Google is afraid of Samsung, which is why the Pixel 4 is lackluster.

[imma_rage_quit]

Printing, Gear VR, Samsung Car Mode, Samsung Kids, Samsung Game Launcher, Samsung browser, Sanding LED Cover, etc

See I think that instead of just putting all of those apos on the phone out of the box they should put them on the Play Store and let people download what they want rather than shove it all down their throats right out of the box. FWIW I feel the same way about buying phones from the carriers it's not just Samsung. They just add more crap onto the phones.

 

[eshropshire]

That's my opinion. Samsung has teased starting their own phone operating system several times, always to stay with Android. Samsung is the giant market leader in sales, over 20% each quarter worldwide. Apple usually 10-14%.

If Google introduces a killer phone that crushes Samsung in hardware, Samsung would simply launch their own OS and kill off Android. Android would be left with LG and Motorola. Samsung would probably switch browsers too, further hurting Google.

There is obviously some agreement between Google and Samsung, that the Pixels will stay a year or two behind Samsung in hardware, and simply compete with their camera software.

Btw, I know Microsoft tried this and failed, but they didn't have brand loyalty, hardware infrastructure, production facilities, or experience to do it right, nor the existing market reach into every major retail store.

I totally disagree. BTW, I am Samsung Note user and have been for years, phones and tablets. I am a big SPen user, a major part of my business usage.

I don't think Google HW design is influenced by Samsung. I believe Google HW strongly reflects Google's connectivity view of the world. Many here on this forum echo this view.

The same is true for Microsoft under Nadella. Many old school MS users do not get it, they are stuck in the Balmer era. They can't comprehend why MS has chosen Android. Nadella said it best a few weeks ago. MS could care less about the OS layer. Today everything is about getting their services widely used. MS mobile market share now with serices like O365 is huge. Something they never would have achieved trying to flog their own mobile OS.

I don't buy fully in, but I do buy partially in to Google complete view of connectivity. I love being a Google fiber customer. I like the flexibility of Android and the options of different devices and manufacturers. I also, like the new Dex and Your Phone changes MS and Samsung delivered on the Note 10. Now that MS is tied to Android I think all those who use MS will greatly benefit over the next 12 months.

I think the Pixel phones are great devices for many people. If they meet your needs go for them. I think Samsung, One Plus, Motorola and others are great phone options. I also, think iPhones are a great option for many who like the iOS system. Buy what works best for you.

BTW, Samsung has zero plans to use Tizen for anything but as a IOT OS, and that includes watches. They did a few very low end phones several years ago, but that effort has ended.

 

[illdini]

By using emulation and/or virtualization, it is theoretically possible for Samsung to use a different OS and still run Android apps.

You can run Android apps on Windows using an emulator (for example, Bluestacks) or you can download Android Studio and configure a virtual Android machine. With most smartphones having multiple processor cores, the performance/battery hit would be minimal. Also note that Samsung has several patents pertaining to virtualization.

Now, why hasn't Samsung implemented emulation/virtualization of Android? My guess is that it would be hard to explain to the average consumer, especially if Google blocked Samsung from using the terms Android or Google Play Store in their advertising. Alternatively, Samsung makes a lot of smartphone components, and they probably don't want to antagonize a customer (Google, or whoever their OEM is).

 

[belodion]

@Vaffanculo403 check your PMs.

 

[njgill05]

Random apps? Like what?

This is what led me to get rid of the S10+ I had, loved the phone, hated that I was forced to have facebook and all the samsung duplicate apps for every google service. You can disable and hide them yes, but I don't trust facebook and don't use it so I found it unacceptable to have make a whole folder to hide apps I didn't want and couldn't delete. That and Facebook app was still sending data even when disabled and not signed in, so that felt off.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

This is what led me to get rid of the S10+ I had, loved the phone, hated that I was forced to have facebook and all the samsung duplicate apps for every google service. You can disable and hide them yes, but I don't trust facebook and don't use it so I found it unacceptable to have make a whole folder to hide apps I didn't want and couldn't delete. That and Facebook app was still sending data even when disabled and not signed in, so that felt off.

Bingo!

 

[alodar101]

Sorry I don't need 82 selfie apps...

In short order, I have the Note9, S10+ and the Note10+. Very very few Samsung apps and I don't recall seeing any freeware apps like they used to use. ALL were clean off the junk.

 

[alodar101]

This is what led me to get rid of the S10+ I had, loved the phone, hated that I was forced to have facebook and all the samsung duplicate apps for every google service. You can disable and hide them yes, but I don't trust facebook and don't use it so I found it unacceptable to have make a whole folder to hide apps I didn't want and couldn't delete. That and Facebook app was still sending data even when disabled and not signed in, so that felt off.

This is true. I've always disliked the dupes. But that's kind of different that all that random freeware. I've always disliked all the dupes. I only use Samsung pay... The rest, who cares.

This is where the problem starts in though. We have that forced dupes. But we like the hardware extras. Real fine line. The thread title about lackluster offering talks exactly about the extras offered by others. If you don't care for the extras, then a pixel should be great....hiccups like screen colors and memory issues notwithstanding.

Is P4 works as advertised, without the hiccups like the last 2 versions, the the P4 will be my phone

 

[imma_rage_quit]

Printing, Gear VR, Samsung Car Mode, Samsung Kids, Samsung Game Launcher, Samsung browser, Sanding LED Cover, Samsung pay etc. All are duplicate Google apps and none can be removed from the phone without rooting it and manually deleting the APK's. As someone almost mentioned above Facebook also cannot be removed and even if it's blocked it continues to send data.

These apps should be on the Play Store and users should be able to download them if they want then. They shouldn't be baked into the OS and unable to be removed without hacking the device.

 

[rabernet]

Printing, Gear VR, Samsung Car Mode, Samsung Kids, Samsung Game Launcher, Samsung browser, Sanding LED Cover, Samsung pay etc. All are duplicate Google apps and none can be removed from the phone without rooting it and manually deleting the APK's. As someone almost mentioned above Facebook also cannot be removed and even if it's blocked it continues to send data.

These apps should be on the Play Store and users should be able to download them if they want then. They shouldn't be baked into the OS and unable to be removed without hacking the device.

Game Launcher, Browser and Pay are the only ones you listed that are pre-installed on my Note 10+.

It's great that there's a phone for you and that Samsung isn't it, but you seem to be taking a personal affront to those who are quite happy with their Samsung experience.

 

[Mike Dee]

Game Launcher, Browser and Pay are the only ones you listed that are pre-installed on my Note 10+.

It's great that there's a phone for you and that Samsung isn't it, but you seem to be taking a personal affront to those who are quite happy with their Samsung experience.

..... Just to add. Not all preinstalled apps are bad. Some are actually quite useful.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

..... Just to add. Not all preinstalled apps are bad. Some are actually quite useful.

They should be on the Play Store for download if you want them. What you find useful others won't. The phones shouldn't come packed with garbage that may or may not be useful depending on who's using it. Most phone manufacturers are guilty of this and so are the carriers. All they do is slow the phone down, drain the battery, and invade our privacy...

 

[Mike Dee]

They should be on the Play Store for download if you want them. What you find useful others won't. The phones shouldn't come packed with garbage that may or may not be useful depending on who's using it. Most phone manufacturers are guilty of this and so are the carriers. All they do is slow the phone down, drain the battery, and invade our privacy...

What should be and shouldn't be isn't really our choice. Just buy what you like.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

It is our choice. It's not communist China where we have to do what they tell us to do. If everyone stopped buying phones from the companies that did that stuff companies would either stop doing it and sell bloat-free devices or go out of business. However, 99% of the world has no idea what bloatware even is and it's more important that their camera makes them look like a deer when they take a selfie so things will never change...

 

[Rukbat]

And 99% of the world is the customers who support the companies. Everyone on all cellphone forums combined wouldn't make as much impression on a manufacturer as a 0.01% increase in costs.

 

[Mike Dee]

It is our choice. It's not communist China where we have to do what they tell us to do. If everyone stopped buying phones from the companies that did that stuff companies would either stop doing it and sell bloat-free devices or go out of business. However, 99% of the world has no idea what bloatware even is and it's more important that their camera makes them look like a deer when they take a selfie so things will never change...

That's why I said buy what you like.... It's your choice. Its not your choice on which softwate is preloaded on devices.

 

[me just saying]

It is our choice. It's not communist China where we have to do what they tell us to do. If everyone stopped buying phones from the companies that did that stuff companies would either stop doing it and sell bloat-free devices or go out of business. However, 99% of the world has no idea what bloatware even is and it's more important that their camera makes them look like a deer when they take a selfie so things will never change...

you don't even know what bloatware is, neither do I. IMO, the definition of bloatware is any unwanted preinstalled app. BUT, bloatware for one can be a favorite app for another.

 

[imma_rage_quit]

you don't even know what bloatware is, neither do I. IMO, the definition of bloatware is any unwanted preinstalled app. BUT, bloatware for one can be a favorite app for another.

That's exactly why the apps shouldn't be installed on if the box. They should be made available on the Play Store for download. If you want it download it if you don't want it then don't. The way it is right now it's on your phone whether you want it or not and you literally can't remove it unless you root the device and uninstall with ADB. At the very least they should make it so you can easily uninstall them. Developers are able to restrict downloads to only certain devices. Ship it without the trash and let people decide what they want.

 

[Mike Dee]

That's exactly why the apps shouldn't be installed on if the box. They should be made available on the Play Store for download. If you want it download it if you don't want it then don't. The way it is right now it's on your phone whether you want it or not and you literally can't remove it unless you root the device and uninstall with ADB. At the very least they should make it so you can easily uninstall them. Developers are able to restrict downloads to only certain devices. Ship it without the trash and let people decide what they want.

You're right, they should ship it without software you don't want. Be prepared to pay more if that happens because I'm sure they are making money by including certain apps.

 

[Golurk]

It is our choice. It's not communist China where we have to do what they tell us to do. If everyone stopped buying phones from the companies that did that stuff companies would either stop doing it and sell bloat-free devices or go out of business. However, 99% of the world has no idea what bloatware even is and it's more important that their camera makes them look like a deer when they take a selfie so things will never change...

It’s not hard to accept that companies will add some of their own apps to their Android custom UIs. TBH you’re probably in the minority here, and being patronising to the majority of smartphone users isn’t going to help. 99% of the world is as Rukbat said customers who support the companies. They don’t know what bloatware is because it doesn’t intrude upon their overall experience.