Tired of complaining about the Pre-Loaded Apps? See how to take action today!!

[dfuser312553]

Rhea: Hi, my name is Rhea. How may I help you?
Matt Ferner: Hi Rhea
Rhea: Hello,Matt. How can I help?
Matt Ferner: A few months ago I started convincing my friends to get new phones
Matt Ferner: I have a droid
Rhea: what happen/
Matt Ferner: & I got them to get a DX and a Droid 2
Matt Ferner: because they were the newest ones available
Rhea: Okay
Matt Ferner: well they're a little bit different &
Matt Ferner: I was looking at all these apps they have on their phones
Matt Ferner: they said they don't use them & you can't delete them for some reason
Matt Ferner: sure enough I looked & I can't do it either
Rhea: I apologize for that. Do you mean the preloaded applications?
Matt Ferner: I'm trying to find a solution
Rhea: I am so sorry but preloaded applications could not be remove on the phone.
Matt Ferner: like Need for Speed & amazon mp3
Matt Ferner: It just says it can't
Rhea: You cannot remove pre-loaded applications (ie: Amazon MP3, Backup Assist, Blockbuster, City ID, Skype, etc)
Matt Ferner: oh yeah blockbuster that's one of the main ones I was looking at. Didn't they go out of buissness?
Rhea: Yes, I am so sorry but we could not remove that on the phone.
Matt Ferner: If I buy a DX or droid 2 now does it still have Blockbuster?
Rhea: Yes
Matt Ferner: I want to upgrade to the DX cause I like the way it looks; but I don't want Blockbuster on my cool phone. Can I order one from you guys without it?
Rhea: I am so sorry but that is already on the system on the phone. Rest assured that everything on my end is documented and recorded so that concern will be investigated.
Matt Ferner: well I read about the new phones that are coming out like the bionic. I want to upgrade but I don't want that stuff on there.
Matt Ferner: do any of your upcoming phones not have this stuff
Matt Ferner: ?
Rhea: I understand that and again, I apologize but preloaded application could not be removed.
Matt Ferner: what about the new ones?
Rhea: Yes, new Android phones still have preloaded applications but we still do not have any information if that specific application will still be the application that are preloaded.
Matt Ferner: well when I upgrade I'm going to go into the store next time & look at that stuff. I don't want that stuff on my new set. I think mine only had amazon which was fine I guess.....
Rhea: I understand how you feel and I apologize for that.
Matt Ferner: but bankrupt companies? I won't pick a set that has that
Rhea: I respect that.
Matt Ferner: I love my D1 though!
Rhea: Great to know that.
Rhea: Do you have other concerns which I can assist?
Matt Ferner: well I guess that's it.... I'm kind of disappointed with this. yet another thing to look for when I buy a new phone & suggest them to others..... kind of embarrassing
Rhea: I understand how you feel and I apologize for that. Rest assured that everything on my end is documented and recorded so that concern will be investigated so Motorola can do an immediate action for that request.
Rhea: So will there be anything else before we end?
Matt Ferner: oh yeah! how much does that laptop dock thing for the atrix cost?
Rhea: Do you mean the Atrix or the XOOM?
Matt Ferner: & is there gonna be one for a Verizon phone? i have Verizon
Matt Ferner: the Atrix yeah. I saw a video where you plug it to a laptop dock this week.
Rhea: Yes, we have the XOOM coming out as well as the Bionic.
Rhea: The Motorola ATRIX 4G with AT&T
The world’s most powerful smartphone packs the power and capabilities of a PC in your pocket through Motorola’s revolutionary webtop

· Motorola ATRIX 4G will be available to AT&T customers in Q1 2011. For more ATRIX 4G information visit: Motorola ATRIX 4G - dual-core phone - Android smartphone - Experience - Motorola Mobility, Inc. USA and MOTOROLA ATRIX 4G - Android 2.2 Smartphone - Wireless from AT&T. Motorola ATRIX 4G will be available exclusively in the U.S. for AT&T customers.

· Media Notes with Specs: http://mediacenter.motorola.com/Pre...X-4G-the-Future-of-Mobile-Computing-353c.aspx

Rhea: Motorola XOOM wit Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility Announce Motorola XOOM™ Tablet on Nation’s Largest and Most Reliable 3G Network. XOOM is a 10.1-inch HD Tablet that offers Dual-Core Processing, Google’s Honeycomb Platform, and 1080p HD Video Content Support

· The Motorola XOOM device will launch as a 3G/Wi-Fi-enabled device in Q1 2011 with an upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2. Starting in Q2 2011 the Motorola XOOM will be a 4G LTE/Wi-Fi- enabled device. For more information about the Motorola XOOM please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/xoom or MOTOROLA XOOM - Android Smart Tablet - Experience - Motorola Mobility, Inc. USA

· Media Notes with Specs: http://mediacenter.motorola.com/Pre...argest-and-Most-Reliable-3G-Network-353f.aspx

Rhea: DROID BIONIC with Verizon Wireless
New Android Device Combines Dual-core Processor with Fastest 4G Network for Unrivaled Mobile Internet Experience. Packing a dual core processor with each core running at 1GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power, and 512 MB RAM, the sleekly designed DROID BIONIC smartphone with 4G LTE delivers a mobile Internet experience that’s up to 10 times faster than 3G.

· For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit Cell Phones, Cell Phone Plans, 4G LTE network with the Best Cell Phone Service - Verizon Wireless and for more information about Verizon Wireless at CES please visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/ces


· Visit the Motorola site at: DROID BIONIC BY Motorola - Android Social Smartphone - - Overview - Motorola Mobility, Inc. USA

· Media Notes with Specs: http://mediacenter.motorola.com/Pre...-s-Fastest-Most-Advanced-4G-Network-353e.aspx
Matt Ferner: well I want to stay on Verizon & that says the atrix is for att. Is it coming to Verizon?
Rhea: We only have that information for the new product as of the moment. Please consider checking the link for more information.
Rhea: I am so sorry but we still do not have any information if an Atrix will be available for AT&T.
Matt Ferner: oh ok
Rhea: Thank you. So will there be anything else?
Matt Ferner: Nope thanks. Hope you get rid of blockbuster & stuff for me!
You have disconnected.

 

[dfuser312553]

^ I could feel her frustration with my stupidity soaring.... well I'm gonna write an email as well.

 

[ilikemoneygreen]

This is good, But in the future if somebody does this you should expand more in "Reymer: That is part of the phone's design and it was programmed not to be deleted." Category. This could be easily changed in an OTA update. Also, someone should also note the fact that it took a root to get the application off. Im curious to see what they would say to that... Maybe its not a good idea though. But definitely comment on it just being in the wrong folder. Saying "well the exact application I am talking about is in System/app/blockbuster.apk. and this directory is protected. Superuser permissions are needed to remove the file and Motorola Mobility has the full ability to remove this application through an OTA update. The fact that you say it is incorporated and designed into the system sounds like fancy wording but it truly is as simple as a copy and pasting of that one file (blockbuster.apk). The Blockbuster program is not interwoven in the the system so removing would not affect anything else. Motorola has the full ability to remove any bloat ware on any future and past phone, thats the beauty of OTA updates. You say that you cant do anything to remove the app but is that coming from a tech standpoint or are you saying Motorola cant do anything to the phone after because the app was "preinstalled"? Id say you statement is a pretty good copout to the fact that these apps are just put on as a advertising standpoint and Motorola has no desire to remove these."

***I think im going o stop here. Lol, i could go on for hours.....that person would be crying by the time the session ended. lol, plus it would probably be meaningless. Gosh my rants on topics i feel strongly about.... :icon_eek: Sorry for semi long posts.

 

[pc747]

What cracks me up is this is all just a copy and paste away. Lol, some tech put it behind the superuser cloak thus not allowing us to remove the app unless we have root. All it would take is to move it from the system apps to the regular app folder... Which is why its so funny how "Reymer: That is part of the phone's design and it was programmed not to be deleted." The phones design? HAHA. What a bunch of Bologna. I can see them protecting the core system files and even Blur but the Bloatware? JUST MOVE IT OUT OF THE SYSTEM APPS! I would do this chat thing for you guys but i have already voiced my concern over this. (I walked into VZ and Complained to the tech in person. I brought up the logical arguments but it was meaningless to the tech as he knew nothing about it. He only knew he couldn't delete the apps. This was all over the Amazon app on my droid btw... I was forced to root to get it off but i got it off non the less.) I just wish a tech would do the quick *30sec at most!* copy and paste. Or let me in the room and work on the computer for a min with the preloaded software before its loaded on the bionic. Anyway if a moto exec does read this id say: Keep the bloatware, its more money to you guys but KEEP THE SYSTEM APPS IN THE SYSTEM AND THE NON-SYSTEM APPS(Bloatware) OUT! subtle enough?? If that cant be managed then at least allow the root (Which currently voids warranty). Users hack because they they are forced to...If bloatware was put in the proper folder (Non-system) then a good sizable chunk of people wouldn't root and heck, if blur was left to choice then i bet everyone would be happy. Look at the Ps3, Once the other OS feature was forced off the console that basically guaranteed hackers would be working on it, and now because of that the consoles security code is on geohots site. Just saying.

General Statement about post*Provide a way to get the apps removed or don't put the apps on. Its practically a direct challenge to hackers since, yes they have to look at the un-uninstallable app everyday. Or at least not Void warranty because you know people are going to be digging around in system files removing the apps.

*Just hope*And finally just an fyi, all this can truly be done away with through an OTA update. All it would take is a remove or a move command for each app and BOOM, no more being stuck. If thats all 1 OTA update did, for each of the bloatware app then that would be 1 useful and successful update. Hopefully a certain Ceo could pull rank and help out its consumers that saved his buttox.
Sorry for longpost, Just letting off some steam if you know what i mean.

Your long post is right on the money.

 

[Big Ry]

Poor Reymer probably hates his life now lol

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[ek_skotous]

I completely agree with the arugments against the bloatware. I did not really want to root my phone but felt I was finally forced to just to be able to remove the bloatware.

I know there are several different arguments for why the device should not ship with bloatware but there is one very important angle that I have not seen mentioned yet. In fact this ange was one of the main reasons I wanted to remove the bloatware from my Droid 2 - ANDROID APPLICATION PERMISSIONS and what perosnal data a particular Android app has access to

The Android permissions model grants the user the CHOICE before installing ANY application on whether to Accept the permissions that application is requesting and thus install that application or chose not to install that application because we don't want to grant it the requested permissions. With the preloaded application were are not given that choice and moreover there is no disclosure telling us what permissions are being granted to these preloaded applications.

Look at the permissions for NFS Shift or Skype. They have access to all of your contacts, your location, and the internet. That means those applications could conceivly steal all of your contacts and dump them to some server out on the internet. Now I doubt those particular applications are actually doing that but why should I be forced to allow those apps that access to my data and even more importantly how come this is not disclosed. That is a MAJOR PRIVACY violation since I did not choose to give them access to that information and that access was not disclosed. What if one of these pre-loaded bloatware apps was rouge or somehow hacked to exploit the apps access to my personal information and then share that information with a Third party.

Telecom companies (I happen to work for one though not one that directly deals with wireless service) are required by law to protect the personal information of their customers and their customers privacy. There is a term called Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) and telecom companies have several laws they must adhere to to protect that information. Every employee at my company goes through mandatory training every year about this. I am no lawyer but the laws are so strict that they even have to notify you if a customer service call is being recorded for example and you also have to give express permission for the company to market any services to you based on your information.

Being forced to have this bloatware (without any consent or disclosure) running on your phone while it has access (without your consent) to your personal information (contacts, GPS location, etc) is a serious violation of privacy and possbily CPNI rules. In my book it would be sufficent to threaten Verizon and Motrola with legal action if they don't reverse course on this. I think the privacy argument is potentially stronger than the amount of advertised memory that is free or something along those lines.

What is it going to take for Verizon/Motrola to act.....a scandal over a malicious app that made it into the preinstalled & unremovalbe (without rooting) bloatware that was stealing customer info?

Part of me wonders if someone in the developer community (possbily a reader on this board) could write a proof of concept exploit to show how an application with the default permissions of the preinstalled bloatware could be exploited to gain access to private customer information. And then share the existance of that exploit with all of the major tech news sites to get some bad publicity for Motrola and Verizon to finally force them to reverse course on their bloatware and give customers the choise not only on what takes up space on their device but what applications they choose to trust to give access to their personal information.

 

[king_43]

here is my convo, I got alittle mad because he just sounded dumb but nonetheless



Dealbert M: Hi, my name is Dealbert M. How may I help you?
tracy hammock: Yes I currently have a origional driod. i have turned alot of my friends and co workers onto moto driods
tracy hammock: and now with the new releaases of the moto driod pro, driodx, driod2 etc

tracy hammock: they all have apps that are uninstallable, such as need for speed, blockbuster, amazon, and the motoblur which would be a nice option to turn off

Dealbert M: I think there is no MotoBlur application on the Droid series.

tracy hammock: exactly

tracy hammock: but im saying you are releaseing all the new driods with uninstallable applications, motoblur

tracy hammock: when intentionally the andriod platform should be open

tracy hammock: and you guys are putting

Dealbert M: Sorry for that. But that would be with the contract of Motorola with the developer and also with the Service provider.

tracy hammock: 'bloatware' such as amazon, need for speed, and many other uninstallable apps that use permissions such as the internet, contacts that i feel uncomfortable about

tracy hammock: so you telling me verizon is theo ne putting motoblur and need for speed, and the other apps on the phone? n

Dealbert M: I think not.

Dealbert M: Have you asked them?

tracy hammock: no you are hte maker of moto driodx driod 2, pro and upcoming bionic

Dealbert M: Yes, we are the maker, but sometimes, the Service Provider has also the power to put applications there.

tracy hammock: im requesting that you let you higher ups to stop putting bloatware on the phones you make.. I do not want ot have to root my phone in order to remove apps you make me unable to uninstall

Dealbert M: Thank you so much for the reactions and suggestions. This session will be escalated properly.

tracy hammock: i apprachate it

tracy hammock: do you not know what im talking about tho? are you not a owner of a driod phone

tracy hammock: i know my driod without bloatware, and all the apps is less laggy than other peoples stock droid2 with motoblur

Dealbert M: I do understand.

Dealbert M: I think droid 2 does not have a MotoBlur feature.

tracy hammock: do you know if the bionic tht is coming out will have a locked bootloader or unlocked like the origionl driod

tracy hammock: i know you can root the phone and put a rom that does not have moto blur but i did know you could remove motoblur

tracy hammock: i understand that you cannot

Dealbert M: For that, we do not have any information as of the moment.

tracy hammock: i have a driodX that I cannot turn the motoblur off on

tracy hammock: so can i able to turn motoblur off on the driod x

Dealbert M: Sorry but you cannot turn it off.

tracy hammock: sorry for another question, im sure i've took enough of your time but you said motoblu can be turned off on the driod2, so hopefully can be able to be turned off

tracy hammock: exaclty what im talking about, the andriod platform was made to be open

tracy hammock: not CLOSED

Dealbert M: Please check this FAQ.

https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/48561

tracy hammock: and the apple iphone is comming out/came out w/ no added aps

tracy hammock: that makes me flustrted at verizon for allowing that to happen

tracy hammock: i dont need to see a faq

Dealbert M: Is there anything else?

tracy hammock: please send my request to please have an OPTION at least to turn motoblur off, remove all those apps that comes preloaded that has access to the internet, contacts and very uncomfortable with those apps having those permissions that I CANNOT uinstall

tracy hammock: such as need for speed, blockbuster, amazon

tracy hammock: etc

Dealbert M: Yes.

tracy hammock: in the future if HTC comes out with a phone with out all that stuff i will not own another moto if htey do not listen to the public

tracy hammock: everybody i talk to does NOT like motoblur and

tracy hammock: everything else you have on the phone that is uninstallavble

tracy hammock: and verizon is allowing the iphone to come unbloated

tracy hammock: but anyway enough time wasted

tracy hammock: pplease send this to your higer ups

Dealbert M: Yes. I will

tracy hammock: and a copy to my email please, i will put this convo on my blog and other places letting everybody know how great your customer service is

tracy hammock: king43@gmail.com

tracy hammock: thank you Dealbert

 

[Big Ry]

FYI motorola actively replies to the comments on their youtube plugs. I posted on an atrix video. We should all do it there too.

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

 

[everstar80]

I would think that they would reconsider this as Blockbuster is literally going out of business. They sold everything in their store yesterday, everything, so why is this crappy app on my phone still taking up room? Got some good dvds though but that isn't the point, they are violating rights letting a company that's gone bankrupt to still be allowed on my phone and they need to address this now.

 

[dfuser312553]

^^link? .

 

[pc747]

Poontab and ilikemoney green: I went ahead and took care of the editing of the posts aka removed them.

Again thanks for what you guys are doing but can I make a suggestion. Motoblur and the locked bootloader are 2 arguments I doubt we will win and this is why. Motoblur is meant to compete with HTC sense and samsungs UI so motorola will continue to tweak that. The only thing we can ask is for them to do some more programming and to clean it up, which they are doing. The locked bootlaoder will remain locked and the efuse is in place to make sure only authorized software gets put on devices and is meant to protect the consumer. Though I am with you guys and want those removed to I say lets pick the fights we have a chance to win. The efuse argument will not get us any where because they know root users are the only ones who care about that. And Motoblur will not go anywhere as long as sense is still being put out.
The bloat apps is something that if we did not express our displeasure would continue to get worse. To all who is took part in this I continue to thank you and I assure you that I will continue to do my part by researching and staying on the phones with motorola when I can.

 

[bazar6]

I would think that they would reconsider this as Blockbuster is literally going out of business. They sold everything in their store yesterday, everything, so why is this crappy app on my phone still taking up room? Got some good dvds though but that isn't the point, they are violating rights letting a company that's gone bankrupt to still be allowed on my phone and they need to address this now.

Most of the stores are closing down. The one by me is still up. I think they're changing around so they can compete with Netflix, almost 100% streaming, and having an app come on the phone out of the box is Verizon's contract with Blockbuster to get us to use them. I won't be using bb til they come to xbox. But it's still BS verizon puts it on the new phones with option of uninstall.

 

[Scott26]

You know what is werid I never got a copy sent to my email.... LIARS!!!!

 

[pc747]

Good job to each of you:

UPDATE:

They hear us and they are hearing us loud and clear. Please keep it up, keep pounding them phones and keep hitting the live support. I just called that motorola mobility HQ and it got elevated to the supervisor level. Now lets not get too excited and lets not let down. If you know ANY ONE with a droid that may not know about our forum but are as tired as you are show them the live support and have them continue to complain. Remember our fight is over the pre-installed apps not the bootloader, efuse, or motoblur as of yet. IF the supervisor actually calls me back I will ask them to clean up motoblur some more but our main concern is first the preloaded apps and once we are in the door there we can talk about motoblur. Now they are NOT gonna get rid of motoblur....infact that can be a good thing where instead of saying remove it all together maybe get them to clean up a lot of unneeded blur files from the system folder.

Any way keep fighting cuz they do hear us...as our voice is now one and with the iphone coming out they want to keep their loyal customers.
​

 

[dfuser312553]

Awesome! This is the proper way to let a company know you're dissatisfied.