Ways to make U11 more stock like?

[quietlybrilliant]

I like the U11 apart from two things:

1. Inability to use the legal tethering feature of the phone, unlike Oneplus and Nexus phones which have this feature because it's legal, due to an apparent consumer-unfriendly business deal HTC struck with AT&T.

2. It pushing its own AI assistant and Google Now equivalent, as well as for its USonic headphones and other HTC-made features all over the settings.

Since it looks like I can't get rid of 1 (and am not allowed to discuss it further in the forums) I'm now hoping to at least make my U11 more Vanilla Android by addressing 2 and removing those references to HTC assistant and headphones from the settings. Any ideas to that extent? Thanks!

 

[NEXUS_HTC_PS]

I like the U11 apart from two things:

1. Inability to use the legal tethering feature of the phone, unlike Oneplus and Nexus phones which have this feature because it's legal, due to an apparent consumer-unfriendly business deal HTC struck with AT&T.

2. It pushing its own AI assistant and Google Now equivalent, as well as for its USonic headphones and other HTC-made features all over the settings.

Since it looks like I can't get rid of 1 (and am not allowed to discuss it further in the forums) I'm now hoping to at least make my U11 more Vanilla Android by addressing 2 and removing those references to HTC assistant and headphones from the settings. Any ideas to that extent? Thanks!

What do you mean by tethering feature? Mobile hotspot?

 

[BigDinCA]

So... HTC entered into an agreement with AT&T, but not to sell their phone. Just to disable a specific feature on their network? Even though the same unlocked device works fully on several other networks? That's a first.

As for HTC Sense Companion, their own AI, you can completely disable it in all of 5 seconds. I don't really understand why you would have an issue with the USonic settings in the settings menus, but I suppose you could just ignore them. Your only other options are to trade in your U11 for a Nexus device (or a Pixel), or root your phone and install stock Android.

 

[quietlybrilliant]

So... HTC entered into an agreement with AT&T, but not to sell their phone. Just to disable a specific feature on their network? Even though the same unlocked device works fully on several other networks? That's a first.

It's not a first actually. Curiously the unlocked Nexus 6P had the same problem. The Nexus 6 didn't. It'a curiosity that some unlocked phones have it and others don't. I really don't understand what causes the difference.

 

[BigDinCA]

I meant it seems it would be a first for a manufacturer to enter into an agreement with a specific carrier, regarding a specific device, without that carrier agreeing to sell even one device.

 

[James E1]

It's not a first actually. Curiously the unlocked Nexus 6P had the same problem. The Nexus 6 didn't. It'a curiosity that some unlocked phones have it and others don't. I really don't understand what causes the difference.

If you are referring to hotspot it seems to work on my U11 using at&t. Will have to check later to be sure.