[WIP]Nook-Debloater[Dev] - Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

Alright everyone, I'm just posting this thread for other devs and myself so we can see hat can or cannot be removed from the nook tab as far as bloat goes. So far, I know that the chess, sudoku, and launcher can so we can go from there.
If you see a * it means that it will remove atleast one aspect of barnes and noble service. After the * though, I will explain what gets interrupted.
Code:
List of files that can be removed:
home1.0 (home.apk)
chess
crossword
Applauncher.apk
social.apk * removes Nook Social
shop.apk *Removes the barnes and noble store (Books included)
email.apk Removes crappy email app (you can replace with the Email apk from gingerbread in the Themes and Apps section of the forum.
reader.apk
b3androidreader.apk
netflix
pandora
browser.apk *removes default browser *meaning it can't be accessed from the taskbar gained by clicking the nook button once.
flashplayer.apk
geniewidget.apk
huluplus
nookcommunity *removes nook social
quickofficeviewer
wwreader.apk
bnappinstaller.apk *Removes ability to install apps from B&N store
bnauthenticationservice.apk *removes email account on device therefor completely invalidating the use of any of stores etc.
bncloudrequestsvc.apk *Removes ability to sync B&N content with cloud
bnconnectivityservice.apk *Same as above
bnpolicymanagersvc.apk *Same as authenticationservice
airruntime
cryptoserver.apk *
demomode.apk
telephonyprovider.apk
Devs post here with other files you KNOW can be removed. I'll get around to writing a BASH script for the tablet to run to remove most of it.

What does Applauncher.apk do?
Personally, I'd like to keep Home.apk (which I assume is the default home) and the BN shop. I'll never use most of the other stuff, though.

i'll update this post if i come across any problems caused by the things i've deleted.
yea so I went a little crazy on my delete spree, but everything seems to be working. a lot of things like flash air etc i'll probably wind up reinstalling via the marketplace, but i wanted to start off as bare bones as i could. obviously i don't use any of the barnes and noble services nor do i use hulu or netflix so i remove everything I could find with their names in it.
I did the nook hardware test after i removed all this stuff and it passed with flying colors aswell.
<disclaimer>this list is definately at your own risk, because while it hasn't caused me any problems I'm making no guarantees for you. you probably SHOULDNT be removing these things, SO DONT DO IT, but I did anyways.. with no negative consequences for me. I don't use this as a way to connect to a bunch of diferent services, I'm using it as a tablet.</disclaimer>
definately don't do this unless you have the marketplace installed, along with homecatcher defaulting your n key to an alternative launcher.
home1.0 (home.apk)
chess
crossword
Applauncher.apk
social.apk
shop.apk
email.apk
reader.apk
b3androidreader.apk
netflix
pandora
browser.apk
flashplayer.apk
geniewidget.apk
huluplus
nookcommunity
quickofficeviewer
wwreader.apk
bnappinstaller.apk
bnauthenticationservice.apk
bncloudrequestsvc.apk
bnconnectivityservice.apk
bnpolicymanagersvc.apk
airruntime
cryptoserver.apk
demomode.apk
i'll probably wind up removing even more stuff.
and I don't know for sure but I wouldn't be suprised if one of those bn*apk's i removed broke ota updates, i have no way to be sure though.

Removed those from risho's post and everything is still working fine.

Updated OP with full list of apps that can be removed.

Question: how do you actually remove this stuff?
I'd like to remove the B&N bloatware but I'm not sure how do to that exactly.
Help?

You need to use a root file explorer and mount system as r/w and then go into /system/app
Sent by breaking the sound barrier

jimmysuggs said:
Question: how do you actually remove this stuff?
I'd like to remove the B&N bloatware but I'm not sure how do to that exactly.
Help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would use Titanium Backup to backup and then uninstall one by one. Unless someone created a script to do it...

Um is there any chance that someone could run me through the basics of titanium backup? I'm new to this stuff and have no idea how it works.
Do you use titanium backup to uninstall the B&N apps? Or just to back them up, in case you need them again? And if you don't actually use titanium backup to uninstall the apps, what do you use?
Clearly I'm in over my head, any help would be appreciated.

jimmysuggs said:
Um is there any chance that someone could run me through the basics of titanium backup? I'm new to this stuff and have no idea how it works.
Do you use titanium backup to uninstall the B&N apps? Or just to back them up, in case you need them again? And if you don't actually use titanium backup to uninstall the apps, what do you use?
Clearly I'm in over my head, any help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just used it to back up everything. Then I delete whatever I want one by one with root explorer. My hope is that at some point the whole "block OTAs" issue is resolved and then I can reinstall all the B&N stuff.
Sent from my BNTV250 using xda premium

Antek App Manager
I used Antek App Manager which is free and allows you to freeze the apps which is like uninstalling them but it renames the files instead of removing them... then if it turns out one was important you can defrost the frozen app and it will work again. Or if it works out you can remove it permanently.
At least that is how I think it works...

Email apk
i replaced the stock email apk with the one Indirect gave us. It works fine in most aspects, but when I tried to open attachment, i would get a force close because of com.android.email.
Anybody ran into this as well?

Okay this is all great info, I think I understand how titanium backup works now.
Question for phon00b (or anyone who can answer it): why do you need root explorer to delete the stuff you don't need? Doesn't titanium backup do that, as well as back up? I see a feature in there for "uninstall," isn't that the same as delete?
I'm just wondering if I actually need to use root explorer (which I'm a little scared of) or if titanium backup will do the job just as well.

I doubt you need to use a root explorer. However, if you are scared of it, remember Titanium Backup has root access as well and can do as much damage as a root explorer if used "incorrectly." Backing up apps before uninstalling or simply freezing them, however, is *generally* safe, assuming you don't do it to something that the NT needs to boot. I prefer to use Titanium Backup in most instances.

No particular reason, really. I'm just used to doing it that way. I'm sure deleting through titanium will yield the same result.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using xda premium

Here's what I did. I use this app called, SystemApp Remover. It has this inbuilt 'Assist' facility, which kinda guides you to tell which apps are absolutely safe to remove. I used it to remove almost all bloatware that showed up safe to delete.

So far, i've removed almost all of Indirect's list, and also Library, Gallery, Music as well. It still works fine.

So i checked out system app remover but i gotta say, it worries me a bit. There are so many green apps (meaning potentially safe to remove) in there that it makes me wonder. Can all those apps really be safe to remove? Has anyone out there actually removed some (or all) of these apps?

jimmysuggs said:
So i checked out system app remover but i gotta say, it worries me a bit. There are so many green apps (meaning potentially safe to remove) in there that it makes me wonder. Can all those apps really be safe to remove? Has anyone out there actually removed some (or all) of these apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, most are safe to remove! I removed almost all of em, except the ones I knew were useful for me.
You can post here for help about an app if you are in doubt.

It's pretty safe to remove Soduko.apk and Library.apk too.
EDIT: I also removed telephonyprovider.apk without any issues (so far)

Related

[Q] SNS safe to remove?

So, on my LG Vortex (aka Optimis One Verizon Edition) the apps "Facebook for LG" and "Twitter for LG" are wrapped up into one apparently, called SNS. I hate twitter with a passion (no offense to any tweeters on the forum) and I only go on FB once in a while to look at my fiancée's posts, which I normally do thru the browser anyways. I would like to remove this app, but I am hesitant as I have no way of knowing what it'll affect on my phone. The apps are tied together into a cryptically named system app, and I'm worried they might be tied to something else, or worse, something I use. So, does anyone know what else (if anything) is included in the SNS app? Or if it is safe to remove this app? Any success or horror stories?
Thanks in advance guys.
Posted via Dolphin HD Browser on my LG Vortex.
Um, hello? anyone?
You can remove it buddy. Don't worry. You just have to do it the right way. It is better to use an uninstaller than doing it manually.
I use Uninstaller for Root from the market. It can backup the app and remove it. Or you can use Titanium Backup as everybody else does.
Alright, awesome. I actually already have the Uninstaller For Root app, so I'll use that

[Q] Safe to remove apps?

Has anyone compiled a list of the safe-to-remove apps for the AT&T GSII along with corresponding .apk filenames, yet? I've already removed a number of them via Root Explorer, using the list of removed apps from Cognition's rom, but there's a couple that still remain and I'm wondering if they're ok to remove or not. A full list would be best, though I'm mainly wondering about:
Kies Air
Featured Apps
Social Hub
AT&T Hot Spots (doesn't show in app list, but still shows as a running app for me)
Don't know...I saw that AT&T Hot Spots wasn't actually in the drawer but it shows up as a running app too. I don't plan on removing Kies Air or the Social Hub (for the moment) but I'd like to remove "Featured Apps" but when I go into Titanium Backup it'll ask me if I'm sure I want to do this since it's part of the framework so I've backed off of it for now...I'd like to know about these 4 apps and if they're safe to remove as well.
I used root explorer and did it manually. I lost count how many I ripped out.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
joeybear23 said:
I would like to keep a running list of AT&T-delivered apps from the stock ROM that are safe to freeze/uninstall without causing any loss of essential functionality.
Amazon Kindle
AP Mobile
AT&T Code Scanner
AT&T Family Map
AT&T Hotspots (if you do not use it)
AT&T Navigator
Buddies Now
City ID
Digital Clock
Dual Clock
Featured Apps
Live TV
Media Hub (not AT&T Bloatware, rather Samsung-delivered)
Mini Diary
Mini Paper
QIK Lite (if you do not use stock video chat)
Yahoo Finance
YP
If you have any apps that you have removed and run problem free for at least 48 hours, please let me know and I will update the list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From this thread.
Honestly I'd recommend installing Titanium Backup and doing a backup before you remove ANY apps. You simply never know if you might need them down the road for something. Sure 99% of the AT&T crap is crap, but there's no reason not to back them up first.
Also, if you're worried about it, buy the PRO version (of TB) and simply freeze ones you don't want to use. This isn't deleting them, it simply disables them.
Kadin said:
Honestly I'd recommend installing Titanium Backup and doing a backup before you remove ANY apps. You simply never know if you might need them down the road for something. Sure 99% of the AT&T crap is crap, but there's no reason not to back them up first.
Also, if you're worried about it, buy the PRO version (of TB) and simply freeze ones you don't want to use. This isn't deleting them, it simply disables them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the PRO version. I know about freezing but I was being lazy and I know there are much more adventurous people than me who've gone ahead and ripped things out. I didn't want to do the freeze app, okay seems safe to remove, repeat per next app deal. Like I said, I'm lazy...
Some of these At&t apps i cant find under root explorer, for example featured apps. what would be the file name for featured apps?
re: bloat/system apps
Smoghog said:
Has anyone compiled a list of the safe-to-remove apps for the AT&T GSII along with corresponding .apk filenames, yet? I've already removed a number of them via Root Explorer, using the list of removed apps from Cognition's rom, but there's a couple that still remain and I'm wondering if they're ok to remove or not. A full list would be best, though I'm mainly wondering about:
Kies Air
Featured Apps
Social Hub
AT&T Hot Spots (doesn't show in app list, but still shows as a running app for me)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to uninstall even more bloatware you need to get the app called
"SystemAppRemover" from the market. (everything will show up with this).
It makes it very easy to uninstall most any system apps.
The app has other functions too.
It's also best to flash a Nandroid backup of your rom before uninstalling
bloatware/system apps.
(use CWM Manager or CWM Recovery and NOT rom manager for backing up).
Good luck!

Remove unused apps

Ok, I'd like to remove apps that I don't use (stock browser, for example), so if its possible, has anyone figured out what apps can be removed without affecting system performance?
kusanagi-sama said:
Ok, I'd like to remove apps that I don't use (stock browser, for example), so if its possible, has anyone figured out what apps can be removed without affecting system performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I removed a whole bunch of apps using Titanium Backup and Root Explorer last night. I really wasnt keeping track, I just removed the obvious ones..then I did a google search and it redirected me back to a thread in this site that actually lists what each app does. try to find it, im not sure where it is.
I think this is the thread you're referring to
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1681729
I've been going through Titanium Backup and freezing some of the apps.

[Q]Is this normal for apps to do this?

Hey all,
Just come across this and wanted to know if it was 'normal' for some apps to do this or some form of encryptiony type thing.
When flashing new roms I use our ROMCleaner to backup and restore apks. Recently Ive noticed some apks not being backed up and needing a redownload from the market.
Notably ADW Ex 1.3.3.8, SickStache and the Natwest Banking app.
After having a look through my system it seems the apks are not actually in /data/app, system/app or even installed on my sdcard.
I noticed a while back that the Natwest app was actually being installed as a .zip and couldnt be installed back as a zip, or renamed as a apk, using ROMcleaner. This I thought was pretty cool seeing as its a banking app and a way of dealing with security.
Now with ADW I managed to get the apk back by using TB. Moving to internal (still not appearing in data/app) and then converting to a system app. The apk was then present in system/app.
Is this a new form of app encryption? If it is its a pretty cool way of dealing with piracy, no apk = no stealing
Or is there something wrong?
Yeah, it is. One of the main features of JellyBean was paid app encryption. Play Store automatically downloads paid apps into an encrypted partition in /data. This is currently disabled, because the implementation of this paid app encryption caused a lot of problems, especially paid app widgets and live wallpapers disappearing after reboot. This happened because the encrypted partition was being loaded AFTER the Android system booted up, so while the system was booting it couldn't see any of these apps and their data and didn't load them. Google hasn't developed a fix for that yet and so they've turned the feature off to avoid frustration among users. Currently the paid apps download like before without going into any encrypted partition.
http://www.android.com/about/jelly-bean/
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=34880
http://blog.gsmarena.com/google-dis...cryption-after-issues-with-several-paid-apps/
http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/0...n-the-play-store-google-disables-drm-for-now/
http://www.talkandroid.com/126461-jelly-bean-encryption-negatively-affects-paid-apps/
http://techie-buzz.com/mobile-news/...eature-breaks-account-sync-for-paid-apps.html
http://www.gadgettweet.com/2012/08/jelly-bean-app-encryption-makes-mess-in.html#.UNw3VG9HLAE
sashank said:
Yeah, it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wicked, thanks for the info! Thought something had gone with my phone lol
It seems some apps, free or paid, still do get 'encrypted' in the 4.1.2 ROM im using so dunno, maybe some still do.
Anyway, at least I know whats happening now and can work around it.
Many thanks for the info as well, much appreciated

After rooting, am I okay to go into ROM toolbox and uninstall/freeze bloat apps?

So this is my first Android phone, I just rooted it this morning and got ROM toolbox installed. Am I okay to go in and freeze or uninstall all these crappy bloat apps? I noticed in another thread that people were freezing a ton of apps instead of uninstalling - is there any particular reason for this? ROM toolbox apparently gives me the option to uninstall every app that's listed. Is freezing just a better idea for safety reasons? This is all very new to me but I'd like to uninstall as much of this bloat as possible.
Also, are there any other "must have" apps or fixes/tweaks that I should do now that I have root access?
You can uninstall the bloated verizon crap if you want, but some things may not work properly afterwards. i think that's why we usually freeze instead of uninstall.
what you can do instead is make a backup of any/all junk you want to remove. that way it's always there to reinstall if you find your phone not working properly.
if you plan on installing a custom ROM, then none of this even matters. Uninstall to your hearts content. But we typically like original backups of the whole system in case something F's up.
yyhd said:
You can uninstall the bloated verizon crap if you want, but some things may not work properly afterwards. i think that's why we usually freeze instead of uninstall.
what you can do instead is make a backup of any/all junk you want to remove. that way it's always there to reinstall if you find your phone not working properly.
if you plan on installing a custom ROM, then none of this even matters. Uninstall to your hearts content. But we typically like original backups of the whole system in case something F's up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is sorta of off topic, but can you make a backup of everything? I was stupid and uninstalled something i shouldnt have now the I cant login to my google account anywhere on the phone. Could you do this for me and send me the files(s)? It would be a god send.
michaelgg13 said:
This is sorta of off topic, but can you make a backup of everything? I was stupid and uninstalled something i shouldnt have now the I cant login to my google account anywhere on the phone. Could you do this for me and send me the files(s)? It would be a god send.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I did the same thing to a couple of apps before I realized what was going on. Then I got titanium backup after posting here and backed everything up, minus the files I uninstalled. It was mostly some random Samsung bloat apps. Everything seems to be working fine, so I don't think I did any damage.
I'll see if I can get the backup uploaded and I'll send you a PM with the link.

Categories

Resources