Galaxy S6: Most of the bloatware can be removed... sort of [UPDATED]
Tech specs: Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge
[UPDATE: It appears this is not as simple as it seemed initially. You can remove icons from the user interface (UI) by disabling apps, but the removed app still remain on the flash memory. This means that while you can streamline the UI, the unwanted apps still take up space on the flash memory.
Here's a video that shows how it works:
It's a compromise, but it's a step in the right direction, but it's still annoying that Samsung doesn't give users a proper - and permanent - way to delete unwanted apps.]
One of the biggest complaints leveled at Android smartphones is the plethora of apps, many of which unwanted, that come preinstalled on the devices. Samsung has listened to this and has made the bloatware it installs on the Galaxy S6 user-removable.
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According to screenshots uploaded to the XDA Developers forum by member Jeshter2000, users are able to uninstall a range of apps including Google apps such as YouTube and Play Store, along with the Microsoft OneDrive, OneNote, and Skype apps.
Not only that, but users will also be able to delete Samsung's own apps, such as Calculator, S Voice, and S Health.
Deleting unwanted apps not only allows the user to free up space on the smartphone, but also allows them to streamline the user interface to suit their needs.
This offers the best of both worlds, allowing those who like getting free stuff to continue to have access to free stuff, while simultaneously allowing those who want a more pure Android experience to get it.
Being able to remove unnecessary apps will also be useful in BYOD or corporate situations where the use of some apps will be banned.
If the user later suffers from "deleter's remorse," the apps can be redownloaded from either the Play Store or Samsung's Galaxy Apps marketplace.
While Samsung is moving in the direction of allowing users to remove apps, Apple is increasingly foisting undeletable apps such as Newsstand and the Apple Watch app on users.
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