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Has anyone given the AT&T apps a good try to see if any of them are good to keep?
I see instructions out there on how to wipe AT&T off of our phone, but haven't seen anybody comment on why they're wiping the apps off besides to "get rid of the AT&T apps".
I'm just wondering if there might not be one or two of the included apps that are actually worthwhile to keep.
I know one I won't be sorry to delete is the mobiTV one. I loaded it up to the welcome screen then had to step away for a couple minutes. When I came back it kindly told me my 2 minute trial was up... LOL nice! So yeah, unless it really is an incredible piece of software worth buying I'll be dumping that one at least.
Many if not all require additional fees and subscriptions, despite free alternatives.
For example, the AT&T navigator app is $10 a month, but Google Maps is free.
There's also the matter of principle... the fact that AT&T made them non-removable is a compelling reason to get rid of them.
The only at&t app worth using is the att my wireless app that you can down load from the market place. It lets you keep track of your minutes usage, data usage, and change your plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
behrouz said:
The only at&t app worth using is the att my wireless app that you can down load from the market place. It lets you keep track of your minutes usage, data usage, and change your plan.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I agree. Funny thing is, that's the only app AT&T didn't preinstall on the phone IIRC. I guess they expect you to pay money for their crappy services by default (or by mistaken clicks), but don't want you to have a way to track it so easily.
MikeyMike01 said:
Many if not all require additional fees and subscriptions, despite free alternatives.
For example, the AT&T navigator app is $10 a month, but Google Maps is free.
There's also the matter of principle... the fact that AT&T made them non-removable is a compelling reason to get rid of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Point...Set...Match
You just staited my two primary reasons.
It is disgusting that AT&T forcefully occupies space on lesser phones with pay apps. Just appalling.
Well ok then, looks like I'll be clearing them all off! lol
i got rid of all my ATT apps lol
sschrupp said:
Has anyone given the AT&T apps a good try to see if any of them are good to keep?
I see instructions out there on how to wipe AT&T off of our phone, but haven't seen anybody comment on why they're wiping the apps off besides to "get rid of the AT&T apps".
I'm just wondering if there might not be one or two of the included apps that are actually worthwhile to keep.
I know one I won't be sorry to delete is the mobiTV one. I loaded it up to the welcome screen then had to step away for a couple minutes. When I came back it kindly told me my 2 minute trial was up... LOL nice! So yeah, unless it really is an incredible piece of software worth buying I'll be dumping that one at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure if it's an AT&T app, but the music player that comes on our phone is awesome!
I even started a thread asking if there was a way we could extract it or reinstall it after flashing a different rom. Hah. I like it.
bfgarzilla9k said:
I'm not sure if it's an AT&T app, but the music player that comes on our phone is awesome!
I even started a thread asking if there was a way we could extract it or reinstall it after flashing a different rom. Hah. I like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a Samsung app. We'll get it in new ROMS.
Look at about 1:05 on this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3QwvMsBGjE
Yeah I have to say that music app is pretty nice.
Although I just installed one called "Moodagent" that is kind of neat. Haven't had a chance to fully explore it, but it appears to have quite a few features along with the main interface that's a bit gimicky, but cool. It has sliders that you adjust up or down (Sensual, Tender, Happy, Angry, Tempo) and it adjusts the playlist according to the levels you set. Probably old news to everyone else but interesting to me!
everything that is labeled att_nameofprogram is pretty much useless. the other programs like allshare or instant messaging may still be usefull.
Allshare
If you interest in using DLNA, the Allshare app may be a good one to keep. Although, I have one major problem with it: you can only add 1 song at a time to the Queue. What a pain.
But I haven't found any good alternatives yet.
I opened the 'Where' app, and (stupidly) breezed past some part about a monthly charge if I don't cancel. Has anyone else run into this? And if so, do you know how to cancel?
"Where" does AT&T get the idea they can charge for this?
You probably want to call AT&T ASAP to make sure you don't get charged for using the Where app. Also, stop using the included one and download the free one!
Funny story about the Where app:
I had a Nexus One and saw that Where was on a lot of "best app" lists for Android so I went to the market to get it. It was nowhere to be found. After a bit of research, I found some vague explanation about how AT&T had a deal with Where and that they blocked it. This really pissed me off since I paid full price for the N1 with no subsidy from AT&T -- how dare they block apps? Anyway, I found the APK online and installed it.
Later, I rooted my phone and installed the MarketAccess app. Now I could find Where in the Market and installed it from there -- still free of course. When I got the Captivate, the first thing I did was root it. When I saw that Where was pre-installed, I thought "great, now I don't have to jump through hoops to get it." Luckily I saw the warning about being charged, what, $2.99/month to use an app that is free for every user of every other Android phone? I promptly used Titanium Backup to remove the pre-installed version and then used MarketAccess to download the free version from the Market.
The point is that AT&T is really trying hard to charge extra for things that every other Android user gets for free (maps, navigation, Where, etc). Very frustrating. My employer pays for the service on my Captivate and I will be moving my wife's phone (that I pay for) to the Epic 4G at the end of this month after being an AT&T customer for 7 years.
What about AT&T Hot Spots?
I visit Starbucks frequently and occasionally McDonalds. Both offer free WiFi, but require you to check a box and click a button to agree to terms before using it. I know that's not a big deal, but it is a little bit of a hassle especially if I am not planning to use the browser anyway -- I just want to go straight into another app that uses WiFi.
Since I got the Captivate, I've noticed that as soon as I turn on WiFi while at either of these places, I get a notification that says "AT&T Hotspot Detected" or something like that and I am able to use WiFi without having to visit the agreement page in the browser.
Does anyone know whether this app is required for this detection and agreement bypass to function? I have thought about making a backup with Ti Backup, uninstalling, and testing it but am worried that it might not reinstall properly. Also, it might be handy for finding hotspots when traveling -- making it the only useful AT&T pre-installed app.
ATT wifi hotspot app seems to be useful to connect to Attwifi hotspots without having to manually agree to terms
does anyone have a copy of it ?
anilkuj said:
ATT wifi hotspot app seems to be useful to connect to Attwifi hotspots without having to manually agree to terms
does anyone have a copy of it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have it and will try to make a backup and post it within the next couple of days. It might be Monday before I can do it, unless someone else beats me to the punch.
Update: I still have it on my phone, but it seems that Titaniun Backup only backs up the data, not the APK. I also tried Mybackup Pro with the same result. I have root, so if someone knows how to extract a system app as an APK please let me know. I haven't searched yet, BTW, so if I find out how to do this myself I'll update this post (again).
rajendra82 said:
I agree. Funny thing is, that's the only app AT&T didn't preinstall on the phone IIRC. I guess they expect you to pay money for their crappy services by default (or by mistaken clicks), but don't want you to have a way to track it so easily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I swear they are only doing that to mess with us. While it's not hard to completely remove all AT&T ware, it's fairly simple to hide the apps with LauncherPro.
jason531 said:
I have it and will try to make a backup and post it within the next couple of days. It might be Monday before I can do it, unless someone else beats me to the punch.
Update: I still have it on my phone, but it seems that Titaniun Backup only backs up the data, not the APK. I also tried Mybackup Pro with the same result. I have root, so if someone knows how to extract a system app as an APK please let me know. I haven't searched yet, BTW, so if I find out how to do this myself I'll update this post (again).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it! Thanks to:
forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/3319-stock-apps-that-can-be-deleted-post-root/
Here is the APK (zipped). I'm not sure whether you can just install it like any other APK or if you have to use adb to push it to /system/app. If you try it please let me know what worked (if it works).
jason531 said:
Got it! Thanks to:
forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/3319-stock-apps-that-can-be-deleted-post-root/
Here is the APK (zipped). I'm not sure whether you can just install it like any other APK or if you have to use adb to push it to /system/app. If you try it please let me know what worked (if it works).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks jason let me try that, will update soon
I have just flashed to stock M7 coming from M5 Samset 19.f and i noticed that samset roms have no ads on the free apps im using, i was wondering how to be able to do this on a stock firmware?
Somewhere in the SamSet docs, I've read something about the HOSTS file and this file can control the IPs you allow in (if i correctly understood the definition of the hosts file).
Oh I'm gonna miss that tweak ...no manual work around?
Sent from my GT-I9000
Use an app called "AdFree". You need root for that.
Btw, could this thread should be moved into Q&A.
neldar said:
Use an app called "AdFree". You need root for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow i didnt realize it was that easy and it works! Thank you!! much appreciated!
Wikipedia holds your answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file)
You can also use the hosts file that addfree uses on windows pcs... just pop the host file with no extension (so 'hosts' rather than 'hosts.txt') into your computer's /windows/system32/drivers/etc/ area and add free browsing everywhere!
Yeah good tweak!
WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU KNOW YOU ARE KILLING DEVELOPERS THIS WAY???
If everyone was blocking ads in free apps, there wouldn't be people willing to release apps for free...is that really what you want?
Ads are a way to indirectly pay developers for their time. Is the only viable way to do this and it's not a big hassle for users...it's just a little frame...come on!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I think there's no difference blocking the ads or never clicking the ads. If you don't like the ads and you never click them, you might just disable them.
The ads don't bother me so much, but I never either click them.
I think there's no difference blocking the ads or never clicking the ads. If you don't like the ads and you never click them, you might just disable them.
The ads don't bother me so much, but I never either click them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I think some ads providers even pay for impression...
However you might as well click on those ads...it costs you 5 seconds per day tops, to help someone who lost days developing something and decided to release it for free anyway, hoping to get some money with ads...is that really so bad? It is the only way to have lots of free apps...if only people understood that and clicked on the banners as a sign of gratitude...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
I use this hosts file.
Attached (remove the zip extension)
Put it in :/system/etc/
I keep getting the this pop up when I unlock the device. As this is my first Samsung device, is this malware or just a part of the Samsung experience?
Thanks. :highfive:
I'm quite positive this isn't the Samsung experience as I own a samsung device and have a few in the house and have never seen that from my experience.
Looking at your home page I see you have ES file Explorer installed which is suppose to be infamous for adding loads of bloat to they free app. If I was to take an educated guess I would assume it's from that app. To check for malware use Samsung smart manager and then click device security. Don't know how efficient that actually is but it's built in to help protect your device.
Thanks for the reply firenation :highfive:
I've got ES explorer on a few devices and not came across this issue.
I think it could be either LED blinker lite or All in one gestures. I have no objections to ads if users use a free app. What I don't like is having no way of telling which app is causing this.
As soon as I find out which app, it's gone.
Yeah I have es file Explorer also and never had ads popping up the way they did on your device, but I remember reading it had a lot of bloat attached to it. Must be one of those free apps you have, hope you find it and remove it
I've just read on the play store that it is ES explorer causing this type of ad. Totally unacceptable in my book. :silly:
ES, you are gone!
Yes was thinking it might be es Explorer, enjoy your ad free tablet
firenation112 said:
Yes was thinking it might be es Explorer, enjoy your ad free tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its this sort of thing that gives Android a bad name. I hope Google really come down hard on the owners of ES. For experienced users its bad enough but for novices, they could end up installing all sorts crap. :crying:
Masteryates said:
Its this sort of thing that gives Android a bad name.
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Click to collapse
Android or shall we call it "Ad OS" gives itself a bad name. What other OS in the history of computing was based on an adware model? And the security vulnerabilities? Android is even worse than Windows!
The Emporer has no clothes, Android blows. However it's pretty much all we got so we live with it.
midnightrider said:
Android or shall we call it "Ad OS" gives itself a bad name. What other OS in the history of computing was based on an adware model? And the security vulnerabilities? Android is even worse than Windows!
The Emporer has no clothes, Android blows. However it's pretty much all we got so we live with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, the negative of Android. On the other hand we have some positives; XDA and the ability to side load old versions of apps before they got screwed up.
Masteryates said:
Exactly, the negative of Android. On the other hand we have some positives; XDA and the ability to side load old versions of apps before they got screwed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So true. I have no idea where we would be without XDA Great forum!
Any particular preference here. Only difference I see is that Samsung's allows videos to play in preview form.
(btw neither will play videos in original form beyond :10sec...which I knew but it's the same if using YouTube or Google Links.
Sucks
Ive been using Textra for the past year or so. I did try Samsung's for a little bit when I first got the phone but ended up going back to Textra. The stock Android one is pretty terrible, IMO.
_MetalHead_ said:
Ive been using Textra for the past year or so. I did try Samsung's for a little bit when I first got the phone but ended up going back to Textra. The stock Android one is pretty terrible, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are the advantages of textra?
rockky said:
Any particular preference here. Only difference I see is that Samsung's allows videos to play in preview form.
(btw neither will play videos in original form beyond :10sec...which I knew but it's the same if using YouTube or Google Links.
Sucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two different ones?
Which comes build in?
I really like Message+ from Verizon. It's in the Play store for free.
psixichka said:
What are the advantages of textra?
There are two different ones?
Which comes build in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the interface, the customizability, and the fact that it doesn't break long messages up. There's probably a slew of others that I'm not aware of too.
mionky said:
I really like Message+ from Verizon. It's in the Play store for free.
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Click to collapse
This. I've been using it non-stop since discovering it on my Note 4. It is far superior to Samsung's offering, IMO.
I used 8sms before but its not working properly with nougat now, I've been using mood messenger lately it's good. Try it out.
Sent from my SM-N950U using XDA-Developers Legacy app
_MetalHead_ said:
Ive been using Textra for the past year or so. I did try Samsung's for a little bit when I first got the phone but ended up going back to Textra. The stock Android one is pretty terrible, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Textra is amazing. +1
Next sms....best popup in the business. IMHO.
Between the two, I prefer Android. Admittedly, it's mostly because I can send more pictures per message. I send a ton of messages to my parents of my kids, etc. It also works better (imho) with Google Assistant.
usmaak said:
This. I've been using it non-stop since discovering it on my Note 4. It is far superior to Samsung's offering, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do you say that? The only thing I see that separates VZW messages + is it works/syncs with your other VZW devices. I used it for a while with my tablets and watches. Also it was one of the very few apps that allowed scheduling texts. But also one of the few that didn't allow blocking texts. I don't use it anymore. Dumped it for Sammy messages app. I really enjoy the Bixby integration.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Of the two in use Android. Samsung doesn't support Gboard gifs and stickers.
Tecxtra pro for the win chuck...
major fan of android messenger over the years....
until i found TEXTRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is the stock app tje only one able to schedule a text?
psixichka said:
Is the stock app tje only one able to schedule a text?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Textra does this as well
MOOD is good! :good:
skinnytoo2 said:
Why do you say that? The only thing I see that separates VZW messages + is it works/syncs with your other VZW devices. I used it for a while with my tablets and watches. Also it was one of the very few apps that allowed scheduling texts. But also one of the few that didn't allow blocking texts. I don't use it anymore. Dumped it for Sammy messages app. I really enjoy the Bixby integration.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it also does things like suggest emojis for predictive text, if you want to be one of the kewl kids. I thought it was sort of interesting at first, but at my age the kids would just roll their eyes
skinnytoo2 said:
Why do you say that? The only thing I see that separates VZW messages + is it works/syncs with your other VZW devices. I used it for a while with my tablets and watches. Also it was one of the very few apps that allowed scheduling texts. But also one of the few that didn't allow blocking texts. I don't use it anymore. Dumped it for Sammy messages app. I really enjoy the Bixby integration.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I say this because I like it better than Samsung's offering. I don't care about blocking texts, as I don't find myself in the need for something that does that. I've also found that it works a lot more quickly on my Note 4. I always had a bit of lag with the Samsung messenger.
And I do love the integration with other devices. I have it installed on all of my computers, tablets, etc. It works well on any device.
usmaak said:
I say this because I like it better than Samsung's offering. I don't care about blocking texts, as I don't find myself in the need for something that does that. I've also found that it works a lot more quickly on my Note 4. I always had a bit of lag with the Samsung messenger.
And I do love the integration with other devices. I have it installed on all of my computers, tablets, etc. It works well on any device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally i use Samsung. I use digits, and with the built in integration between dialer, digits, rcs, and their app moving away and using something else breaks how well it works for me.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
So Textra users...
when you press the + only emojis are visible unless in horizontal mode Anyone know of any fix for that?
cause otherwise i like the app
Main reason I always root is to use adaway. Hate those ads all over the place.
Since I'm still blocked I installed dns66. Always read wonders about it but... I keep getting ads all over the apps.
My friend uses it at his Samsung Galaxy S9 and barely see any ads. Is it a device/ rom issue? Or the app just sucks?
Sent from my MI 9 using Tapatalk
seymour_butts said:
Main reason I always root is to use adaway. Hate those ads all over the place.
Since I'm still blocked I installed dns66. Always read wonders about it but... I keep getting ads all over the apps.
My friend uses it at his Samsung Galaxy S9 and barely see any ads. Is it a device/ rom issue? Or the app just sucks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Adguard
... or Blokada, I have very good experiences with it
You can add a custom DNS resolver, you can't find the settings by default, you need to download an app that can acess activities like QuickShortcutManager, then search for NetWorkDashboard