Once rooted, you might want to get rid of some of the Sprint 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 redding-7648-signed-zipped.apk (Amazon Kindle) 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.
5) All that said, here are is a list of things I've successfully renamed without problems:
There will be others, I'm sure, but I won't be the first to try. Definitely nothing that has TW or Touchwiz in it.
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 redding-7648-signed-zipped.apk (Amazon Kindle) 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.
5) All that said, here are is a list of things I've successfully renamed without problems:
- Sprint Hotspot: mobileap.apk
- Sprint account information, news, and suggested apps portal: SprintZone.apk
- Qik: qik_0.3.74.apk
- Sprint TV: SprintTV.apk
- Sprint TV Widget: SprintTVWidget.apk
- Stock web browser: Browser.apk
- Task Manager: jobManager.apk <----- I actually like this app, but that's your decision
- Asphalt 5 Demo: Asphalt.apk
- Samsung File Explorer: MyFiles.apk
- Amazon Kindle: redding-7648-signed-zipped.apk
- Media Hub: mediahub.apk
- Skype: Skype_mobile.1.0.0.19.live.apk
- Sprint NFL: sfl-prod-release.apk and/or com.handson.h2o.nfl.apk
- Sprint Nascar: nascar09-prod-release.apk
- Sprint Nav: sn28-1092-sprint-signed.apk & telenav.apk
- Sprint Visual Voicemail: cm-android.apk
- ThinkFree Office: ThinkDroid.apk
There will be others, I'm sure, but I won't be the first to try. Definitely nothing that has TW or Touchwiz in it.
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 Sprint Nav.
- Convert movies using DVD Catalyst 3, then transfer to your SD card instead of the yet to be released Samsung Media Hub
- Google Search is great, but also check out Vlingo (really cool search app)
- For local file browsing try Astro Explorer instead of My Files. If rooted use Root Explorer.
- Instead of ThinkFree try Documents To Go.
- Instead of the subscription based Sprint Mobile Hotspot app - checkout Wireless Tether for Root Users and/or Barnacle
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