Samsung Faces Lawsuit In China Over Smartphone Bloatware 84
An anonymous reader writes: Samsung is being sued in China for installing too many apps onto its smartphones. The Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Commission is also suing Chinese vendor Oppo, demanding that the industry do more to rein in bloatware. The group said complaints are on the rise from smartphone users who are frustrated that these apps take up too much storage and download data without the user being aware. Out of a study of 20 smartphones, Samsung and Oppo were found to be the worst culprits. A model of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 contained 44 pre-installed apps that could not be removed from the device, while Oppo's X9007 phone had 71.
Thank God! (Score:5, Interesting)
My S4 Mini has a crapton of preinstalled, irremovable apps I have no use for, nor do I intend to ever use.
The worst thing was that there was some "update available" for some apps which required more rights and I never agreed to those updates, and I thought they would remain "stuck" on an older version. They didn't. After a few months I saw they got updated on my phone without me approving anything.
TripAdvisor, looking at you!
Re:Thank God! (Score:4, Informative)
Android lets you disable preinstalled apps. This won't uninstall it and give you space back but it will at least disable the app from running, uninstall any updates for it beyond the original base app, and disable update for it all together.
Not perfect and annoying having to do it one by one, but it is better then nothing.
Re: (Score:2)
I know about Disable function, it's a workaround but the issue remains, and that is: preinstalling an application that's not essential for my phone (e.g. phone is unusable without it), I don't need and didn't ask for, and which can't be uninstalled.
Re:Thank God! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
That's not true in all cases. I have disabled something called "Flipboard" several times on my Galaxy S3 and within the next day or two I get an update that re-enables it.
Re: (Score:2)
How do I do this thing? I can't find any such function on my Android phone, and I'd really like it.
Re: (Score:3)
Ah, found a guide at http://forums.androidcentral.c... [androidcentral.com]. Apparently my Android OS is too old to support this, darnit.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
If a Tripadvisor app got installed that way, I would have thought that its requirements had been reduced to the rights it already had.
Re: (Score:2)
Hmm, never considered that as a possibility. Good point!
Re: (Score:2)
I hope in the meantime you installed another rom on it, i have a s4 mini as well and another rom (clean, without crapware) transformed the phone.
Not only is it faster but the battery will last days!
Re: (Score:2)
Could you please point me to it? Last time I modded a phone was the HTC Desire S, about 3 years ago. I'm sure lots have changed since then and I'm willing to try this out, but I'm a newb and have no idea where to look.
That's not so bad (Score:3, Funny)
Once systemd assimilates all those apps, the number will be much lower.
Re:Don't really understand. (Score:4, Interesting)
And if these apps are useful why not offer free downloads from the play store instead of preinstalling them and making them non-removable? Samsung must be getting paid by software vendors to install these apps or the apps are free and Samsung is selling data collected by these apps.
That's no excuse to install something useless that wastes flash memory and RAM.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
The laws that China have on this subject are the same as anywhere else: consumer protection laws.
Really, it's that "can't be removed" part that's the problem. Sure, they should be able to load the phone up with whatever they please before they sell it to you because it's "their" phone. But once your payment has been processed and you walk out of the store with phone in hand, it's no longer "their" phone; it's "your" phone. As long as you can delete programs to create the storage space that they advertise th
Re: (Score:2)
But once your payment has been processed and you walk out of the store with phone in hand, it's no longer "their" phone; it's "your" phone.
Not if you want to keep your manufacturer's warranty. If you don't care about it, then sure, you are free to do whatever you want with it.
And it includes rooting and flashing custom ROMs, something that is easy to do on Samsung and Oppo phones without using exploits.
Re: (Score:1)
Umm... Unless I am mistaken that is what they said. Maybe I am reading it wrong? It is in the first sentence...
Re: (Score:1)
I hate the practice BUT I think that they should be allowed to include these things provided they are open and honest with the potential customer. They should be required to include the information (outside of the packaging and on advertisements) that says how much space is actually free and how many applications are not able to be removed. I am not a fan of limiting what a business can do by default. So, if they make it clear then I would be okay with it.
Now, not as a demand but as an opinion, I think it w
Funny (Score:2)
Where was this answer when Microsoft was bundling IE with Windows and Slashdot was foaming for an AT&T style break up?
Re: (Score:2)
While that came to nothing in US, in EU, they do have versions with and without different things, such as IE.
Re: (Score:2)
I like it. (Score:3, Insightful)
Funny how when government runs a country, you get government looking out for people/consumers. When corporations runs a country, people/consumers get screwed! Examples: Comcast, AT&T, Sprint, and many others.
Re:I like it. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Er, are you talking about the US (ed snowden, nsa, guantanamo bay, man in prison whole life for shop-lifting as a teen) or China?
Re: (Score:2)
Yeah, you can go buy any other device that only has slightly less bloatware.
Re: (Score:2)
How many models of Android phone do you think are available right now?
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Easy solution, albeit a 'free market' one... (Score:5, Informative)
One little problem with this: I bought a Samsung and it has been installing tons of unremovable bloatware ever since. The stuff was not all there at the start.
It's not like there was a sticker on the box saying "Comes with 50 mandatory apps, will install 50 more once you've paid" either. I'd read a ton of reviews and still had no idea about the extent of the iron-fist they take over your device.
And yes, there's no way I'm buying another Samsung ever again, so whether this changes anything is largely immaterial to me.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Easy solution, albeit a 'free market' one... (Score:4, Informative)
Same. I have unsuccessfully tried to root my Samsung Galaxy S5 in an attempt to rid myself of the bloatware that is installed upon it.
Crying baby monitor ? Really ? :|
It is unlikely I will utilize another Samsung device assuming I even bother to go with a smartphone at all.
Re: (Score:3)
Deaf people have babies, too.
Rooting isn't so bad on an S5, either: Downgrade the phone to a version that towelroot works on (using odin). Install towelroot, safestrap (in that order). Flash a rooted Lollipop ROM of your choosing using Safestrap.
Being able to understand and complete the rooting process for a given device is something that I do before I even consider buying it.
Re: (Score:2)
Rooting isn't so bad on an S5, either: Downgrade the phone to a version that towelroot works on (using odin). Install towelroot, safestrap (in that order). Flash a rooted Lollipop ROM of your choosing using Safestrap.
For personal info is that the only / easiest method of rooting an S5? I've owned 3 galaxy devices (currently on number 4) and so far every device has been rootable in a single step: Flash something using Odin. What's with the downgrade using a firmware flash utility only to use a tool which doesn't require a firmware flash?
Re: (Score:1)
Google, you cunt!
Sorry. I just got done reading the Reddit thread and that needed to come out somewhere. I have absolutely no idea how to solve your problem nor do I know if Google has the answers. I truly am sorry but not enough to not post this. I hope you understand. I am not sure what has come over me but I think it is the Reddit drama and, maybe, futzing about with Linux Mint all morning. It is like a Linux For Dummies operating system, which is nice, I guess... Anyhow, again, sorry for the interruptio
Re: (Score:2)
I live in Australia. We only use the word cunt to describe our closest friends so no need to apologise.
Re: (Score:1)
A very valid point that I had forgotten about my stay though I do not think I knew you were Australian. As an aside, I enjoyed my stay in Oz. I flew into Melbourne (the first time) and spent a couple of interesting weeks with a lass I'd met online. I was out off of Prince's Highway in Cann River. The second time I rented a "ute" and drove from Melbourne up to Somerset. There were some tire issues (tyre I suppose) but nothing major and the same lovely lass joined me for that trip. I had thought about moving
Re: (Score:2)
Oh wow clearly you did make the right choice. I've not been up to Somerset yet, furthest north I've been is Cooktown where the highway ends.
As for the test, it's 20 questions, multi-guess. I'm Australian now, but man the citizenship requirements are a joke designed to weed out only those people who can't actually speak English.
Although I think they put in some trick questions there. Apparently our form of government is not a "dictatorship" but who knew right?
Re: (Score:2)
There may be a directly-odin flashable way; I don't know. It sure seems like there ought to be; Google it, cunt. ;)
The waters here are murky for me because I'm on Verizon, so I'm blessed with a locked bootloader and therefore none of the cool kids like to play with me. If it were unlocked, I'd probably just install cyanogenmod and call it done.
But the downgrade, as I understand it, is needed because towelroot is needed because, well, it's VZW. And the security exploit that towelroot uses (thanks, geohot!
Re: (Score:2)
Which, all told, is still a pain in the ass, I guess:
The OG Droid's rooting process involved using adb to put a special su binary on the device...and, done.
My next two phones (Droid 4, Droid Bionic) both suffered from needing Safestrap and various fuckery to do anything fun.
And now I have an S5, which adds a downgrade to that process. But at least Samsung devices have odin, though, for when everything goes tits-up: Permanently bricking is all but impossible.
Re: (Score:2)
because I'm on Verizon, so I'm blessed with a locked bootloader and therefore none of the cool kids like to play with me.
Ahhh yes that explains a lot. I have never owned a locked Galaxy device which is why it came as a surprise to me.
Re: Easy solution, albeit a 'free market' one... (Score:1)
And if Samsung doesn't like the laws in China they're free to not do business there...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
You're witnessing the failure of that philosophy.
Another solution (Score:4, Informative)
Install CyanogenMod [cyanogenmod.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Had a Note 2, Considered a Note 4 (Score:2)
Went with the Nexus 6 right from the Google Play store.
Sure you can root and remove them as I did on my Note 2. You can get cool custom ROMS even, but my Note 2 was still pretty powerful but ROM makers moved on and it was getting less and less support.
This would be nice! (Score:1)
I have several apps on my Samsung Rugby I'll never use. Some are duplicates from Google, Samsung, and my service provider. Some are unremovable games (I don't play games on my phone). Facebook keeps trying to push it's crappy messenger at me that weighs in at over 20 meg, screw that. Options are good, as long as they are optional.
Damn Communists! (Score:1)
The free hand of Capitalism should be able to install as much junk and spyware as possible.
Pre-installed Malware on Chinese phones & tabl (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
And oddly, I somehow feel safer with the preinstalled Chinese malware vs. the preinstalled NSA malware. Really, it isn't the Chinese that are going to come knocking on my door. But alas, they probably share their data anyway, with some free-trade like spy agreement.
Re: (Score:1)
To be fair, and honest, the NSA (while detestable) is not going to come knocking on your door unless you are doing something horribly inappropriate according to their rules. I strongly suspect you are not doing anything that they care about. They, on the other hand, are doing something YOU care about and what they are doing is wrong. But, no... They are not going to come knocking on your door at this point in time. Not even if you are pirating software or music. Not even if you badmouth them online - NSA is
Hmmm.... (Score:2)
China does have some good points.
[puts on nationalist 'murican hat] It's probably just a propaganda campaign to make the USA look bad
[takes off hat] It's working.
Good! (Score:2)
You know something is wrong when you get a new phone, and the first thing you need to do is wipe the OS and install cyanogenmod just so the phone works properly.
This of course assumes that there's a version of cyanogenmod for your phone.
Re: (Score:2)
that is just stupid. why not just get a nexus or iPhone?
Re: (Score:2)
Because maybe people just don't / didn't know? When buying a non-cheap product from a major company, one would expect that it's actually fit for purpose, and so it wouldn't even occur to them to ask.
I got a Samsung Galaxy S3 cause everyone was raving about how awesome it was. Needless to say I was majorly pissed when I discovered what a steaming pile of crap it was. I've since switched the iOS, which I've had comparatively zero problems with, and am never touching an android device again.
Verizon Motorola Droid Turbo (Score:1)
Appropriate timing. Got 3 notifications from NFL Mobile yesterday. Thanks to whomever mentioned disabling above.
I hate bloatware as much as the next person... (Score:2)
I feel a company should have the right to choose whether or not to put bloatware on its devices, just like I have a right to avoid purchasing from that company because they're being retarded.
Re: (Score:2)
Why not? Suing them seems totally appropriate unless they are making adequate pre-purchase disclosure, and ensuring that the prospective purchaser is aware of the characteristics of the thing they are purchasing.
Disagree? Re-read Adam Smith.
User Dictionary (Score:2)
I see they mentioned User Dictionary right in the article. I consider User Dictionary to be malware.
I have to lock my version of Google+ to the factory version or else User Dictionary gets stuck in such a tight crash-restart loop that it only yields to the GUI for a split second before presenting the crash dialog. It eats all battery capacity in a few hours while the phone is sitting completely idle.
I have no idea what uses User Dictionary, but you certainly cannot disable it. Also, technically speaking, I
Maybe Microsoft Will Take The Hint (Score:2)
Maybe Microsoft will take the hint from this lawsuit and allow you to uninstall the built-in apps that come with Windows 10. Its great that they provide apps like "XBox" and "OneNote" gratis, but I've no interest in them and it bugs me that you can't uninstall them.
Wait, there's a new release version of the Win10 Preview. Maybe that's one of the things they've changed.
Nope, still can't uninstall. I guess Microsoft is really glued to the idea of making your desktop like a crappy smartphone...