Related
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!
Hi,
what does it mean technically if an app is "freezed"? Is the APK moved to another location, or are the unix access rights altered, or is a reference to the app deleted from some kind of "registry" of the Android system, or what else? Can it be done manually by a file manager?
Thanks,
Stefan
It can be done using the purchased version of Titanium Backup and probably a few other apps. It basically renders the app inactive without uninstalling it. Helpful for bloatware that runs in the background but you can't decide if you want to delete it or not.
Thanks, but this was not my question...
lowandbehold said:
It can be done using the purchased version of Titanium Backup and probably a few other apps. It basically renders the app inactive without uninstalling it. Helpful for bloatware that runs in the background but you can't decide if you want to delete it or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know, but what does it do exactly on file system level? Doesn't anybody know?
stbi said:
Yes, I know, but what does it do exactly on file system level? Doesn't anybody know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most freezing apps simply rename the app to be frozen with an extension, like in the case of Bloat Freezer (IMHO the best one) the frozen app gets a .bzw extension. It remains in place but of course cannot be executed. The nice part is that if you run into an issue you can just rename the app back to what it was (assuming that you have root).
It works!
docfreed said:
Most freezing apps simply rename the app to be frozen with an extension, like in the case of Bloat Freezer (IMHO the best one) the frozen app gets a .bzw extension. It remains in place but of course cannot be executed. The nice part is that if you run into an issue you can just rename the app back to what it was (assuming that you have root).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, so simple - thanks! So it can be done with any file manager.
I've just successfully frozen the preinstalled "LGWorld.apk" by renaming it to "LGWorld.apk.bak". As soon as I had done this, a message popped up, saying "Deinstalled", and the icon disappeared from the app drawer, and also the update for "LG World" vanished from the Market app.
Hmm.. freezing doesn't mean rename. It is being remove from system. If.you rename yourself, the apps may failed to work.
Accidentally sent from my Google Nexus S using XDA Premium
Freezing the app works via decreasing the temperature of the app to roughly 50 Kelvin. At this point the the app's molecular structure becomes a super condensed crystal lattice. Due to the nature of the crystal lattice, android treats the super dense app as non existent. Essentially the app is deleted from your system completely. However, think of it not as a permanent deletion but rather a reversible one. Should you chose to 'restore' the app, you can defrost the app. You could defrost the app using a microwave but I for one use TB Pro as it does a far better job.
lambstone said:
Freezing the app works via decreasing the temperature of the app to roughly 50 Kelvin. At this point the the app's molecular structure becomes a super condensed crystal lattice. Due to the nature of the crystal lattice, android treats the super dense app as non existent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha smart ass.
lambstone said:
Freezing the app works via decreasing the temperature of the app to roughly 50 Kelvin. At this point the the app's molecular structure becomes a super condensed crystal lattice. Due to the nature of the crystal lattice, android treats the super dense app as non existent. Essentially the app is deleted from your system completely. However, think of it not as a permanent deletion but rather a reversible one. Should you chose to 'restore' the app, you can defrost the app. You could defrost the app using a microwave but I for one use TB Pro as it does a far better job.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha ha ha! that was hilarious man
Press THANKS
stbi said:
Hi,
what does it mean technically if an app is "freezed"? Is the APK moved to another location, or are the unix access rights altered, or is a reference to the app deleted from some kind of "registry" of the Android system, or what else? Can it be done manually by a file manager?
Thanks,
Stefan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Press thanks if I helped
Source - How TO Geek
Manufacturers and carriers often load Android phones with their own apps. If you don’t use them, they just clutter your system and sometimes in the background, draining resources. Take control of your device and stop the bloatware.
We’ll be focusing on disabling – also known as “freezing” bloatware here. It’s a safer process than uninstalling the bloatware completely, and is also easier to accomplish with free apps.
Uninstalling vs. Freezing
Uninstalling an app is exactly what it sounds like – the app is entirely removed from your device. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to get many of these preinstalled apps from the Play Store if you ever need them again. Uninstalling some preinstalled apps may result in problems or instability, so you could run into problems.
It’s safer to “freeze” apps instead of uninstalling them. A frozen app is disabled completely – it won’t appear in your app drawer and it won’t automatically start in the background. A frozen app cannot run in any way until you “unfreeze” it. Freezing and unfreezing are instant processes, so it’s easy to undo your changes if you end up freezing a necessary app.
If you really must uninstall apps, you should freeze them first and wait a few days to ensure that your phone or tablet works properly without them.
You can’t uninstall or freeze preinstalled bloatware apps without root access and third-party app managers. Try and you’ll find the options grayed out in the standard Android interface.
klacenas said:
ha ha ha! that was hilarious man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand and have frozen quite a few apps with TB Pro. My issue is there are shine pre-installed apps that I like to use, but when I run the task killer, they're always running. Is there a way I can fix them where they don't keep starting immediately after killing them, but still having them available when I want to use them?
donnebonn said:
I understand and have frozen quite a few apps with TB Pro. My issue is there are shine pre-installed apps that I like to use, but when I run the task killer, they're always running. Is there a way I can fix them where they don't keep starting immediately after killing them, but still having them available when I want to use them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can try greenify it will hibernate the apps and hence the app will be available for you any time
donnebonn said:
I understand and have frozen quite a few apps with TB Pro. My issue is there are shine pre-installed apps that I like to use, but when I run the task killer, they're always running. Is there a way I can fix them where they don't keep starting immediately after killing them, but still having them available when I want to use them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another app called greenify. Or using an autostart manager to prevent them from running without ykur intervention.
sangalaxy said:
you can try greenify it will hibernate the apps and hence the app will be available for you any time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx a bunch. I dwld and installed the grenify app and disabled them, however, when I run my task killer the gallery app is always running. I wanted to greenify it, but it's not showing up in the greenify app, even when I did a search for it, it just took me to my home screen. I clicked on the app and it just opened but I didn't see any options to greenify it. Any suggestions? Thx for ur help.
so at the end is freezing and renaming the same thing? no one cleared that up, i usually just rename to BAK and thats it, what does TItanium apart from renaming?
ok i answer myself, freezing is the same as going to app manager, and selecting DISABLE
or from a root terminal using:
pm disable {package_name} (e.g. # pm disable com.android.browser)
wich calls:
/system/bin/pm
wich in turn contains:
# Script to start "pm" on the device, which has a very rudimentary
# shell.
#
base=/system
export CLASSPATH=$base/framework/pm.jar
exec app_process $base/bin com.android.commands.pm.Pm "[email protected]"
what it does is set a flag for a component to some of different values:
COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DEFAULT
COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED
among others. (http://developer.android.com/reference/android/content/pm/PackageManager.html)
where does it store this flag: I DONT KNOW
is this flag a value inside some manifest/ini file? : IDK
is this flag st in the file system? IDK
can someone show me the light?
edit: I DONT KNOW for sure but i think it stores it in : /data/system/packages.xml
that is generated by package manager taking info fro each app manifest. i hope i am right, but dont take my word as absolute truth since it was a quick google research lol
Renaming the apk file can result in unwanted behaviour... I learned by trial&error! I'm running MIUI 6 and wanted Google Play as default app store and not the MI Market. Renaming the apk file for the Mi Market gave me the result I wanted: launching Google Play whenever I clicked a link to a certain app. But that was until I rebooted the phone... it got stuck on the MI startup logo. After renaming the Mi Market apk file in twrp recovery, my phone booted again.
So might try freezing it to see if it will do the job properly.
Freezing Mi Market with AppFreezer worked like a charm!
el_jefe said:
Renaming the apk file can result in unwanted behaviour... I learned by trial&error! I'm running MIUI 6 and wanted Google Play as default app store and not the MI Market. Renaming the apk file for the Mi Market gave me the result I wanted: launching Google Play whenever I clicked a link to a certain app. But that was until I rebooted the phone... it got stuck on the MI startup logo. After renaming the Mi Market apk file in twrp recovery, my phone booted again.
So might try freezing it to see if it will do the job properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends what you mean by "renaming." Changing the extension from .apk to .apkold or .bak or something like that will harmlessly freeze the app since it's no longer seen as an apk by the system. Renaming the app itself is another thing entirely.
I renamed the extension to .noapk and Miui wouldn't boot anymore.
Good stuff
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)
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 you root your phone, and download a good app like root explorer you're able to delete all the horrible crap my S4 came with. I obviously know the easy ones to get ride of like yahoo weather, flipboard, trip advisor, etc etc but I'm just wondering if any of you have taken the time to know all the little ones that have weird names that's ok to delete and free up space? I WANT TO KEEP THE SAMSUNG APPS you know like watchon, s voice, etc cause i actually enjoy those and use them (which is why i flash TW based ROMS) and some of the ROMS i've installed (like clean rom 1.3) took away a lot of the bloatware, but i also go back and delete more. So, just wondering if anyone knew some more of the crap your phone doesn't need!! Thanks in advanced
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As a start, don't use root explorer to delete the apps, as I've had problems where the phone still thinks they are there. Download Titanium Backup and click on backup/restore, then click on the app name, and click un-install. Then you also have a record of what apps you have deleted Incase something goes wrong.
As far as apps to delete, u can always backup things like chocoEuUk or w/e then delete it, and see if it's fine, if not, restore it. I haven't gotten around to removing all the bloat ware yet, but that is how I usually do it
WatchOn & VZW apps
The only bloatware apps I use are WatchOn and the verizon apps that come pre-installed. I just hid the rest of them through Nova. I don't care if they're there, I just don't want them cluttering my device. I do that enough.
If you ever expect to get an OTA update then you would want to "Freeze" the applications. Deleting them will prevent OTA updates and could cause crashing issues if you delete something you need.