Once rooted, you might want to get rid of some of the Verizon Bloatware that came pre-installed on the phone.
1) Before you start making changes, I would strongly recommend backing up your device with a program like Titanium Backup (also in the market).
2) Instead of deleting files, I would recommend renaming them from <filename.apk> to <filename.apk.old> For example, there's a file called Blockbuster_Stub_v0_2_build_12-unsigned-signed.apk in the system/app folder. If you long press on this file, in root explorer, you have the option of renaming it. Select this and add .old to the end. Once you do this, it will no longer show up in your app drawer and there will be no trace of it starting up with the OS.
3) Alternatively, you could move these files to your SD card if you don't want them eating up space in your system folder. But do not delete these files. Over in the X forum, we learned that an OTA update would fail, because files we considered bloatware didn't exist. The system folder had to be exactly the way it was when the phone shipped.
4) Before you rename or move an app in the /system/app folder, check the list below. If it is not listed, or you are unsure if it is safe to modify, please ask first. Another lesson we learned with the Droid X is that there are several files in the system/app folder, that we thought fell in the bloatware category. They were actually essential apps in order for the phone to run. For example, renaming the Verizon Backup APK bricked the phone.
5) All that said, here are is a list of things I've successfully renamed without problems:
I have also removed and/or renamed the following wallpaper and Samsung widget specific APK's without any consequences:
DO NOT REMOVE VsuiteApp.apk - your Fascinate will immediately start force closing.
There will be others, I'm sure, but I won't be the first to try. Definitely nothing that is TouchWiz related.
If there are additional apps that you have successfully renamed or moved, please post them in this thread.
Suggested alternatives:
1) Before you start making changes, I would strongly recommend backing up your device with a program like Titanium Backup (also in the market).
2) Instead of deleting files, I would recommend renaming them from <filename.apk> to <filename.apk.old> For example, there's a file called Blockbuster_Stub_v0_2_build_12-unsigned-signed.apk in the system/app folder. If you long press on this file, in root explorer, you have the option of renaming it. Select this and add .old to the end. Once you do this, it will no longer show up in your app drawer and there will be no trace of it starting up with the OS.
3) Alternatively, you could move these files to your SD card if you don't want them eating up space in your system folder. But do not delete these files. Over in the X forum, we learned that an OTA update would fail, because files we considered bloatware didn't exist. The system folder had to be exactly the way it was when the phone shipped.
4) Before you rename or move an app in the /system/app folder, check the list below. If it is not listed, or you are unsure if it is safe to modify, please ask first. Another lesson we learned with the Droid X is that there are several files in the system/app folder, that we thought fell in the bloatware category. They were actually essential apps in order for the phone to run. For example, renaming the Verizon Backup APK bricked the phone.
5) All that said, here are is a list of things I've successfully renamed without problems:
- Blockbuster: Blockbuster_Stub_v0_2_build_12-unsigned-signed.apk
- Stock web browser: Browser.apk
- Subscription based (2.99 per month) app that displays city & state information for incoming calls: CityID_1.0.27_vzw.sch.i500_12118-release.apk
- Bing Search App: I500_BingSearchAndroid_07152010.apk
- My Verizon account information app: I500_MyVerizon_05202010.apk
- Samsung File Explorer: MyFiles.apk
- Need for Speed Limited demo version: NFSSInstallerSamsungEmbed_1.1.64.apk
- Amazon Kindle: redding-7648-signed-zipped.apk
- Skype: Skype_mobile.1.0.0.19.live.apk
- App that links to download and install Tetris: TetrisInstallerSamsungEMBED.apk
- VCast ringtones app: i500_VCASTTones_QA_060310_1436.apk
- VCast video app: VCastVideo.apk
- VCast music app: VCastMusic.apk
- VZNavigator: vnav_4.7.0.258_i500_rel_PROD_signed.apk
- Write & Go: WriteandGo.apk
- Verizon Instant Messaging Client: Final_Schi500_3.0.3.3_07262010.apk
- ThinkFree Office: ThinkDroid.apk
- All Samsung Widgets
I have also removed and/or renamed the following wallpaper and Samsung widget specific APK's without any consequences:
- LiveWallpapers.apk
- LiveWallpapers.odex
- LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
- LiveWallpapersPicker.odex
- MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
- MagicSmokeWallpapers.odex
- All TATLiveWallpapers & ODEX files.
DO NOT REMOVE VsuiteApp.apk - your Fascinate will immediately start force closing.
There will be others, I'm sure, but I won't be the first to try. Definitely nothing that is TouchWiz related.
If there are additional apps that you have successfully renamed or moved, please post them in this thread.
Suggested alternatives:
- Instead of the built in browser use Dolphin HD.
- Use Google Maps with Navigation instead of VZ Navigator.
- Buy apps through the Amazon MP3 store instead of the VCast music app.
- Convert movies using DVD Catalyst 3, then transfer to your SD card instead of using the VCast video app.
- Use Google Search or Vlingo (really cool search app) instead of Bing.
- For local file browsing try Astro Explorer instead of My Files. If rooted use Root Explorer.
- Search AppBrain for a free caller ID - instead of the subscription based CityID app.
- Instead of ThinkFree use Documents To Go.
- Instead of the Verizon IM client (which only works over Verizon's 3G network) search AppBrain for an IM client app and/or stick to the built in Gtalk application.
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