I downloaded an app called App quarantine from the market and put the following apps in the don't run bin , but before doing that I downloaded Go Launcher / Go Contacts / Go Sms Pro and did a ehh, conversion from the stock samsung apps to Go Stuff. Has anyone else done this or anything similar?
Apk's no longer running on boot
(See screen shots, i'm lazy today.)
jb0nd38372 said:
I downloaded an app called App quarantine from the market and put the following apps in the don't run bin , but before doing that I downloaded Go Launcher / Go Contacts / Go Sms Pro and did a ehh, conversion from the stock samsung apps to Go Stuff. Has anyone else done this or anything similar?
Apk's no longer running on boot
(See screen shots, i'm lazy today.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a number of apps that do the same type of thing, Titanium Backup will 'freeze' apps as well as a whole host of additional features.
Then of course, another option is to just rename the apps from *.apk to *.bpk and rebooting.
My personal preference is a third option called Autostarts which is similar to MSconfig in Windows but for Android. The reason being is, it gives you the ability to keep an app from ever running unless you actually tap the app to run it but still allows you to keep the app installed in the event you want to use it. Google Maps comes to mind, I want it installed, I dont want it running in the background.
I dont recommend removing any of the bloatware if you plan on staying on stock but, some of it for US Note users was able to be uninstalled without root via either Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->All Applications, then tap an app and see if uninstall was lit up, if so, sweet. Or, alternatively you could go thru the Market->(Menu Key)->My Apps but not all apps show up in this list. As a side note, I actually manually did a search for many of the apps on the phone and manually updated them because they were not showing up in the market 'My Apps' list.
One other side note, most of the Samsung apps are actually pretty decent, I usually dont touch them. Its the ATT software and the apps ATT took bribe money from third parties that bothers me (Yellow Pages for example).
Oh, and a little known feature of Go Launcher is the ability to hide apps.
Tap the App drawer icon to get to the list of apps on your phone, tap the menu button, tap hide apps. For those of us that havent bothered to root, this at least gives you the ability to not have to look at apps you dont want to see in the app drawer.
Wow thank you for all the info. As far as staying stock, I like making my devices unique to me, I did keep all spen related apps, but killed pretty much everything else. I doubt my phone will ever see an official release of anything, Xda all the way
littlewierdo said:
There are a number of apps that do the same type of thing, Titanium Backup will 'freeze' apps as well as a whole host of additional features.
Then of course, another option is to just rename the apps from *.apk to *.bpk and rebooting.
My personal preference is a third option called Autostarts which is similar to MSconfig in Windows but for Android. The reason being is, it gives you the ability to keep an app from ever running unless you actually tap the app to run it but still allows you to keep the app installed in the event you want to use it. Google Maps comes to mind, I want it installed, I dont want it running in the background.
I dont recommend removing any of the bloatware if you plan on staying on stock but, some of it for US Note users was able to be uninstalled without root via either Settings->Applications->Manage Applications->All Applications, then tap an app and see if uninstall was lit up, if so, sweet. Or, alternatively you could go thru the Market->(Menu Key)->My Apps but not all apps show up in this list. As a side note, I actually manually did a search for many of the apps on the phone and manually updated them because they were not showing up in the market 'My Apps' list.
One other side note, most of the Samsung apps are actually pretty decent, I usually dont touch them. Its the ATT software and the apps ATT took bribe money from third parties that bothers me (Yellow Pages for example).
Oh, and a little known feature of Go Launcher is the ability to hide apps.
Tap the App drawer icon to get to the list of apps on your phone, tap the menu button, tap hide apps. For those of us that havent bothered to root, this at least gives you the ability to not have to look at apps you dont want to see in the app drawer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to add I guess a 'fourth' option, I like to use the app 'root toolbox' available on the market with both free and pro versions. Under the advanced menu you can remove any system apps you like but the nice thing is anything you remove is automatically backed up to the root toolbox folder on the internal sd. The backup is done automatically so you dont have to worry about removing something and forgetting to backup first and also gives you the option to restore any system apps you removed simply and easily. Ill be honest the restore feature has saved my bacon many times lol and is also a great way to experiment which apps are safe and unsafe to remove.
Related
I recently bought a Droid 2 Global and decided to get my feet wet with android development. To familiarize myself with the platform I wrote a simple utility for managing the bloat that came pre-installed on my phone. I thought there might be other people who would get some use out of this so I am posting it here. You will need to be rooted and have busybox installed to use this application. If you used z4root to root your phone then you should have everything you need.
The application is pretty simple. When you start it you are presented with a list of the Bloat that the application recognizes. Each item in the list has a checkbox that indicates whether it is enabled or not. To disable bloat you just uncheck the boxes next to what you don't want and then press the Apply button that appears at the bottom of the screen. You can save what you have disabled as a profile by pressing the options button and then choosing Save Profile. This is convenient because you are going to need to turn all of this bloat back on if you want to receive updates. If you have saved a profile and a new update becomes available you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Enable All and then click Apply to get your phone ready for the update. After the update installs you can launch Bloat Manager, press the options button, choose Load Profile and then click Apply to turn the bloat back off.
The following applications can be toggled on or off using Bloat Manager:
Amazon MP3 /system/app/amazonmp3_1_8_14_signed_zipaligned_Signed_2010-09-09_15-23-51.apk
Blockbuster /system/app/Blockbuster.apk
City ID /system/app/CityID.apk
Friend Feed /system/app/FriendFeed.apk
Kindle /system/app/Kindle-1_0_2-OEM-SingleSign_Signed_2010-09-20_17-31-57.apk
My Net /system/app/Mynet.apk
My Verizon /system/app/MyVerizon.apk
News Widget /system/app/NewsWidget.apk
Performance Manager /system/app/PerformanceManager.apk
Skype /system/app/Skype_mobile.live.apk
Social Messaging /system/app/SocialMessaging.apk
Social Share /system/app/SocialShare.apk
VZNavigator /system/app/vnav_6.1.0.160_Droid2Global_rel_PROD_signed.apk
Visual Voice Mail /system/app/Vvm.apk
Weather Widget /system/app/WeatherWidget.apk
World Clock Widget /system/app/WorldClockWidget.apk
When you disable an application using Bloat Manager it simply renames it to .bak. When you re-enable an application it is renamed back to .apk.
Bloat Manager remounts your /system partition as writable in order to make changes to applications. I came up with this list based on what other people have had success with removing, but I have not personally turned off everything on the list. Changing things in your system partition is always dangerous so please be careful.
So this only renames the app filenames? Is the app still affecting the phone in any way (ie. sucking battery life) once it is renamed, or is it completely "disconnected" from the phone until you rename it back to .apk for updates/etc.?
Thanks I will try this out soon.
Correct, this simply renames the apps so that they are no longer recognized as launchable applications. The applications will not be able to run anymore after they are renamed so they will not affect your battery life directly. I have heard that the operating system will continually try and restart some apps if they get renamed, but based on what people are saying in the bloatware removal script thread on droidforums where I got this list of applications none of these should have that problem.
Let me know how it goes.
The application works, any chance you might add more programs to the list?
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
Are there any specific applications you would like to see added? I designed it so that the list can be extended but I haven't implemented an easy way to add things yet. If you know your way around a SQLite database you can add new items to the Bloat table to put them in the list. I plan on adding an import feature that lets you add a group of applications from a file in the near future.
Well some programs I can do without are files, car dock, backup assistant, the social networking widget, and news and weather, if you can find a way to ad the .bak extention to them without it hurting the system, it would be greatly appreciated
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
wtb one for sprint phones, i.e. the Epic 4G
Great solution, how about a "Bloat Manager for Samsung Galaxy S" next ?
How about a general android bloat manager?
General Android bloatware app would be a major win!
The way you implement (renaming to .bak) is brilliant in it's simplicity, well done. I'm curious how it compares to the 'freeze' function of Titanium backup. Anyone?
^^^That's what I want to know too.
i am just wondering but would this work on other phones like the HTC Droid ERIS or any other devices???
Any chance you can port this to the Droid X? Also, do you need to be rooted to use it, or does it work on stock devices?
same quest
rusty815 said:
...any chance you might add more programs to the list?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...are these Bloats removeable too?
-Stocks
-Amazon
-Soundhound
-Setup
-facebook
-htc hub, likes etc.
-latitude
-anything from google (maps locations, navigation etc., etc.)
-peep, twitter etc. any social network sh..
-speech saerch
-talk
-connected media
Any chance for a G1 or G2 version?
I plan on making the next version a lot more flexible in terms of which phones it will be useful for. If you guys can get me a list of which apps can safely be removed from your phones I can add them to the next version.
Technically this version should run on other phones so long as they are rooted and have busybox installed in /system/bin. If your phone has some of the same bloat that comes on a Droid 2 Global you may be able to use this to remove it. Any applications that the program cannot find when it starts will have a ! on the front of their names in the list. Bloat Manager won't be able to turn those off.
I installed this and chose disable all, and clicked apply. The applications can still be opened. Skype still shows that it is running even after I force stop it.
LOL...installed on my G1....all apps had the !
Uninstalled. Thanks!
MrFrankfromCM said:
LOL...installed on my G1....all apps had the !
Uninstalled. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, its meant for the bloat on the d2g and d2, I'm pretty sure the g1 doesn't have any of the apps that are on the list
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
MrFrankfromCM said:
Any chance for a G1 or G2 version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your looking for away to remove bloatware on the G2 go to this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=809231
super easy did it myself.
like widgets? such as "apmobiles", seems to be a newspaper sort of thing i will never read. i also can't uninstall social/music/gaming/book hubs? i'm in the setting/applications/manage applications bit.
i want to basically delete a LOT of apps then only install what I need? i'm new to smartphones, moved from a nokia keypad phone. so the galaxy s2 was a massive jump for me.
Have a search for titanium backup and root. You'll need to root your phone 1st before you can 'freeze' but not remove apps.
The phone is brand new and it will take a while before custom roms that let you remove apps are available.
If I were you I'd wait before rooting as it is still a bit complicated and simpler methods will come along soon, I'm sure. I'd use the time to read the guides and get familiar with the phone.
Bear in mind that rooting/custom roms will lose you your warranty. Also, I'm not too worried about app removal as the phone has plenty of memory for my needs. Just remove the apps you don't want from the home screen and put on the ones that you do.
Edit: just wanted to clarify that I was referring to removing pre - installed apps.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks for that, it's that I also noticed that there are services running in the background from applications that I'm not using, like I have the apmobile service running and also a social hub service running even neither is open. And I at least want to remove app shortcuts from the menu.
You'll need to root and freeze to remove the shortcut from the app drawer. I really wouldn't do that until you've read up and are confident though.
There are other threads about the social hub, have a search. I think you'll need to reset the phone and then not add any accounts if you want to stop it from being active.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
To add-up about removing the widgets (probably you've found it already though), you only need to hold down the widget and slide it down to an area says remove
this phone comes with a built in task manager and a widget that shows you active tasks, i use the widget on my phone's desktop to close apps as needed ( i know the phone can handle it but its just my own thing lol ) and from there, there's a tab that lets you uninstall apps as well.
ofcourse you wont be able to uninstall those that came with the phone just yet.
I rooted mine which was dead easy and was my first time so you'll be fine. Download AntTek app manager from the market its free and lets you freeze, delete and backup any apps and widgets you want. You will no longer have any of those crap apps working in the background draining your battery. Hope this helps.
Edit: Oh yeah the built in task manager doesn't show system apps working in the background or at least not all so well worth freezing or removing them.
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!
I tried to search but its hard to come up with anything specific to my question.
I have had the prime for about a week and a half. Just upgraded to JB but noticed this in both JB and ICS.
When I look at the built in task manager widget I see random apps loaded. For instance Titanium backup will show up when I never launched it. Then later Google search partner (or something like that) and the music app, google play etc.. etc...
This all happens if its been on and I did the "One touch clean" showing zero apps or after a fresh reboot. I assume this is the bloatware everyone is not happy about? Is there a way to get rid of these random launches? Is it auto updates or what?
hx4700 Killer said:
I tried to search but its hard to come up with anything specific to my question.
I have had the prime for about a week and a half. Just upgraded to JB but noticed this in both JB and ICS.
When I look at the built in task manager widget I see random apps loaded. For instance Titanium backup will show up when I never launched it. Then later Google search partner (or something like that) and the music app, google play etc.. etc...
This all happens if its been on and I did the "One touch clean" showing zero apps or after a fresh reboot. I assume this is the bloatware everyone is not happy about? Is there a way to get rid of these random launches? Is it auto updates or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps can launch themselves if they have the permissions depending on a trigger (like system startup, widgets updating etc.) This is so they can autoupdate etc. (Like fetching the news at a certain time and updating your email)
I use an app called autostarts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elsdoerfer.android.autostarts&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5lbHNkb2VyZmVyLmFuZHJvaWQuYXV0b3N0YXJ0cyJd to disable whatever I don't want launching on its own.
I'm not sure if there is an equivalent free version.
flumpster said:
Apps can launch themselves if they have the permissions depending on a trigger (like system startup, widgets updating etc.) This is so they can autoupdate etc. (Like fetching the news at a certain time and updating your email)
I use an app called autostarts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.elsdoerfer.android.autostarts&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5lbHNkb2VyZmVyLmFuZHJvaWQuYXV0b3N0YXJ0cyJd to disable whatever I don't want launching on its own.
I'm not sure if there is an equivalent free version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellant! Thanks.
I recently rooted my GS4 using the steps outlined in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
First, a big THANKS to all those responsible for this latest root process. The vast majority of us have no idea the lengths in which you go in order to stay on top of the rooting process. My deepest respect.
Now, I would like to uninstall some of the bloatware installed on this phone. I understand there is a school of thought which dictates one should simply "freeze" an unwanted app instead of uninstalling it. In my opinion, as long as the app will never be used AND will not cause a system meltdown if uninstalled, it should be uninstalled. That being said, I would like some objective opinions on the following apps. The main app I would like removed is Knox. In addition...
- All Amazon related apps, save the main Amazon app
- Audible
- Caller Name ID
- Flipboard
- Google (appears at the bottom of the recent apps screen)
- Google+
- IMDb
- All Verizon related apps
- Optical Reader
- NFL Mobile
- All Google Play related apps save the Play Store
- Polaris 5
- TripAdvisor
- WatchON
Again, what is (are) the ramification(s) of uninstalling one or more of these apps? What is the best way to uninstall a bloatware type app? If using Titanium Backup to simply "freeze" the app is best, what are the steps in doing this?
senselessvictory said:
What is the best way to uninstall a bloatware type app? If using Titanium Backup to simply "freeze" the app is best, what are the steps in doing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not know if this option was available before root but if you go to the list of apps and click the menu button (lower left of phone), you will see a "Hide Applications" option. Once clicked, a check box will appear next to each app. Once you select each application you want to hide and click Done, you will be left with only the applications you want to use. This includes Knox.
I do not know well this will work going forward but, for now, I am good. Does anyone know if this will permanently restrict Knox?
check this tool out just make sure you read and then re read lol http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313341