Much flak has been received by mobile companies such as Samsung, Oppo and OnePlus, all of which run the Android operating system. This is brought about by the inclusion of pre-loaded bloatware, or unnecessary apps that take up device storage.
Because of this, Android creator Google has tweaked the requirements for apps which should be permanently installed in the device. According to IBN Live, apps such as Google Plus, Google Newsstand, Google Play Books and Google Play Games will no longer be pre-loaded to upcoming Android smartphones.
Bloatware leaves little of the device for actual use and storage. While some pre-installed programs are not exactly useless, owners' having the option of whether or not to install them in their devices is important. Should the owners opt to use these apps, they can still download such in Google Play Store.
Google's policy for its handset partnerships requires them to offer other Google apps if they want one Google app to come pre-installed. For example, if Samsung wants to offer Gmail in its handset, then it should also come with Newsstand. The apps from Google will be updated every month.
Now that the requirement has been tweaked, the issue of the Android operating system coming with bloatware, at least from Google, will be put to rest.
No announcement has been made yet as to which upcoming Android phones will be affected by the policy tweak, although 'The Verge' cited that Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will not come with Google Plus.
To date, mobile makers will only have to follow suit in lessening unnecessary pre-installed apps on the devices. A few months ago, Samsung, Oppo and OnePlus have come under fire for coming with memory-consuming bloatware, which only serve demonstrative purposes for users. A Chinese consumer group has filed a case against the two Chinese smartphone companies.
