Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Your next Android phone is about to have quite a bit less bloatware from Google

By

Android M Hands On
Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends
Up until now, if phone manufacturers wanted to include one of Google’s applications, such as the Play Store, they would need to preinstall the majority of Google apps, such as Hangouts, Google Play Newsstand, Google+, Gmail, and more. However, it seems that Google looks to continue to move away from this policy, as the search giant will no longer make certain apps mandatory installs, reports Android Central.

According to the outlet, Google Play Books, Google+, Google Play Games, and Google Play Newsstand will join Google Earth and Google Keep as apps that are no longer part of the required app package that these manufacturers must install if they opt for one of Google’s apps. Users will still have access to these apps through the Play Store, so you can still download them, if you want.

Recommended Videos

It’s easy to see why people wouldn’t be fans of bloatware on their phones. Not only do these apps take up storage space and memory, but they also take away choice on the part of the consumer. China wanted to give that choice back to the consumer by filing a lawsuit against Samsung due to the whopping 44 preinstalled apps on the Galaxy Note 3. As a result of China’s win in the legal argument, Samsung had no choice but to release a software update that allows users to dismiss these apps.

In addition, it possibly made Samsung more conscious about the apps it installs on its phones, which could be why the large majority of apps in the company’s recent Galaxy smartphone offerings could be disabled.

Unfortunately for purists and bloatware haters alike, carriers can still preinstall their apps onto phones, a controversial practice that seems to be liked by a select few and disliked by the majority. Whether this practice will continue in the near future or whether Google will finally step in and put an end to the madness is still to be determined.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Williams Pelegrin
Williams Pelegrin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Williams is an avid New York Yankees fan, speaks Spanish, resides in Colorado, and has an affinity for Frosted Flakes. Send…
Android 15 release date: When will my phone get the update?
The Android 15 logo on a smartphone.

Google has announced and shown off Android 15, which is the next major version of its mobile operating system. The development and release cycle of Android typically has a three-phase strategy, and that applies to Android 15 as well.

The first phase is always the Developer Preview phase, which happened earlier this year. It’s then followed by the more public Beta testing phase, and then the final, stable version comes out for everyone.

Read more
Google has a magical new way for you to control your Android phone
Holding the Google Pixel 8 Pro, showing its Home Screen.

You don’t need your hands to control your Android phone anymore. At Google I/O 2024, Google announced Project Gameface for Android, an incredible new accessibility feature that will let users control their devices with head movements and facial gestures.

There are 52 unique facial gestures supported. These include raising your eyebrow, opening your mouth, glancing in a certain direction, looking up, smiling, and more. Each gesture can be mapped to an action like pulling down the notification shade, going back to the previous app, opening the app drawer, or going back to home. Users can customize facial expressions, gesture sizes, cursor speed, and more.

Read more
Android 15 has a clever way to make notifications less annoying
The Lock Screen on the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

This year's Google I/O 2024 was kicked off with one of the rare keynotes where Android did not see most of the limelight. AI -- and more specifically, Gemini -- was the talk of the show, and even the Android section of the keynote was filled with all the intelligent features coming with Android 15. The second beta of Android 15 rolled out just a few hours after the keynote, and it brings many more features that weren't discussed onstage. One of them is "Adaptive Vibration," which seems exclusive to Pixel phones for now.

As the name suggests, Adaptive Vibration is designed to fine-tune the vibration strength of incoming notifications based on the environment or where your phone is located. Android Authority discovered the feature under the Sound & vibrations menu in Android 15 's settings.

Read more