4.4.2 BloatWare - Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 General

Has anyone noticed how much they have moved it around. I mean not only is it in /data/data/ /data/etc/ /system/app/ and other places, they now put in /system/priv-app/ and others. They are really trying to hide it this time lol. I was think of putting a new list together if people are interested.
I do a lot of traveling, so it may take a few day before I can sit down to complete it.

Sezmar said:
Has anyone noticed how much they have moved it around. I mean not only is it in /data/data/ /data/etc/ /system/app/ and other places, they now put in /system/priv-app/ and others. They are really trying to hide it this time lol. I was think of putting a new list together if people are interested.
I do a lot of traveling, so it may take a few day before I can sit down to complete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd love to see a list of where they put the bloatware and if possible a list of anything that you have removed without causing any issues. Thanks for your work on this!

I vaguely recall reading an article or press release/quote that samsug had heard consumers and are scaling back on bloat with less forced installs on the S5. It seemed like shortly after that, new apps started appearing on my phone, as if to ratchet it up on S4 users...
In any case between Samsung, Google and Sprint I have over 40 apps disabled/frozen or uninstalled. It's beyond ridiculous at this point.

what's everyone using to freeze, I'm trying to avoid having to rename them all to .bak or straight up deleting.. titanium? or something else..

ekz13 said:
what's everyone using to freeze, I'm trying to avoid having to rename them all to .bak or straight up deleting.. titanium? or something else..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just delete, remember some of the bloat is in /system/priv-app/
use your recovery choice to make a backup to your sd card

ekz13 said:
what's everyone using to freeze, I'm trying to avoid having to rename them all to .bak or straight up deleting.. titanium? or something else..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could just disable the app in the app manager, quite a few allow it, those that don't can just change to.bak. That way if something is not working you can enable things later if something is misbehaving.

From my experience, it would appear that items in /system/app can be disabled through app manager, but not in /system/priv-app. I lasted maybe a week on the stock ROM and then flashed Cyanogenmod, so I don't know exactly if that's true or not.

You might want to check out this thread as it has given you a good head start, but it just doesn't include the sprint bloatware. I'd be interested to know what sprint specific apk's can be removed from stock NAE without messing up any of the network stuff.

Related

[SOLVED][Q] Homescreen settings folder location in Android?

Does anyone know where the homescreen settings are stored? Namely I am looking for the location in the android file system that stores the preferences for homescreen layout, widget placement, icon placement, and icon included.
I have been mucking around in:
Code:
/cache
/system
/sys
folders and can't seem to find them anywhere. I'm currently backing up and restoring
Code:
/data/data/com.android.settings
after a wipe which restores the wallpaper setting so I know I'm close, I just don't know where else to look without a little direction.
I am also backing up and restoring
Code:
/data/data/com.google.android.providers.settings
but I'm not sure what these do.
If anyone has any information, it would be greatly appreciated.
Anyone?
Bumped only because I'm pretty sure someone knows, they just aren't around yet
I have a feeling that XML files are involved. And I believe it should be in Launcher.apk.
Not sure but I thought it was in the launcher database. /data/data/com.android.launcher/databases
dumfuq said:
Not sure but I thought it was in the launcher database. /data/data/com.android.launcher/databases
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha...It worked...I found it here just like you said and added it to my "backup everything" script.
I wasn't able to remove the whole com.android.launcher folder and replace it with the one I wanted though. I had to remove each of the .db and .sqlite files and then restore them to get it to work.
The only thing it won't restore is the widgets, however it remembers where they are supposed to be, I just get the "problem loading widget" in that spot rather than the widget, but that's fine with me.
Thanks dumfuq for your help...
DirectMatrix said:
Haha...It worked...I found it here just like you said and added it to my "backup everything" script.
I wasn't able to remove the whole com.android.launcher folder and replace it with the one I wanted though. I had to remove each of the .db and .sqlite files and then restore them to get it to work.
The only thing it won't restore is the widgets, however it remembers where they are supposed to be, I just get the "problem loading widget" in that spot rather than the widget, but that's fine with me.
Thanks dumfuq for your help...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FWIW, I get the same widget problem with MyBackupPro. For me it was worth just buying the app rather that writing a script.
bittermormon said:
FWIW, I get the same widget problem with MyBackupPro. For me it was worth just buying the app rather that writing a script.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MyBackup Pro was an application that I highly respected before I got into the inner working of the android file system and learning a few in's and out's. I also bought the app and liked it for a while however I bought it before they came out with their little warning about restoring your gmail contacts so it essentially corrupted my entire contact file system. The problem is well known and documented now, but it wasn't when it first came out. I prefer to backup things on my own now in their original condition and file state so that I can avoid the situation in the future. MyBackup Pro also seems to have a problem interacting with SMSbackup. I can only assume that it corrupts the data files for the text messages similar in the way it does for the contacts.
But I digress.....
interesting. I am going to use your method and see if I can figure out how to backup my locale settings however.
Sweet...Glad it worked. Been meaning to test but I have been procrastinating wiping.
dumfuq said:
Sweet...Glad it worked. Been meaning to test but I have been procrastinating wiping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When/if you get un-procrastinated (LOL), PM me and I can shoot the snippet of the script over to you already to go
Thanks again for your help.

Uninstalling gmail and google calendar?

Anyone know if you can delete/uninstall the gmail and google calendar that gets installed on a rooted Nook wi NTGapps.
Just don't have any need to fit on my nook and would prefer not to have it in case my nook gets stolen or falls into the wrong hands.
sentur said:
Anyone know if you can delete/uninstall the gmail and google calendar that gets installed on a rooted Nook wi NTGapps.
Just don't have any need to fit on my nook and would prefer not to have it in case my nook gets stolen or falls into the wrong hands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the app root browser (easiest way is to use the play website and 'push' it to your device - hopefully you will have set up a sync with your account?) , if not, search for the app root browser, navigate to system/app/ x , x is gmail.apk or calendar.apk. Next part took me a while to figure out, click the button on the toolbar like thing which says 'multi select' then select/highlight the ones you want to delete, then just click delete, you will find they are no longer existing XD. Alternatively rename them or disable (im not quite sure how that works), but deleting them means they are gone for good, look into deleting a lot of other apks too, like phone and camera, they just dont need to exist.
flobbadob said:
Download the app root browser (easiest way is to use the play website and 'push' it to your device - hopefully you will have set up a sync with your account?) , if not, search for the app root browser, navigate to system/app/ x , x is gmail.apk or calendar.apk. Next part took me a while to figure out, click the button on the toolbar like thing which says 'multi select' then select/highlight the ones you want to delete, then just click delete, you will find they are no longer existing XD. Alternatively rename them or disable (im not quite sure how that works), but deleting them means they are gone for good, look into deleting a lot of other apks too, like phone and camera, they just dont need to exist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks or the advice. Managed to delete loads of apps like google talk a d phone app that have no use at all on the NSTG.
sentur said:
Thanks or the advice. Managed to delete loads of apps like google talk a d phone app that have no use at all on the NSTG.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a couple things from experience, if you delete a couple things you might not have wanted to (i sure did XD) , latinime.apk is the keyboard, so leave that alone. Library you can get rid of, i found a much better version of the library that some dude (cannot remember the thread) had made, if you want that i can upload it or just find the thread again.
I generally just googled some of the things i was unsure about removing, or just copied them over to somewhere else then deleted them to see if nothing broke XD.
flobbadob said:
Just a couple things from experience, if you delete a couple things you might not have wanted to (i sure did XD) , latinime.apk is the keyboard, so leave that alone. Library you can get rid of, i found a much better version of the library that some dude (cannot remember the thread) had made, if you want that i can upload it or just find the thread again.
I generally just googled some of the things i was unsure about removing, or just copied them over to somewhere else then deleted them to see if nothing broke XD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could send me that link to the alternative library that would be amazing. What's the major difference between it and the stock B&N one that makes it so much better?
sentur said:
If you could send me that link to the alternative library that would be amazing. What's the major difference between it and the stock B&N one that makes it so much better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it fits way more books on a screen, and you can also filter by name, last read, series, author etc,
this is the site http://www.temblast.com/android.htm , its library.apk, try it out, see what you think, what ive done is mapped the n button to open library, so i can easily switch to library from the relaunch/launcher.
full credit to renate nst who made this library app, its pretty good.
I use to remove system applications SystemApp Remover. He is able to delete, make backups and freeze the application.

deleting bloat.

For those who have deleted bloatware off the flex which apps did you get rid of? I want to delete and make extra room but i am not sure which apps to delete. I dont want to hurt the phone by getting rid of something it needed. Thanks...
brezuno said:
For those who have deleted bloatware off the flex which apps did you get rid of? I want to delete and make extra room but i am not sure which apps to delete. I dont want to hurt the phone by getting rid of something it needed. Thanks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.droidviews.com/how-to-remove-bloats-on-lg-g-flex-list-of-safe-to-remove-apps/
I used that same guide, actually, works pretty damn well! I knocked my Android System battery usage down from ~25% to around 5-6% daily..
Perfect thank you

[Q] I just want to modify my hosts file?

I've been reading back and forth all day trying to figure this out.
I'm on DOJC. I don't really want to root, from what I can tell I lose fingerprint. I don't care about Samsung Pay and I don't care about knox really.
Anyways, I backed up my HOSTS file from my last phone and it worked well. (Note 4 on KK)
Is there a way to transfer that to this phone?
You don't lose fingerprint support from rooting. You trip Knox. To edit your host file you need root access
ummduh said:
I've been reading back and forth all day trying to figure this out.
I'm on DOJC. I don't really want to root, from what I can tell I lose fingerprint. I don't care about Samsung Pay and I don't care about knox really.
Anyways, I backed up my HOSTS file from my last phone and it worked well. (Note 4 on KK)
Is there a way to transfer that to this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ummduh said:
I've been reading back and forth all day trying to figure this out.
I'm on DOJC. I don't really want to root, from what I can tell I lose fingerprint. I don't care about Samsung Pay and I don't care about knox really.
Anyways, I backed up my HOSTS file from my last phone and it worked well. (Note 4 on KK)
Is there a way to transfer that to this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't lose the Finger Print sensor if you root..
If you want a premodified Host File.. try this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916098
It's what I have been using for years.. and it's always being updated..
Zaphodspeaks said:
You won't lose the Finger Print sensor if you root..
If you want a premodified Host File.. try this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1916098
It's what I have been using for years.. and it's always being updated..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything I've read to date said you lose fingerprint with root. I'll keep reading. I don't know how people can stand to not have ad blockers. I forgot how much b.s. was out there!
Thanks for the MoaAB, that looks awesome. I have a hosts file that worked great(in other phones) already but that looks to take it up a notch or two!
ummduh said:
Everything I've read to date said you lose fingerprint with root. I'll keep reading. I don't know how people can stand to not have ad blockers. I forgot how much b.s. was out there!
Thanks for the MoaAB, that looks awesome. I have a hosts file that worked great(in other phones) already but that looks to take it up a notch or two!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm rooted, have been since the day I got my GS6 and my Finger Print Reader works fine..
Knox is completely removed and other than Samsung pay, everything else works fine..
either root and stay unrooted.. I don't care, but you WILL NOT lose your fingerprint reader..
It's not a samsung thing, Nexus devices have a finger print scanner and they do not have Knox..
It's an Android thing..
Zaphodspeaks said:
I'm rooted, have been since the day I got my GS6 and my Finger Print Reader works fine..
Knox is completely removed and other than Samsung pay, everything else works fine..
either root and stay unrooted.. I don't care, but you WILL NOT lose your fingerprint reader..
It's not a samsung thing, Nexus devices have a finger print scanner and they do not have Knox..
It's an Android thing..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I flashed Unikernel via Odin and it worked great for a few. Reboot the phone to get rid of some deleted programs (com.tmobile whatever that was), nothing fancy just the tmobile junk I couldn't get rid of before. On reboot it got stuck on the white tmobile screen. I had to Odin back to stock DOJC to get it to boot again.
I did NOT flash TWRP after the kernel, I assumed it was optional? I'll have some more time to mess with it tomorrow. Knox is tripped either way, may as well play with it now, right? lol..
Is the ROM Deodexed? if not removing system files will cause a bootloop..
Zaphodspeaks said:
Is the ROM Deodexed? if not removing system files will cause a bootloop..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock ROM so I assume not Deodexed.
Thanks, have been playing with phones for years and still learning newb stuff. Geez.
edit: is this why everyone uses TiB and freezes instead of just deleting? Normally I'm on a custom ROM by now and I've never had issues with any of this, but I'm getting sick of constant tinkering and was trying to take it easy this time around.
ummduh said:
Stock ROM so I assume not Deodexed.
Thanks, have been playing with phones for years and still learning newb stuff. Geez.
edit: is this why everyone uses TiB and freezes instead of just deleting? Normally I'm on a custom ROM by now and I've never had issues with any of this, but I'm getting sick of constant tinkering and was trying to take it easy this time around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That has always been a good rule of thumb... It's better be safe and Freeze and app, rather than delete..
Especially if its a system file.. but if you can notice, system files are colored red in Titanium Backup..
Do not remove those, but freezing works.. The non red apps can be safely uninstalled or deleted..
ummduh said:
I've been reading back and forth all day trying to figure this out.
I'm on DOJC. I don't really want to root, from what I can tell I lose fingerprint. I don't care about Samsung Pay and I don't care about knox really.
Anyways, I backed up my HOSTS file from my last phone and it worked well. (Note 4 on KK)
Is there a way to transfer that to this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
get adguard- it's only $10 and blocks most ads both chrome and apps
package disabler pro (paid) will get rid of unwanted stuff
kalawera said:
get adguard- it's only $10 and blocks most ads both chrome and apps
package disabler pro (paid) will get rid of unwanted stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I re-rooted via Unikernel and bought TiB so I can freeze things instead of delete. Everything it working out this time around.
Took a while to find a decent root explorer that worked properly, I used to use ES File Explorer until it turned to absolute garbage.
Anyways, thanks for the help! It's much appreciated.

Removed Calendar Storage, Titanium Backup Restore hangs... Share a file with me?

Yes, yes, I feel stupid, but I figured I had a backup so... Already searched for a few hours for ways to get Titanium Backup to stop hanging on restore, I've tried everything and I've pretty much given up. I have the files Titanium backup created if anyone knows how I can manually install them.
Otherwise it would be awesome if someone could link me to "Calendar Storage 4.4.2-N900AUCUCNC2". I've scoured the Internet already, and I'm fairly certain it's not online. If someone could pull it off your phone and post it for me, it would save me a ton of time. I might just have to live without a calendar if not, going to have revert to stock to retrieve it and I'm not sure I have the patience. Maybe a backup made with ES File Explorer would work? IDK
Thanks!
I just happen to have a spare Note 3 running 4.4.2, i extracted the apks from it, hopefully one of these solves the problem
Thanks! I'd be embarrassed to reveal how long I've spent today trying to fix this problem, you're a life saver! Definitely not going to put much faith in Titanium Backup again, although it seems to work great for a lot of people.
Hopefully if anyone else has the same problem, they'll stumble upon this thread.
timark251 said:
I just happen to have a spare Note 3 running 4.4.2, i extracted the apks from it, hopefully one of these solves the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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