I made the mistake of getting an S25 recently when I moved off iPhones for the first time in years. I love the look of Samsung hardware and I had one of their phones way back but I hadn't kept up to date enough on Android to know that flashing custom ROMs is practically dead which wrecked my plans.
Now I'm just waiting for this thing to be paid off and I'll get a Pixel (or preferably a Moto if possible by then) to install Graphnee on
This right here is my only complaint about my motorola. I wish that the UI looks sleeker because I have yet to find anything except for Apple that remotely comes close to the sleekness of Samsung's One UI.
Google is no longer supporting new Pixel phones in AOSP. The days of custom ROMs just working on Pixels is over. Consider getting Fairphone if custom ROMs are a must have for you.
Buy something with a relockable bootloader you can put a supported custom rom on. Currently, that's probably some kind of Pixel. No Stock Rom is usable right now.
This is why I never bought a second Samsung phone. The one I bought was pretty nice, but the the huge amount of crapware that could not be uninstalled really ruined the experience for me.
I discovered a Nokia X20 part of the Android One program, that has native Android on it. I loved it so much, I bought a second one, even though my first is still going strong.
Two issues, no more OS updates. I'm stuck on Android 14, and there's a weird bug with the navigation buttons vanishing from time to time.
Not a recommendation as such, more that there are phones that run unadulterated Android.
Just yesterday I finally put LineageOS on my old Tab S5e. Its so much nicer and way more fluent. Too bad Samsung makes their devices show a vwarnkng you have to click away every time the device boots now...
mine needed to be reflashed to the consumer cellular carrier rom as the at&t rom did not have oem unlock as an option, before liniage os could be flashed.
Pretty sure the 'your device is booting a different operating system' thingy is a general Android security feature. Torn on it, because as such, it ain't stupid to tell the user they aren't booting what came with the device, but it might discourage usage of non-stock Roms.
I tell you one thing that Amazon did that pissed me off. I've been using IMDb for years. I like the site and I know exactly how to navigate it. However, I've never had an actual account on IMDb. I've never wanted one, never needed one. I'm not interested in sharing my thoughts with others, only reading what others have to say.
Then to my surprise one day, I go to IMDb.com and I'm signed in with my name and have an account that I never fucking created.
Somehow, Amazon automatically created an account and signed me in in my browser without my knowledge or approval.
So, I immediately took the steps I needed to take to delete the account from IMDb only to have it do the same fucking thing 2 days later.
I think it's using my Amazon account that I'm signed into in the browser to do this. There has to be a law against this. I never requested an account on IMDb, I never wanted one and I had never approved one.
So I guess the only logical thing for me to do is to leave offensive and vulgar reviews of everything I see on their website so that I can get banned. Only then might I not actually have these accounts automatically created for me.
Amazon owns IMDB and shares the same automated login system. They are different accounts, so of course you can delete one account without hurting the other. But the process will repeat. IMDb ask, does the user have credentials for an a account? Amazon says, yes, this user has these credentials. IMDB logs your credentials and sees that you don't have an account, so they kick start a brand new one tied to your already existing credentials and the information they already collected from your usage.
Maybe try a different browser with containers, or accessing in incognito mode. If you already use IMDB so much, they already know most about you. They fingerprint and collect a profile about your usage.
Maybe switch to a different service like TMDB or whatever.
I haven't had a chance to try to get banned yet. I'm just playing that game right now where I delete my account from IMDb and then eventually it'll create a new one for me and then I delete it again and repeat.
I just try to remember that anytime I want to go to IMDb, I'll do it in incognito mode.
You can always ignore them and install your own apps. The problem is that it doesn't let you uninstall them and they take up space for no reason. For what it's worth, some of Samsung's default apps are better than Google's.
Yup, same, years ago I used all the google apps, chrome, gmail, pay, keep, contact, clock, etc then bought a Samsung phone so every apps were kind of duplicated with samsung pay, samsung internet, samsung agenda, samsung gallery, samsung clock etc. And if you use google clock for your morning alarms, samsung app killer will kill it during the night and BAM! no alarm the morning. I ditched it and bought a Pixel.
I dropped Samsung after the combo hit of removing thr micro sd card slot and preinstallation of Facebook. Went Motorola G stylus and was mindbown by the performance on it. I have no idea why I was paying 1.2k on my devices, this one is third to half the price and does everything without the bloat. Makes me wish I had done this a couple years ago instead of repeatedly cycling through S20s that were just lemons. would have probably saved myself some money.
I havent unlocked mine cause I didn't get it used and while I know its not legal for them to do, I don't have the energy to fight them if I did try and do a warranty claim since they state they invalidate warranties when you unlock the boot loader
Yeah, I did not unlock mine yet, only started the process to make sure it's possible. That's the nuclear option for whenever lockdown happens here. What is really needed is the relockable bootloader, i.e. Moto's supposed upcoming GrapheneOS phone.
Thank fuck debloating is still possible without bootloader unlock or root.
I use xiaomi redmi phones, fight me if you want, but it comes with a ton of extra bloatware and try to force you to use their apps. I have used shizuku+canta, basically uses ADB without a computer to remove all those peaky impossible to uninstall apps. Boom, cheap phone without those pesky issues. Another thing if you are really ambitious is trying to install a custom ROM, but that is out of most peoples capabilities. So shizuku+canta will get you very far
I've accidentally got the newest Xperia model instead of the previous one (still no LineageOS) and had to replace some core apps (like, phone, SMS) with foss alternatives, since they kept nagging me about the forcibly removed Play dependencies. To my complaint, Sony answered that "they sell it as a Google package and the Play framework is integral there". How this is GDPR compliant, can be sold here, is beyound me.
But the hardware is worth it, can even be used with one hand and no battery worries.
Btw, plastic body is superior; my screen and battery should've be at least 10x cracked now. Especially after a Oneplus, whose back is covered in glass, can't really be repaired.
People were uninformed. Same as you are now because Amazon (the sales site) isn't the bulk of the companies money making by a long shot. Something like half the web relies on AWS (their real money maker).
Preinstalling an app in the phone factory is different from "installing an app on your phone". The actual article says nothing about this happening to phones that were already sold. Only the headline makes this claim.
54 Comments
SomeRandomNoob@discuss.tchncs.de · 36 pts · 28d
I'm never gonna buy a Samsung phone whether they like it or not
NotSteve_@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 28d
I made the mistake of getting an S25 recently when I moved off iPhones for the first time in years. I love the look of Samsung hardware and I had one of their phones way back but I hadn't kept up to date enough on Android to know that flashing custom ROMs is practically dead which wrecked my plans.
Now I'm just waiting for this thing to be paid off and I'll get a Pixel (or preferably a Moto if possible by then) to install Graphnee on
Pika@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 28d
This right here is my only complaint about my motorola. I wish that the UI looks sleeker because I have yet to find anything except for Apple that remotely comes close to the sleekness of Samsung's One UI.
woelkchen@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 27d
Google is no longer supporting new Pixel phones in AOSP. The days of custom ROMs just working on Pixels is over. Consider getting Fairphone if custom ROMs are a must have for you.
selfmate@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 28d
At least it's android and better than xiaomi
SomeRandomNoob@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 28d
Android vs IOS is like the choice between cholera and the plague.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 28d
Buy something with a relockable bootloader you can put a supported custom rom on. Currently, that's probably some kind of Pixel. No Stock Rom is usable right now.
Phantaloons@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 27d
Got me Oneplus 11 Got me Lineage
Simpol 'as
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 28d
This is why I never bought a second Samsung phone. The one I bought was pretty nice, but the the huge amount of crapware that could not be uninstalled really ruined the experience for me.
ByteMe@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 28d
Android has been totally ruined my oems. Install lineage os and you find out what android really is.
vk6flab@lemmy.radio · 5 pts · 28d
I discovered a Nokia X20 part of the Android One program, that has native Android on it. I loved it so much, I bought a second one, even though my first is still going strong.
Two issues, no more OS updates. I'm stuck on Android 14, and there's a weird bug with the navigation buttons vanishing from time to time.
Not a recommendation as such, more that there are phones that run unadulterated Android.
ByteMe@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 28d
Why not gesture navigation?
Lineage os?
vk6flab@lemmy.radio · 2 pts · 28d
I've never gotten my head around it, but if the vanishing buttons annoy me enough, I might have to make the change.
Unfortunately, my phone is not on the supported hardware list.
MaggiWuerze@feddit.org · 2 pts · 28d
Just yesterday I finally put LineageOS on my old Tab S5e. Its so much nicer and way more fluent. Too bad Samsung makes their devices show a vwarnkng you have to click away every time the device boots now...
Fredy1422@lemmy.ml · 2 pts · 28d
mine needed to be reflashed to the consumer cellular carrier rom as the at&t rom did not have oem unlock as an option, before liniage os could be flashed.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 28d
Pretty sure the 'your device is booting a different operating system' thingy is a general Android security feature. Torn on it, because as such, it ain't stupid to tell the user they aren't booting what came with the device, but it might discourage usage of non-stock Roms.
ByteMe@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 28d
LG does too. I'm sure there is a way to hide it
judgyweevil@feddit.it · 3 pts · 28d
What do you use instead?
woelkchen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 27d
It's way better now. I can uninstall almost everything on my S26 company phone.
Auli@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 27d
Google installs tons of crapware also. Its funny iOS you can uninstall more then google. However MacOS they push their crap on you.
kepix@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 28d
1 out of 170 bloatware apps on samsung's android
kurmudgeon@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 28d
I tell you one thing that Amazon did that pissed me off. I've been using IMDb for years. I like the site and I know exactly how to navigate it. However, I've never had an actual account on IMDb. I've never wanted one, never needed one. I'm not interested in sharing my thoughts with others, only reading what others have to say.
Then to my surprise one day, I go to IMDb.com and I'm signed in with my name and have an account that I never fucking created.
Somehow, Amazon automatically created an account and signed me in in my browser without my knowledge or approval.
So, I immediately took the steps I needed to take to delete the account from IMDb only to have it do the same fucking thing 2 days later.
I think it's using my Amazon account that I'm signed into in the browser to do this. There has to be a law against this. I never requested an account on IMDb, I never wanted one and I had never approved one.
So I guess the only logical thing for me to do is to leave offensive and vulgar reviews of everything I see on their website so that I can get banned. Only then might I not actually have these accounts automatically created for me.
dustyData@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 28d
Amazon owns IMDB and shares the same automated login system. They are different accounts, so of course you can delete one account without hurting the other. But the process will repeat. IMDb ask, does the user have credentials for an a account? Amazon says, yes, this user has these credentials. IMDB logs your credentials and sees that you don't have an account, so they kick start a brand new one tied to your already existing credentials and the information they already collected from your usage.
Maybe try a different browser with containers, or accessing in incognito mode. If you already use IMDB so much, they already know most about you. They fingerprint and collect a profile about your usage.
Maybe switch to a different service like TMDB or whatever.
nehal3m@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 28d
I wonder if that’s legal. I guess IMDb is just one of the oily black tentacles of the entity that owns everything?
gnate@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 28d
Well yes,IMDB is owned by Amazon.
DaGeek247@fedia.io · 1 pts · 22d
They just did this shit to me. Did you manage to get banned/did it resolve the issue?
kurmudgeon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 22d
I haven't had a chance to try to get banned yet. I'm just playing that game right now where I delete my account from IMDb and then eventually it'll create a new one for me and then I delete it again and repeat.
I just try to remember that anytime I want to go to IMDb, I'll do it in incognito mode.
psud@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 21d
You might end up getting banned from Amazon too
kurmudgeon@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 21d
At this point I don't know that I care if that happens
vk6flab@lemmy.radio · 9 pts · 28d
We bought exactly one Samsung Android device, that attempted to force us to use Samsung tools for:
I'm pretty sure that there were more.
We won't ever buy a Samsung Android device again.
LeapSecond@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 28d
You can always ignore them and install your own apps. The problem is that it doesn't let you uninstall them and they take up space for no reason. For what it's worth, some of Samsung's default apps are better than Google's.
lemmyng@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 28d
Even through adb uninstall commands?
LeapSecond@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 28d
That should be possible, I never cared enough to try
pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 28d
agreed
Magister@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 28d
Yup, same, years ago I used all the google apps, chrome, gmail, pay, keep, contact, clock, etc then bought a Samsung phone so every apps were kind of duplicated with samsung pay, samsung internet, samsung agenda, samsung gallery, samsung clock etc. And if you use google clock for your morning alarms, samsung app killer will kill it during the night and BAM! no alarm the morning. I ditched it and bought a Pixel.
BenVimes@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 28d
I'm already never buying another Samsung phone - or any other Samsung device, for that matter. You don't need to keep convincing me.
finalarbiter@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 28d
Shizuku + Canta is the way
Pika@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 28d
I dropped Samsung after the combo hit of removing thr micro sd card slot and preinstallation of Facebook. Went Motorola G stylus and was mindbown by the performance on it. I have no idea why I was paying 1.2k on my devices, this one is third to half the price and does everything without the bloat. Makes me wish I had done this a couple years ago instead of repeatedly cycling through S20s that were just lemons. would have probably saved myself some money.
f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyz · 2 pts · 27d
I got a used Stylus 2024 and removed everything recommended on the debloat lists, using Shizuku and Canta, and now my battery lasts three days.
All of the (non-Verizon) Motos I've seen have unlockable bootloaders, too.
Pika@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 27d
I havent unlocked mine cause I didn't get it used and while I know its not legal for them to do, I don't have the energy to fight them if I did try and do a warranty claim since they state they invalidate warranties when you unlock the boot loader
f4f4f4f4f4f4f4f4@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 27d
Yeah, I did not unlock mine yet, only started the process to make sure it's possible. That's the nuclear option for whenever lockdown happens here. What is really needed is the relockable bootloader, i.e. Moto's supposed upcoming GrapheneOS phone.
Thank fuck debloating is still possible without bootloader unlock or root.
lemmyng@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 28d
Had a Galaxy A8 phone before switching to a Pixel 4XL with GrapheneOS. Guess which one had better performance.
Flatfire@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 28d
Well you went from Samsung's budget model to a Google flagship. I'm sure Graphene felt nice, but it wasn't why the phone performed better lol
Auli@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 27d
Go from an S series and it well beat the pixel. Software cannot fix the shit that google is doing with hardware.
Mwa@thelemmy.club · 2 pts · 28d
Well am glad I don't update my Samsung phone
woelkchen@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 27d
It's a misleading headline. They aren't installing the app on your phone. They'll preinstall it on phones in the factory before they're sold.
notaviking@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 28d
I use xiaomi redmi phones, fight me if you want, but it comes with a ton of extra bloatware and try to force you to use their apps. I have used shizuku+canta, basically uses ADB without a computer to remove all those peaky impossible to uninstall apps. Boom, cheap phone without those pesky issues. Another thing if you are really ambitious is trying to install a custom ROM, but that is out of most peoples capabilities. So shizuku+canta will get you very far
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 28d
I've accidentally got the newest Xperia model instead of the previous one (still no LineageOS) and had to replace some core apps (like, phone, SMS) with foss alternatives, since they kept nagging me about the forcibly removed Play dependencies. To my complaint, Sony answered that "they sell it as a Google package and the Play framework is integral there". How this is GDPR compliant, can be sold here, is beyound me.
But the hardware is worth it, can even be used with one hand and no battery worries.
Btw, plastic body is superior; my screen and battery should've be at least 10x cracked now. Especially after a Oneplus, whose back is covered in glass, can't really be repaired.
Buffalox@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 28d
Fuck Amazon, I have no idea how that company got so big, other than people have no values! 🙁
deliriousdreams@fedia.io · 3 pts · 28d
People were uninformed. Same as you are now because Amazon (the sales site) isn't the bulk of the companies money making by a long shot. Something like half the web relies on AWS (their real money maker).
MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 28d
And their infamous launcher only got less laggy, because phones got more powerful.
Sirence@feddit.org · 1 pts · 28d
Canta debloater is a must have app
roserose56@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 28d
Amazon is doing this many years now, including Amazon app and Spotify. Lots of money to be made out of it
woelkchen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 27d
Preinstalling an app in the phone factory is different from "installing an app on your phone". The actual article says nothing about this happening to phones that were already sold. Only the headline makes this claim.