Crapware that can be removed

[cookiemonster79]

I know when rooting comes along many options will open up, but for now I wanted to know if anyone had luck removing some of the pre-installed software. So far here is what I figured out.

- Let's Golf 2: This can be removed just like any other application.
- NOVA: I haven't removed it yet, but I believe others have successfully removed it.
- City ID: I don't remember the exact app name (I think City ID is right) or how I did it, but basically you go in and stop the trial subscription and it gives you an option to remove the app.

Anyone had luck removing any other pre-installed apps?

 

[rushmore]

City ID just went bye bye and running after the two overpriced, non market Gameloft games (compared to iTunes price).

 

[imnotmikal]

Good find on City ID. Already removed the games, feels good have yet another piece of bloat gone

 

[redddog]

1 down. 63 to go!

 

[beowulf7]

I wish we can get rid of crap like Blockbuster, all the VCast stuff, etc. Imagine if MS released Windows where you couldn't get rid of any icons.

Has anyone been able to use the free Terminal Emulator app to remove or uninstall some crapware apps? I know since the phone hasn't been rooted (yet), it's not an easy task, but just wondering if anyone has used Terminal Emulator on this phone to do stuff like this.

 

[imnotmikal]

I wish we can get rid of crap like Blockbuster, all the VCast stuff, etc. Imagine if MS released Windows where you couldn't get rid of any icons.

Has anyone been able to use the free Terminal Emulator app to remove or uninstall some crapware apps? I know since the phone hasn't been rooted (yet), it's not an easy task, but just wondering if anyone has used Terminal Emulator on this phone to do stuff like this.

It's not hard without root.
It's impossible without root.
The apps are saved in system files, which can ONLY be changed with root permission.

 

[beowulf7]

It's not hard without root.
It's impossible without root.
The apps are saved in system files, which can ONLY be changed with root permission.

That's true, but what about the links to the apps that appear under "All Apps"? Does that require root to remove the shortcut link (but not the app itself)? Perhaps Terminal Emulator, which offers a command line interface (CLI), allows that. I downloaded that app, but am not familiar on using it and don't want to mess something up. However, in general, I am comfortable in using CLI.

 

[rushmore]

Folks, best not to be messing with stuff until (if) a method is provided to recover, or at least use Titanium for the process. Messing with stuff ATM will likely result in sadness.

 

[imnotmikal]

That's true, but what about the links to the apps that appear under "All Apps"? Does that require root to remove the shortcut link (but not the app itself)? Perhaps Terminal Emulator, which offers a command line interface (CLI), allows that. I downloaded that app, but am not familiar on using it and don't want to mess something up. However, in general, I am comfortable in using CLI.

You'll have to use a custom launcher such as LauncherPro.
In LauncherPro settings, you can hide certain apps.

 

[Barbara]

You'll have to use a custom launcher such as LauncherPro.
In LauncherPro settings, you can hide certain apps.

You can actually sort of do that with the stock launcher. When you open the apps drawer, click on the icon in the upper left corner. Create a new group (I made one called Popular). Add the apps you want in that group. That will become your default group when you open the apps drawer so your favorites will be the only ones that you see.

 

[imnotmikal]

You can actually sort of do that with the stock launcher. When you open the apps drawer, click on the icon in the upper left corner. Create a new group (I made one called Popular). Add the apps you want in that group. That will become your default group when you open the apps drawer so your favorites will be the only ones that you see.

This also works, however, every time you install a new app, you'll have to add it the app group as well.

Granted, it's not a hard task, just some (such as myself) prefer to keep things as simple as possible (lazy lazy lazy)

 

[imnotmikal]

It was brought to my attention on another forum that uninstalling City ID does NOT remove it completely. Go to your applications manager in settings, and you'll see that it's still there.

 

[Frisco]

You can actually sort of do that with the stock launcher. When you open the apps drawer, click on the icon in the upper left corner. Create a new group (I made one called Popular). Add the apps you want in that group. That will become your default group when you open the apps drawer so your favorites will be the only ones that you see.

Nice tip, Barbara.

It's interesting how we see the same issue come up with the release of any new Android device, "how do I get rid of the bloatware?"

Rooting is the answer, of course. But then we see talk of the voided warranty, the concerns over whether OTAs will come to a rooted device and of course whether those OTAs will remove root and/or cause problems.

And then there are the ROMs.

I've found the useless apps to be not relevant in the Droid 3 for the reason that the hardware and operating system have enough resources and storage to easily handle their presence. I'm just annoyed that the carriers are forcing them onto us. Annoyed but not anything beyond that, like angry or whatever.

 

[beowulf7]

You'll have to use a custom launcher such as LauncherPro.
In LauncherPro settings, you can hide certain apps.

You can actually sort of do that with the stock launcher. When you open the apps drawer, click on the icon in the upper left corner. Create a new group (I made one called Popular). Add the apps you want in that group. That will become your default group when you open the apps drawer so your favorites will be the only ones that you see.

Thanks, I'll first try out Barbara's tip.

 

[aostang]

Someday they will learn that a large percentage of phone owners that want to root simply want root to remove all the bloatware. If they installed all the bloat in the removable user partition instead of system, we could remove what we want to remove and they wouldn't hear as many people bitch about needing root.