanks for the read, I have to research that on Apples site to verify how true this is because I have a few clients considering the iPhone when it is released.

No matter who puts the mandatory apps on the Iphone, they will be there just like they were with the AT&T models.

The bigger concern I have is that Apple regulates what can and cannot be put onto their market. If you have a competitive app to one of their official paid apps.... *Poof* it's gone. At least with Android this hasn't happened.

Ann154

Found this link talking about the applications on the i*hone. Not sure if it is the one I read before or if it would be considered a guaranteed source.

http://m.engadget.com/default/article.do?artUrl=http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/11/verizon-iphone-first-hands-on/&category=mobile&postPage=9&icid=m_eng_latest_art

Destry3535

Actually you can rename them and they will not show. however they must be named back to origional or any upgrades can brick your phone. Cat / Mouse games have begun..

demmo86rt

So, after reading those articles, I have learned/confirmed a few things about Apple. 1: they are a bunch of Nazis who need to have ultimate control over their devices (probably why it took so long to come to Verizon). 2: they "want all iPhones to look the same" (the main reason I like Android over the iPhone). 3: Apple views Flash as crapware. 4: they view themselves as far superior to Google, Microsoft, Blackberry and all other competitors (although, in all fairness, the same could probably be said about all of them). And, 5: Google "attempted" to release their Nexus phones (wait, I thought that actually happened, it's not like either of those phones failed). Preloaded software has become a fact of life, especially when dealing with a company that isn't going to tell a carrier no. Android is open source, which means the source code is free to all and it's up to the carriers/manufacturers to decide what they do or don't want to include, but it also has huge opportunities to customize your phone, even more so if you're willing to take some risks. Ann154 and I have the same phone, but, except for the physical look, I know they are completely different, we even use different keyboards. Preloaded apps, never bothered me, and, even though I have taken steps that allowed me to remove them, that's not why I did it.

Ann154

The preloaded stuff on my phone never bothered me either. Okay amazon mp3 did for a while, but an update of the application from the Market cured that. I do miss having the opportunity to get FroYo or Gingerbread through an OTA. Someday I am sure I will fix that, but not today or this month.

The one very important thing that always put me off from owning Apple products was itunes. Why should I have to install a program on my computer to get a phone, mp3 device, or something else to work. I am fine with loading drivers, but a whole program, NO THANKS.

Navatia

I think the best solution for this issue would be to give us the ability to purchase a licence (per-say) to remove the unwated apps from the phone... I think this would create a win-win for both the companies involved and the customers. It would increase profit for those companies because people (like myself) who wouldn't use these app and want them to go away are willing to spend to remove, where previously they would of just lost money... i honestly wouldnt mind paying 25.00 to 50.00 to remove these apps from my phone!

Wildman

Navatia wrote:
I think the best solution for this issue would be to give us the ability to purchase a licence (per-say) to remove the unwated apps from the phone... I think this would create a win-win for both the companies involved and the customers. It would increase profit for those companies because people (like myself) who wouldn't use these app and want them to go away are willing to spend to remove, where previously they would of just lost money... i honestly wouldnt mind paying 25.00 to 50.00 to remove these apps from my phone!

Oooooh I heard a number of users flooding the forum if this happens.... I do not believe there ever will be a Win Win situation on anything because the golden rule will always exist.. "You cant make everybody happy" but this would be a possible solution but I do not see that go over well.

dirkbonn

Navatia wrote:
I think the best solution for this issue would be to give us the ability to purchase a licence (per-say) to remove the unwated apps from the phone... I think this would create a win-win for both the companies involved and the customers. It would increase profit for those companies because people (like myself) who wouldn't use these app and want them to go away are willing to spend to remove, where previously they would of just lost money... i honestly wouldnt mind paying 25.00 to 50.00 to remove these apps from my phone!

OMG! I can just hear it now..... "It's MY PHONE, Why should I have to PAY to remove an app!!!!!!"

Verizon would get raked over the coals and burned at the stake if they tried that one......

Just wait 12 months and most all those customers will have moved up to LTE devices and the unremovable apps on the "X" will be long forgotten.....

mdram4x4

there are ways, but they void your warranty, search the web, you can find tehm

demmo86rt

One thing to keep in mind if you are concerned about preloaded apps taking up memory. Android places preloaded apps in system/app and user installed (including updates to preloaded apps) in data/app so, if you absolutely never use them, make sure to uninstall updates to those apps, that way you aren't using up extra memory.

demmo86rt

If you're concerned about privacy, you can take a gander at Verizon's privacy policy here:

http://www22.verizon.com/about/privacy/policy/#info

There is also an option via a link on that page to opt out of data collection. I'm sure Google and Motorola have something similar. Google and Motorola, however, are not the ones placing these apps on your phone, as evidenced by the Nexus phones, both of which are pure Google phones and have no bloatware whatsoever, and, if you look at cases where manufacturers put out the same phones on different carriers (the Fascinate, a Galaxy S phone, with Bing, is a prime example), you'll see different bloatware depending on the carrier.

As for Google trying to protect their "consumer privacy friendly image", android is open source, Google provides the source code, leaving the manufacturers and carriers to do with it what they will (also the reason there is such a strong independent developer community).

If you want an answer to this question, I would suggest you write a letter to Verizon corporate and let this forum continue to be about letting users answer other users' questions about how to use their phones, instead of wasting everybody's time on a topic that will never be solved here. And, if you want a phone that won't come with pre-installed apps (that don't really affect you anyway), go with an iPhone.

droidsw

rcschnoor, what a cogent response. Now, please go to the Moto forum and do the same.

Between this topic and the incessant whining about blur, the locked bootloader and whether the X is getting Gingerbread, that forum is more grandstanding than troubleshooting.

Hopefully, this forum won't come to that.

aleksgollu

There have been 63 replies to this posting since last December when I asked to uninstall unwanted applications on my phone. Having thought about this here is my new perspective!

There was a day when only AT&T was allowed to build hardware that could be plugged into the Plane Old Telephony System . Today, what we use as phones are really mini computers.

Verizon has a policy that denies their users Control of their device; understandable POTS policy, but simply unacceptable in the modern day computer world.

If Droid-X wants do be more than a phone, it needs to behave accordingly!

As I read the answers to my posting, it is clear to me that everybody wants to have control of their phone (i.e. mini PC).

Some are very upset at Verizon's policy, even concerned that their privacy is being compromised -if not today then soon-, others are resigned to the fact that they are powerless against Verizon and are tolerating the situation.

Unfortunately the bulk of the answers are aggressive flames instructing community users to live with the policy... I presume the feeling of being powerless is manifesting itself as aggression against other community users.

Much to the chagrin of some of you, i want to restart the thread... Never mind that it may not happen tomorrow, never mind that for every posting that demands a policy change many more will rush to tell you that it will never happen...

DO YOU WANT Droid-X TO ALLOW YOU TO CONTROL IT? OR DO YOU WANT VERIZON CONTROL IT FOR YOU?

If this is a Community, then everyone in the Community is free to state what they want to see change!

droidsw

Maybe the squeaky wheel will get the grease. If those like yourself become silent, nothing changes.

I admire your resolve. Get bored with it, but admire it just the same.

marsupilami

Looks to me that Verizon is dodging the question, it not even clear to me if they are getting the point... I guess I will not switch!

marsupilami

Is Xoom plagued with the same problem?

dirkbonn

guess....... and you only get one!(1)

aleksgollu

I was just at the Verizon store...

It looks like Xoom is plagued by the same Motorola/Verizon/Google stubbornness, shortsightedness, and insistence that the device belongs to them and not to the end user.

Xoom, I was told, comes with applications you cannot delete. You as the user are not allowed to have administrative privileges to the "device." ... Unless you know "how to root the device" the manager volunteered - he remembered me from our last conversation, got visibly nervous, abruptly ended the conversation, and walked away.

I have been dealing with the carriers wish to increase "ARPU" (Average Revenues Per User) not wanting to be reduced to "Dumb Pipes" for the last two decades -primarily as a vendor to them... It looks like the 60s mentality of "our hardware" is just way too much ingrained into their culture; the "Walled Garden" camp, seems to continue winning the argument...

I doubt it has anything to to with Gingerbread or Honeycomb, or whatever fancy name the Droid Operating System varietals are given. It is a battle between camps who want to win "by control" vs. "by competence."

If you keep these devices CLOSED, maybe you can control a higher percentage of a small market.

If you OPEN them, maybe you can no longer control things by contract, but you do by quality/innovation/... , and the market gets so much bigger, that your slice of the pie grows anyway!

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