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Verizon Pre-Installed apps

I think I can speak for everyone, when I say we would all like the ability to uninstall any and all apps. That would include the ones mandated by Verizon and Motorola. Not only is this just an issue of customer service, but it also goes toward functionality.

Battery life on any and every smart phone is a constant battle. Manufacturer and provider mandated applications that force restart themselves are a burden on storage and battery life. If it's a matter of subsidy, I would rather pay more for any phone i buy in the future than to be hindered by apps running I will never ever use.

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Tidbits

SouthpawKurt wrote:
I think I can speak for everyone, when I say we would all like the ability to uninstall any and all apps. That would include the ones mandated by Verizon and Motorola. Not only is this just an issue of customer service, but it also goes toward functionality.

Battery life on any and every smart phone is a constant battle. Manufacturer and provider mandated applications that force restart themselves are a burden on storage and battery life. If it's a matter of subsidy, I would rather pay more for any phone i buy in the future than to be hindered by apps running I will never ever use.

Some are from Google as well.

BarryH

I second this motion...

dirkbonn

SouthpawKurt wrote:
I think I can speak for everyone, when I say we would all like the ability to uninstall any and all apps. That would include the ones mandated by Verizon and Motorola. Not only is this just an issue of customer service, but it also goes toward functionality.

Battery life on any and every smart phone is a constant battle. Manufacturer and provider mandated applications that force restart themselves are a burden on storage and battery life. If it's a matter of subsidy, I would rather pay more for any phone i buy in the future than to be hindered by apps running I will never ever use.

What preinstalled apps force restart on your "X"? I have had my "X" since launce day and none of the apps (my installs or factory installs) in my phone run until I run them.

Also, just a small point, but the preinstalled apps on your phone help keep the price down. The fact that they are there help subsidize the cost of the phone. Just a fact of life..... Advertising helps pay costs, just like network tv.

TheGreatOne

It's NOT only Motorola Droid phones!! ALL android have pre-installed apps. Even T-mobile and AT&T android phones have preloaded apps on them! I do agree that it is annoying that you can't remove em.

SouthpawKurt

You obviously didn't read what i wrote about my willingness to pay more to avoid subsidized phones with bloatware. Furthermore you have a conservative quote on your message, so you would think the idea of subsidies would be foolish to you. I want what i pay for and I am willing to pay for what i want. Computers from the major brands come with trial software that subsidizes their cost as well, but you can uninstall them.

dirkbonn

I read your post and don't necessarily disagree with you. I was just stating a couple of facts as I understand them. However, I think you'll agree it would be tough for Verizon to market two Droid X's, one with pre installed apps, and a more expensive version without those same apps. Realistically, I think most people (myself included) would go for the less expensive version and just ignore those apps.

But I'm still curious, what pre installed apps force start themselves every time you turn on your phone?

droid-geek

SouthpawKurt wrote:
You obviously didn't read what i wrote about my willingness to pay more to avoid subsidized phones with bloatware. Furthermore you have a conservative quote on your message, so you would think the idea of subsidies would be foolish to you. I want what i pay for and I am willing to pay for what i want. Computers from the major brands come with trial software that subsidizes their cost as well, but you can uninstall them.

Agreed. I did full purchase price for mine. Why should I have those applications installed that help allow the subsidization of the phones. If they are going to be installed, then give me some extra cash off it also and keep it out of contract or remove the bloat-ware.

PacoX

TBH preinstalled software on anything is nothing new. And its always a pain to get rid of. Anyone that has bought a PC that they did not build with their own hands should know. Its standard business practices to off set cost, you know like that free warranty you get.

I don't have my phone yet, but I have seen on other websites that you can just hide them. Thats not so hard. You are not forced to by the phone, there are plenty of other capable Android devices out there. The fact that I can get a Droid X for the price of an iPhone, Evo, Incredible, Droid 2, etc and come out what I feel it the superior phone is enough to weather through a few pre-installed apps.

EnchantdBarbiee

You have to{edit for TOS violation} to be able to uninstall those apps.

f38urry

I have no problem with pre-installed applications. My problem is the Droid X OWNER's inability to UNINSTALL the Bloatware / Junkware / Crapware that we, as individuals, don't want to remain on OUR OWN property.

I have no intention of ever using: City ID, Skype Mobile, Facebook, VZ Navigator, Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, Latitude, Media Share, Music, Quickoffice or Social Networking.

Certain of those pre-installed apps, ALL OF THEM NOT UNINSTALLABE, keep running in the background, draining my battery for absolutely no reason other than greed on Verizon's part.

We all pay VZW over $1,000 per year for the service per line. If I don't subscribe to, or use, the unwanted apps that clutter up my screen and drain my battery, the advertisers gain nothing. VZW must wake up and stop alienating customers by not allowing basic uninstallations.

djtonic

good job bringing an old topic back to the original point. I too would like to uninstall the apps with ease.

Dj.

f38urry

I love those headphones Dj.

dirkbonn

f38urry wrote:
I have no problem with pre-installed applications. My problem is the Droid X OWNER's inability to UNINSTALL the Bloatware / Junkware / Crapware that we, as individuals, don't want to remain on OUR OWN property.

I have no intention of ever using: City ID, Skype Mobile, Facebook, VZ Navigator, Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, Latitude, Media Share, Music, Quickoffice or Social Networking.

Certain of those pre-installed apps, ALL OF THEM NOT UNINSTALLABE, keep running in the background, draining my battery for absolutely no reason other than greed on Verizon's part.

We all pay VZW over $1,000 per year for the service per line. If I don't subscribe to, or use, the unwanted apps that clutter up my screen and drain my battery, the advertisers gain nothing. VZW must wake up and stop alienating customers by not allowing basic uninstallations.

They may be "running" in the background, but I don't know that they are draining your battery. When I check settings-battery-and see what's using my battery, none of those "apps" show up. Can some others check and verify this for me? Maybe I'm not looking in the correct place. Thanks,

f38urry

dirkbonn,

There is no earthly reason why the unwanted, unneeded, non-uninstallable bloatware should be running.

https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/34336

The owner of the device must have the option to have it perform as Google designed the Android Operating System to work... without interference from the wireless carrier. We should be able to uninstall bloatware, just as you can on a new PC.

djtonic

dirkbonn wrote:
f38urry wrote:
I have no problem with pre-installed applications. My problem is the Droid X OWNER's inability to UNINSTALL the Bloatware / Junkware / Crapware that we, as individuals, don't want to remain on OUR OWN property.

I have no intention of ever using: City ID, Skype Mobile, Facebook, VZ Navigator, Amazon MP3, Blockbuster, Latitude, Media Share, Music, Quickoffice or Social Networking.

Certain of those pre-installed apps, ALL OF THEM NOT UNINSTALLABE, keep running in the background, draining my battery for absolutely no reason other than greed on Verizon's part.

We all pay VZW over $1,000 per year for the service per line. If I don't subscribe to, or use, the unwanted apps that clutter up my screen and drain my battery, the advertisers gain nothing. VZW must wake up and stop alienating customers by not allowing basic uninstallations.
They may be "running" in the background, but I don't know that they are draining your battery. When I check settings-battery-and see what's using my battery, none of those "apps" show up. Can some others check and verify this for me? Maybe I'm not looking in the correct place. Thanks,

I'm not sure battery manager is a reliable source for that info. I have skype, amazon mp3 and homerun derby 3d running and it does not show up in my battery manager. They do show up in my task killer as active tasks and certainly are running when I switch back to them.

I personally don't give 2 thoughts to those programs as I said in a separate topic that I just ignore them. But, not having the ability to uninstall apps that are freely available in market and have no value to me is just a tad annoying.

Dj.

ktm89p

Obviously Verizon is not listening to any of this. They want to force it on the consumer, but we don't have to use it. My issue is with the forced multi MegaByte updates for an Application that has never been opened. Bing, Books, NFL Mobile, Skype Mobile, V Cast Music, V Cast Tones, V Cast Videos, VZ Navigator are all junk bloatware using up valuable memory with updates. I keep removing the updates to conserve memory and they keep putting them back on. I'm okay with the inability to remove the basic software, I just wish there was a way to stop them from using up my data plan and memory with that junk. :smileymad:

jroal

I agree that we should be able to uninstall apps we don't want and started a similar thread here: https://community.verizonwireless.com/message/782767#782767

commonsense101

battery life has nothing to do with preloaded applications you dont use..

This thread reminds of people that whine about software updates like gingerbread and ice cream sandwich when it really doesn't add anything of value to the phone.. its just a buzz word to get upset over

Find a hobby, it is just a phone and bloatware doesn't affect your phone at all. Do some research on how android works

jroal

As an amateur app developer myself I have certainly researched Android and how it works. Are you familiar with services, broadcast receivers, and intents? Services and broadcast receivers run in the background. They do use battery and RAM. I have debloated devices and reduced battery consumption almost 50%. Intents can be recieved by more than one broadcast receiver. When this happens a dialog pops up for you to pick what to run. Backup assitant, for instance, has services that run in the background. It also sync's with a server so it is chewing up some data, generally not that much. It is true that some of the bloatware apps don't run background services or broadcast receivers and those are not using any important resources. They are just annoying clutter. Its things like Backup Assistant that do use resources. VZnavigator has broadcast receivers as do many others.

Tidbits

As a developer for the past 15 years and held various positions from the US government to firms like IBM and Ventura Technologies. It's not all that simple. Someone has to pay for it and it will be the consumer 100% of the time.

Tidbits

As for BA... Once a day... That isn't going to chew up 1% of your battery and isn't running like you assume. Learn what a daemon is, and you may get a better understanding of BA.

As long as the app doesn't use processes regardless if is loaded in ram or not(ram uses the same energy filled or not which has been proven) uses 0 battery. This is why GOOGLE and various Android developers(not the newbies) say task killers are useless.

jroal

... and now you work for Verizon, right?

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