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Google Relaxes Handset Makers' Requirements for "Must-Include" Android Apps

Posted by timothy on from the hardly-the-worst-offenders dept.

According to The Verge, anyone who buys a new Android phone may benefit from an interesting change in their phone's default apps: namely, fewer pieces of included bloatware. However, the affected apps might not be the ones that a user concerned with bloatware might care most about (like carrier-specific apps), but are rather some of the standard Google-provided ones (Google+, Google Play Games, Google Play Books and Google Newsstand). These apps will still be available at the Google Play Store, just not required for a handset maker to get Google's blessing. (Also at ZDNet.)

4 of 80 comments (clear)

  1. Pff. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Now let's see Google let OEMs choose which browser to bundle with their devices. Open platform my aching ass.

  2. Good God, no. by Overzeetop · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What makes you think the Verizon browser would be anything but a shit sandwich with extra advertising on top?

    Remember that Verizon still hasn't adopted IMAP for their email protocol. To view them as competent at anything is a farce.

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    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  3. If only I could convince the manufacturers ... by damn_registrars · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wish I could convince the phone manufacturers that I don't need the facebook app. I don't have a facebook account and have no use for the app, yet my phone will not let me uninstall it. In fact my phone keeps telling me that I need to update this large app that I never use.

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    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  4. Re:Sort of the opposite of what I was hoping... by gaiageek · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Exactly this. Android isn't a fledgling OS anymore where Google has to suck up to carrier demands. It needs to require that Android phones be able to receive critical system updates. It's actually pretty inexcusable that Android has gotten this far without this -- and I say this is a die-hard Android user.

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    www.gaiageek.com