Samsung Galaxy S6, Like iOS 8.2, Comes With Hidden Apps That Can’t Be Uninstalled — And That’s Not The Only Problem
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge will finally be released on Friday, April 10. But the new flagship phones will reportedly come with its share of problems. BGR reports that consumers should hold off on purchasing the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge until these problems are sorted out.
One big problem is that the Samsung Galaxy S6 phones will come with hidden apps that are impossible to remove. This was revealed on the XDA Developers Forum posts, according to Computerworld. There are hidden apps from Sprint that cannot be removed on the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge phones. These apps can only remain hidden until used.
The Inquisitr previously reported when Apple’s latest iOS 8.2 came with hidden apps that also couldn’t be uninstalled or removed entirely. These apps were said to work with the new Apple Watch, which is expected to launch on Friday, April 24. It looks like Samsung has taken a page of out Apple’s handbook when it comes to having annoying and useless apps.
A Samsung spokesperson told Computerworld in an email that Samsung’s pre-installed apps can be “disabled” on both the S6 and S6 Edge. Disabled means that the apps can be “hidden from view,” but cannot be uninstalled or entiredly removed from the OS.
“Samsung is committed to providing the best possible mobile experience to customers. The pre-installed applications on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge devices are intended to provide an enriched mobile experience while enhancing the functionality for our users. Functions and settings for each application have been reviewed in detail and were carefully selected based on customer feedback. Pre-installed applications can be disabled on both devices; however, the number of applications that can be disabled will vary by region and mobile carriers.”
Samsung gave Gizmodo a different statement on March 26 that read, “Some apps can be uninstalled while some can be disabled” on both the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Samsung nor its spokesperson didn’t clarify why it gave different statements to both news sites.
“Simplicity is critical for usability and functionality, so Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge offer a refined and optimized user experience and the offering of core and preloaded apps has been streamlined. Some apps can be uninstalled while some can be disabled, and this varies by region and carrier. Further, 40% of the features and steps have been deleted compared to previous models.”
Pre-installed apps are the least of Samsung’s problems. BGR addressed the most common problems that come with the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge:
- The Galaxy S6 doesn’t have a microSD slot.
- The Galaxy S6 doesn’t have water or dust resistance.
- The Galaxy S6 doesn’t have a removable battery.
New reports surfaced saying that a Galaxy S6 Active will launch in the coming months, and it may include a water and dust resistance and a microSD slot, unlike the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. SamMobile leaked an image on Tuesday morning that shows AT&T’s internal inventory system. The image allegedly comes from an employee named John. The image shows that the Galaxy S6 Active could launch on the AT&T network soon, if this leak is indeed real.
The Galaxy S6 Active is also expected to be similar to the Galaxy S6 when it comes to having a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED panel and quad HD resolution. It will also have a larger 3,5000 mAH battery.
Another report criticized the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge for its “repairability.” It only received a score of three out of 10 from iFixit, according to C-Net. The DIY site let users know that the Galaxy S6 Edge is not easy to repair. Although it’s difficult to get inside the phone, the Galaxy S6 Edge received praise for having “modular” components that are easy to replace. Also noted is that replacing a cracked glass screen could result in destroying the phone altogether. Samsung has not responded to any comments about the Galaxy S6 or S6 Edge’s repair problems.
What are your thoughts on the Galaxy S6 now that you know it comes with a long list of problems? Are you still looking forward to upgrading to the phone on Friday?
[Image: Anthony Kwan/Anthony Kwan/Getty Images for Samsung]
